Feed the Fisher House.8

I think the best part, or at least one of the best parts, of Feeding Families of Veterans (FFOV) is the learning process. The best part of FFOV is obviously the money we're able to raise for the families of Veterans who stay at the VA Puget Sound Fisher House, but for me, the lessons learned along the way are so beneficial. 
The first lesson learned is FFOV is bigger than John Millan. The campaign and project is nothing and a failure without the support, ideas, suggestions and criticism of others. Nobel Prize winner, George Bernard Shaw, once said "Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." Isn't this the truth? Throughout this journey, so many people have been willing to share with me their experiences; successes and failures. In the beginning I was too focused on the idea, or better yet, the novelty of the idea,to appreciate other's feedback. I took it as criticism rather than constructive feedback. Now that the excitement of what we're doing has settled, I look to others for ideas, direction and most of all, constructive criticism. 
The second lesson learned is that there truly is a social disadvantage for disabled Veterans. I've noticed that the benefits provided to Veterans is limited to what the VA can provide. I'm not minimizing what they provide, after all, if you know me you know I have very few negative things to say about the level of care I've received through the VA health care system. The VA is also paying for my education and i could not be more grateful for this benefit. What I'm talking about are the number of different agencies who support Veterans. Too many of them are solely dependent upon public donations. I'm not suggesting this is a bad thing, I'm only suggesting that being dependent on the public for healthcare, caregiving, transportation, food or a host of other potential requirements of life for a disabled Veteran seem to contradict what many well-meaning politicians continue to say. I continually hear that Veterans need to be taken care of ... So why are we so dependent upon not for profit charities? (I know someone is going to read this as if I'm asking for a free handout for Veterans, I'm not and that is not my point. My point is as time passes and as we move past this era of conflict, these NPOs so many Veterans depend on will begin to dry up; then what?)
The last lesson learned is the willingness of strangers to help when called upon. For a guy who saw the world through a half empty glass, I was shocked to find out that so many non-military people want to help out. Actually, to my surprise (or disappointment) I've had little success attracting service members to help; whether that be through a donation or other forms of assistance. I've had time to think about this and I think I understand. I rarely thought about helping Veterans who were no longer serving, or no longer able to serve. There is a different focus for service members and it starts with their most present situation. So, I get it. 
This week also brought with it a new sponsor. Harms Pacific Transport out of Pasco, WA has offered to support us during this campaign. This is a major step because it takes us onto the east side of the state. I'm thrilled to call them a partner and look forward to working with them. 
FFOV is hosting a dinner for the guests at the VA Puget Sound Fisher House on the 17th of December. I'm working hard to make sure that the guests and their Veterans are provided a holiday type meal. This mission is so important to me. I've seen the impact the VA Puget Sound Fisher House has on families of Veterans. Its a small gift to the families with the hopes it will ease the stress of their stay. 
See ya.

Feed the Fisher House.7

Well, I've been a slacker. It's been nearly 3 weeks since my last post; so much has happened.
A lot of you know I spent a few days at the Seattle VA for PTSD related symptoms back in August-September. It was here that I discovered a passion for wanting to help or give back to other Veterans. The stories these men and women have are sometimes very similar, but never are they the exact same.
While I was in the VA, one of my providers introduced me to the word altruism; an unselfish regard for, or devotion to the welfare of others. If this word does not sum up the description of a Veteran I'm not sure what does. If you look up the word "Veteran" in Merriam-Webster you’ll find this (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/veteran):
Veteran: 1. An old Soldier of long service
                 2. A former member of the armed forces
"Old"... seriously? What the definition should be, is:
Veteran: 1. An American hero who is serving or had served in the United States armed forces with an unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others".
I don't know, just a thought. I wonder how I would go about asking MW to consider my definition instead of what they have? I'm still laughing at the word "old" in their definition. Since when did age have anything to do with the status of a Veteran?

Feeding Families of Veterans has moved along nicely since our last post. We have a website (www.ffov.org) that is changing every day. It’s not changing because I’m adding insightful bits of information to it, it’s changing because I’m a horrible web-designer and really have no business trying to design a webpage. But, it is coming together. And I figure if people hated it, they would speak up. The bottom line for me is to get the information out there. And, you know, I’m kinda proud of how it’s coming together. I’m not speaking for Beth or Rick, but for me, it fits who I am. (Though I’d really love to get some feedback on it if you’re so inclined to do so.)

