Post by markcameron on Dec 22, 2013 19:45:54 GMT -5
Team Cameron,
I don't have a good excuse for my lack of posts over the last four months, not that you're looking for one. There is no good reason. I have however been busy. I hope you all are doing well during this holiday season. I'm looking forward to spending time with family and friends.
You're probably wondering what could keep me so busy that I can't sit down (that expression makes me laugh) and update this blog once in awhile. Writers block is my main excuse. I know I could take the time to fill you in but I guess I like to build it up until I feel I have something to say.
Since August 28 (my last post) the Golf Committee hosted another fantastic Mark Cameron Golf Classic. Deer Creek Golf Course commented that we were one of the only tournaments returning in 2013 with more golfers than we had the previous year. That not only speaks volumes about the people that care for me but it also says a lot about the Golf Committee and the efforts they put forth to host a well-run tournament with food and drink for everyone. In addition, they are creative enough to entertain the golfers with contests and prizes throughout the day. The Sponsor Chair wheels and deals with local businesses interested in getting involved and doing a little advertising. The Auction Chair displays a variety of items from travel leisure, sport's memorabilia, jewelry and sporting tickets inviting people to bid on great items throughout the evening. It helps to get both Chipotle and Texas Roadhouse to the event and feed a hungry group. Not to mention the beverages keeping everyone's thirst to a minimum. In addition to those on the Golf Committee we had a group of volunteers working both behind the scenes and directly with the golfers making sure everyone had an awesome day.
A special thanks to everyone involved. The money raised helps me throughout the year.
The week after the Golf Classic the Olathe Schools Alumni Association selected yours truly to be recognized as an outstanding alumni. The Association host a dinner annually honoring five or six Olathe graduates (20 plus years post-graduation). I was recognized for my efforts to provide motivational speaking to local groups through my Make a Splash Inc. organization. In addition they noted my working as a Patient Advocate to the newly injured and their families and volunteering on the Persons with Disabilities Advisory Board for the City of Olathe. They have a Wall of Honor at the Olathe Schools District Office on which they will keep a picture of the honorees with a brief description of what they have done and continue to do.
For lack of a better word I was "Honored" to have been selected and for that I have been working harder to get that message out to more of the middle schools in Olathe and hope to branch out beyond.
The following week Brown Bag Liquor and Debbie Swinney State Farm hosted another fund-raising event. The annual Wine Tasting was held at the Ball’s Conference Center. Although costumes were optional there were a number of participants. The 100+ wines from around the world served by representatives from each of the distributors were enjoyed by more than 300 people. In addition, another Auction Committee displayed a wide variety of jewelry, sports items, bicycles and decorations ideal for your home.
They always host an excellent event with food served from a dozen local restaurants, Halloween decorations, ice sculptures and even a photo booths perfect for capturing a picture to commemorate the evening. Thanks to Steve & Kelly and their staff, Debbie Swinney and her office and the number volunteers helping throughout the night. Everyone had a great evening.
I have been able to get out this fall and share my message with two different schools in Olathe. I also have three schools that have invited me to speak with their students in the first two months of the new year. Right now I have two additional schools I'm talking with and hope to make contact and plans with six or eight more. I enjoy sharing with the students what I believe are important life lessons; emphasizing making good choices in their daily lives and the importance of volunteering for others.
I started Make a Splash Inc. in 2012 with a mission statement that reads:
Make a Splash Inc. will work with the newly injured and their families on the transition to life in a wheelchair. In addition we will introduce life with a disability to able-bodied audiences and express the importance of making good choices in their daily lives.
With that in mind I have also taken on a volunteer position as a Mentor for the Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation. After completing some online work and taking a class provided by the organization they have made me a Mentor to work with people with disabilities in my local area.
You may know that I have been doing that for years. Shortly after my accident I recognized the value of passing along what I have learned since September of 2004 with regards to life in a wheelchair. I have worked with the families of those local and sometimes not so local within the first couple of days of an accident. I am usually unable to speak to the injured until after their return home. At that point I have met with a number of newly injured to discuss some of the changes in life and ways to deal with those changes. I'd like to think I am making a difference by offering what I have learned over the years.
During some of my time sitting in front my computer I will come across something that I think I should pass along. I just read a posting on someone else's blog that I'm going to plagiarize so please don't think I come up with these things on my own. The story was written by a person having trouble dealing with the struggles in their daily lives. It was brought to the writer’s attention that "You are the keeper of your own struggle." A point was made about a homeowner upset over a leaking roof and how he met a man living on the street. Although this homeowner is looking at an expensive fix realizes that he has a roof over his head. The homeowner then realizes that although the repair was going to be expensive he was better off than the man living on the streets with no roof. He wasn't going to let his own misfortune determined how he carried himself.
Please realize when leaving the house that “You are the keeper of your own struggle.” Bad things happen but when you let them change your outlook you lose twice. Just something to think about.
