Behind the Scenes on Group Travel with Edgerton’s to Glacier National Park and the Canadian Rockies

By Charlie Adams, Group Travel Host of the August 14 – 24 Experience

“How would I describe this trip? You can’t put these Mountains into words because they are 120 million years old. It was a spiritual experience for me. They were almost alive and trying to tell their story through their lines and colors. I will tell my children it is something you HAVE to see yourself. You cannot describe it. It is awesome.”
Mary Ann Riffel, Mishawaka, IN, on the Canadian Rockies and Glacier National Park Edgerton’s Group Travel Experience

This is Charlie Adams. I had been hearing the legend of this particular Group Travel Experience for years. I am hear to tell you, it is everything that it was built up to be, and more! Because of popular demand, Edgerton’s is going to offer two of these trips in the summer of 2011.

This Journal gives you a feel for the breathtaking experience of visiting God’s creation in Northwest Montana and the Canadian Rockies.

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In mid August, Edgerton’s picked up travelers from Fort Wayne to LaPorte to be motorcoaches to Chicago for a train ride West! We left with a lively group of travelers from such locations as Mishawaka, South Bend, Cassopolis, Kendallville, LaPorte, Indianapolis, Stevensville, MI, Bremen, St. Joseph, MI, Evans, GA, Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Goshen, and Edwardsburg, MI.

The Amtrak ride out West was a wonderful way to see our country. Edgerton’s travelers boarded the mighty Empire Builder train in Chicago. Tour Manager Val Friedrich took care of everything!

Sitting in the Viewing Car is a great way to see cities of all sizes, from Milwaukee to Fargo. From Chicago, we crossed the rural landscape of Wisconsin. The train traveled then through Minnesota, where quarterback Brett Favre boarded and asked us if we thought he should stay retired or not. After Saint Paul, the land changed from forest to prairie. We saw many deer scamper across fields. As the Empire Builder passed through North Dakota, near ghost towns could be seen. Eventually, the train went past the prairies of North Dakota and into eastern Montana. The group eventually stopped in Whitefish, Montana for two nights at the Grouse Mountain Lodge.

It has been said that Northwest Montana is where the American and Canadian Rockies shake hands. Whitefish is located on the shores of Whitefish Lake, tucked tight against Big Mountain. Travelers had Monday free to do as they pleased. The weather was warm but refreshing with no humidity or brutal heat like everyone had experienced back home all summer. Some went fly fishing. Others went to downtown Whitefish for shopping. Others went on an excursion where they floated down the middle fork of the Flathead river in pristine conditions. The entire river bottom was covered with large river rocks and the water was totally clear. They saw springs coming from the sides of the mountain banks feeding the river. In the evening, Edgerton’s had arranged a Welcome Dinner highlighted by Steaks that were out of this world!

While in Whitefish that evening, I educated families on the college athletics recruiting process. As a speaker, that is a topic that I love speaking on. The room was filled at the Grouse Mountain Lodge as families came from all over the Whitefish area. I spoke for an hour, and took questions for over an hour. As Senior National Speaker for the National Collegiate Scouting Association, it feels great to help families connect with scholarships.

Tuesday August 17th Edgerton’s had arranged for a motorcoach Tour of parts of Montana including Glacier National Park. Driver Darrell Christofferson is a staple of Edgerton’s trips up there. He lives in Kalispell, MT, and does a wonderful job driving the group. Tour Manager Val has been working with Darrell for years, and he will be the driver for both Edgerton’s trips there in 2011. Darrell is steeped in customer service. He was constantly washing the motorcoach windows so travelers could have the best views. He wore pressed slacks, a nice shirt and tie, and was extremely nice and knowledgeable on the area.

We saw the Hungry Horse Dam near Whitefish. Completed in 1953, Hungry Horse Dam is Montana’s highest and the eleventh largest concrete dam in the U.S. It is just a stone’s throw from Glacier National Park’s west entrance. In the Park, we saw wildlife such as the Ram’s below.

Travelers were then driven by Lake McDonald, the largest Lake within Glacier National Park. A relaxing stop was make at Lake McDonald Lodge for lunch. Several travelers went to Jammer Joe’s Grill for mouthwatering sandwiches. Then, everyone met outside where historic restored Red Jammers were driven up for a tour of Glacier National Park! (photo below). While the buses are called reds, the bus drivers are called jammers. The “jamming” sound came from the clutch-less and synchro-less transmissions, where “short-shifting” was a must. The original standard transmissions were replaced in 1989 with newer automatics, removing the trademark “jamming” sound.The bus below was one of three we took. It was over 73 years old. By taking a Red Bus Tour, we also helped the environment as they run on Propane which run 93% cleaner than gasoline.

Going-to-the-Sun Road is the only road through the heart of Glacier National Park. It was completed in 1932, and it is the only road that crosses the park, going over the Continental Divide at 6,646 foot high Logan Pass. The scenery was jaw dropping. The wild flowers were in full bloom and there was snow on the peaks. Looking out of side is exhilirating!

We saw avalanche chutes where tree’s had been snapped like toothpicks. With the roof open, travelers were able to gaze at large glacial lakes and cedar forests in the lower valleys as well as windswept alpine tundra atop the pass. We saw Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep at Logan Pass. The Weeping Wall was one of the most unique Falls any of us had ever seen.

Several times I heard, “Only God could make such a place!”

