SDIA DEPLOYING DISASTER RESPONSE TEAMS TO TEXAS
Disaster Response Teams to Conduct Tropical Storm Harvey Recovery Operations Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey has hit Houston and southeastern Texas with over 24" of rain, with total rainfall predictions at 40-50" or more over the next few days. Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is sending Disaster Response Teams to assist with recovery efforts in the Rockport, Texas, area August 29 through September 5. More than 60 members and volunteers will deploy from our Eastern Tennessee, Kansas, North Texas, Northeast Oklahoma, Northwest Arkansas, San Antonio and Washington chapters and teams, led by National Office staff. Teams will conduct muck-out operations, clear trees and debris, and other needed tasks. In order to ensure that the SDIA disaster response teams have the supplies and materials necessary for this extensive mission, they are asking for your help. Secure financial donations can be made at www.SheepDogIA.org/get-involved/donate. Material donations of tarps, roofing nails, tools, bottled water, hygiene supplies, or other necessities, are welcomed...
Outdoor Adventure to Peru
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) recently had the privilege of partnering with another great non-profit, Legend Treks, for an exploratory trip to Peru to serve its indigenous people with eye care needs (eye exams, reading glasses, sunglasses, eye drops, etc.). Legend Trek team members were Boyd Nutt, Patricia Yabar, Mike Webster, Jason Cruz, Beth Morgan, Randy and Kelley Rose and Jim Main. SDIA team members included sponsored Sheep Dog, Jose Sanchez, and his wife, Dulce, and Danny Shaw, and SDIA staff members Fred Lawley, Scott West and Amanda Bullard. Staff members went on the trip to ensure that our sponsored Sheep Dogs were taken care of, and to determine whether this was a trip that could become a future National Outdoor Adventure. All three SDIA staff members were responsible for funding their own way, paying all personal expenses, including airfare to and from Peru. During the first clinic, Legend Trek (LT) and SDIA worked with the Cusco Lions Club to operate...
2017 Spring Outdoor Adventures – Part 2
Our Outdoor Adventure program is in full swing this spring! Recently you read the story on our Hog Hunt and Quail Hunt; now we'll tell you about our fishing and muddy adventures. These experiences present our sponsored Sheep Dogs - those injured in combat or the line of duty - with challenges that test their rehabilitation progress, restore independence and self-confidence, and foster camaraderie and peer support - two things that are vital to inspiring a positive state of mind and perspective. 2017 Spring White River Fishing Outdoor Adventure - The weekend of April 24-26, SDIA held their second annual White River Fishing Outdoor Adventure at Newland's Float Trips, Lodge & Conference Center in Lakeview, AR. Sponsors Broadway Contracting and United Rental went out of their way to make this trip a memorable experience for our three sponsored combat-wounded Army veterans: SSGT Ryan Waddell, SSGT Steve Charles, and SSGT Forrest Montgomery. A weekend of fishing, grilling, and camaraderie was...
SDIA Carries The Load in East Coast Relay
A few months ago, SDIA announced that they were named a 2017 nonprofit partner of Carry The Load (CTL), a nonprofit dedicated to restoring the true meaning of Memorial Day and providing active, meaningful ways to honor and celebrate the sacrifices made by our nation’s heroes throughout the year. Sheep Dogs who have given the ultimate sacrifice are honored and remembered – their load carried – at CTL events. One of CTL’s largest events is the National Relay, which has teams of people raising money and walking, running or bicycling 5+-mile legs of the over 6,200-mile routes throughout the month of May. The routes begin on the East and West Coasts, and meet in Dallas, TX, on Memorial Day weekend for the Memorial March. CTL’s founder carried one pound of weight for each of the people he carried on that first Memorial Day walk; now participants are encouraged to carry weighted backpacks with the names of those they are carrying...
2017 Spring Outdoor Adventures
This spring has been a busy one for Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA), hosting four different Outdoor Adventures in three states, all within three months. This week's story will feature our annual Hog Hunt and Quail Hunt; watch next week for a story on our first Fishing Trip and our St. Louis Chapter's Muddy Adventure. Our Outdoor Adventure program came to be as we waited for disasters to which our disaster response teams could deploy and satisfy their innate desire to serve and help those around them. We needed a continued service opportunity that would keep our Sheep Dogs engaged, physically challenged and foster camaraderie. An obstacle course race fit the bill. SDIA has since expanded the adventures to include other outdoor activities like hunting & fishing trips, skydiving, scuba diving and more. For our sponsored Sheep Dogs (those injured in combat or the line of duty), these adventures present them with challenges that test their rehabilitation progress, restore independence and self-confidence,...
