Bruce Fingerhut: Virginia Lawmakers approve $154 million in Metro f...

Bruce Fingerhut: Virginia Lawmakers approve $154 million in Metro f...

Virginia Lawmakers approve $154 million in Metro funding

Bruce Fingerhut: Universal KindnessI have had the very good fortune...

Bruce Fingerhut: Universal KindnessI have had the very good fortune...: Universal Kindness I have had the very good fortune to have traveled to many countries around the world. It has never ceased to s...

Universal Kindness

I have had the very good fortune to have traveled to many countries around the world.

It has never ceased to surprise me how generous so many people have been to someone they don’t even know. With all the problems throughout the world — and in many of the places I have visited in the past — it is reassuring and amazingly heartwarming to think back upon those who have helped me out in some way or another, and be reminded that, despite all the war, terrorism, crime, etc. you hear about all over the place, there are still tons of kind, generous, thoughtful, giving people in every corner of the world.

I relay my story of just one of those many people here:

Vietnam

My brother and I had just arrived a few days earlier to the hectic, bustling city of Saigon, and had been staying at a little inexpensive and not fancy — but very clean and friendly hotel/pension in the middle of the city.

The several women running the hotel were incredibly kind and helpful, but it was evident that they were also very overworked with long and busy shifts.  We got to know them just a little through a few chats with them and though some playful, joking banter back and forth.  They were always very positive and would bend over backwards if we or anyone staying there needed anything…this, despite it being clear they were working very hard and were constantly exhausted.

In any case, as was required throughout travel in Vietnam at that time, we were required to leave our passports in the safe at the hotel where we were staying.  Now, normally, my brother and I are two meticulous, anal travelers — never forgetting anything, noticing everything, and having all the necessary info, visas, money, etc. exactly when they are required.

But…not on this day.

We were supposed to be heading out early to catch a flight to Cambodia.  After quickly packing up and paying our bill for the hotel, we jumped in a cab and hurriedly began the hour drive through the crowded streets of the city to the international airport, in order to catch our flight that we were already running late for.

After arriving at the front the International Terminal, I reached into my passport holder to get some money to pay the cab, and instantly knew something was wrong! “Brother, you remembered to get the passports, right?”

Well, no, brother did not remember…and neither did I.  Never mind whose fault it was….we were screwed!  No passports, and scheduled to leave on an international flight in less than two hours…with our passports sitting in a safe in a hotel in central Saigon, about an hour away.  It would be impossible to take the cab back and get the passports, and then turn around and still make our flight.

So, after spending 10 minutes trying to figure out how to make a phone call on a local pay phone, I finally succeeded in reaching our little hotel.  Before I even said five words in explanation, the woman from the hotel shouts “You left your passports here!  Where are you??”

I explain to her that our flight is leaving in less than two hours, and I’m not sure what we are going to do.

In response, with not a second’s hesitation, she blurts out, “Look for me out in front of the International Terminal in 45 minutes,” and hangs up.

“Really??”, I think to myself.  My brother and I are in a bit of disbelief, and then start to question whether I really heard her say what I thought she said.

Lo and behold, less than 45 minutes later, she comes darting up to us on a small moped, as we’re standing in the drop-off area in front of the terminal.  She smiles at us, holds up our passports, and says, “You probably need these!”

She had just sped all the way across the city in record time, dodging all kinds of traffic, chickens, goats, pedestrians and god knows what else, just to help out two strangers she hardly knew.

The cynical bastards among us are of course now thinking to themselves “what exactly does she want in return?  A big fat tip?  Or something even more?”

And, as we all from time to time get jaded and cynical as a result of an occasional negative travel experience, I can’t exactly say that somewhere in the back of mind, I wasn’t kind of asking myself that question too.

But, it felt genuine.  Just incredibly generous and very genuine.

Anyway, she hands us our passports and pushes us away, saying “Hurry!  Good luck.”

As she does, I shake her hand, and at the same time I push a wad of large Vietnamese bills into her hand.  Seeing what I am trying to do, she screams at me, “No, no…it’s okay,” and refuses to take the money.

I try again.  And, “No…definitely, no!”

Finally, I try to slip it into the bag attached to the front of her moped.

“No, no, no!”, she says.  “I didn’t do this for money.  I did this just to help you.”

Traffic is backing up behind her, and we have to run to make our flight.  I give her another handshake…then a hug… and thank her again profusely for all her help.

I wave good bye.  Never see her again.

She didn’t want anything from us.  Just wanted to help us out.  Help out an almost-stranger…just because.

Wow…what a world it is!

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-most-generous-thing-someone-in-a-foreign-country-has-ever-done-for-you/answer/Bruce-Fingerhut

Bruce Fingerhut Named Coach of the Year for Area 26

On Sunday, January 25th, at Washington Irving Middle School, Bruce Fingerhut was presented the Area 26 coach of the year award.  The award was presented by the Area 26 Council Chairman Tom Ingoldsby.  Bruce has done a tremendous job of leading Area 26 athletes to become not just better on the field of competition but better people off the field for over 15 years.  The ceremony was attended by a full gym of players and their friends and family.  If you see Bruce please congratulate him for this honor.



