Sheep Dog National Office Grand Opening
The Sheep Dog Impact Assistance National Office recently relocated to the Center for Nonprofits at St Mary’s in Rogers, Arkansas. Our grand opening took place on Oct 1st. We are excited to be located at the Center for Nonprofits and look forward to our new found ability to expand our support operations and educate more people about the Sheep Dog mission. Also, we look forward to sharing our story with fellow nonprofits at the CFN and learning from their experiences. Already we have teamed up with the CFN and two other organizations to sponsor a Turkey Trot 5K Charity Run on Thanksgiving Day. This will bring awareness to the CFN and launch the Sheep Dog Holiday Season benefiting Sheep Dogs in Need. We will write more about this later, but as of now we plan on adopting several Sheep Dog families for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Check back with us in the coming days if you are interested in adopting or assisting with the...
Double-Amputee Returns to Combat
ASHOQEH, Afghanistan — When a bomb exploded under Dan Luckett’s Army Humvee in Iraq two years ago — blowing off one of his legs and part of his foot — the first thing he thought was: “That’s it. You’re done. No more Army for you.” But two years later, the 27-year-old Norcross, Ga., native is back on duty — a double-amputee fighting on the front lines of America’s Afghan surge in one of the most dangerous parts of this volatile country. Luckett’s remarkable recovery can be attributed in part to dogged self-determination. But technological advances have been crucial: Artificial limbs today are so effective, some war-wounded like Luckett are not only able to do intensive sports like snow skiing, they can return to active duty as fully operational Soldiers. The Pentagon says 41 American amputee veterans are now serving in combat zones worldwide. Luckett was a young platoon leader on his first tour in Iraq when an explosively formed penetrator — a bomb...
Marc Alan Lee
On August 2nd, 2006, Marc Alan Lee became the first US Navy SEAL killed in Iraq. Marc epitomises EVERYTHING that is a Sheep Dog! We pay special tribute to Marc today because of his mother’s extraordinary efforts to remember Marc and America’s Mighty Warriors. We are proud to call Debbie Lee a friend, and even more proud to remember her son Marc and his ultimate sacrifice in fighting for and defending our great nation! Read more below and please take time to visit AmericasMightyWarriors.com. Marc Lee was part of a dedicated Naval Special Warfare team fighting the insurgency in Iraq, supporting the U.S. in its efforts to bring peace and stability to that country. His valorous conduct, exemplary leadership, and extraordinary self-sacrifice for his fellow service members have earned him the highest respect and gratitude of his fellow SEALs, the Navy, and our nation. Lee enlisted in the Navy in 2001. After an initial attempt at BUD/S training and temporary...
Five Years After the Storm
Five years ago this week Hurricane Katrina struck the gulf coast. Out of the devastation that followed arose an organization committed to helping others, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance was born. Sheep Dog is dedicated to assisting the men and women that form the ranks of our country’s first responders, our protectors, our Sheep Dog’s. And in doing so, we hope men and women everywhere are encouraged to assist others in times of need. Helping others is a way of life…find a way to make a difference! Read more about the History of Sheep Dog and our trip to the gulf after the storm. Visit this link to see a video news story on the Recovery of Pass Christian after Hurricane Katrina. Also, later this week we will post unseen photos of our trip to Pass Christian on facebook this week....
Carjacker picked the wrong victim this time
The man with the gun usually has the advantage. But not in this case — not when a 20-year-old thief tries to rob someone with more than 20 years of military experience. Army veteran Robert Tillman, 46, had gone to a Kansas City car wash Sunday morning to clean his girlfriend’s Pontiac sport utility vehicle. A gunman slipped into his car wash bay at 3011 Van Brunt Blvd. and accosted him when he returned from the change machine. “You know what time it is,” the gunman barked. “Give it up!” Tillman couldn’t believe it. “Are you kidding me?” he asked. “Yeah,” the robber replied. “Give me your money. Give me everything. Empty your pockets!” Tillman’s next statement could have been a clue to the robber that he had targeted the wrong victim. “Sir,” Tillman said, using military courtesy, “I don’t have any money. I have a single dollar bill and $6 in change.” Enraged, the robber demanded more. “I know you got more! Don’t make me shoot you!” he...
Northwest Arkansas Preparedness Fair
Plan to attend the 2010 Preparedness Fair Saturday, Aug. 21 to learn how to prepare your family, your home and your pocket book for emergency situations. The 2010 Northwest Arkansas Preparedness Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1101 McCollum Drive, Bentonville, Ark. This free event includes lunch, 72-hour kit items, smoke detectors, walk-in blood drive and presentations on preparedness topics. There will also be fun activities for the kids, free child IDs and various emergency vehicles to explore. In addition there will be more than 75 booths hosted by local organizations such as emergency response teams, emergency training personnel, the Red Cross and other community service groups. For more information click www.nwapreparednessfair.com or call Melanie Christensen at 479-553-7078....
Sheep Dog National Office Plans to Relocate
During our annual Board of Directors meeting held on July 28th, one of our primary topics for discussion was the opportunity to relocate our national Sheep Dog office to the Center for Nonprofits at St Mary’s in Rogers, Arkansas. Opening an office at the Center for Nonprofits will drastically reduce our overhead expenses and provide us with the opportunity to learn from some of the most successful non-profit organizations in Northwest Arkansas. Also, we will have access to conference rooms and class rooms that will enable us to expand our ability to train and educate Sheep Dog members and volunteers. We expect to be in our new office Sept 1st. We will keep everyone posted as we move forward....
“Non-traditional” Sheepdog!
Heroic Mailman Saves 3 Lives While on the Job Published July 20, 2010 | Associated Press AKRON, Ohio — Keith McVey is no ordinary mailman. He finished his afternoon deliveries, betraying no sign that anything out of the ordinary had occurred save for the blood on his uniform and the cut on his lip. Back at the post office, he was greeted with cries of disbelief: “Did you hear? Keith saved another life today.” McVey now can’t walk down the street without being honked at by passing cars filled with admirers — or, apparently, without saving a life. “He’s a rock star in our eyes,” says Tina Starosto, a receptionist at King Apartments, where a sign declaring “Keith Our Hero” is on the office wall. Over the years, McVey, 53, has helped saved three people while on his mail route, earning a reputation as the plainclothes superhero. Last week, he threw aside his bundle of mail to perform CPR on an unconscious man on the side...
LAPD Teach Marines How to Train Afghan Police
JULIE WATSON | Associated Press/AP Online July 12, 2010 LOS ANGELES – A tough-talking, muscular Los Angeles police sergeant steadily rattled off tips to a young Marine riding shotgun as they raced in a patrol car to a drug bust: Be aware of your surroundings. Watch people’s body language. Build rapport. Marine Lt. Andrew Abbott, 23, took it all in as he peered out at the graffiti-covered buildings, knowing that the lessons he learned recently in one of the city’s toughest neighborhoods could help him soon in the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan. “People are the center of gravity and if you do everything you can to protect them, then they’ll protect you,” he said. “That’s something true here and pretty much everywhere.” Abbott was among 70 Camp Pendleton Marines in a training exercise that aims to adapt the investigative techniques the LAPD has used for decades against violent street gangs to take on the Taliban more as a powerful drug-trafficking mob than an...
501c3 Approved!
The process has been a little long, but well worth the wait. As of July 2nd, 2010, Sheep Dog – Impact Assistance is officially a 501c3 Non-Profit Approved Organization. Our primary focus is helping people, plain and simple. Having an approved non-profit status will enable us to raise the support needed to truly make a positive impact in the lives of those we intend to help. We are excited about the future of Sheep Dog IA and missions that lay before us....