In the late afternoon, Edgerton’s had everyone taken to the Many Glacier Lodge

The Hotel is located along the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake inside Glacier National Park. The great northern railroad built this historic hotel in 1915 to accommodate the many tourists passing through Glacier National Park. Many Glacier Hotel is built in the Swiss Chalet style and the Swiss theme is carried through the interior of the hotel as well. We felt like we were in Switzerland. Today, the hotel still maintains its historic character, in part by not placing televisions in guest rooms. I did not know this, and when I got to my room I went to check ESPN SportsCenter to get my daily fix of Sports. When I couldn’t find the TV, I started to shake and make odd noises like Dustin Hoffman’s character in Rain Man. No Remote!!? What is a man to do without a Remote and SportsCenter?! Thank goodness I had packed my “No Remote/No SportsCenter” medication and made it through the night.

The Lodge is only open from June to mid September. Author Stephen King based the hotel in ‘The Shining’ off of Many Glacier Lodge and Hotel, although the movie chose to film it in Colorado and England. At dinner that evening, a Hotel employee showed me a hidden door. On the mirror behind it were the words “redrum.” You’d have to see the movie to understand . . . . . . . .

That evening a massive Grizzly Bear came down from the mountains near the road leading to the Hotel. A traveler with a high powered camera let us look at the beast as it roamed for food. I made sure my door was locked that night because at 6′6″ and 230 pounds, I would make a tasty snack for that Grizzly!

On Wednesday August 18th, Edgerton’s had another unforgettable day. We journeyed north to Canada and stopped at Waterton Lakes National Park just across the border. From there it was on to the foothills of Alberta and a private tour of Bar U Ranch  where the prairies meet the mountains. The Ranch is a living museum capturing the life of early ranch cowhands and cowboys.

We felt like we were back in a time when the west was young. We got a great feel for what it was to be frontier men and women. The still-operating cattle ranch has buildings going back to the 1880’s. Harry Longabaugh worked there in 1925 as a ranch cowhand. Longabaugh was well-liked there. He returned to the USA where he became better known as the Sundance Kid. We saw the large Percheron horses which were used for heavy work. After the tour of the Ranch, Edgerton’s had soup and sandwiches waiting back at the main house.

That afternoon, everyone arrived at the charming Ptarmigan Inn in beautiful downtown Banff, Alberta, one of the most picturesque spots in Canada. This would be home for the next three nights.

Thursday August 19th saw early risers greeted by a mule deer right out front of the Inn. After a hearty breakfast, it was off to see Lake Minnewanka, a glacial lake in the eastern part of Banff National Park. Cradled between massive peaks, travelers just stood in awe as they looked around and around.

Back in Banff, our next stop was at the colossal stone palace of a Hotel known as the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. William Cornelius Van Horne, President of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the late 1800’s, said, “If we can’t export the scenery, we will import the tourists.” And that’s what they did, by rail to jaw-dropping places like the Banff Springs Hotel.
Our Tour Manager Val said it reminded her of her home back in the Indianapolis area.

Rustic, elegant, and a bit medieval, it is simply stunning. Edgerton’s travelers roamed the grounds, shopped, and gawked!

From there, Darrell drove us to to the Banff Gondola for a mesmerizing 8 minute ride to the top of Sulpher Mountain

We climbed 2,292 feet at a 51 degree incline to an elevation of 7,486 feet at the Summit Upper Terminal. Tour Manager Val yelled, “I’m sitting on top of the world!!” The panoramic view of Banff and the deep forested valley where the Trans-Canada Highway cuts through the lofty peaks was yet another experience to behold!

This trip is so special because there is so much to experience as a group, and yet so much free time. Travelers were back at the Ptarmigan Inn by 1:30 to go off on their own excursions, shop, or dine in downtown Banff.

In reflecting on the time in Banff, one special memory was riding in the motor coach under the various animal overpasses.

We had a walk-on guide one day named Barrett who said the overpasses have dramatically reduced animal fatalities by 80%. Elk, moose, wolves, deer and grizzly bear tend to use the overpasses. Cougars and black bears like the underground passages, which you can’t see. My only concern is that they will get so comfortable with this that one day they will demand a Starbucks there.

Friday August 20th was yet another unforgettable day in this remarkable trip. Edgerton’s had everyone driven up to the Columbia Icefield. Massive Brewster Ice Explorers, which are specially designed for glacial travel, took our passengers on an excursion onto the surface of the Athabasca Glacier. Because it must go down and up some very steep grades, its gears do all the work.

The tires on these powerful machines are $5000 each  and were almost as tall as our travelers! How would you like to change that flat?! It would be nice to have one of these vehicles in January and February in Michiana when Lake Effect snow hits hard!

We were driven down steep inclines and entertained by a knowledgeable and very funny driver. The people who operate the Ice Explorer tour check the glacier’s turnaround area every day for any dangerous crevasses. We were all told where not to go, and everyone understood that you have to have common sense in such a place. It’s not dangerous at all if you stay in the safe area. However, there was a family awhile back who had a son who went past the safety cones and fell into a crevass. Even though rescue workers came, the ice froze him before he could be saved. The ice is indifferent to people. It is cold in more ways than one. Standing there, you realize it, and it is a sobering feeling to be there.

While respectful of that, our travelers also had fun. They walked the safe area of the Ice Field. They had snow ball fights and drank the glacier water. The legend is that women who drink the water become ten years younger the next day. Sure enough, that happened to our lady travelers. Tour Manager Val could not recognize them the next day, which led to confusion.

I was able to get great video for the DVD that Edgertons travelers receive from the trip.

This was an amazing day. Earlier, we saw a huge Black Bear and two cubs cross a stream as we drove in the motor coach. We saw Trembling Aspens where Elk had rubbed against them. The scenery continued to be breathtaking. Several passengers said, “Each day this trip gets even better!”