Bruce Fingerhut, in the middle flanked by Veronica Jennings, Potomac Region Director SOVA, and Tom Ingoldsby, Area 26 Chairman. 

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February 2015 Edition   Coach of the Year for Area 26 by Greg Updike On Sunday, January 25th, at Washington Irving Middle School, Bruce Fingerhut was presented the Area 26 coach of the year award.  The award was presented by the Area 26 Council Chairman Tom Ingoldsby.  Bruce has done a tremendous job of leading Area 26 athletes to become not just better on the field of competition but better people off the field for over 15 years.  The ceremony was attended by a full gym of players and their friends and family.  If you see Bruce please congratulate him for this honor. Bruce Fingerhut int he middle flanked by Veronica Jennings, Potomac Region Director SOVA, and Tom Ingoldsby, Area 26 Chairman. Tim's River Polar Plunge Fundraiser by Kelly Updike Dear Friends and Family,                I am excited to announce that I am participating in the Polar Plunge again. I ran into the 37 degree water last February to support David and other Special Olympics athletes just like him. With much help I was able to raise a little more than $2,000 and I am asking for your support and generosity this year to help me reach my goal. I would love your donation to help me run into the icy waters of the Potomac River again this February but more importantly to help the bigger cause which is more and better opportunities for the Special Olympic athletes. To donate please click the link below which will take you to the Polar Plunge donation site for Area 26. Thank you so much for your support! https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?registrationID=2700760&langPref=en-CA&Referrer=%26Referrer%3dhttp%253a%252f%252fpolarplunge.com%252fView%252fPage%252fNorthern_VA#&panel1-2  Warm Regards and Warm Water,  Kelly Updike Special Olympics Northern Virginia Golf Fundraiser by Mark Emery NEW Class A Requirements by Veronica Jennings Below are details on concussion training requirements for all Head and Assistant Coaches. I’ve also attached signs and symptoms of a concussion for your records. Please review, if you have any questions please feel free to contact Veronica Jennings. Thanks!  Concussion Training Requirements Due to the increased risks of concussions, insurance companies are no longer willing to provide liability coverage for sports organizations unless they require coaches to complete concussion training. Special Olympics North America (SONA) and American Specialty, our insurance broker, have implemented a new concussion training requirement for all head coaches and assistant coaches for all sports we offer. Beginning January 1, 2015 all new coaches must take concussion training as part of their Class A Volunteer eligibility process. All current coaches must complete concussion training by December 31, 2015. SONA selected the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) concussion training as the approved training module. This is an online course that takes about 40 minutes to complete.  To learn more about the course and to access the course, click on the following link: http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/online_training.html. Volunteers who take the training must send a copy of their course completion certificate either by email to volunteers@specialolympicsva.org or by mail to Volunteer Manager, Special Olympics Virginia, 3212 Skipwith Rd., Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23294. We anticipate that SONA will create a system for us to electronically track course completion. We also anticipate receiving a paper version of the training. This requirement was put into place suddenly due to insurance requirements. We will not monitor concussion training completion for Class A Volunteers attending state games until January 1, 2016. However, please make sure all of your new coaches complete the concussion training. Current coaches are encouraged to complete the concussion training as soon as possible. Want to make a direct donation to Area 26 athletes? Contributions can be sent to:      Special Olympics Virginia, Area 26      11350 Random Hills Rd.  C-140       Fairfax, VA 22030 Make checks payable to: Special Olympics Virginia - Area 26 All contributions will be acknowledged by Area 26. Area 26 website http://www.novasova.org Potomac Region Facebook page https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=55271611037 The next the monthly emailing of the Area 26 Newsletter will be November 5th (first Wednesday of the month). If you have something to be communicated, please have your info to me by Friday, October 31st. forward to a friend  Our mailing address is: Special Olympics Virginia Area 26 11350 Random Hills Road C-140 Fairfax, Va 22032

Bruce Fingerhut Recommends Best Mind-Expanding Books

Enjoy my list of some of my favorite eye-opening and life-changing books:


-- Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely

-- The Art of War by Sun  Tzu

-- Siddharta by Herman Hesse

-- The  Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

-- The Road Less Travelled by  M.Scott Peck

-- Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael  Pollan

-- The Power of Now by Eckert Tolle

-- Man's Search for  Meaning by Victor E. Frankl

-- The Doors of Perception by  Aldous Huxley

-- Tuesdays With Morrie -- Mitch  Albom

--  The Case for Israel -- Alan Dershowitz

--  The Four Hour Body --  Tim  Ferriss

--  The Four Hour Workweek --  Tim  Ferriss

-- The  Art of Happiness -- Dalai Lama

--  Start-up  Nation by Dan Senor & Saul Singer

--  Think and Grow Rich -- Napolean  Hill

-- The Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan  Millman

-- The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge --  Carlos Castaneda

-- Autobiography Of A Yogi  by Paramahamsa Yogananda

amazing stuff!!