Alstin’s President, Mike Schluth, had one of the hottest tickets in town. And it didn’t have anything to do with baseball.

It is rare when a regular Joe or regular Jane is in the same room with the President of the United States. But there I found myself on Monday, March 8, 2010 just a few steps away from Barack Obama as he addressed a throng of about two thousand people at Arcadia University in Glenside, PA.

Regardless of how you vote, to stand front and center a mere five people back from the leader of the free world can be categorized as the experience of a lifetime.

Three days prior, I was in a morning meeting of the Board of Trustees when the big news of the President’s visit became known to the 35 or so people then in attendance. The buzz was prolific even though President Obama’s proposed visit to promote his health care reform initiative was not absolutely certain at the time. We were told that Arcadia was considered mainly because there were only two entrances to the property from the roadways and because they had successfully demonstrated proper security measures for a visit by Al Gore back in 2000. As a Trustee, I would be able to secure admission to the event. However, we were told that seating would need to be on a first come, first served basis. The VIP seating at the athletic center were reserved mostly for White House stipulated guests and a few politicos such as Governor Rendell, Mayor Nutter and the like.

“No problem on this end,” I thought to myself, “I’m just happy to be able to be in attendance. I’ll get there early for the President’s eleven o’clock address. Say, maybe I will even get to rub elbows with him.” You can imagine my elation at 6:30 a.m. that morning as I motored from my home in Doylestown down Route 309 toward Glenside. With my golden ticket clutched firmly in hand, I arrived at the University just past seven, a full two hours before the doors were to open at nine a.m. “Most of the people in attendance will be students and they already stood in line for hours on Saturday to secure their space,” I mused. “Therefore,” I reasoned, “I should be one of the first in line with two hours to spare.” That notion was dispelled the moment I drove onto the campus. Even at that early hour, there were already a couple of hundred people in line. I knew that if I positioned myself at the end of the line as it was, I would still have a prime place to view and listen to what Obama had to say. However, with my Arcadia Trustee badge secured to my suit jacket, I ambled toward the front. I don’t believe it is correct to pull rank and I make a habit not to do that to people, but YO!, this was the chance of a lifetime for me to be up close and somewhat personal with the most powerful person on Earth.

“Hey kids,” I said as I gingerly stepped past sleeping bags and blankets, “I see that some of you have been here all night. Must have been chilly. Hey, do any of you want to know who took home any of the Oscars that were awarded last evening?” The sleepy eyes of the students lit right up and I was instantaneously welcomed into their conversations.

The temperature was in the low 30’s that morning as we waited patiently for the doors to open. Secret Service and other White House representatives, local police and firefighters were in abundance as one would expect. (I learned later that the Secret Service had been at Arcadia 24/7 during the previous four days and they went as far as to take every single fixture apart in the Athletic Center in order to protect the President.)

Finally, 9:00 arrived and we were allowed inside. I had the option to sit in a great spot in the bleachers off to the side, but I (along with every student I entered with) chose to stand in front of the podium – a mere 20 feet away from where the speech was scheduled to be delivered at 11:00. Other than being a bit of a strain on these old gams of mine, the wait was quite enjoyable. The atmosphere throughout the gym was near frenetic in a good sort of way. Then, at about 10:45, cell phones were ordered muted and an Arcadia student ascended the stage to speak at the same microphone that would soon be used by the President. He asked everyone to bow their heads as he offered an opening prayer. Then I, along with all those who chose to participate (which was most everyone), recited the Pledge of Allegiance. We stood tall and full of pride as four wonderfully talented students sang The Star Spangled Banner a cappella. My goose bumps had goose bumps!

At long last, the Presidential caravan arrived and the time was almost at hand. President Obama walked on stage at 11:10 to a thunderous ovation. And after he acknowledged the other politicians present, he ditched his suit jacket, rolled up his sleeves and got down to business. No matter one’s political persuasion or no matter what side of the fence one is on regarding health care reform, you could not help but be impressed with this man’s captivating persona as he delivered his speech. Make no mistake about it, Barack Obama’s stage presence and his ability to speak fluently, effortlessly and casually is something to behold. “That’s the most fiery I’ve seen him since the early campaign,” said U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, who flew with Obama on Air Force One. “When I was listening to him, I wished that he had given that in the State of the Union!”

The students, who numbered more than 1,800 of the approximately 2,000 people present, cheered President Obama repeatedly. One of their loudest and wildest cheers came as Obama said that part of his proposed bill calls for offspring to be able to remain on their parents’ health insurance policies up to age 26. Stating that his bill has been derived from the aspects put forth by both Republicans and Democrats, Obama said: “If not now, when? When you’re in Washington, folks respond to every issue, every decision, every debate, no matter how important it is, with the same question,” he said. “What does this mean for the next election? What does it mean for your poll numbers? Is this good for the Democrats or good for the Republicans?” Furthermore, the President concluded, members of Congress need to spend “a little less time worried about their jobs and more time worried about your jobs. The United States Congress owes the American people a final, up-or-down vote on health care. It’s time to make a decision. The time for talk is over.”

 Less talk. More action. (And hopefully, more hiring.) That’s the ticket.