One of the wonderful things about Edgerton’s Group Travel trips is that they can be romantic trips of a lifetime. Fritz and Jill celebrated their honeymoon together! I took a photo of them in Yoho National Park by Takakkaw Falls, the second highest waterfall in Canada. Takakkaw means “magnificent” in Cree. It was an awesome experience to stand near the base of that massive Fall. The mist of the water gently reached our faces. Edgerton’s travelers scampered all over getting pictures and soaking in the grandeur! The melt from the Daly Glacier comes crashing down the valley wall, forming one of the best waterfalls of North America.

Fritz and Jill had such a great time on this trip. Edgerton’s Group Travel trips are made up of all kinds of remarkable folks. We have people that go as husband and wife, as friends, as mother and daughter, father and son, single travelers, all kinds! Group Travel is so much fun. What people love is there is not the usual stress of traveling for vacation. Tour Managers at Edgerton’s take care of everything, allowing people to sit back and truly relax.

The beauty of the trip continued as we were taken to Emerald Lake. Talk about a jaw dropping moment, you truly can’t describe what it is like to stand by this water. Famous Guide Tom Wilson discovered it in 1882 and stood mesmerized himself. He gave the lake its name because of its remarkable colour, caused by fine particles of glacial sediment, also referred to as rock flour, suspended in the water.

One of the traditions of ‘Travels with Charlie Adams’ is entertainment on the Motorcoach. Having been a speaker at events since the 1980’s, I share humorous and inspirational stories along the way.

That day we saw Elk as we drove towards Radium Springs. A huge highlight was stopping for lunch at Chateu Lake Louise  where we got our Group Photo. The food was out of this world, and the scenery was mind boggling.

You can see the towering Victoria Glacier over the turquoise water. Some travelers said they had seen pictures of this location as children, and had always dreamed of being there in person. T

A couple we didn’t know had their wedding right in that area. I’ll bet that ran them $79.95 or more! My job is to prevent my daughters from ever knowing they can have a wedding at Lake Louise. That would be the end of me. I would grab my heart like Fred Sanford in Sanford and Son and say “I’m coming to join you, Elizabeth!!”

We all stood to the side and watched part of the ceremony.

One time there was this son that asked his father how much it cost to get married. The father replied, “I don’t know, son. I’m not done payin’ yet…”

My wife Nancy and I have a marriage philosophy that is simple. I don’t try to run HER life, and I don’t try to run MY life! As one traveler said, he always has two words handy: “Yes, Dear.”

Then it was on to our own “ceremony” – The ‘Best Legs’ Contest. We were driven to Radium Hot Springs, a village of approximately 800 people situated in the East Koutenay region of British Columbia. The village is named for the hot springs located in the nearby Kootenay National Park. Travelers were able to soak in the invigorating Hot Springs at about 104 degrees. Travelers enjoyed soothing, mineral-rich waters while they were able to look up at the rock walls of Sinclair Canyon, home of bighorn sheep. Remember how the ladies that drank glacial water earlier got 10 years younger? The Hot Springs made them another 10 years young. So, a woman of 58 that started the Edgerton’s trip ended up 38. That’s a good deal. Edgerton’s did not charge them extra for dramatic age reduction.

We did the Springs for an hour or so and then it was back to the Hotel for the “Best Legs” Contest. Tour Manager Val and I got this idea from fellow Edgerton’s Tour Host Bill Moor, who says next year will be the year for the Cubs. Bill included himself in the Contest once in a trip he hosted, and didn’t win. He even held the Contest twice on his trip, and lost the second time too! I did not make myself a candidate, as videotaping duties prevented me from entering.

Many of the men were eager to enter, as they were proud of their legs. They were given signs with a number assigned to them, and then stood as the ladies were allowed two votes (only one could go to their husband). As the photo below shows, I had a blast videoing this for the famous DVD of the trip! Some of the legs were so white that the sun’s reflection off them caused startling glare that in turn led to area drivers going off the road.

My pre competition favorite was Fred Demske of Kendallville, IN,  longtime Banker at Community State Bank. Fred had worn shorts all week (and sandals, even on the Columbia Icefield!) but he later said he had shown his legs too early in the week, and that cost him dearly.

When the voting was tabulated, Fritz Lambright of Edwardsburg, MI was the champion!

Jerry Workman of Goshen, IN was second! Fritz jumped all around during the Awards ceremony as dismayed contestants like Regie Dickson of LaPorte and John Martin of Elkart looked on in disbelief. Regie was so distraught that he may field a grievance with the Competition Committee, or call Tom Edgerton in person. John’s wife Barb told him that “he was still a winner in her book.”

Fritz’s wife Jill said the key to his victory was the Aloe Lotion she had been making him use since they were married. The other competitors swore they would also use more lotion and vowed to win future contests and claim the glory that comes with being “Best Legs” winner. Tour Manager Val went all-out on the budget for the prize. Fritz received a refrigerator magnet that Val bought in a nearby gift shop. Fritz’s brother is LeRoy Lambright, legendary Sports Editor of the Goshen News (he is now retired). No doubt, LeRoy must be proud of his brother Fritz!

Since returning, Fritz has contacted Lloyd’s of London to have his legs insured, as he plans to enter “Best Legs” competitions at various State Fairs. He says what Mary Hart of Entertainment Tonight is to women’s legs, he is to men’s legs!

