On Monday night the MKPNE Community Council put a stake in the ground that I want you to know about. You probably know that the ManKind Project just celebrated its 25th anniversary. You have also probably now heard about the Stanford ACT I & II studies that basically told us in no uncertain terms that in order to survive and thrive in the future MKP will need to take steps NOW to re-create itself for the next 25 years. Their study found that IF we (MKP-USA and the Centers that comprise it) continue to “do business as usual” we will go out of business. EVERY non-profit that they could find that was structured as MKP is structured is either no longer around (or quickly moving that way) OR it has taken the necessary steps to transform itself.
Groups of NW Brothers across the country have been meeting regularly for more than a year to work out the details of what this transformation will look like. Many of those Men are from our own Community – Charlie Young, Boysen Hodgsen, Russell Kramp, Mike Elser and others. Their findings were presented at the Glen Ivy Annual Center Council meeting where I represented you. After a long and hard discussion a vote was taken as to whether to continue with the Consolidation. The result was that 28 of 29 Centers voted “for” proceeding. THIS IS the direction we must go AND moving forward will take COURAGE! Moving THIS direction will support not only MKP-USA but more particularly it will begin to build the infra-structure New England will need in the future.
The problem is that the Consolidation will take money. I am sure you understand that it makes no sense to proceed without adequate funding. In fact, the best guess is that it will take a minimum of $400,000. As of Monday afternoon the “Fund The Plan” Account contained $225,100 from pledges and contributions from both Centers and Individuals.
In the spirit of the Co-Creative Contribution Process, the Community Leadership of MKP-NE looked into its collective heart, took a hard look at our financial situation to make certain that we have sufficient cash assets for the future and made a courageous decision to move an additional $10,000 into the Fund the Plan Account, making our total contribution $40,000. We have put a stake in the ground that says, “The time is NOW to re-create this organization into one that can effectively “Change the World, One Man at a Time” AND be around to make the world a safer place for my grandchildren and yours! The time for talk is passing quickly and the time for “ACTION” is HERE!
It is, IMJ, incredible how “spirit” will translate unified intent into fact!
- Tuesday morning Russell Kramp announced that an anonymous donor had stepped forward offering to match 50 cents on the dollar for all INDIVIDUAL donations up to $100,000 made by March 31st. In other words, this donor is willing to kick in as much as $50,000 if the Project will come up with Individual donations of $100,000!
- Tuesday afternoon an Individual Donor from the Northeast stepped forward with a donation of $10,000!!
THE BOTTOM LINE: The Fund the Plan Account right now contains $250,100 in pledges and contributions. Up to an additional $45,000 in matching funds are available.
THE DOOR IS OPEN!
THE ONLY QUESTION IS,
“WILL WE HAVE THE COURAGE TO STEP THROUGH IT?”
So, I am writing this to you for TWO REASONS.
First, I want you to know how proud I am of this Community and its leadership for having the courage to take every step it can take to secure its future and the future of the Project.
Second, I am asking each of you to consider a donation to this Community designated toward the Fund the Plan Account. There is no contribution that is too small or, for that matter, to large. In the spirit of CCP, I invite you to consider:
- The value you have received from your work with the Project, how it has affected YOU, your family, your relationships, your work, your LIFE;
- Your desire to help bring the work of MKP to all men;
- The cost of re-creating MKP into an organization ready to complete its mission of “Changing the world one man at a time;”
- Your current financial situation;
- What your head, heart, and gut are telling you.
And then I invite you to GIVE OUT OF YOUR BOUNTY!
The door is open. The next step is up to you and me. One Dollar given between now and March 31st will mean $1.50 to Fund the Plan and our future. And, by the way, those dollars will still be available as an emergency fund to the New England Community even after Consolidation through our Consolidation Credits.
Send your check to:
MKPNE-FTP
25 Storey Avenue
PMB 320
Newburyport, MA 01950
Any check received prior to 3/31 will receive a 50% match!!
Please call me, or Mike Elser or Russell Kramp if you have any questions. Thank you, one and all, for all you do for MKP and the world.
Blessings
Corey
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Corey Tyler Larsen
Center Director, ManKind Project New England
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