National Office Bounces Back After 100 Year Flood

As the National Office staff enjoyed the aptly named Desert Lights Nationals, the National Office itself had a much different experience. After torrential rains pummeled Ripon, Wisconsin, the National Office building was flooded with two and a half feet of water. The basement, which is used primarily for storage, felt the brunt of the disaster.

While friends and family members surveyed the initial damage during the week, members of the National Office were still surprised to see the remnants of the deluge, now receded. "Everything in the basement was pretty much gone," explained Director of Finance Carol Zanto. Fortunately, the most vital NFL records, including membership cards, were secured in a vault upstairs.

On the heels of a successful National Tournament, the National Office now faced a new project: cleanup. Fortunately, the office banded together to remove damaged items from the basement, clean the damage, construct new shelving units, and reload the basement. Their reward: a rebuilt storage area that is even better than before.