Hold on to your seats!

Like I said in my last blogpost: We have a lot going on at Outdoor Mindset right now… and that’s an understatement. But probably the most exciting of all is the fact that we’ve hired a part time Director of Programs and Membership to help manage and develop our programs. And well, she is awesome (again, definitely an understatement!) Patti comes to us with years of valuable non-profit experience, and above all, a passion and excitement to nurture and develop non-profits with great programs and potential – like Outdoor Mindset! So here’s a little shout out from Patti herself, giving you some insight about who she is, and what’s to come with her involvement with OM.

From Patti:

A few hours before Kyle called to offer me this position, I was practicing yoga next to a woman in her 70’s who has Parkinson’s disease and I noticed that as the class progressed, her hands calmed and the trembling slowed. She has a beautiful practice: soft, gentle eyes and strong, graceful poses. We started talking after the class ended and she told me that she was headed to a retreat at Shoshoni in Rollinsville, CO the following weekend. I could tell that it took courage for her to sign up for the retreat. “I drove up there by myself to see it, I didn’t know if I’d get lost on the way, or if I’d even find it,navigating the back roads, but I did and I love it; it’s a beautiful place.” 

What touched and inspired me the most about hearing her plans, was that she was pushing herself to find new experiences; to live her life. She found something that she was curious about and created an adventure for herself. Hearing her story reminded me of how important that is for all of us. To me, that’s what Outdoor Mindset is all about: people connecting and inspiring each other to continue living their dreams. Or, as the Outdoor Mindset team would say, to Live Big!

I’m three weeks into my new position as the director of programs and membership and am so impressed with the incredible job that the board and volunteers have done of laying the groundwork for a successful organization. They are a dynamic, engaged group with a wide variety of professional skills and they are passionate about Outdoor Mindset’s mission. I’ve worked and volunteered in the nonprofit sector for over 15 years. One of the positions that I found to be very fulfilling was as the executive director of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the ALS Association. While working with people with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), one of the things that I found to be the most disconcerting was the number of people who found themselves isolated because they didn’t have the support to get out and stay active. Many seemed to cut back on activity long before it was necessary. When I saw the job announcement for this position, I thought to myself, what a great idea for a nonprofit! I’m looking forward to working hard to make this organization more visible and to developing its programs so that we’re able to increase the quality of life for those suffering from neurological disorders. I love to hear from our members, please call or email me and introduce yourself!

-Patti

See, I told you she's awesome! So hold on to your seats people, because with the addition of Patti and our dedicated Board of Directors and Volunteers driving this bus, we’re all in for a wild ride! 

One great thing we’ve already put together is this fabulous (you can saw 'fabulous' on a Friday and it's ok, right?) video showcasing what Outdoor Mindset is all about. Check it out and share it with your friends, family, pets, co-workers, waiters and waitresses, and anyone else who will watch. :)

HAPPY FRIDAY! We hope you are all as excited as we are about the great things going on with OM!

Living Big in Bozeman now, 

Jill

What do Everest, a rattlesnake and the IRS have in common?

Yesterday while mountain biking, we almost ran over a rattlesnake sunning itself on the trail. Later on, we would come across another rattler, except this time, he was curled, hogging the singletrack, and in the perfect position to strike. We had to wait. We had to practice patience.

What a timely lesson since less than 24 hours ago we mailed our 501(c)(3) application to the IRS. Yes! We have taken yet another step to becoming official, or at least recognized by the federal government as a tax-exempt charitable organization. Of course, who knows how long it will take the IRS to send us that official letter of determination (could be months). The good news is we can operate as an official nonprofit organization and our tax-exempt status will retro to our born on date (April 15, 2010)!

The OM crew came together as a group to unite and inspire people affected by neurological challenges to LIVE BIG through a common passion for outdoor adventure. Now, everyone has the opportunity to support this incredible cause.As Jake (Leader of Organizational Development) says, “We are changing the face of diagnosis one outdoor adventure at a time.” That is the hope!

As we journey, we know we may encounter the rainy day, the rattlesnake or the false summit. These make the journey that much more interesting. We at Outdoor Mindset will be celebrating the baby steps and small successes…and practicing patience. This will get us over even the tallest of mountains. After all, as Jordan Romero, the 13-year-old who recently climbed Everest can attest, “I know it requires a lot of patience. I will remain patient.”

"You have to go on and be crazy" -Jimi Hendrix

Some people would call us crazy. We probably ARE crazy to start a nonprofit during the current economy. However, this group gets excited about challenges. Outdoor Mindset has developed because of the passion brought to the table for the mission, the talents of each board member and the willingness to do what it takes to get the organization off the ground (warning for friends and family – begging for donations may occur soon). My experience includes over fifteen years of volunteering and working in the nonprofit sector. What we have accomplished as a group in just six meetings blows me away - vision, mission, values, major services, committee work and a name. Okay, the name took a little longer than we thought and thank you marketing committee for getting us through our wall of sticky note brainstorms (see pic). I have to admit, I am somewhat of a process snob. I like process, but if it goes too slow I get antsy. Outdoor Mindset is keeping me on my feet. Stay tuned for what’s coming down the pike: an official logo, outreach events, party, partnerships and official 501(c)(3) status (IRS jargon for being a tax-exempt nonprofit). Join our craziness – follow us here, on Twitter and on Facebook.