We had a generous donation from one of my co-workers. She donated two turkeys and two spiral hams for our dinner on December 17th. This is a major hurdle for us. I have been trying since we formed this campaign to get a store to donate the main course. Kathy surprised me one Monday morning; she called up to my office and told me that over the weekend she purchased the meat for our dinner.

So now we have the meat and the desserts … all we need now are some side dishes, maybe a salad and some drinks. As the days pass I become more concerned about having these items donated. But, like Kathy did, I know someone else will surprise me with a donation.

The other thing that I learned since our last post is that I do not have a clue how to use Facebook. It can’t be rocket science … so I thought. I guess you’re not supposed to post a “post” on everyone’s page. Who knew? I didn’t know that if I posted on my page, those who follow me will see it automatically. So, for those of you who are reading this that I inadvertently spammed with postings over the last month, my apologies.  Facebook is a funny creature. There is so much possibility with it, if you’re savvy at this kind of thing. And, as I stated earlier, I’m not savvy. I wish I were, but sadly I’m not.

Ok, I’ll try to be more prompt at telling you how things are going. I’m going to make it a goal to post something again by Thursday. Don’t let me slack.

Take care, and thank you for reading this

Feed the Fisher House.6

Happy Veterans Day to all former and current service members. I found this on Facebook:  By: Bob Pries
I think, because this is Veterans Day, I'll just agree with this statement without giving my two cents worth ... who am I kidding, here's what I think about this. I obviously agree with this statement in its entirety. But I've always wondered (and who knows why) how successful we'd be with out the support of others. I'm thinking of course of family, friends and even strangers who volunteer their time, donate their money and advocate on behalf of the Veteran, because they value the efforts and sacrifice of Veterans. As a Soldier, and from my perspective, if we're (service-members) considered heroes, we should also celebrate the efforts of the tens of thousands of volunteers who work for little to no money, supporting Veterans and their families. We should celebrate the work of these men and women with the same pageantry we honor Veterans with.
There are few things more selfless than serving your country. This is my personal thank you to all the volunteers who've crossed my path over the years, to make me feel like my efforts as a Soldier were worthwhile. Some of you have given a lifetime of service to your country through volunteering, and I'd like you to know that this is one Veteran who feels indebted to your service. You are as much of a hero as we have in our society. I'm sure other Veterans feel the same way, but since I have this blog to post my opinion, I'm going to use it to say thank you.
(Side note ... Does anyone find it odd that Seattle does not have a Veterans Day parade ... really ... or do they and I'm just not seeing it??)

Feed the Fisher House.5

(Started on 10/14/2011) What a great week. Very few donations were made to Feed the Fisher House, however the level of support and interest increases each day. One of the best strides Feed the Fisher House has made was forming a team of individuals who care about the Fisher House Foundations as much as I do. Arleta, Rick, Ryan, Missy, John (me) and hopefully Beth; we each have a function and  I'm excited, honored and amazed at the willingness and compassion of each member. It's funny to me that as each day passes, I feel better and better about the possibilities of Feed the Fisher House reaching it's goal. John Wooden, legendary former UCLA basketball coach, once said "it takes ten hands to make a basket". Though I might be the campaign manager, it is without question that I cannot accomplish what Feed the Fisher House has set out to do with out the active and persistent support of each member of the team.
(I'm sitting here, in the hospital watching Missy breast feed our new baby girl Mila. It is nothing short of a miracle watching this bond form.)
(Resumed on 11/9/2011) So much has changed since I started this post. We've met and formed a strong working relationship with Lynnwood Bowl and Skate, received support from Vulcan Inc., Lynnwood Harley Davidson, and Tilted Thunder Rail Birds, a banked track roller derby team out of Lynnwood. We've gone through several iterations of a logo, finally settling on one created by Mistina, an employee at Lynnwood Bowl and Skate and the one you see above. We have created bylaws and are about 50% done with a business plan. It seems like things are about to fall into place. And, I think what happened yesterday, brought us closer.
Opportunities come in many forms. Sometimes an opportunity requires us to place a personal achievement aside, to meet the intent of what this achievement would accomplish. Does this make sense? One of my mentors, the late and great UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden preached about victory through unity. I mean, he didn't use these exact words, but he spoke to his players about working as a cohesive unit, where victory, both on and off the court, is a result of cooperation, industriousness, and team spirit. He once said "The star of the team is the team. 'We' supersedes 'me'."  This is how I'm feeling. What if my goal of offsetting the annual cost of food for the VAPSFH is reached/surpassed more ... I don't want to say easier because I don't want this to be easy ... more ... efficiently ... does this work for what I'm trying to say? ... by setting my personal aspirations aside?
I think of myself as a leader and a teacher. Professionally speaking, I'm neither. But isn't the overall mission of those in a professional leadership or teaching capacity to grow people? I'm wondering if this is my opportunity to grow. "Your energy and enjoyment, drive and dedication will stimulate and greatly inspire others" ... I hope my decision is understood by my team, and they see that's it's made with "Veterans' Family First" in mind.

