Vice President’s Corner | August 2026

This month, I want to take a moment to talk about something a little different and, quite frankly, something that has been on my mind. OCSC recently lost three of our members: Gordon Garten, Joe Kapelczak, and Chuck Murphy.

Losing these three members in such a short period of time has really made me stop and think. I can’t think of a stronger reminder that life is short and time is fleeting. People we have seen around the club, shared conversations with, laughed with, and simply become accustomed to seeing are suddenly no longer with us.

As you read this, I ask you to take a moment of silence and remember Gordon, Joe, and Chuck, along with the friends and fellow OCSC members we have lost before them. Their passing has also made me think about the people in my own life and, maybe more importantly, the things I haven’t always taken the time to say. I suspect I’m not alone.

An August Challenge to Members

We live in a world of text messages, emails, and social media. Communication is instant, but somehow some of the most important things still go unsaid. So, this month, I would like to make a personal suggestion to every OCSC member:
1. Take pen to paper.
2. Write a handwritten letter to someone who is important in your life.
Maybe it is your spouse, a family member, an old friend, or someone who has simply made a difference in your life. Tell them what they mean to you. Tell them why you appreciate them. Put into words the things we so often assume they already know.

3. Then put that letter in an envelope, put a stamp on it, and mail it.
I’m going to do this myself. There is something special about receiving a handwritten letter in the mail. It canbe held, saved, and read again years from now. In today’s world, it may be one of the mostpersonal gifts you can give someone.

Don’t wait for the perfect time. Don’t assume there will always be another chance to say what you want to say. Life is short, and time is fleeting. Write the letter. Mail the letter. Do it before too much time passes.

Mike Stailey
1st Vice President
Oakland County Sportsmen’s Club