Michael Perry
Married to Denise Perry, we have four children. I work at SpringHill serving as it's President and CEO. I love my family, reading, cooking, coaching my kids and fishing. I'm also a student of organizations and those who lead them. All of which leaves little time to get into trouble.
Telling the Story
This past week I had the chance to do a part of my job that I just love – telling the SpringHill story by giving golf cart tours of our camps. Actually I got to do it twice. The reason I love doing tours is because we don’t just show off our property, instead we use the property to “tell the story” and show how we create the SpringHill Experience.And what made these two tours even more fun were the people I had the chance to share the SpringHill story with.
The first tour was with my former boss, mentor and longtime friend from Steelcase, John Fynewever. He made an effort to reconnect with me by offering to ride his Harley up to Evart to see SpringHill. I learned more from John about organizational leadership than anyone else I worked for at Steelcase. So for part of our tour I was able to share with him how we’ve implemented many of the leadership practices he taught me.
The second tour was for my parents and their life-long college friends Art and Judy Koller and Ken and Jeneanne Reasor. Like John, the Koller’s and the Reasor’s have never been to SpringHill and didn’t know much about our work, so the tour provided me an opportunity to introduce them to SpringHill.
My Mom and Dad (left) with the Reasor's and Koller's Because my goal for any tour’s for people to understand SpringHill I look to see whether at some point they “catch” the essence of our ministry. I know this is happening because people will start to anticipate what I’m going to say at a given stop on the tour. Thankfully in both cases I believe we meet the goal.
So as summer comes to a close it blessed me to be able to “tell the story” to longtime friends and in process, maybe make new friends for SpringHill.
On Having the Best Summer Yet
Dave and one of his two fish he caught It has taken five summers for Dave Lynema, our Michigan Food Service Director, and I to find a day to do some fishing together. But we finally accomplished our goal this past week. I’ve looked forward to fishing with Dave because he’s an excellent fisherman and I appreciate him as a person and as a friend.
Because it turned out to be a slow fishing day we ended up talking “shop” while trying to figure out what we needed to do to catch some fish. At one point I asked Dave, “How did your summer go?”
He replied (as I heard a number of times in the past couple of weeks), “It was the best summer I’ve had at SpringHill.”
Of course I couldn’t let it go at that so I asked, “What made it your best summer?”
Dave provided two reasons that I could have anticipated, if I had only taken time to think about it.
First he said, “We did a better job in our pre-summer planning.” Then he explained, “We also had great people working on the food service team.”
Good planning, preparation and great people working together as a team? Not necessarily a “high level strategy”. But as in any great day of fishing, it’s an absolutely necessary formula for a team, or a leader, who wants to have their “best summer” ever.
I didn't catch a fish but it didn't matter because of good conversation and this sunrise What’s been the “formula” for your best work experience yet?
Focused Freshmen Bulldogs
Andrea and Christina This past weekend was quite significant for our family. Denise and I dropped off our daughter, Christina, for her first year at Butler University where she’s in the Jordan College of Fine Arts majoring in Dance Performance.
We did all the typical tasks one does when dropping off a child at college. We put her room together, met and spent time with her new roommate Andrea, toured campus, attended events designed to welcome students and their families and went to the bookstore so I could buy a Butler hat.
During a “meet and greet” of department faculty, Denise, Christina, Andrea and I talked with one particular Ballet professor who asked Andrea “what’s your major?”
“Pharmacy” answered Andrea.
To which the professor said “well you will not seeing Christina during the day because she’ll be training.”
Andrea smiled and didn’t respond; she must have had that look that said “really, dancing all day long?” because the professor added…
Andrea and Christina embracing being Bulldogs “You see, if you want to be a professional you have to be fully committed, you can’t work at it part-time just like you cannot work at being a pharmacist part-time. There’s no part-time training; one has to be fully committed full-time to achieve such a goal.”
I’ve replayed this conversation in my mind since that meeting and I’m convinced that what this professor said is absolutely true. Whether you are pursuing a career in the arts or the sciences, to become a true professional requires more than just a part-time effort.
The realization then set in – Christina and Andrea’s room will be one focused place for the months to come because these two women have serious goals of becoming professionals in their competitive fields. What a gift…to have such focus at the age of 18.