Edgerton’s arranged a Wine and Cheese Party that night at The Prestige Inn, and the laughter flowed as everyone shared stories for hours! Edgerton’s arranged so many outstanding meals at unique restaurants along the way on this trip. The Wine and Cheese Party was another special touch. There is nothing like an Edgerton’s Group Travel Experience. The Customer Service is out of this world. Since 1924 they have been dedicated to making Travel an unforgettable experience.

The next day motorcoach driver Darrell drove us out of Canada back into Montana. Everyone’s eyes got big as we were driven up the drive to the Glacier Park Lodge, yet another remarkable place to stay.

The Glacier Park Lodge was built almost 100 years ago by the Great Northern Railway. The lobby is spectacular, with timbers that support the Lodge. They were probably 500 to 800 years old when they were cut and all of them retain their bark. There are 60 of them, 36 to 42 inches in diameter and 40 feet long. The timbers in the lobby are Douglas fir and the verandahs are supported by Cedars from Washington. There were no trees like this in Montana so the Railway had them shipped in.

The goat in the box is getting ready to charge the lady walking across the lobby. Travelers were given vouchers for dinner in the restaurant. The food was outstanding. Some headed to the Lounge for a round or two of Moose Drool beer and stunning views! With plenty of sunlight, golf was an option. There was a 9 hole course and a Pitch and Putt course outside. Bob Long, one of our travelers from Augusta, GA, played the Pitch and Putt course. He lives near Augusta National, sight of The Masters. I am not sure if his play at the Lodge qualified him for the 2011 Masters or not. That evening, a Bear Expert spoke in front of the roaring fire on his hilarious and heart stopping adventures with Bears over the years. What a way to spend the final night.

The next day, Edgerton’s got everyone together for the trip back to northern Indiana. There was a glow about everyone on the way back. I let them know I would have the 65 minute DVD ready for them soon, so they will be able to take their trip over and over again by putting it in and viewing it.

This particular trip was sold out six months ahead of time. I now see why there is such demand. It is an UNREAL experience! Because of demand, Edgerton’s will have two Canadian Rockies and Glacier National Park trips in the summer of 2011. To make sure you get the brochure  email tom@edgertonstravel.com

Send a quick email to make sure you are notified when the trip details are released. Again, this trip in 2010 sold out months ahead of time.

I have hosted almost 20 Group Travel trips for Edgerton’s and this one was easily in the Top Three. Here is what two couples had to say:

“As we sit here and look at all the pictures, we are realizing that the Glacier trip must be experienced to appreciate the beauty and majesty of that area. While our pictures are beautiful, they in no way represent completely the grandeur we saw. There are no words that can describe it either. We consider ourselves fortunate to have shared that experience with everyone on the trip.” Kathy and Marty Albright, South Bend, IN

“It was the trip we dreamed it would be.” John and Barb Martin, Elkhart, IN

Charlie Adams, Speaker
Edgerton’s Group Travel Host

(For more information on upcoming trips, go to the See the World area of this site)

Success leaves footprints so I always encourage athletes to listen to the greats. Any athlete wanting to play their sport in college should never underestimate the importance of motivation, and reading books and articles that have observations from the greats.

Another thing I suggest is to never miss an episode of “Homecoming with Rick Reilly” on ESPN. It is a 60 minute show that focuses on the steps great athletes took to success. It always has tremendous insights on the choices they made, their recruiting experiences, and what they did to become successful. Previous episodes on athletes such as Dwayne Wade, Joe Mauer, Chris Paul, Kurt Warner, Michael Phelps and Alonzo Mourning were packed with tools of success. Sure enough, Thursday night I was right there to watch the episode focusing on Emmitt Smith, the NFL’s all time leading rusher.

Emmitt spent his first years living in the trailer projects with his family in Pensacola. When asked when was the first time he thought he would be able to make it in the world, he revealed that it was when a High School teammate, a fullback named Sam, got a college football recruiting letter. Emmitt’s observation was, “They are going to pay you to go to college?!” Okay. That will be the first step.” The fact that Emmitt Smith was in High School and didn’t even know much about recruiting shows that everyone needs to get educated on the incredible possibilities that come from being a student-athlete capable of playing their sport at the next level.

Emmitt was just 5 foot 9 inches, and never was the fastest or quickest, but he was flat-out great at running the football. As he rushed for almost 9000 yards in High School, the colleges were all over him. He said every major college offered him. Most went by the rules, but back in mid 1980’s recruiting was somewhat like the Wild West in that there were some bigtime cheaters in recruiting. Emmitt’s High School football offensive coordinator, Jimmy Nichols, shared the story of one college coach handing him a check for $25,000 to give to Emmitt so he could buy a Nissan Maxima. The intention was for the coach to make sure Emmitt signed with that college. The coach refused it, saying, “I can’t do that!”

Emmitt’s High School coach, Dwight Thomas, also shared that Emmitt was the toughest kid he ever coached. There were some faster and quicker, but none tougher. He also encouraged Emmitt to write down his goals, which he did, and played a major role in his success. He said he always wrote Team goals first.

By Emmitt’s junior year at the University of Florida, he had set 58 school records. He went pro and was coached by Jimmie Johnson with the Cowboys. Emmitt revealed one reason Johnson made the Cowboys so successful was that he had them compete in everything, not just games. The weight room and practices were built around competition.

Emmitt said one of the reasons he never got all wound up in the end zone was that his Dad had raised him with the belief that “the great ones act like they have been there before” when they score.

One of the most touching moments was near the end of the hour long show when the host, Rick Reilly, observed that Emmitt had done a lot of study of his family roots and had discovered there was a white man way back in his family tree, most likely a slave owner. When asked if that upset him, he said it did not. He then looked out at his former High School teammates from Escambia High in Pensacola, who were in the audience. They were all in their mid 40’s, and it looked like every one of them was there.

