I didn’t realize (amazing volunteers, what they do at USN)

Meet parent Rick Keuler in 2018-2019 USNA Volunteer Coordinator Melissa Flatt's column to encourage parents to get involved.
by Melissa Flatt, USNA volunteer coordinator
 
Last year, I was asked by our illustrious University School of Nashville Association if I would consider being the step-up volunteer coordinator. As the name implies, that is a two-year commitment, with the second year being volunteer coordinator. It’s my second year. Don’t get me wrong, it’s cool to have a title, but what I really do are two main things: 1. If you say you’d like to get involved at USN, I help you connect with the right person and place (like I said, cool job, but even better, wait for it…), and 2. I get to interview really awesome people who volunteer at USN and share their stories with you. All that said, here’s the first of this year’s column I like to call “I didn’t realize.”
 
I’d like to introduce you to Rick Keuler. Many of you may already know Rick. His is a face that is present when things need to get done. Rick is married to Vanderbilt University Medical Center Associate Professor of Surgery and Anesthesiology Kyla Terhune and they are the parents of three wonderful children: Tate in ninth grade, Amelia in fifth grade, and Matthias in kindergarten. Rick has been a member of our USN community for eight years, and an active volunteer for the past six.
 
While it’s easy to slip into a mindset of all the world revolves around USN and our children, I wanted to ask Rick, up front, what all he had happening in his life on a regular basis. It turns out Rick is really busy. Rick is running a new business, Game Point (Nashville’s first board game café. Visit Game Point at 107 S. 11th St.). He’s also the chair of the administrative board at his church, works with the confirmation class, and leads a Sunday School class every week. Plus, Rick supports Kyla in her work with the hospital. Plus-plus, he’s the first point of contact for his three active kiddos and everything they are involved in. And, he’s a practicing lawyer.
 
Obviously, Rick is working and parenting full time. So, what does he do at USN? A little bit of everything. Rick fills needs as they arise for most all of our big USN events. He paints backdrops for Artclectic. He sorts books for the Fall Book Frenzy. He’s a Lower School helping hand. He’s a Middle School helping hand. He ran an Evening Class called Introduction to Board Games and says he’ll do it again. Rick also helps extensively with the Middle School musical in props, costumes, backstage, and as a liaison. 
 
So now you’re probably wondering, “Why? Why, with everything else going on, are you volunteering and how do you find the time?” I don’t think I can rephrase anything more impactfully than Rick’s own words.
 
“Being invested is important. If something is valuable to you, then it’s worth being a part of it. Vince Durnan said something particularly meaningful during the kindergarten parents’ dinner. ‘Anything good that has happened at this school has happened because someone did something that they didn’t have to do.’ I want to send that message to my kids. If you want something to happen, then you have to do that — fundraiser, shift, project,” Rick said. “It’s easy to say someone else will take care of it, but if you really care that that thing happens, then you need to be that somebody. Plus, my kids don’t tell me anything so it’s a way for me to know what’s going on.”
 
I asked Rick if there was anything he’d like to see change at USN. His reply echoed a familiar sentiment. “I’d like to see more people volunteering, for an attitude to develop that if my child is involved in something I need to pitch in in some way. Every little bit helps. You don’t have to run an event, but finding that shift that you can work is critical,” he said.
 
So, as we wrapped up I asked, “Would you choose to volunteer again? Doing the same things?”
The answer was a resounding, yes.
 
“All the things I do, I’ve done for multiple years. I think it’s important to find ways that you can be involved because when you are involved you are telling your kids this is important. The thing to take away is it doesn’t have to be a chore. Volunteering can be fun. I’ve made new friends in the USN community by helping out,” he said.
 
We completely agree, Rick. And now maybe we all realize just a little bit more about what all you do. See you at Artclectic.
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