SDIA’s Charity Ball Raises $40,000 to Send Veterans, First Responders to DC
On Saturday, April 22, we held our 5th Annual Charity Ball at the Embassy Suites Hotel & Spa in Rogers. More than 425 people attended and helped us raise over $40,000, which will be used to sponsor Sheep Dogs injured in combat or the line of duty to go on Outdoor Adventures; this October, 20 Sheep Dogs will be sponsored on an epic trip to Washington DC. The Charity Ball’s Host Sponsor was Bennett Packaging, along with Presenting Sponsors Broadway Contracting, JUNK Brands, Walmart, White Lynx Creative, and Zantac. Guests enjoyed a delicious dinner with musical entertainment provided by local artist, Cameron Johnson Music, and participated in the silent auction & live auction (sponsored by Bailey & Oliver's Live Auction Team), as well as the Heads or Tails game (sponsored by Gall Excavation).
Sheep Dog of the Year Awards were presented to William Tremaine, Jr, of Ward, Arkansas (EMS), Chief Dennis Ledbetter...
Wiltz Named Vice President of SDIA
The National Office of Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is proud to announce that Kacey Wiltz, Membership Coordinator and Kansas Chapter Commander, has been named Vice President of SDIA. Wiltz will assume her new duties effective immediately. Previous Vice President, Drew Gilchrist, resigned from the position last month to focus on his career in the packaging industry, and to spend quality time with family and loved ones. Wiltz began her law enforcement career in 2003 with the Topeka Police Department and has served as a Corporal, Field Training Officer, Training Coordinator, Taser Instructor, and Standardized Field Sobriety Test Instructor. Wiltz has been recognized several times for her work, and currently holds the rank of Police Officer with the Lawrence (Kansas) Police Department. In addition to her law enforcement duties, Wiltz earned her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 2012, and her Masters of Science in Criminal Justice in 2015. She is also a member of Sertoma (Service to Mankind). Wiltz joined SDIA...
SDIA Chosen as 2017 Partner of Carry The Load
As a national non-profit that exists to engage, assist and empower our nation’s “Sheep Dogs” – those who make up our military and first responder professions – Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is honored to announce their selection as a 2017 partner of fellow non-profit, Carry The Load (CTL). This partnership will provide much-needed funding to sponsor Sheep Dogs injured in combat or the line of duty to go on SDIA’s Outdoor Adventure to Washington DC and take part in the Marine Corps Marathon in October 2017. “We are thrilled to be selected as a partner of CTL,” said SgtMaj Lance Nutt, SDIA’s president and founder. “Our missions to engage and assist our nation’s Sheep Dogs fit perfectly within CTL’s “Continuum of Care” program to provide funding to those who directly serve our nation’s heroes and their families. We are extremely excited to sponsor as many Sheep Dogs as possible on our Washington DC Outdoor Adventure with CTL’s help.” More than...
SDIA’s 5th Annual Charity Ball is on Sat., April 22, 2017
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is honored to announce that our 5th Annual Charity Ball will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2017, from 5:00-11:00PM at the Embassy Suites Hotel & Spa in Rogers, with guest speaker, USMC Cpl Aaron Mankin (Ret.). Held each year, the Charity Ball is a formal fundraising event that includes dinner, silent auction, dancing, and an awards ceremony which recognizes our nation’s Sheep Dogs – those in Military, Law Enforcement, Fire & Rescue, and EMS professions – who have lived out the SDIA motto, “Helping Others is a Way of Life.” Funds raised will be used to sponsor Sheep Dogs injured in combat or the line of duty to go on an Outdoor Adventure to Washington DC and participate in the Marine Corps Marathon in October.
Guest speaker, Cpl Mankin, is a well-known inspirational speaker within military circles, and will share his story at the Charity Ball. Cpl Mankin graduated with honors from...
Nominations for Sheep Dog of the Year Awards Due March 1
It is that time again – time to ask for nominations for our Sheep Dog of the Year awards! This award is an important way to recognize those Sheep Dogs among us who have gone above and beyond their call of duty in the military or first responder professions (law enforcement, fire & rescue, and EMS) and live out our motto, "Helping Others is a Way of Life." These awards are presented to Sheep Dogs who have modeled exemplary and/or heroic service during the year of 2016. Although a single heroic incident may be worthy of consideration, special consideration is given to those nominees who have distinguished themselves and their profession throughout their careers. If you know of a Sheep Dog worthy of recognition, please submit a nomination by completing the Nomination Form no later than March 1, 2017.
The Sheep Dog of the Year award presentation will take place at our 5th Annual Charity Ball on Saturday,...