“This is my family,” he said as tears streamed down his face. “They taught me to understand the differences in people, and that if you have a common goal it doesn’t matter what race you are.”

Struggling to keep his composure, Emmitt deeply thanked them for the role they played in his success. Emmitt then turned to the current High School football players.

“Take full advantage of every opportunity you have,” he told them. “There are doors of opportunity.”

Recruiting Observations

Living in the South Bend-Mishawaka area, I read the local paper each day (South Bend Tribune) and usually find recruiting analogies in it. In a story on Mike Mayock, the new color commentator for NBC broadcasts of Notre Dame football, he was asked his thoughts on new Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly. Mayock talked about the current talent difference between schools like Southern Cal and Texas and Notre Dame, and then said, “What I’d like to stress is that it’s not Brian Kelly’s job to get players into the NFL. His job is to win college football games. And if he does that, I think the rest will follow.”

As the school year begins, always remember it is not the job of the High School, Club or AAU coach to get your kids college athletic scholarships. As I always say, there are coaches that do a heckuva lot, but their main responsibility is to build athletic programs that are successful and filled with values.

I spoke at Sullivan High School Athletics Parent Night recently and had a conversation with their Athletic Director Otto Clements. He said the major challenge parents have in recruiting is they are not sure if the college coaches are to come to them, or if they are supposed to go to the college coaches.

Young people need to be proactive. It is vital they start as early as possible in the process developing relationships with college coaches, and not waiting. Too often families wait for the colleges to discover their kid, or for their coach to take the lead in the process. Remember what Emmitt Smith said? Take advantage of your opportunities. Well, opportunities don’t always announce themselves. In recruiting, you HAVE to get educated first before you have a clue about the opportunities out there.

Otto’s other main observation was that parents usually don’t understand how elite the Division One athlete truly is. He said he had been at the school for over twenty years and that they had not had a Division One football player.

There were over 250 people at my Talk, and I saw many of the athletes. My eyeball test was that there were many that could play at some level of college. A major difference would be understanding the recruiting process.

One of my passion’s in life is Group Travel. As a Speaker, I host a few trips each year for Edgerton’s Travel. In April of 2010, I led a sold out group of 50 to D.C. during Cherry Blossom Festival time. Along the way I shared inspiration and humor. One of the things I did on this particular trip was play the remarkable 11 minute speech Jimmy V gave that laid the foundation for 95 million dollars to be donated to cancer research.

Jim Valvano once coached underdog North Carolina State to the NCAA Basketball championship with a stunning upset of the mighty Houston Cougars in 1983. In June of 1992, “Jimmy V” was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He was relatively still a young man. Immediately he made a decision to use whatever time he had left to help others and to lay the groundwork to find a cure for cancer. In January of 1993, ESPN approached him and offered to help him start a foundation to fight cancer. On March 4, 1993, he was to accept the first Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at an ESPN Award show at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Jimmy V was a very, very sick man. Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski had become very close to him from the outset of his sickness. Duke is in Durham, just about 20 miles from Raleigh, where Jimmy V coached N.C. State. Coach K had flown up from North Carolina with him. He was by his side the whole time. However, Jimmy V was so sick it was doubtful he could even go out on stage to accept the award, much less talk. But with tumors all over his body, he made his way to the podium and gave an 11 minute Talk that was one of the best in history. After the Talk, he had to literally be carried down the steps. He had no energy left. But his message laid the foundation for a Foundation that has raised over 80 million dollars.

In it, he said:

“To me, there are three things we all should do every day. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. Number three is you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.”

I wanted to share his speech early in this trip, because this would be a trip where we would laugh, think, and cry. We were going to see Memorials that would deeply move us. We would also share humor on the motorcoach.

In his Talk, Jimmy V shared wisdom that has inspired millions, including all of us on the trip.

“We are starting the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research. And its motto is “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.” That’s what I’m going to try to do every minute that I have left. I will thank God for the day and moment I have.”

“Cancer can take away all my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart, and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever.”

He died 55 days after the Talk. Without the passion he summoned for that Talk, it’s doubtful the Foundation would have come close to raising over 80 million dollars (you can view it at jimmyv.org). The travellers were impacted by it, because it helped set the tone for what was ahead, and learning more about so many people in American history who didn’t ever give up. Throughout the trip, I read from the book “Don’t Give Up…Don’t Ever Give Up” by Justin Spizman and Robyn Spizman (sourcebooks.com).

To read about the remarkable inspiration we received in visiting the Memorials around D.C. go to edgertonstravel.com and look in the Blog area

http://www.edgertonstravel.com/blog/index.cfm?p=69

Charlie Adams
Speaker

One of my passions as a motivational speaker is educating and inspiring families on how to get a college education through athletics. More than ever, companies are looking to hire college athletes because of the fire they bring to the culture of the company or organization. Zac Fagan is a young man who utilized the National Collegiate Scouting Association to connect with $18,000 a year in academic scholarship money to play football in college. It wasn’t easy though. Back in September of 2009, Zac could have given up on his dream to be a college football player, but his persistence and the inspiration of his younger sister gave him the strength to overcome the unexpected adversity of his 12th grade season. Zac told me this story:

“Mr. Adams, I had been playing quarterback for five years. I trained year round and was totally dedicated to my game. My senior year finally came. This would be my year and all the hard work would pay off. I was elected Team Captain and our team at T. C. Roberson High in Asheville, North Carolina had really pulled together on and off the field.