The End of Summer Camp – I’m Sad but Satisfied
Today’s the last day of the SpringHill 2011 summer camp season and there are two words that describe how I feel – “sad” and “satisfied”.I’m sad because we had an incredible summer of creating life changing experiences for 1000’s of young people but if feels like we’re ending too soon.
Sad because of the many new friends I’ve made with summer and resident staff, parents and even a few campers knowing our daily and weekly interaction has ended. Facebook’s good but it’s not the same as being together at camp.
Sad because I know the regular interaction I’ve had with our year around staff and their families has come to an end. We’ve spent the summer eating meals together and watching our kids catch fish and play six square with each other and with our summer staff.
But I’m satisfied because I watched our team deliver the SpringHill Experience to the largest number of campers in our history – 17,470 and do it in a passionate and professional way.
I’m satisfied because we had an incredibly safe summer for our campers and staff. Nothing keeps me awake at night more than the safety of those God’s entrusted to us.
Finally and most importantly, I’m deeply satisfied and humbled because it’s clear from camper and parent feedback that we fulfilled our mission of creating life changing experiences for young people where they can know and grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. This is why we exist so to know we been used to this end leaves me exhausted but satisfied.
So I’m both sad and yet satisfied. But the great news there’s only 283 days left before the first 2012 summer staff arrive and summer camp officially begins once again (not that I’m counting or anything).
“Evart (and Hawaii) has the Best Sunsets”
I was sitting with friends at the Evart High School football stadium watching the sun set while waiting for the start of the 4th of July fireworks.It was an incredible sunset which led to my friend Don Myers to comment “Evart has the best sunsets.” I thought to myself “that’s a pretty bold statement to make about a small town in northern Michigan”. But truth was I couldn’t argue with beauty of the western sky and I wouldn’t dare step on Don’s pride in his home town by disagreeing.
One evening three weeks later I sat on the porch of SpringHill’s Founders’ House talking with friends who were picking up their kids from camp the next day. As we talked I noticed the sky begin to turn orange and pink and I suggested we move around to the other side of the porch to watch the sun go down.
Once again Evart’s sunset was spectacular.
As we watched I shared the story of the sun setting before the fireworks and I told them Don’s statement “Evart has the best sunsets.”
After a few moments watching the sky my friend Dave Pendley said with a laugh “yep Evart and Hawaii have the best sunsets.”
We all smiled at Dave’s comment but I thought to myself “I’m not quite sure Don Myers would agree. But then again Don’s not from Hawaii.”
Click here to see the rest of my photos of the best sunsets in the world.
Celebrating My Parents 50 Years of Marriage
Our parents have blessed my brother, sister, me and our families in many, many ways. These blessings have formed us into the people we’ve become today.This past weekend Mom and Dad blessed us once again as we celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Blessed because they’ve become role models of what a marriage should and can be not just in the short-term but over a long life.
As I thought about their incredible accomplishment – 50 years of marriage – I asked myself a question. What can I learn from my parents and their marriage so Denise and I might one day have the same celebration? As I reflected on the possible answers I came up many things but a few that really stand out.
First, Mom and Dad have loved each other. But it’s more than just love because we know many people who’ve love each other but their marriages haven’t lasted anywhere near 50 years.
More than love Mom and Dad trust each other. Trust is a must in any relationship and it has to be trust that’s been built on consistency of behavior and agreed upon expectations.
They have shared values. Shared values are essential if any relationship has a chance of surviving the crazy world in which we live.
Mom and Dad are just plain committed to each other and to their entire family. This commitment lays the foundation that’s helped them over the years weather the storms of life.
Finally our Mom and Dad have faith in Christ and have lived it out through their marriage and their commitment to their family.
Now you see why the Perry family’s so blessed – to have living role models of what a marriage and family can be and to see the impact it can have for generations to come. It’s a gift of immeasurable value.
Great Organizations are Built on Strong Foundations
“Thank you for continuing to keep the mission of SpringHill alive and moving forward” were the words of one former board member who attended our 3rd annual SpringHill board member reunion.His words, along with all the other conversations were truly encouraging. Their presence blessed us greatly and spoke volumes about their commitment to and love for what God’s continuing to do through SpringHill. It’s this ongoing commitment from folks like these that allow organizations like SpringHill to thrive for decades.