Feed the Fisher House.4

When I was asked by John to join his cause, Feed the Fisher House, I was apprehensive for two reasons; I am continuously busy and didn't know how much time I could really offer and I have no real connection to the military world and hadn't even really heard of Fisher House Foundation. However, as I accessed the Fisher House website and listened to John's story, I knew that I not only had something to bring to the table, but I could also learn a lot in return. John's suggestion to go to the VA Puget Sound Fisher House alone, however, caught me by surprise. I thought it would be better to go as a group, take notes, discuss etc. But at his urging, I did what he asked and went alone. This past Saturday I looked up the VA Puget Sound Fisher House address and drove myself down to Beacon Hill, expecting to be at the house for a couple of hours. When I arrived, I found, to my dismay, that the house was closed. There are no staff members on the weekends, only guests, and they enter with a card/ key system, which meant I was virtually locked out. I stood at the doorway for a few minutes, trying to decide how to make the best use of my time. As I turned to leave, an elderly couple exited the house. Kathleen and her husband (whose name escapes me unfortunately) are guests of the Fisher House, as he is an inpatient at the VA hospital for work on his jaw. When I mentioned who I was and why I was there, they graciously took me inside to show me the House and to inform me that the staff was not there and what hours I could reach them. The house itself was immaculate... granite counter tops, wood flooring, washer and dryer, all the amenities a family could need. When my tour was done, the two of them stood with me outside for many minutes, relaying their story to me and answering my questions. They are from Idaho and the VA hospital there could not do what they needed, nor was there a Fisher House to support her. Her husband had been here for many months and she was never able to see him, until a spot at the Fisher House opened up and she was able to get a ticket to come here. Though she spends most of her waking time with her husband at the hospital, she was emphatic that the Fisher House was the best thing that had happened to her in a long time. She told me of the beauty of the rooms, the easy access to amenities, the connections between the families, the meals they share, and the overall peace she feels when she walks in the House. It warmed my heart to know that though these two people were struggling both physically and financially, there was an institution in place that was willing to relieve some of that burden. As I shook their hands and watched them walk arm in arm down the path toward the hospital, I knew that this was exactly where I needed to be and what I needed to be doing. I received something more valuable then a tour from a staff person of the Fisher House; I spoke with someone who is directly impacted by the generosity of the Fisher House, who could definitely benefit from what John and I and the others are trying to do. I feel, now more than ever, that this is a worthwhile cause and I cannot wait until the day that we can reach our goal and set a new, higher one! (*** Note ... the VA Puget Sound Fisher House welcomes anyone who wants to visit the home. But because this is a private residency, please respect the privacy of the guests and rules of the home by calling ahead of time to make an appointment for one of the staff to show you the home. Call Lorraine if you're interested in visiting the house, 206.277.3950. ***)
Thank you,
Beth Schustek

