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Beyond the Yellow Ribbon~ providing pro bono MT services to families of deployed service personnel
I am entering into a discussion (next week) with our local chapter of Beyond the Yellow Ribbon.
If the organization is receptive to the my idea, I want to recruit a volunteer network of MTs and/or other personnel service professionals to do probono work for families (particularly the heads of households) whose partners are deployed.
Has anyone else done something similar to this? It seems similar to providing services (e.g. chair masage onsite) to Emergency Responders during & post-disaster, but less intense.
Elizabeth
Faribault, MN
Views: 305
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Chris Reynolds on
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As a war veteran I would like to say Thank You! I have done Probono chair and table massage on soldiers while they were deployed in a War Zone, as well as family members when I returned to the states. What you are offering is more helpful that you can begin to imagine.
As far as it being less intense than working on EMS responders, it's not! The people you will be working are experiencing disaster on a mental level everyday from taking on the role of mother and father, the stress of the children not being able to deal with their other parent being in a War and having to live with the very real possibility that their loved one may never return home. You will have people that will have strong emotional release, some may even begin to mourn uncontrollably. Please be prepared for this!
Again, Thank you so much!
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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Wright on
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Chris, thanks for your "real world" response. I guess what I meant to say (to allay concerns of the people to whom I will be making this proposal) is that as an MT I would not be taking the place of a physical therapist, rehabilitation specialist or psychologist...just trying to narrow the scope of their expectations (if they have any at this point).
Unfortunately, I had a nasty 12-hour virus on Tuesday, when I was scheduled to meet face-to-face with BTYR & present my ideas. * s i g h * So I will meet with them in September instead.
Might I contact you again as this unfolds? I was an Air Force brat, so I have SOME life experience / insight. But today's families have endured multiple deployments for over a decade. I am astounded that the Middle East conflicts have engaged the US for more than twice as long as WWII.
Without some kind of "endorsement" from a recognized organization (such as BTYR) it is actually quite difficult to identify and reach out to families, directly or indirectly. Directly, one has to present something to gate-keepers, and indirectly, military families draw a tight circle of their own. Just an observation.
Don't thank me until I actually get'r dun!!!
~Elizabeth
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I was thanking you for trying! To me that says a lot!
I'm honestly not familiar with BTYR. But I do commend you for your efforts. I'm not sure if there are any military bases if so contact their MWR and Family support groups on base. If any VA outpatient clinics or VA hospitals are nearby where you live you could possibly check with them.
If there are National Guard or Reserve units, try to contact their Family Support Groups as far as I know all of them have someone that's in charge of that.
As an Air Force brat, you can use that to your benefit. Explaining that you understand the hardships of what it is like to have one or both parents away on deployment, even if you have to exaggerate a little to get your point across. If you had a massage any time at all during that period, you can explain how massage helped ease the stress of the situation. :)
And yes you may contact me at any time you like!
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The road to hell is paved with good intentions... I was on the agenda to meet with BTYR, but I go sick. Nasty 12-hour virus. I do not understand how something as transient as a virus can flatten a person so effectively and then vanish like a bad dream. But thank Goddess it does. Back on the schedule for September. Thanks for your suggestions, all good...what does "MWR" stand for??? :-)
I'll keep you posted on developments...I live about one hour south of the VA (Fort Snelling), and of course there are local Guard Units scattered about. I'll get it sorted out. With Syria heating up, I do not anticipate the issues going away anytime soon, sadly...
Elizabeth...
Chris Reynolds said:I was thanking you for trying! To me that says a lot!
I'm honestly not familiar with BTYR. But I do commend you for your efforts. I'm not sure if there are any military bases if so contact their MWR and Family support groups on base. If any VA outpatient clinics or VA hospitals are nearby where you live you could possibly check with them.
If there are National Guard or Reserve units, try to contact their Family Support Groups as far as I know all of them have someone that's in charge of that.
As an Air Force brat, you can use that to your benefit. Explaining that you understand the hardships of what it is like to have one or both parents away on deployment, even if you have to exaggerate a little to get your point across. If you had a massage any time at all during that period, you can explain how massage helped ease the stress of the situation. :)
And yes you may contact me at any time you like!
