Kelly will be filling our new Social Media Director position. He brings a wealth of experience to the BoD, and we look forward to working with him as we move into the future. I’m sure you will be hearing about and seeing his contributions to Run for the Wall and to improving and expanding our social media presence.
Welcome KC!
The Board of Directors is pleased to welcome Southern Route rider, Patriot Guard rider, and Gold Star family member Corey Lederer to the Board. Corey will be filling our vacant Secretary position. He brings a wealth of experience to the BoD, and we look forward to working with him as we move into the future.
Anyone interested in volunteering for Platoon Leadership on the Southern Route and has experience in RFTW, please contact:
Kevin “Short” Short
Southern Route Platoon Coordinator
(951) 491-9611
Kevin.short@rftw.us
The Secretary position is a critical, sensitive position with a 3-year commitment that requires certain skills to further the maintenance of administrative tasks and documents, and the Mission of Run for the Wall. We live and work in a hugely electronic environment, so knowledge and familiarity with computers, file/folder structures, etc., is paramount.
The successful candidate will have a background in the use of Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, and similar tools like Zoom. Knowledge and experience in setting up and maintaining structured electronics records accounts is especially important. The ability to work in an online, collaborative environment is essential, as is having access to reliable internet services.
The bylaws describe the duties of Secretary as follows: The Secretary shall: (a) record the minutes of the meetings of the members and of the BoD in one (1) or more books provided for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws or as required by law; (c) be a custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the corporation; (d) keep a register of the post office address of each member which shall be furnished to the Secretary by such member; and (e) perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be designated to him/her by the President or by the BoD.
Appointment to the BoD places demands on your free time. We meet a minimum of once a month, often twice. There are occasional emergency online meetings with as little as 5 days’ notice. Occasional travel is required with certain travel expenses reimbursed. In July each year the BoD convenes Face to Face meetings where attendance is paramount. We also meet Face to Face each year in Ontario prior to the Run. You will be required to take and produce detailed minutes of each meeting, publishing minutes for review very soon after the meeting. There are online documents such as a roster of motions by month and topic that must be maintained. Additionally, the person filling this position is not only a Director, but also a corporate officer with certain duties and obligations specific to the corporation.
The successful candidate will submit a resume outlining their particular skills relevant to those listed here, along with a brief description of their Run experience, and the names of three references we may contact. Veterans are also required to submit an SSAN-redacted copy of their DD-214 that shows Character of Service (type of discharge). Once selected, the successful candidate will also have to submit to a Character & Fitness Examination (CFE), essentially a background check at the Board’s expense.
Those wishing to apply should submit their package to Secretary@rftw.us no later than 4 March 2024. Questions can be directed to President@rftw.us.
If you want to serve Run for the Wall, this is an excellent opportunity to impact the future of our organization. We look forward to hearing from you!
Hotel lists have now been published for all Run For The Wall routes.
Please note, there has been an issue reported with the link for the Ontario, California area hotels. (Apparently the link to the Comfort Inn links to the Quality Inn…) We are aware of the issue and we are working with our third-party vendors to straighten this out. We hope to have this corrected later on this morning.
IS IT MAY YET? Unfortunately, not yet. As it is mid-December, we will usher in 2024 very soon The New Year will bring with it fresh starts and new possibilities.
Unfortunately, that means a new RC for the Sand Box Route with it. It’s with a heavy heart and searing regret to inform you of my decision to step down from my role as Route Coordinator effective 12 Dec 2023. This decision has not been easy, but after careful consideration, I have concluded that the increasing demands of my business workload and the urgency to address newly identified alarming health concerns, will require me to prioritize my well-being. Regrettably, the focus required for both conditions (increased workload and a disturbing health condition) prevents my full concentration and exercise of my duties as the SB RC.
During my tenure, I have been deeply committed to our shared goals and have taken great pride in our collective achievements. However, I believe that a leader must be fully capable of dedicating the necessary time and energy to their responsibilities. Recently, balancing the intensifying demands of my role with my personal health has become increasingly challenging.
I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to contribute to our team’s success and for the support and understanding of my colleagues and superiors. I will work diligently to ensure a smooth transition of our Assistant RC (ARC), Heidi “BLUE” Hansing to assume the role as RC.
I look forward to seeing the continued success of the Sand Box Route and am confident in the team’s ability to thrive under new leadership. Thank you for your understanding and support during this transition period.
I hope 2024 brings you fortune and prosperity. More importantly, I hope the XXIV RFTW is a huge success, including the execution of the Sand Box Route. Lastly, I hope all find good health and blessings.
Cornell “THUMPER” Penn
XXXIV-2024
“Former” Sandbox Route Coordinator (RC)
Run For The Wall is taking part in the global 24-hour day of fundraising, Giving Tuesday, on Nov. 28, 2023! We hope you will join us to support the Run For The Wall Mission by donating to RFTW.
Share how you’re giving back on social media with hashtag #GivingTuesday #runforthewall and inspire others!
Run For The Wall® is a certified 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. All donations are tax deductible. Lookup the Run for the Wall® – GuideStar Profile for detailed information on our organization.
No one left behind is more than a standard we all live up to. It is a way of life. It is part of our Mission. If you or someone you know find themselves struggling with their mental health, please know you can contact the VA Veteran’s Crisis Line by dialing 988 then press 1 or text 838255 and speak or chat with a qualified responder.
Let us remember to keep our focus on the Mission. It is why we ride!
Run for the Wall designated parking areas at the Ontario Convention Center, Lot D and at the Ontario Elks Lodge.
The Ontario Elks Lodge #1419 is hosting pre-run RFTW meetings and gatherings this year. To further support RFTW, they are preparing breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals for up to 300 people at each sitting. This year, thanks to the intrepid Carol, we will have full meal support at our meeting location. Tickets will be sold at the Elks Lodge, and they will also have a table at the Holiday Inn (time TBD). Let’s do all we can to support their efforts in supporting us. The menu is as follows:
As you have heard, Shawnee Oklahoma was hit by an EF-2 tornado on Wednesday April 19th, 2023, just 30 days prior to RFTWs visit in May. Shawnee is Midway Routes Day 4/5 dinner, overnight stay, and morning staging and meeting.
Since then, RFTW Midway Route leadership has been in constant contact with our supporters and staff of the event locations.
There are still people and areas of Shawnee recovering from the damage. Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with them, and their recovery. As we travel in and around Shawnee, we need to be especially sensitive to the recovery needs of the local community.
With the information received from our Shawnee contacts for dinner at the VFW, hotels, etc. RFTW Midway Route Leadership in cooperation with the Board of Directors have determined to continue with the “Original Scheduled Itinerary” for Shawnee OK.
We want to offer a huge thank you to the people of Shawnee for their continued support of RFTW. “Shawnee Strong, We Care.