Fisher House.3

I feel pretty lucky to have people who see the value of Feed the Fisher House as I do. I spent a good portion of my day reaching out to businesses, asking them for their support. My biggest gain today was a confirmation from Outlaw Radio Network that they want to be the voice of Feed the Fisher House. For me, this was worth all of the unanswered emails sent out today. I'm still hopeful at least one of the companies I reached out to will return with a positive response. Two companies I'm hoping to partner up with are Jones Soda and Pioneer Brewing Company. Both companies are local, respected and unique in their industries.
Another company, Paul Jr. Designs, from Discovery Channel's American Chopper, has offered a signed poster for me to auction off, with of course, the proceeds going to Feed the Fisher House. This was a nice surprise from a high-profile company.
Tomorrow's plan includes more emails; I should really start tracking who I'm emailing and calling. Maybe that's what I'll do; create a tracker. I like trackers ... All neat and uniform like.
The other thing I'd like to mention is I have help from a friend, maybe two if Rick would stop being a &$@&!. My hope is that tasks can be assigned and each member of the committee can focus on a particular area of interest. We' ll see. (think marathon, think marathon, think marathon). If you have a moment, please look me up and friend me on Facebook, at Feed the Fisher House.  Later.

Fisher House.2

I have a baby due any day now. Missy is ready to be done; I can tell she's miserable. I love her and I love her support. Max is so excited to be a big brother. While taking a walk in the rain last night, he said he wants to feed her, hold her and play cars with her.
So what does this have to do with Feed the Fisher House; well, nothing really. This morning I've been thinking of ways to get the word out about Feed the Fisher House. Julie offered to talk to one of her radio biz friends. I'm not sure of the details, but it sounds like it might work. Apparently he has an internet show and is based out of Bremerton, WA. Arleta has posted my link on to her facebook page, as has my former grade school teacher, Ms. Bryson. Miles from the Men's Room (KISW) offered his support and said he would push information out if I had an event going. All of this is amazing support. What I like about these offers is there is no financial burden on them. I know their efforts do not directly get me closer to my $15,600 mark, but they do help spread the word. And by doing this, Feed the Fisher House receives donations from people in Pennsylvania whom I've never met or spoke to. This is what I want and this is what Feed the Fisher House needs.
This morning I send out about 15 emails to local business owners, hoping one of them catches on. Starbucks, a few auto dealerships in Bellevue, a couple breweries, a handful of PR firms and some other businesses received an email from me asking for their support. I also contacted Century Link Field (Seahawks Stadium) and inquired about having a booth/table either inside the event center or just outside the doors. I have not heard back yet.
This is all I've got for now. If you have any low cost ideas to get the word out, please share them with me. As of this posting, Feed the Fisher House, 2012 is at $1,025. I think this is a great start.

Fisher House.1

The support I've received so far with Feed the Fisher House, 2012 has been remarkable. I can't thank you enough; to those who have already donated and to those who have committed to donate, thank you. 
Some of you know I recently spent about a month inpatient at the Seattle VA, in their PTSD program. The experience was humbling, revealing, and what I learned about myself is unmeasurable. Amongst other things, I was given an opportunity to reflect at where I've been, where I'm going, what really matters in life. I learned to focus more at what I'm capable of doing, as opposed to how and what PTSD makes me incapable of doing. Most importantly, I learned I'm capable of (and enjoy) helping others. Selfishly, this is a  form of therapy that works for me, with a residual effect of benefiting others. 
I've been a supporter of the Fisher House for a few years now, but it wasn't until my stay at the VA did I realize the impact of their mission. The stories are simultaneously heart wrenching and heart warming. Their stories are all over fisherhouse.com so I won't get into them, but I can tell you without question that what the Fisher House provides for these veteran and their families is a form of lifeline that no prescription drug or treatment can rival. 
For many veterans, our families are our number one priority. There are several organizations whose mission is to support family members of veterans. Each deserve the same attention I'm giving to the Fisher House. But I ask this of you; if you want to give to one of these outstanding organizations but are not sure how to locate them, please consider helping me raise enough funds to offset the annual food budget at the VA Puget Sound Fisher House. My goal is $15,600 over the next year. It seems like unreachable number, but really, if I can convince 50 people to donate $25 per month over the next 12 months, together we can reach this goal. The goal  of the Fisher House is to provide an all-inclusive stay for a veteran's family members while this veteran is receiving treatment for an illness or injury.
Please consider helping me reach my goal by donating to Feed the Fisher House, 2012 at http://www.active.com/donate/VA-PSFisherHouse/feedthefisherhouse.
Thanks, and we'll be in touch.
jm