New North Carolina/Crystal Coast Chapter Chartered
[vc_column_text width="2/3" el_position="first"] New North Carolina/Crystal Coast Chapter Chartered We have a new Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) chapter in North Carolina! The Crystal Coast, NC Chapter is official as of June 29th, 2012. SDIA Founder and President, Lance Nutt, and SDIA National Training Director, John Pope, traveled to North Carolina last week to help train and mentor the Crystal Coast team. While visiting the new chapter, Lance and John presented it’s Chapter Commander, Tim Parkhurst, and other members & volunteers with their Chapter Charter. [/vc_column_text] [vc_column_text width="1/3" el_position="last"]
Crystal Coast, NC Chapter Members and Volunteers receiving their Chapter Charter. [/vc_column_text] [vc_column_text width="1/1" el_position="first last"] Tim and his team have done a tremendous job developing members and volunteers, ahead of schedule we might add, in establishing a strong and vital SDIA Chapter on the east coast. The Crystal Coast Chapter has the potential to be one of the strongest SDIA chapters in the US. We look forward to following their progress over the coming weeks, months &...
SDIA M.A.T. Kids Program Officially Launched
[vc_column_text width="2/3" el_position="first"] SDIA M.A.T. Kids Program Officially Launched Part of SDIA’s continued “Helping is Healing” program is our new MAT Kids Program. As many of our nations veterans return home from overseas, they are unsure as to what the future holds for them as they leave the military. The majority of these men and women are highly trained and motivated leaders. They often will accept the role of a leader and will be successful at it if given the chance. Surveys have shown that 80% of veterans want to continue to serve after taking off their uniform. As can be expected, many veterans continue serving their country in a law enforcement or fire rescue capacity. All too often, veterans returning home from deployments miss that sense of purpose, self-worth, and esprit-de-corps that came with being assigned to a military unit. SDIA can assist in filling that void for many veterans. One way we can do this is through one of our newer programs...
Memorial Day Weekend 2012 – Flag Planting and Pack Run
[vc_column_text width="2/3" el_position="first"] Memorial Day Weekend 2012 - Flag Planting and Pack Run This was a busy weekend for us! We held our first Flag Planting on Saturday at the National Cemetery in Fayetteville, AR. More than 40 Sheep Dog members and supporters helped plant American flags on the grave markers of more than 4,000 service men and women buried at the cemetery. What a wonderful way to remember the true meaning and importance of Memorial Day. We look forward to making it a tradition every year, here, and at our other chapters across the country. On Monday, Memorial Day, we held our first ever Pack Run. A charity 5K run and 1 mile fun walk to raise funds and support for our search and rescue dogs, Z and Argos. The Pack Run was a great success! We had more than 120 participants, and for a first year run that is a good number. Next year we hope to more than double it! For...
Flag Planting on May 26th
[vc_column_text width="2/3" el_position="first"] Flag Planting on May 26th For those of you that might be interested in helping, the Northwest Arkansas Sheep Dog IA Chapter is going to be busy planting flags at the National Cemetery in Fayetteville, AR on May 26th. Chapter members and volunteers are meeting at the entrance to the National Cemetery at 0845 on the morning of the 26th. Please let us know if you are interested in participating, and be sure and invite your friends and family. If you are not close to the NWArk Chapter, we encourage you to attend other Flag Planting events at National Cemeteries across the nation. Afterwards, we are headed to Memorial Park in Bentonville, AR to participate in a Wounded Warrior Project fundraising event. There will be family activities, food and music for everyone. We hope to see your there. Please take time to remember this weekend for what it truly is, a time to reflect and appreciate the sacrifices made by so...
Memorial Day Pack Run 2012
Memorial Day Pack Run 2012 On May 28th we are hosting a Memorial Day 5K Run & 1 Mile fun walk to raise funds for our Search & Rescue dog program. You can run/walk with or without your dog. Come out with the whole family and enjoy a great start to the day remembering the brave men and women who have given their lives in sacrifice to our nation. There will be door prizes and entertainment for the entire family, and the opportunity to meet our SAR dogs! Below you will find basic information for the event. You can signup at 2012PackRun.eventbrite.com Thank you for your continued support. Memorial Day Pack Run 2012 – 5K Charity Run & 1 Mile Fun Walk Benefiting – Sheep Dog Impact Assistance and their Search & Rescue (SAR) Dog Training Program Event: Memorial Day Pack Run 2012/5K Charity Run & 1-Mile Fun Walk at the Center for Nonprofits @ St Mary’s in the heart of Rogers, AR. Date...
