VETERANS RIDING TO HELP OTHERS
I’d like to thank everyone for their prayers and blessing during my six months in the hospital. It gave me a lot to think things over and realize just how likely I am to have survived by accidents in 2008. It also gave me a warm feeling to know that I had so many friends prying for my quick recovery. Determination to survive and my belief in GOD are what made my survival possible. I died once in Cody, MT and once on the operating table in Billing Mt. Thanks to a great Surgical Team, God’s guiding hand and my belief that they would somehow see me through those very difficult The team of doctors would did all they could do, to make sure I survived and they sure as hell did that. Although I remember nothing it was indeed a miracle according to everyone who was there. Between the doctors and the prayers of my frankly and friends I made it home and I am very thankful for both.
I’d like to think that the things left undone in the Association left undone helped me fight to survive also. We now have another year to work together to build on our successes. Although I would like to see us grown faster and see us become financially stable more quickly, I need to learn to be more patient. I know myself pretty well and I know that my expectation run to high and that leave me with disappointments. My expectations are too high as they generally, are I guess that is one problem I have, I am too impatient and expect too much from others.
This is a special newsletter issue since it is my first one since being released from the hospital. This past year has been a long difficult one on the road to recovery my but I sincerely believe I have been through the most difficult part of road to recovery which has not been an easy on. No I need to try tom get more fully back into the swing of things that make up a normal life I need to get back into the swing of things. I want to get caught up as quickly as possible. My plan is to get out to Oklahoma to talk with Gene and Thom to talk with them to determine what direction they think we should talk. It is obvious that we need to proceed slowly at whatever we do and work on building our membership strength and financial capability. The last six month have given me a lot of time to think about what we are doing and where we are going. Since the San Diego Police Department dropped their support of the Tour de San Diego it has become obvious to me that we can continue to carry that load and support the National Police Officer Fund Raiser as well along with the Children's Hospital Fund Raiser. On the way out to California I will stop by Oklahoma to talk with our President and Vice President to get their thoughts and guidance on the best plan to follow. We might have to mauve a little slower since we have had some setbacks. I’d like to have you though on moving forward.
The Oklahoma Chapter recently completed a local community Services support event that got them a lot of great visibility as an organization that is there to help the community. All of us can kind find was through our communities to help others with a limited cost to each those working on the project and depending on what the additional cost is above what they can raise, the Association might be able to help in some small way by getting others to help with the work load and the cost. If it’s within a day’s ride I certainly would try to get there to help and I know others would as well. Let’s use our imagination and talents.
Future Editions of the New Letter – I am hoping that I will be able to bring our members a realistic. I sure would like to get some input to future editions it is very difficult to come up with a new version every month and make it interesting. Certainly it is easier for an editor to gather article than it is for one man to do the paper by himself can come up some new worth articles for our members. I’m sure someone out there would make a great editor. I do it alone because I haven’t found anyone who wants to take on the job. Maybe a small group of you would like the job.
Dues - Don’t forget you February dues are due the first of the each month they are $25.00. The BOB Reunion is tentatively scheduled for the late summer of 09 and will be hosted by the Fort Riley VFW to help cut back our reunion costs. Banquet and host our bar that will help reduce our Banquet and Bar costs. .
WE visit the VFW Reunion. If you plan on attending the reunion in May please let Thomas know so he can plan on our many lease vehicles to prepare for know what figures to plan for. We would like to have a good attendance at our first at our first reunion to be held at Fort Riley. They want to put on a good show for us and we will have a chance to do some of the training that the soldiers undergo prior to deploying for Iraq. I think you families would also enjoin the tip.
Elections for 2009 Board of Officers will take place during the Annual General Me membership Meeting. We will be electing a new President, Vice President. The Treasurer and Secretary are appointed by the President. The Regional Directors are elected every four Years. The Regional Directors shall submit their plans for their Region’s recruiting efforts forth to increase their Region’s Membership’s in the Band of Brother. There will be an annual award presented each year to the Region obtain the highest number of new members at the Banquet for the Regions achieving the largest number of Member new members recruited annually.
Do we need to order more patches?
When will I get the money from Oklahoma to pay for new items we need.?
I will go back to the hospital on October 5th for two days ( in and out) of a spinal system that wraps around my spin and provided medication to those area requiring medicating. From everything I have been told they have had great success with this type of new surgery. We’ll see I guess.
Mission for 2009:
· We need to make sure all our members are current with their dues
· We need to update our database and email address.
· Let members know that they can pay dues and make donations on line using Pay Pal
· Recruit new Board members for the elections in December.
· Update Web Site
I want to become more involved again after my next operation. I should be ready by the end of November
Let me know if you get this.
JG