Merry Christmas to All of You and Have a Happy New Year.
My Best, Mark
I don't have a good excuse for my lack of posts over the last four months, not that you're looking for one. There is no good reason. I have however been busy. I hope you all are doing well during this holiday season. I'm looking forward to spending time with family and friends.
You're probably wondering what could keep me so busy that I can't sit down (that expression makes me laugh) and update this blog once in awhile. Writers block is my main excuse. I know I could take the time to fill you in but I guess I like to build it up until I feel I have something to say.
Since August 28 (my last post) the Golf Committee hosted another fantastic Mark Cameron Golf Classic. Deer Creek Golf Course commented that we were one of the only tournaments returning in 2013 with more golfers than we had the previous year. That not only speaks volumes about the people that care for me but it also says a lot about the Golf Committee and the efforts they put forth to host a well-run tournament with food and drink for everyone. In addition, they are creative enough to entertain the golfers with contests and prizes throughout the day. The Sponsor Chair wheels and deals with local businesses interested in getting involved and doing a little advertising. The Auction Chair displays a variety of items from travel leisure, sport's memorabilia, jewelry and sporting tickets inviting people to bid on great items throughout the evening. It helps to get both Chipotle and Texas Roadhouse to the event and feed a hungry group. Not to mention the beverages keeping everyone's thirst to a minimum. In addition to those on the Golf Committee we had a group of volunteers working both behind the scenes and directly with the golfers making sure everyone had an awesome day.
A special thanks to everyone involved. The money raised helps me throughout the year.
The week after the Golf Classic the Olathe Schools Alumni Association selected yours truly to be recognized as an outstanding alumni. The Association host a dinner annually honoring five or six Olathe graduates (20 plus years post-graduation). I was recognized for my efforts to provide motivational speaking to local groups through my Make a Splash Inc. organization. In addition they noted my working as a Patient Advocate to the newly injured and their families and volunteering on the Persons with Disabilities Advisory Board for the City of Olathe. They have a Wall of Honor at the Olathe Schools District Office on which they will keep a picture of the honorees with a brief description of what they have done and continue to do.
For lack of a better word I was "Honored" to have been selected and for that I have been working harder to get that message out to more of the middle schools in Olathe and hope to branch out beyond.
The following week Brown Bag Liquor and Debbie Swinney State Farm hosted another fund-raising event. The annual Wine Tasting was held at the Ball’s Conference Center. Although costumes were optional there were a number of participants. The 100+ wines from around the world served by representatives from each of the distributors were enjoyed by more than 300 people. In addition, another Auction Committee displayed a wide variety of jewelry, sports items, bicycles and decorations ideal for your home.
They always host an excellent event with food served from a dozen local restaurants, Halloween decorations, ice sculptures and even a photo booths perfect for capturing a picture to commemorate the evening. Thanks to Steve & Kelly and their staff, Debbie Swinney and her office and the number volunteers helping throughout the night. Everyone had a great evening.
I have been able to get out this fall and share my message with two different schools in Olathe. I also have three schools that have invited me to speak with their students in the first two months of the new year. Right now I have two additional schools I'm talking with and hope to make contact and plans with six or eight more. I enjoy sharing with the students what I believe are important life lessons; emphasizing making good choices in their daily lives and the importance of volunteering for others.
I started Make a Splash Inc. in 2012 with a mission statement that reads:
Make a Splash Inc. will work with the newly injured and their families on the transition to life in a wheelchair. In addition we will introduce life with a disability to able-bodied audiences and express the importance of making good choices in their daily lives.
With that in mind I have also taken on a volunteer position as a Mentor for the Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation. After completing some online work and taking a class provided by the organization they have made me a Mentor to work with people with disabilities in my local area.
You may know that I have been doing that for years. Shortly after my accident I recognized the value of passing along what I have learned since September of 2004 with regards to life in a wheelchair. I have worked with the families of those local and sometimes not so local within the first couple of days of an accident. I am usually unable to speak to the injured until after their return home. At that point I have met with a number of newly injured to discuss some of the changes in life and ways to deal with those changes. I'd like to think I am making a difference by offering what I have learned over the years.
During some of my time sitting in front my computer I will come across something that I think I should pass along. I just read a posting on someone else's blog that I'm going to plagiarize so please don't think I come up with these things on my own. The story was written by a person having trouble dealing with the struggles in their daily lives. It was brought to the writer’s attention that "You are the keeper of your own struggle." A point was made about a homeowner upset over a leaking roof and how he met a man living on the street. Although this homeowner is looking at an expensive fix realizes that he has a roof over his head. The homeowner then realizes that although the repair was going to be expensive he was better off than the man living on the streets with no roof. He wasn't going to let his own misfortune determined how he carried himself.
Please realize when leaving the house that “You are the keeper of your own struggle.” Bad things happen but when you let them change your outlook you lose twice. Just something to think about.
Merry Christmas to All of You and Have a Happy New Year.
My Best, Mark