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MWR is Moral Welfare and Recreational thingie. Basically anything that has to do with the soldiers well being while they are off duty. With the National Guard units around you. It may be even more beneficial for them. When active duty soldiers come home. They have the support of the people around them on their base. National Guard and Reserves are just sent back home, released back to their civilian jobs and HAVE NO support groups. They are left to fend for themselves and deal with their issues on their own, until they can get through all the Red Tape at the VA facilities
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Good point about the Guard Units...another avenue to investigate. The scope of "citizen soldier" has become very broad. Personally, I think the Guard should be deployed ONLY in the U.S. & its territories. Of course, no one asked ME. If they did, I would tell them! ~LOL~ I did get ONE person/MT who indicated she would be willing to work with me in this. One is better than "0". If I were a politician, I could report a 100% growth rate! Have a great day...elizab-b
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I completely agree with you. What most people don't realize is that the National Guard has deployed on many occasions to include WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Currently, there are more National Guard and Reserve Soldiers fighting the war in Iraq and Afghanistan than Active Military Soldiers and have been since the beginning of the war over 10 years ago. However, George Washington actually created the National Guard to protect us from the government that we currently have, but that's another story.
While you may only be 1 now 2 therapists. I admire you for your dedication. Remember, the BTYR, Wounded Warriors Program, Family Support and many of the other organizations out there now, started with only ONE determined individual. I've looked around on the net to see what contacts I could find. Hopefully these will help you out.
www.jointservicessupport.org
also if you're on face book, you're more than welcome to look me up on there. Chris Reynolds, Charlotte NC
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Chris, thanks for the links. I will check them out. I will also look you up on FB~ elizabeth
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Tooooo many Chris Reynolds on FaceBook. There's about 7 in Charlotte.
Maybe try to friend me??? Elizabeth Wright, Repose massage therapy, Faribault, MN...????
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Permalink Reply by Gary W Addis, LMT on
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Elizabeth, a very good idea. The families left behind are bound up with stress. But around here, there's two military bases nearby. And massage schools train a whole passel of servicemen and women and their spouses under the GI Bill. I attended one event for servicemen a couple years ago, more of the above LMTs and students than there was room on the tarmac.
But you live an hour from the base? There may be a very real need for what you propose. Wishing you well in this worthwhile endeavor.
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Yeah, I think my region (southeastern MN) may be a different situation...so I am in the "investigating" phase. It's quite possible that Minneapolis/St Paul therapists are serving people in the Metro. Since I am rural southern Minnesota, potentials may be too scattered to be viable, but I am going to try to find out what the demographic is...where the families are, etc. I am not just considering the regular services, but also Reserves & National Guard.
Thanks for the encouragement :-) Truth be known, if everyone who could benefit from massage & body work got as much as he or she needed, all MTs would be busy, busy, busy! It's still an educational process....getting it out of the "it's my birthday...Valentines...anniversary...mothers day....fathers day" once-a-year event into the realm of self-care & health care.
elizabeth
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Progress is being made:
https://www.militaryfamilies.state.mn.us/index.php
The "Beyond theYellow Ribbon" website is VAST. I finally figured out that it is a MINNESOTA organization, although it has links to other national organizations. I did meet with a local chapter here in Faribault, actual people, in a room! I found out, too, that Owatonna, which is where my massage practice is based, has a "proclaimed" chapter also that meets once a month. Additionally, I was able to register on the main website to offer pro-bono massage services. I am going to start with Owatonna first since that's where my main client base is, and a more professional setting. (I rent space in a chiro office).
Because the structure is in place, all I really need to do is talk to other MTs about registering on the website, and perhaps meeting with the local organization. Of course, the challenge to all is hooking up with service-related personnel, as apparently there are "issues" with confidentiality, etc. Even the dates when units are deployed is closely held information until it actually happens. It's worse than HIPPA...can't even ask school kids who might be "acting out" what the situation is (unless they volunteer the info). Very interesting...
eliza-b
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