| Author | Message | ||
     86129squids |
Hey BW friends... I've followed and a good while ago contributed to this outfit. The following text is well worth a read, and their website... well, just take a good look. Some of the coolest and best work on behalf of our best people, via offroad motorcycling. https://www.motorelief.org/annual-fundraiser Hello friends of MRP, I’m writing to let you know about some big changes at Motorcycle Relief Project. I’ve decided that it’s time for me to step aside and leave MRP in the very capable hands of Mike Bobbitt and Martin Sohlberg, two veterans who were among the early participants in our program and have each volunteered thousands of hours since then. More on Mike and Marty in a minute. It’s hard to believe that it’s already been seven years since I founded Motorcycle Relief Project. It’s been an amazing run and has been the most fulfilling and meaningful work I’ve ever done, but it’s also been the most intense and emotionally challenging work I’ve ever done. As many of you know I’m not a veteran or first responder myself, but I started MRP because I had personal experience with PTSD, depression, anxiety and traumatic brain injury. I’ve come to recognize that I’m also what’s known as a “Highly Sensitive Person” or HSP. While that is a great personality type to help others who are struggling, my sensitivity also makes me vulnerable to really feeling the heaviness of other people’s pain. I’ve been struggling with some rather severe bouts of depression and anxiety for the last year or two, and the emotional weight of all the second-hand trauma I’ve heard from more than 300 participants seems to have taken a toll on me. After months of internal conflict I finally came to the conclusion that I must move on from MRP for my own mental health and emotional well-being. I officially tendered my resignation at our most recent board meeting on January 31. At that same board meeting we elected Mike Bobbitt as a board member and the new president of MRP, and Martin Sohlberg as our new treasurer and board chairman. For those of you who don’t already know Mike and Marty, Mike Bobbitt served in the Air Force for 30 years and retired as a Chief Master Sergeant (E-9), the highest enlisted rank in the Air Force. After retiring Mike was a participant on Relief Ride #5 in June of 2016, and has volunteered on 30 Relief Rides since then. Mike has served as my right hand man and our operations manager for the last four years, managing the screening of all applicants and the logistics for every ride. Mike will work in partnership with Martin Sohlberg, a 20-year Army veteran who is an alumni of Relief Ride #2 way back in September of 2015. After retiring from the Army, Marty went to work for the Department of Homeland Security in his current job as an analyst for the TSA doing terrorist threat assessments. Marty has been on the MRP board of directors for three years, and is now stepping up as board chairman and treasurer of the corporate entity. Marty and Mike will co-lead MRP going forward and will be putting together a team of alumni of the MRP program who will volunteer to help them lead the organization through its next phase of development. The board also elected JJ Lewis, an LCSW counselor and another MRP alumnus, to join the board of directors and serve as the secretary of the corporation. JJ will replace my long-suffering wife, Dana, as secretary. Dana has also volunteered as CFO of MRP since day one, and the fact that MRP has never operated in the red and is currently in great financial health is mostly due to Dana’s expertise and vigilance. Dana also supported our family financially through the startup phase of MRP when I didn’t take a salary for the first two years. MRP would not exist without Dana’s tremendous sacrifice for me as well as the organization. Like myself, Dana is looking forward to getting out from under the responsibility for MRP and to have a little more free time without having to spend it on MRP tasks. She’s also looking forward to living with a husband who hopefully won’t be so stressed out all the time. It’s worth noting that all of these leadership changes were approved with unanimous consent by the MRP board of directors. The majority of that board has been helping guide MRP since its inception, and along with myself the rest of the previous board decided to also step down in order to give Mike and Marty and JJ the freedom to build a new board with the people they want to share the load with going forward. It’s important that you know that I’m leaving of my own free will and there isn’t any kind of scandal or ill-will associated with my departure. I was able to lead MRP to the point of having conducted 47 Relief Rides and having 329 participants go through our program, and the program has proven to be quite effective at helping veterans and first responders get out of the ruts they might be stuck in and learn some tools for dealing with their PTSD and other issues. I’m simply at a point where I’m emotionally exhausted and struggling psychologically and it’s not fair to Dana and everyone who has to work with me to have to ride the rollercoaster of my own mental and emotional ups and downs. Like many other nonprofits are prone to experience, this