We had a scrimmage game right before the season and we lost. The next practice my Coach let me know that he was changing our complete offense and putting in our star running back as quarterback. I was crushed. Now my confidence was shook to the core, I would not have the opportunity to compete for my position. I was still Captain, so I did everything to help the team. I tried any other position the coach would give me (I think I did everything but kick the ball). It looked like my dream of being a college football player was over.

I went eight games without playing quarterback. In November, I won my position back before the final game of the regular season. We had to win the game to make the playoffs. In the game I was able to throw for two touchdowns and run for another. One of the touchdown passes was in overtime to set up the winning two point conversion. It was the best game I ever played in my life!!

However, earlier that day my sister Meryl was admitted into the Hospital. She had battled a life long illness known as Rett Syndrome. It is a neurodevelopmental disease where in her case she had seizures and could not talk. She was in the PEP program at School, which is Progressive Education Program. Each day I was able to spend 90 minutes as a PEP mentor. (photo below of my sister and me).

She was hospitalized for pneumonia just before my game that day and was in critical condition. My family chose not to tell me then. That night, right after the great game, they told me about her being in the Hospital. I went from being really excited to being completely devastated in one second. I literally fell down on my knees on the field.

Saturday she seemed okay, but got worse. My sister died on Monday. She was just 18. The Doctors had diagnosed her with Rett Syndrome when she was 13 and told us to make funeral plans then, but she lived five more years.

When I was going through that hard time where I had lost my starting quarterback job, I would come home from practice where it was a crappy day and I would see her in her wheelchair. She couldn’t talk. She couldn’t move much. You could tell what she was trying to say by her eyes. I would come home worn down from how my senior year was going and that it didn’t look like there was any way I would be seen by College football coaches, and see her and say to myself, ‘I can handle my challenge. I can do this.’ When Meryl died, I made a promise that I would go on for my dreams and live life with passion!

I would not give up on the dream of playing college football. I was able to get game film of that game I played in and got the help of NCSA, the National Collegiate Scouting Association. We rushed it to NCSA and they edited it for me. They posted it and I had also introduced it to other coaches in emails.

To my surprise, Coaches started contacting me. I was getting calls and emails from colleges. I hadn’t played until the last game, and yet it was enough for them to see I had talent. They were schools with my major and football.

I ended up visiting a college that I had never heard of before in the neighboring state of Virginia, only five hours from home – Bridgewater College in Virginia. This was a match on the site, I had an instant connection with the coach that had contacted me, and it seemed to have everything I was looking for. It was the perfect match, I felt right at home with their people and philosophies. I loved that it was a small campus with a very personal environment. Everyone knew each other, which is what I like. Thanks to NCSA, I had learned how to meet with Financial Aid and set up for merit based scholarships. My hard work in the classroom helped. I had a 4.3 GPA with 10 honors classes. The Coaches were able to nominate me for merit based scholarships. The fact that I had taken hard classes really helped as I was offered a $18,250 yearly scholarship. That doesn’t cover everything, but it makes it manageable for us as a family.

Mr. Adams, I am thrilled to say that my college choice was made clear. I will be a Bridgewater College Eagle. A lot of kids get caught up in wanting to play Division One, major college sports. Those guys are huge and fast. I could walk-on but that probably wouldn’t work out. I love the game of football. I want to play it. It’s not about the level. It’s about the game and the fans. I will be competing for the quarterback position, dedicated to their program, studying Athletic Training – pre Physical Therapy and enjoying all that this special college has to offer.”
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Zac isn’t done. He works part time at Marco’s Pizzeria and has organized a big fund raising day on Valentines where Marco’s is donating a significant amount of all revenues that day to go to the
Progressive Education Program in their county, which serves students with moderate to significant intellectual difficulties.

Zac and the QB from Asheville High (T C Roberson’s biggest rival) have become friends as they both have relatives that have battled or are battling serious illness. They are now planning a basketball tournament where the funds will be split between cancer research and International Rett Syndrome Association. They both wore #9.

We hear so much negative news these days. It is so refreshing to know there are great young people out there like Zac!

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If you would like me to set up an evaluation for your son or daughter regarding College Athletics possibilities, email me a paragraph summary of their athletics and academics accomplishments to this point, and what you feel is their commitment to wanting to play the sport they love at the College level.

charlie@StokeTheFireWithin.com

I recently delivered the keynote at the 2010 Safety Kickoff Meeting of the Michigan District of Indiana Michigan Power. The Stoke the Fire Within keynote had a special emphasis of seeking excellence. Their safety record has been impeccable this past year, and they want to maintain their high standards, and even go higher.

When I think of Excellence, I love to share the story of a young lady who exemplifies the word.

In my broadcasting days, I was able to interview many famous athletes. People often ask me who the most impressive athlete I have covered is. Without hesitation I say Vanessa Pruzinsky. They look at me like, “Who’s that?”

Vanessa carried a perfect 4.0 grade point average her entire time at Notre Dame in CHEMICAL ENGINEERING! How hard is that? She was only the third person in the University’s history to do that, and the first female ever. At the same time she was also a starter on the powerhouse soccer team. Vanessa was the Rookie of the Year in the Big East Conference in 1999. She was a key player on a team that was consistently ranked in the top five in the nation, and that has won 2 national championships in the past decade.

She achieved excellence as a student and as an athlete. Vanessa was committed and determined. She had one brutally tough class that led her to tears. The librarian would often have to wake her up at 2 in the morning so that she could go back to her room for some sleep. As an athlete she had to have ankle surgery one season, but came back to lead a defense that allowed just 5 goals in one 19 game stretch.

