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Family Night is Back in Style!

Feature- Family Night is Back in Style

With this ”MAD-DASH” game on the table – even the kids want to stay home!

The modern American family has become lost in the land of technology as everyone from Mom, Grandpa, teenagers and on down to your pre-school er,  are engaged on their laptops and cell phones,  working,  Instant messaging,  watching Hulu,  or texting instead of talking.   Do you remember a time when you came home from work or school, sat down for dinner and then had a rousing game of Monopoly together?  You might have to visit TV Land and switch on one of the old classics like Leave it to Beaver, Father Knows Best or My Three Sons to see how it was done!
In search of bringing back family night, Mark Shelton has managed to find a way to bring us back together for some old fashioned fun and traditions. He is busy with his duties at Valley Business Bank by day, along with volunteering and working with his church and the Rescue Mission and by night (and some weekends) he makes this fabulous game with his own two hands!
It started like most entrepreneur ventures do, in the garage of his home.  A version of this game was played by friends and as it became worn out and ready to be retired, they set out to replace it. Only to discover it was no longer being produced. Mark decided it should not be lost and felt it a shame to have such fun just vanish away. The value of having family and friends join together around the table is priceless.  It has been proven that families who gather around the dinner table on a regular basis decrease a child’s likelihood to drink, smoke or use drugs, it decreases your teens chances of having sex at a young age, improves your child’s academic success and improves family relationships and connections.  So Mark thought having a special game that the family could get excited about and bring back Game Night was worth the efforts.
In search of bringing back family night, Mark Shelton has managed to find a way to bring us back together for some old fashioned fun and traditions. He is busy with his duties at Valley Business Bank by day, along with volunteering and working with his church and the Rescue Mission and by night (and some weekends) he makes this fabulous game with his own two hands!
Mark went to work towards reinventing Mad-Dash. He started on one and when he discovered he could do it himself he went into small production in his garage.  He received more and more requests and orders and Mark could barely keep up with the demand! He has been looking for ways of faster production to fill the orders and is finding tools and friends that are contributing.  After producing several for friends and family, the word is spreading and the popularity of the game is too! Made from real wood and by hand they are very unique and certainly beautiful.  Mark likes to use oak because it is a hard wood and will last for years to come. He has created a unique design that play pieces can be added-on so that it allows for just two players or up to six players at a time. Mark spends hours of hands on time getting the pieces carved out from the pattern he has made and more on the staining and felt backing.   ” I often know who I am making the game for in advance, Mark explains. “This has been very cool because as I have about 6 hours per game in the shop, it gives me time to pray and reflect on the family that the game is personally being made for.  I believe that each game is going to be in their family for generations and truly hope that many great memories will be made as their family and friends play Mad Dash.  I know this has been the case in our family.”

When Mark was working on a game for a special couple as a wedding gift he couldn’t help but consider the goodness that might come from it and how the MAD-DASH game would play out in their new life together.  Would it be a part of their friends and family nights ahead? Will their children enjoy playing it and sitting around the kitchen table laughing and sharing their day with their Mom & Dad? Happy thoughts for loved ones and friends are the greatest of gifts.   M ark says, “The process of developing the game has been a family affair of its own.  My wife Diane and family friend Linda Neese came up with the name while at the Neese cabin one weekend.  Dave Neese has given endless input on how to make the game better and even Uncle Jack made a template to make producing the game faster.  I knew little about wood working when I started this whole thing. But with the help of many people who know so much more about woodworking than me, we have been able to create such a wonderful way to bring the family together again.”
When Mark was working on a game for a special couple as a wedding gift he couldn’t help but consider the goodness that might come from it and how the MAD-DASH game would play out in their new life together.  Would it be a part of their friends and family nights ahead? Will their children enjoy playing it and sitting around the kitchen table laughing and sharing their day with their Mom & Dad? Happy thoughts for loved ones and friends are the greatest of gifts.   M ark says, “The process of developing the game has been a family affair of its own.  My wife Diane and family friend Linda Neese came up with the name while at the Neese cabin one weekend.  Dave Neese has given endless input on how to make the game better and even Uncle Jack made a template to make producing the game faster.  I knew little about wood working when I started this whole thing. But with the help of many people who know so much more about woodworking than me, we have been able to create such a wonderful way to bring the family together again.”
Check out how you and your family and friends can start this at your home. Set up your table in an inviting way so that they can’t miss that something special is going to happen. Post the game night on a poster or send them all a text message to spread the word.
” We have been so amazed to watch all ages enjoy Mad Dash.  Everyone from young nieces and nephews playing it at the cabin,  to our college age kids taking it to Star Bucks with friends or even grown men enjoying it at a Men’s church conference.  It is simple to play yet has lots of strategy to it.  This in not your everyday marble and card game! So often you don’t know who will win the game until the very end….it’s crazy!” explains Mark.
With all of the hustle and bustle of raising a modern day family having a “family Night” is coming back in style. Trends seem to cycle every 25 years so now is a good time to consider making plans for your own Family & Friends Game night.  So dust off the old crock-pot  to make it a simple and easy dinner and leave time for the game afterwards.  Make some plans for your own family traditions to start (before you miss it!)

Mad Dash sell for $125.00 plus tax.  The game comes complete with 8 oak game pieces, two decks of cards, marbles and a game bag to store it in.  Mark Shelton is taking orders and can be reached at MadDash1@hotmail.com
Mad Dash comes with a warning: Game can become very addictive, your family and friends will spend hours playing!