leadership transition is also a matter of MRP outgrowing the “founders stage” of development. My skills are more as a creator and entrepreneur rather than a manager, and it’s time for the organization to have more steady management going forward than my skill set provides. Again, that’s my own decision and isn’t being forced on me. And while I’m admittedly sad to be moving on from the most meaningful work I’ve ever done in my life, I’m proud of the fact that I’m leaving it in very capable hands and that going forward it will be led in large part by a team of people who have gone through the program themselves. I can’t think of two people I would trust more than Mike and Marty to lead MRP going forward and to maintain the integrity and mission of the organization. I sincerely hope you’ll continue to support Motorcycle Relief Project and partner with its new leadership to continue our mission of providing support and relief to veterans and first responders who are struggling. Thank you for all you’ve done to help us get MRP this far! With immense gratitude, PS - If you’d like to congratulate them, Mike’s email address is mikeb@motorelief.org, and Marty’s is martins@motorelief.org | ||
| 86129squids |
Bump. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Note from Mike Bobbitt | MRP President I am honored to step into the role of Motorcycle Relief Project (MRP) President, following in the footsteps of the Founder, Tom Larson, who created this life saving program and has touched so many lives! When he made the tough (but right for him and his family) call to step down, I knew there was too much good left to be done. I reached out to Martin Sohlberg, another long time alumni/core volunteer, and we agreed to share the responsibility of keeping the program and Tom's mission moving forward. As we shape "MRP 2.0", we need to thank the original Board of Directors, most of whom have been with the program from the beginning. Their dedication, service, and leadership made the program what it is now. We've completed 47 Relief Rides (of which I've been on 30) and have 335 MRP Alumni, many of whom will tell you, are still fighting the good fight because of what MRP has done for them. Marty and I are working to put together a new Board who we hope will take us to the next 47 rides and beyond! We would also like to say we're SOFNGR8FL to all of the donors and sponsors who've reached out to us, pledging their continued support in enabling us to carry out this noble cause. We certainly couldn't do what we do without all the folks who give so generously to fund this program. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you've done and all you'll continue to do! What's Next? Looking ahead to the upcoming year and the challenges we will face, I would like to share one of my favorite adages: “Many hands make light work.” There is tremendous power in the size of our network and the many talents our supporters bring to this organization. Through our collective action, I am confident we can fulfill our mission and continue to provide relief to those veterans and first responders who carry the burden of PTSD, anxiety, depression and the feeling they're alone in their challenges. MRP has been built on the backs of those who give freely of their time to volunteer to enable this life-changing/saving mission. Thank you in advance for your continued support as we move forward! Help Us Grow! If it's been awhile since you made it to the Facebook page or website, watch and share some of the compelling testimonies of those whose lives have been touched by this program. Take that inspiration and reach out to anyone you know who might benefit from our program and encourage them to fill out an application. Help us raise funds! Reach out to any riding organizations you belong to, perhaps they'll consider fundraising for our cause. Or share your passion for the program with anyone you know in the industry who may have a way to support what we're doing. As a united team, we can sustain this mission and continue to support those Tom knew needed relief for many years to come. Mike Bobbitt | President | ||
| 86129squids |
I'm pretty damn surprised no one cares to comment on this. I've followed these good folks for years, wish I could contribute more. | ||
| Mnscrounger |
First thanks to you for pointing out this organization even exists. I myself am neither a veteran or first responder, and I have been fortunate enough to not have ever experienced anything traumatic enough to cause PTSD. But my employer, (VA) provides care for those affected by it. This may be a niche solution for a limited number, but I intend to share this link with a couple health professionals at our facility I'm acquainted with. | ||
| 86129squids |
Thanks, Scrounge Man. I was disallowed the chance to serve due to early health issues. I have always wished to do so. I never was able to join as my father did, but I've always known and recognized those who protect us and our society, our values, our country. When I see something as unique as this outfit... well, you know I gotta share, maybe proselytize. I'm not a Marine, but hey, Sic Semper Fidelis nonetheless. Jarheads and War Dogs are welcome at my home. As are anyone who supports them. |