She was excellence. Not excellent, excellence. It was her state of being. She was as close to perfection as any high achiever I ever covered in my broadcasting career.

My passion for educating families on how valuable it can be to become a true college student-athlete partially comes from having reported on people like Vanessa. This world needs more people with “fire within” like her. I passionately believe an answer for companies is to look to hire more college athletes upon their graduation – especially ones with high GPA’s from top academic institutions.

With the Colts reaching the Super Bowl, Peyton Manning is certainly an example of striving for excellence. He is constantly working to perfect his craft, and leaving no stone unturned. In practice from time to time he has the managers soak footballs in water until they are soggy and waterlogged. He throws them. Some people wonder why he does such a thing.

A few years ago, the Colts made the Super Bowl in Miami. Steady rain fell during the whole game causing the balls to be waterlogged and slippery. Because he had practiced with them, he was ready. His opponent, Rex Grossman of Chicago, struggled.

“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” Vince Lombardi

Whether you are striving for peak performance as an organization or individual, or whether you are working hard to earn a college athletics scholarship, it is important to take time to reflect on priorities. Resolution season in January is a good time to take time for self awareness on priorities.

A priority is something very important to your life. It gives focus to your life. It is something with value that shapes your life, for better or worse, the rest of your life. It claims your time, energy and resources. A priority is chosen by you or set by outside circumstances. The world will ask who you are. If you don’t know, it will tell you. You have to stand for something.

When it comes to priorities, here are three questions:

* What do you think about?
* Where do you spend your money?
* Where do you spend your time?

To be successful in priorities, you have to bring together all three of your capacities:

* Imagination – imagine possibilities that will come from your priorities.
* Intelligence – Use your ability to think and plan.
* Will – You must resolve to seek your desired goals. This comes back to stoking the fire within (rah rah!!)

As you reflect on 2010 priorities, tell yourself, “I have the power to establish priorities that will direct my life!”

As 2010 builds up steam, reflect on your priorities and determine two things:

* What you will improve?
* What you will eliminate?

Charlie Adams, Speaker

As I reflect on the various motivational programs I was able to deliver in 2009, one of the lasting memories was the impact NCSA education and guidance had on a terrific young lady named Ashlin Sanders. As a speaker, I have a passion for two things: helping to ignite events with the Stoke the Fire Within keynotes and breakouts, and educating and inspiring young people on how to connect with college athletics scholarships. Companies are looking to hire them, because of the fire they have within.

A year ago this month, I delivered College Recruiting Simplifed on a cold, winter night in downtown South Bend, IN. Kirby Whitacre, Dir. of Athletics for South Bend schools, had organized the event. Kirby has always made sure Recruiting Education is available to families.

Ashlin’s parents, Perry and Cherrie Sanders, were in attendance. Ashlin was at basketball practice. The 5′8″ guard was in her senior season at Riley High. Even though she was All Conference and played on AAU teams such as The Family, the official NIKE travel program for girls basketball in Indiana, and in Showcases, she wasn’t being recruited that much. The family felt her High School coach wasn’t doing enough in recruiting, but the bottom line is that it is not the job of the High School coach to lead the way in recruiting. It is the responsibility of the family.

A few letters were making their way, but nothing was really happening for this very talented basketball player. As I have said many times, AAU and Club are important because you have to develop the ability to play at the College level, but so many families think it assures them College scholarships. The premier players – the top 20% or so – but many fall between the recruiting cracks. Ashlin was headed that way.

Mr. and Mrs. Sanders heard my 50 minute presentation on The 5 Things You Must Know and The 5 Things You Must Do to connect with College Coaches, and they followed the steps. They knew they had to be more proactive with the recruiting game.

They decided to go into one of the NCSA programs. She built her Profile with NCSA’s guidance, and NCSA sent it out during the season. A lot can happen senior season, but you can’t horse around. Families have to take action.

“Everything came alive then,” said Mrs. Sanders of the response. “We heard from schools all over. Schools we had heard of. Schools we hadn’t. Division 1, 2, 3, NAIA, Junior College. Schools came out of the woodwork. Evansville was very aggressive after her. The Lady Vols viewed her profile. Eastern Michigan was really interested. Middle Tennessee State. Schools in North Carolina, New York, Florida…”

Ashlin was a very good player. Colleges simply didn’t know she existed. The sad thing about recruiting every year is that so many kids don’t get recruited because College coaches don’t know who they are. Good kids who work hard. College coaches today find good, quality kids through verified sites like NCSA. They can’t be everywhere personally finding kids. In today’s recruiting world, they are taking advantage of the internet and the ability to watch a young person’s hilites, full game tapes, and verified transcript all in one place. When they saw Ashlin’s ability to run the floor and play the game, their eyebrows raised!

Ashlin wanted to stay in the Midwest area within four hours of home. NCSA was able to open her up to all those schools’s in that radius.

Academically, she carried a 2.6 GPA as a senior at Riley High and struggled with the SAT, so that limited some of her options. As I always say – and this has resonated with young people because they will listen to an outside expert – “the better your grades, the more options you will have in college sports!” Ashlin’s grades/test scores weren’t the greatest, so she didn’t have as many options. However, she still had some, and took advantage of them! Among her offers was one from Lincoln College, a private, two-year, liberal arts college in Lincoln, Illinois.

Lincoln is covering her $21,000 tuition. Her family is covering room and board.

“That’s what I wanted!” said, Cherrie, excited. There is no greater relief than knowing the vast majority of college costs are being covered. The average college grad leaves with $23,000 in loans. Athletes like Ashlin Sanders have an advantage, which is why families need to be doing everything they can to connect with coaches.

