Page 40 - April 2021 Voices
P. 40
FIELD NOTES
Remembering
Coach Marc
Alizah Khan
He had so many stories and gave us so much
to remember. Other Future Stars members had
a lot to say about him. Zayan and Ryaan, past
members said, “Marc was always the most excited
and impassioned person in the room, even when
I don’t remember the first time I saw him; his face it was filled with kids a fraction of his age. He
didn’t leave an impression on me and just like was a constant inspiration to all of us, all while
everyone else I knew him as one of the Future insisting that we were his inspiration.”(Ryaan)
Stars coaches. That was before I joined Future and “I just remember that there was always a
lightness about him. It came from this place
Stars officially at age twelve.
The first day as an official member I had a of deep conviction, something in his soul that
speech prepared. I was ready to speak and had believed in the power of words, that there
memorized every single word. On stage I felt are worlds within us to be shared with each
nervous, but I pushed forward. Suddenly my other.”(Zayan). One of our current members
mind went completely blank and only after Yusuf said, “Through tragedy and optimistic
two minutes of standing quietly on the stage times, Coach Marc was there for me and for every
did I remember my speech and finished it. other member. I will never forget the positive
Embarrassed, I got off the stage as fast as I could. influence he had on my life. May his memory
After the meeting, Coach Marc told me I had be a blessing to us all.”
done a great job. He told me I looked extremely
mature for a twelve-year-old and most adults I was privileged to help Marc coach the students
would run off the stage if they forgot the speech. at Future Stars for several years. He always had
In any other conversation with an adult I had positive, inspiring things to say to the kids and was
just met, I would be feeling extremely awkward. a wonderfully warm and caring person. He will
Coach Marc had a way of making someone feel be fondly remembered and deeply missed.—Eric
completely at ease. On top of the feedback I got Winger
Marc Bettinger was a member of several clubs over
from the members, Coach Marc went out of his the years. He served as an officer in both Portland
way to give me feedback. He was always praising Toastmasters and Los Bilingues Toastmasters. More
us because we had started public speaking earlier recently, he dedicated his energies to coaching the
than most adults. He was always happy even Future Stars gavel club. He passed away in November
when he was faced with hardships. He would 2020. He is remembered fondly by those he inspired
always say “you guys make my week.” to become better versions of themselves.[editor]
40 ONE COMMUNITY
