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Wee One - 2011 REGISTRATION FORM < CLICK HERE
AT THE 2010 EVENT, Tom Fuller, left, accepts a gift from the Wee One Foundation. Dale Parske, right, presented the gift on behalf of the foundation. Tom is in line for a lung transplant. The 1st Annual Minnesota Wee One Foundation golf tournament is set for Sept. 27 at North Oaks Golf Club. Anyone interested in supporting Tom and this great foundation is invited to play. All proceeds from the event will be donated to Tom and his family. Wee One Foundation:
History and Update Wayne Otto, CGCS will be remembered as the long time and highly respected golf course superintendent at Ozaukee Country Club. He was a good friend to all in the golf industry as well as friend to many others. After more than 5 years since his passing, my fingers struggle to tap out words to describe the admiration felt by so many. The Wee One Foundation is a tribute to Wayne and his seemly never ending willingness to befriend and help anyone. Wayne was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June of 2004. We were shocked and dismayed by the grim news for such an apparently healthy person just beginning to enjoy retirement and starting a second career as a turf consultant. Pancreatic cancer has an incredibly small survival rate. It is referred to as a silent killer that goes undetected until usually at a stage when treatment options are limited and have a low success rate. The Wee One Foundation had humble beginnings with 6-8 guys gathered for lunch at Conejitas. Conejitas is a not so stylish but very authentic Mexican restaurant at 6th and Virginia in Milwaukee. It was Wayne’s favorite. Conejitas serves the best enchiladas in the world on paper plates. Ask for sour cream and you are likely to be called a gringo. The initial focus of the Wee One Foundation, before it was a foundation, was Wayne and his needs. A golf outing to raise funds to help Wayne in his fight against pancreatic cancer was organized. Knowing the low success rates of any available treatments in the United States, Wayne had sought alternative experimental treatments in Germany. Obviously, those treatments were not covered by insurance. We learned that as a group with a very popular cause we can be very good at raising funds, but unfortunately, the harsh reality is we are not capable of beating disease. A good friend of the group and GCSAA past-president, Bill Roberts said to me, “You know these things are going to keep happening.” The fact that these things are going to keep happening and have happened is exactly why the Wee One Foundation was officially formed - has continued - and grows. The name of the foundation was chosen from one of those great Wayne Otto stories that just happens to co-inside with a Scottish caddy story. Wayne, Danny Quast, Stan Zontec, and Patrick O’Brien where on a golf trip to Scotland. While negotiating bets before teeing off, the caddies were consulted on their opinions on the possibilities. One of the caddies, whom I am sure Wayne was already on a friendly first name basis, stated bluntly “My monies on the Wee One.” The Wee One Foundation is inspired by the many fond memories of Wayne. The Wee One Foundation has been favorably blessed by the IRS with 501c(3) tax status allowing dues and donations to be deductible. The Wee One Foundation now exists to lend support to others in the golf industry that are faced with financial burdens brought on by catastrophic illness or injury to themselves or their dependents. Through the generous support of many, all tolled from that first meeting at Conejitas, we have gifted more than $350,000. This is real money given to real people at a time when they really need it. This is quite an accomplishment for a group formed less than 6 years ago. Wee One Foundation has gifted cash with no strings attached to individuals in Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, North Carolina, Virginia, and Arizona. Our business is full of individuals with tremendous self pride who feel they can work things out on their own. We operate under the radar so to speak and have a policy of not publicly using the names and problems of the individuals helped. We have gifted cash to superintendents, assistant superintendents, dependents of superintendents, and industry reps as well. Far too many in this business are uninsured or underinsured. Even with adequate insurance the financial burden of a major illness or injury is overwhelming. The Wee One is a friend in the business. Our gifting of cash has helped get people through some tough times. We are not able to solve all problems or cure disease but the Wee One has been a friend to lessen the load so to speak. For more information and to fill out a membership application, please visit The Wee One Foundation website at weeone.org. We look forward to your participation with the upcoming event at North Oaks Golf Club on September 27, 2010 in support of Tom Fuller. The Wee One has already presented Tom with a check for $ 5,000 and will match again following the event. Good Health and High Spirits to all. - Dale Parske |
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