Cherrie wrote a note to me later, saying NCSA had been a godsend to their family. What I love is that NCSA can simply help good kids get a lot more looks. These kids deserve to be playing somewhere. I love how we are able to connect coaches with top quality kids!

Ashlin is home on Break. She is loving her experience at Lincoln College. She has scored 17, 13 and 11 points in recent games, so she is getting to play a lot. Academically, she is now carrying a 3.5 GPA because of the tremendous academic support programs in place for athletes. Her mother calls their academic support “excellent.”

Division 1 schools like Eastern Michigan continue to watch her. No doubt, she will have the chance to transfer to a major college program in two years. Upon graduation, she wants to be a Physical Ed teacher and a coach. Like many athletes, she wants to spend her career in Sports.

“Everyone we talked to at NCSA was friendly and helpful,” said Cherrie. “If you choose to do one of the programs, it’s worth it”

As I head out to speak across the country, I always tell my wife that delivering College Recruiting Simplified will be a life changing experience for some of the people in every audience. The Sanders made the decision to drive out on a snowy night in the dead of winter a year ago to hear the Talk. Their girl was under the radar in recruiting. They chose to follow the steps and take action. Ashlin’s life has been changed. It’s early, but she is on track to earn a college degree. In today’s world, getting a college degree is no longer an option. It’s a necessity. Ashlin is doing it!

Charlie Adams, Speaker
To see about getting your athlete evaluated for college athletic scholarship possibilities, contact me at charlie@StokeTheFireWithin.com

Thanksgiving weekend, among many other things, provides an opportunity to waddle out from the table and watch a movie. I don’t go to the Movie Theater often. When I do, it is usually to watch something inspirational. Earlier this week I saw “The Blind Side” with my two oldest children.

I give it a “Thumbs Up” as Siskel and Ebert used to do. I highly suggest you try to see it. You will come out of it reinvigorated and feeling like you spent time watching a quality film with a good message. The opening weekend box office was better than expected for this film, which means people are talking about its’ impact.

The movie stars Sandra Bullock. Like many of you, I have seen a lot of her movies. In my opinion, this is her best acting performance (my gosh, I am starting to sound like a movie critic writer…). Her performance is deserving of Academy Award consideration. This is a far cry from “Speed” or “Miss Congeniality.” She plays Leigh Anne Tuohy. Talk about having a fire within! Leigh Anne Tuohy has it, and Bullock was dead-on portraying it! To top it off, she played a southern woman and didn’t try to force a southern accent, which is usually disaster for Hollywood actors. Being from the South, I have often literally cringed as actors tried to manufacture a southern accent.

The Blind Side tells the true story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home in Memphis. His mother suffered an addiction to crack cocaine, which impacted his education. He repeated both first grade and second grade, and attended eleven different schools during his first nine years as a student. He had no real home and wandered around night to night. At 6′3″ and 350 pounds, he was quite the sight wandering around. One night Sean and Leigh Anne Touhy and their two children saw him walking alongside the road in short sleeves and cold weather, and took him in for the night and beyond. The Tuohy’s are a well-to-do white family that help him reach his incredible potential. At the same time, Oher leads them to learn more about themselves. When you see where Oher started and where he is today, you will be stoked. The pictures at the end of the movie have a powerful impact.

Okay, that paragraph REALLY sounded like a movie review.

Tim McGraw does a really nice job playing Sean Tuohy, Leigh Anne’s husband. Ironically, when I was in High School in the late 1970’s in Oxford, Mississippi, I watched Sean Tuohy play basketball for Ole Miss. He was a very good player out of Newman HS in New Orleans (the alma mater of Peyton and Eli Manning). He married Leigh Anne, a cheerleader for Ole Miss, and went on to own about 80 Taco Bell/KFC franchises. That led to the “well-to-do” status.

Over the last few years, I had heard about Michael Oher and the Tuohy’s. A best-selling book was written about the story, and then the movie came out. We made a point to be there as soon as it was released, and came away inspired. The Theater was packed, which is a sign a good buzz had come out that this was indeed a quality film worth shelling out $8.

This isn’t a rah rah sports movie, but a compelling true life story of the fire within a woman, and what it did to help a young man reach his potential in life.

Staying on fire takes a daily effort. One way to do it is watching this new film sometime over the next few days. I promise you that you will come away stoked! If you see it, let me know how it stoked the fire within you.

Just don’t go after eating a heavy Thanksgiving meal. Full stomach plus dark theater leads to ZZZZZZZZZZZ.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Charlie Adams

Over the weekend, Stanford University crushed mighty Southern Cal 55-21. 55 points are the most ever given up by Southern Cal.

The leader of Stanford is head coach Jim Harbaugh, a man with fire.

Read what he said when he was introduced as Stanford Head Football Coach in 2006:

“I vow I will attack this endeavor with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.”

The headline of the article read: “Harbaugh On Fire with Enthusiasm.”

He took over a program with the toughest academic requirements in major college football, and he has them ranked in the Top 15 in America.
He made no excuses. Instead, he brought a fire. In my observations from having interviewed over 4000 peak performers, I have found time and time again that the biggest factor in success is having the fire within. As Jim Harbaugh has shown at Stanford, amazing things can happen when it is stoked.

What are you as an individual and as an organization doing today to kindle the fire within you?

I challenge you to take the approach Jim Harbaugh did when he accepted the challenge of leading Stanford Football:

“I vow I will attack this endeavor with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.”