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From the Editor by Mike “Lionman” Leone Each year at this time, I look back, in response to the community’s annual presentation of the Ron Hering Award. This event always evokes memories for me. One reason is that I was the grateful recipient of the award in 2003. I didn’t print anything about it in the DRUM because, as editor, I saw it as tooting my own horn. Another example of misplaced modesty, I suppose, and even now I don’t know what else I would have said about it. So I’ll let it ...

Going In Mission and Service by Prentiss “Golden Fat Cat” Jones Each year, one man in each of the 38 centers worldwide that comprise the ManKind Project International (MKPI) is eligible to receive recognition for living a life of mission and service, primarily outside of the context of our circles of men. Each community may select such an individual and submit his name to MKPI for review and blessing, with the end result being the bestowment of the Ron Hering Award, named after one of ...

MOTHER NIGHT by James Kinchloe the day is done my blanket holds me as this old house it creaks and sighs the magician comes a nightly visit to carry me with him to places high mother bat you ride the currents of earth moon sky and whispering sea to return to your young ones again at daybreak a mystery to many but not to me so my brothers let us build a campfire here on this friendly hallowed ground with wood that our grandfathers planted with wood that our ...

This is a story about making a choice – the choice between getting and giving.

Mayor’s Volunteer Award, 2008 Nominating George Sayre, D.D.S. by Mariano W. Guas How does a patient’s appointment turn into ten years of volunteering for the dentist? For Dr. George Sayre it all happened ten years ago when Dr. David Buck sat down in his dental chair. Dr. Buck’s numbed and mumbled question of how could the new organization Healthcare for the Homeless-Houston (HHH) enlist the support of Houston dentists for a budding dental clinic elicited Dr. Sayre’s own enthusiastic ...

Olympic Gold and Not So Gold by Anonymous I never would have imagined that as these Beijing Olympics come to a close that I would be processing the impact of the event in my I-Group and my therapy session. But alas, like anywhere else in the world, my shadows, both dark and golden, were mirrored back to me. The most profound and obvious is how the human body and spirit can be stretched to their highest potential. How with conscious intention and commitment to vision, magnificence in ...

[Editor’s Note: Clayton wrote and read this poem for a graduation he recently completed. His dad, Rick Goldberg, submitted the poem to the DRUM.]

MKP Houston Community Meeting By Mike Leone, DRUM Editor Our second community meeting of 2008 took place at the lodge on May 10. Dave Steitz, who has assumed the position of Board chair, was at the helm. Dave began by reminding us that no community is static and that every community experiences its up and down periods. Corollary to this is that we can have down periods and still prosper. His intention for the meeting was that all of us leave with the commitment that our community is ...

From the Editor by Mike “Lionman” Leone Another summer has finally arrived. It was too cold to feel like summer, or even spring, as we experience spring here in Houston anyway, when I visited Yankee Stadium toward the middle of May and watched the Yankees get trounced by the Mets 11-2. I was there primarily as a way of honoring my father. I can’t imagine that he, having been born in Brooklyn, never set foot in Yankee Stadium, even if it was to watch the Dodgers go up against the Bronx ...

The Big Leagues by Kim Sawyer It’s loud and scary in there. They’re all so big, And the ball moves so fast. I can’t play with them. I’ll get killed for sure! I don’t want to go in there with you, But I’m afraid if I don’t, I’ll be left behind – Forever without you. If you’d just notice me - just sitting here – and see how frightened I am. And if I could be sure you’d come back to get me, I’d really much rather go play in my room. While you go play Big ...

A “Kingsmen” Light By Micah B. “Vinnie” Vinson “Lobo Bravo," RT(R) JAN. 2007-LOMG, “KINGSMEN” I-Group I was strolling on a dark and often lonesome path; looking forward with the main purpose being not to stumble over down-trodden “obstacles.” A man was sent to cross my path seemingly for friendship and camaraderie; Yet here I am after more than a full moon’s rotation knowing this man to have been a guiding force. I started a journey that has taught me to open  ...

A Prayer of Gratitude for Paradox and Mystery By Luis Bautista and Lamont Grogan Grandfather, I am calling you. Come into my heart and fill me with your presence and the presence of the spirit world of my Ancestors. Grandfather, I long for security of easy answers, but each day I struggle to understand why so many questions remain unanswered. My heart wants to decide quickly and not look deep into my being, where the answers live in peace. I seek clarity but I wrestle with the ...

Are You Open?. . . Open to Being Open to an Open I-Group?? By Mariano Guas, Free Coyote 6/96 What is an Open I-Group? An Open I-Group is the opportunity to invite an uninitiated man to experience what our work is all about. Perhaps there is a man in your life that you would like to introduce to our community. An Open I-Group is a very effective way to introduce that man or men to our work. It is also one of the most powerful enrollment tools that we can use. What can be more beautiful ...

Warrior Men in Mission Neglected People, Neglected Places by Lamont Grogan A few months ago Ken Rogers, Leader Emeritus, and a handful of Warrior men began an initiative to make “service and mission” a more important aspect of our warrior community life. Service and mission are central to the weekend training and at the very core of our individual lives. The commonly held belief is that our collective experience and purpose is enhanced by making service and mission a central part of ...

Healing the Warrior Heart by Luis Bautista “Forgiveness is the scent that the rose leaves on the heel that crushes it.”—John Arnott We have been asked by men in our community: what is Elder work? How do Elders heal? An aspect of healing Elder work is any “life repair” that still needs to be completed; and contained within life repair is the opportunity of forgiveness. The ability to cease carrying resentments and anger toward people or past events is essential for peace in our ...

The Gift of Mission by Tom “Eagle” Workman, Ph.D. The Beacon was crowded, even for a Saturday. By noon, more than 500 people had already registered for lunch, and those unfortunate enough to arrive on time rather than an hour early were refused a shower or laundry service due to the long lines that had already formed. The ceramic tile and glass chamber echoed with the sounds of the gathered humanity, creating a dull roar that made conversation difficult. Smells of sweat, dusty clothes, ...

What Happened to Love? by Mitch “Crazy Elk” Finn It came to my attention recently that people don’t dare say, “I love you,” anymore. Is there a more controversial phrase? It goes by epithets (“three little words”), or is spoken in whispers, as a kind of confession. Hardly is it said without a litany of qualifiers, exceptions, hesitations, perhaps a few gulps, choked up throats, even the odd sigh. The typical dating couple waits a good deal of time before those words. We see sitcom antics ...

From the Editor by Mike “Lionman” Leone There aren’t that many current movies that I really get curious about. Still, occasionally I’ll hear about one or another film that will grab my attention, sometimes in spite of myself. Such was the case with the recent film Beowulf. Letting go of my original resistance to see it at all, I finally gave in, and not without first deciding to get ready for it by first reading the eighth-century poem that the film is based on and which is relatively ...

From the Board Chair by Dave “King Snake” Steitz Drumming…faint….distant at first. Then louder, more frequent. Different tones….different pitches. Short bursts…longer phrases…extended solos. Urgent, insistent…inviting....questioning. Men in conversation. