On November 12, 2007 Dennis Durco, Founder and Director of Common Bond, was asked to speak to the Forum Group of Ypsilanti at Haab's restaurant, located on Michigan Avenue in downtown Ypsilanti.  The Forum has been in existence since 1912 and gathers monthly. It is comprised of 12 members of the Ypsilanti business community and 12 members of the Eastern Michigan University faculty and administration. Mike Kabat, owner of Haab's and Forum member, hosted the event and extended the invitation for us to speak to this prestigious group of Ypsilanti business leaders. 
 
Joining Dennis at this event were fellow Board member Randy Milgrom; Advisory Board members Amaechi Udoji (also the High School Boys Basketball Coordinator) and Mike Lewis (also a coach); and Corey Gupton, former Common Bond and and Ypsilanti Lincoln High School basketball player and current member of the Detroit Panthers, a professional basketball team.
 
Dennis' talk focused on Common Bond fundamentals, describing the "secret sauce" of the organization as its coaching staff and administrators, all of whom serve as role models for the young men and women on our teams. Dennis also stressed the importance of working with area high school coaches and that we emphasize the basic fundamentals of the game. He explained the high expectations we have and the high standards we set for Common Bond members, including academic and personal accountability, and Dennis and Randy Milgrom explained that the Club is a grass roots organization relying on player fees and community financial support to cover annual expenses.
 
Dennis provided a short list of our sponsors -- including Kid Rock, Rascall Flatts, Bank of Ann Arbor, Toyota, and Haab's -- and thanked each for their support. He also described the spirit of cooperation and volunteerism that comes from every last person involved in the organization, which is what has allowed it to thrive. He said he believes that this is the primary reason why Common Bond is known throughout the state and the region -- if not the country -- as an organization of high character and integrity.
 
Dennis was also proud to mention certain of our accomplishments, including being the largest organization of its type in Michigan, and having 70 (and counting) former players going on to play college basketball, with a 98% rate of attending college after leaving Common Bond. Common Bond was thankful for the opportunity to present to the Forum group, and Dennis expressed his appreciation by welcoming Mike Kabat into the Common Bond family and presenting him with Common Bond apparel -- to thunderous applause.
 
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