Ponderings from this year’s HAPA Chairman, Dan Sullivan

HAPA-2-HELP-U and TAP-A-HAPA…

It’s about time (and talent)

It’s always seemed to me that our HAPA network had a lot of talent that needed to be evoked. A lot of us get involved with the school and go through a lot of discovery. Our family units get a good, much needed shake-up and we open up a door inside each of us that never closes again. Actually several doors.

There’s the generosity door. I’m deeply appreciative, as are a lot of HAPAs, that the Hyde School was able to help my son, and his family, get back on track. The many components of a character education resonate in everything that I do everyday, as I suspect they do for most post-Hyde parents, and in the kids who wanted to leave when they were there (and who often can’t say enough positive about it after they’ve left). So, how do I give back to this organization that made such a difference in my life and in my family’s life?

Certainly writing a check is one way. I continue to give to Hyde and I know that a number of HAPAs do that as well. And, many of us what to give more and we have a lot of talent in the HAPA network with which to do so. The real question is: how do we mobilize our talent and how do we utilize our initiative to build a stronger Hyde and take its “character culture” out to the world?

The first step in that process is coming about this month with the launch of our TAP-A-HAPA chalkboard. You can check it out yourself by clicking here. The chalkboard will get regular updates with projects, from the simple to the complex that you and other HAPAs can do for the schools. Our first jobs are pretty simple (on purpose) and have been submitted by the Heads of the Schools… so we know they are truly helpful and needed.

We’re also initiating a TAP-A-HAPA Committee, with HAPA Board representation and members from throughout the HAPA community, to look into more sophisticated projects that the schools may require… to make certain that we have the talent and resources to make a contribution while also making it a pleasant and rewarding experience for the HAPAs who are participating. This committee will be working with the schools and individual HAPAs to craft projects that will be added to future “chalkboards”, so keep checking back… we’ll hope to have new projects as we go along.

The other major piece of TAP-A-HAPA is about projects that you submit. That’s right, we’ve opened the door for you to propose how you can use your own unique potential to create something for the kids, the schools and our community. You can submit your ideas right on the web site and we’ll start the ball rolling. Not to say that we’ll be able to do everything… and why not give it a shot?!!

The HAPA-2-HELP-U Forum is another new project near and dear to my own heart. The credit for the name goes to Laura Gauld, who mentioned it during one of our meetings up at the Woodstock campus. The idea comes from a personal experience of mine. My post-Hyde graduation son is a cook. And, as a young HAPA grad, with little experience, he could use a job… and a break. The network of HAPAs around the country understand Hyde grads and also their need for an opportunity. The new HAPA-2-HELP-U Forum is a way for you to post your interest or request so that other HAPAs can give you feedback, ideas, or ways to go. Perhaps your kid needs a job or you’re looking for someone who speaks Hyde-speak in your area, or some ideas about where to stay in San Francisco from someone who knows and would likely steer you in the right direction. Well, here’s the place to post your needs and to respond to those of other HAPAs.

Two great new ideas now available to you through the wonders of Hyde, HAPA and the world wide web!!

Daniel J. Sullivan

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