Our day together occurred at our Michigan overnight camp. It started out with summer staff worship, joining pre-opening day staff meeting and then watching our the entire summer staff take their annual photo leading one board member to comment “there are more staff than we had campers in any given week when I was on the board”.
We then enjoyed a meal together in the Founders’ House (or what folks called back in the day…”The Big House”) where we listened to some old stories followed by a “state of SpringHill” discussion. The questions asked and the comments made demonstrated that our board alumnae continue to be committed to the mission of SpringHill and their desire to see it succeed.
But the following two benefits made this day so important for all of us.
First, the reunion allows us to bless our board alumni by letting them see the ministry that’s been built on the foundation of their sacrifice and hard work while acknowledging their contributions and thanking them for what they’ve done and still do to help SpringHill fulfill its mission.
And secondly, it’s a great reminder to our current staff and board of where we’ve come from which helps us to become all God has called us to be and to do all that God has called us to do.
Already Looking Forward to My Next Birthday
My birthday couldn’t have been better. I spent it in a little cabin on a small island filled with wild blueberry bushes in the center of a lake in the middle of nowhere fishing for speckled trout and walleye with my three sons (the only place better for a birthday might be heaven).We were on our annual fishing trip to Camp Anjigami and their Ogas outpost cabin in northern Ontario. As I sat down for breakfast on the morning of my birthday I couldn’t have been more content and blessed as I ate wild blueberry pancakes prepared by my sons while looking ahead to a day of trout fishing.
In reality this trip’s become a significant part of my life and one of the highlights of the Perry men’s year. It’s an annual ritual where we hang out, have fun, talk about life and experience God’s creation together – just the four of us. There’s really no other reason to make this trip each year.
But there are three other benefits that I count as a bonus:
First it provides a brief but needed change of pace after the intensity of 9 weeks of summer camp.
Second, I always find perspective being disconnected and away from the normal events of life while spending time with my sons.
Finally, there’s no other setting where I sense the presence of Christ in my life more than when I’m in His creation, away from it all. It spiritually nourishes my soul in a way that no other place does.
So as I read the words I’ve just written I realize that as long as we can plan this trip over my birthday I’ll always look forward to growing a year older.
One More Thought About Being Pretty in Pink
As I’ve reflected on yesterday’s pretty in pink celebration (click to see my post on 8/09/11) there’s one other part of the story that’s continued to encourage me. It’s simply witnessing the great enthusiasm of a team who could have found reasons for not being excited about achieving this particular goal.It would have been easy for our Michigan Site and Operations team to bemoan having significantly more campers than planned. Having 10% additional campers, most of who registered later in the process, creates enormous challenges for departments like Site and Operations. But they, as did the rest of our Michigan team, not only rose to the occasion of serving more campers, they strove to beat our stretch goal and then celebrated wholeheartedly when we did.
When every part of a team not only embraces shared goals but more importantly works diligently to achieve them, even at great personal and professional cost, winning becomes reality and for our Site Team a reason to go pink.
So at the end of a great day not only did I love the celebration I’m even more proud of the team who led it.
Pretty In Pink Because We Made Our “A” Plan
Even though my wife Denise’s a breast cancer survivor I typically don’t wear pink. And for the record I wouldn’t dye what little hair I have left any color – especially pink.We also have a policy that asks staff not to significantly alter their appearance during summer camp by adding such things as tattoos or God forbid, dyeing one’s hair an unnatural color.
But when our Michigan Site team asked me at the beginning of the summer to join them in coloring their hair pink if we reach our “A” plan (“A” plan’s our stretch goal) what could I say? To celebrate 7600+ kids attending our Michigan overnight camp would be a great reason to be “pretty in pink”.
Also, frankly, at the beginning of the summer, I wasn’t so sure we’d hit our “A” plan so committing to go pink didn’t seem like such huge risk.
But as we grew closer to the goal and it was apparent we’d reach 7600 campers the Site team made sure I didn’t forget my commitment to join them in being “pretty in pink”.
So today I, along with my wife Denise, joined the Site team in celebrating, in pink, the privilege of serving nearly 7700 campers this summer.
Our t-shirts say “God always has “A” plan. Jeremiah 29:11″.
It’s not just a fitting quote for our Michigan overnight camp but it also applies to what’s turned out to be the largest summer in SpringHill’s history. We’ll provide 17,500 campers a SpringHill Experience – a reason for which I’d have dyed my hair any color.