Warrior Dash Honoring Cyle Harris
Warrior Dash Honoring Cyle Harris Many of our members had a great day last Saturday at the Warrior Dash in Amity, AR! We dedicated the run to Cyle Harris, a former soldier and fireman diagnosed with ALS. The Sheep Dog IA flag we carried during the run is inscribed with Cyles service record. A great event for honoring Cyle, and for some Sheep Dog comraderiee. Semper Fi brother! — in Amity, AR. Cyle Harris is a disabled veteran and a Sheep Dog, and like many Sheep Dogs, he has sacrificed much for his country and community over the years. In October of 2008, Cyle was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. During his 39 years, Cyle has served his country in politically unstable regions and witnessed life-threatening scenarios as an emergency medical technician and fireman with the Sherwood, Arkansas Fire Department. Yet his fight against ALS is probably his most daunting. ALS affects a persons ability...
Cyle Harris
Cyle Harris is a disabled veteran and a Sheep Dog, and like many Sheep Dogs, he has sacrificed much for his country and community over the years. In October of 2008, Cyle was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. During his 39 years, Cyle has served his country in politically unstable regions and witnessed life-threatening scenarios as an emergency medical technician and fireman with the Sherwood, Arkansas Fire Department. Yet his fight against ALS is probably his most daunting. ALS affects a persons ability to move, eat, speak and breathe and has no treatments or a cure. Those diagnosed with the disease typically have a survival rate of two to five years from the date of their diagnoses. Nonetheless, the retired Army veteran tirelessly strives to educate his community about this disease. And as all Sheep Dogs know, “Helping Others is a Way of Life”. Cyle Harris is a disabled veteran and a Sheep...
CHAINSAW SAFETY WORKSHOP – May 2nd
CHAINSAW SAFETY WORKSHOP - May 2nd Sponsored by: Sheep Dog Impact Assistance Emergency Responders, Road Crews, and everyone operating a chainsaw are encouraged to join us at a free workshop that will be especially valuable in light of all the storm-damaged timber from previous year’s disasters. Each workshop is free and lunch will be provided. See below for additional information. Our instructor Dana Hinkley, of Berlin, New Hampshire has done numerous safety workshops in Arkansas and across the nation since 2001. Hinkley is the president of the nationally recognized Logger Rescue Inc. This program has been approved by the Arkansas Fire Academy for 8 hours of Certified Training credit. Schedule: 8:30 am Registration 9:00 am Safely Operating a Chain Saw – Presentation covering all safety and handling aspects of operating a chain saw, along with the vital importance of wearing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) 12:00 – 1:00 Lunch 1:00-1:30 pm Safely Operating a Chain Saw (continued) 1:30-3:00 pm Tree Felling Demonstration – “Hands-on” technique for safely felling and handling difficult...
Sgt. Dennis Weichel gave his life to save an Afghan child
Sgt. Dennis Weichel gave his life to save an Afghan child The Sheep Dog spirit! Share this story with everyone you know …Sgt. Dennis Weichel represents everything good about our Military Sheep Dogs, and our nation! Sgt. Dennis Weichel, a father of three from Rhode Island gave his life to save an Afghan child from being run over by a 16-ton armored fighting vehicle. Sgt. Dennis Weichel, 29, died in Afghanistan last week after he dashed into the path of an armored fighting vehicle to scoop up the little girl, who had darted back into the roadway to pick up shell casings, according to the Army. Weichel, a Rhode Island National Guardsman, was riding in the convoy in Laghman Province in eastern Afghanistan when he jumped out to save the girl, who was unhurt. “He would have done it for anybody,” Staff Sgt. Ronald Corbett, who deployed with Weichel to Iraq in 2005, said in a quote posted on the U.S. Army website. “That was...
Sheep Dog Teams deploy to Marysville, IN
Sheep Dog Teams deploy to Marysville, IN In the aftermath of last Fridays tornadoes that tore through the mid-west and south, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) teams deployed to Indiana in an effort to assist via disaster response and recovery. The initial thought was to tackle Henryville, IN, but as is seen all too often with disasters like this, Henryville was over-run with people trying to help, a good thing on the surface, but it quickly adds to the confusion…too many people trying to help slows the process down. With that being said, Sheep Dog IA has quickly learned to skirt areas receiving the most help, and instead focus on the outlying communities with just as much need, but less attention. Marysville, IN turned out to be just such a place. Our teams spent three days in Marysville and the surrounding area doing their best to assist wherever possible. Our teams always begin the relief mission by delivering cases of water, non-perishable food, blankets...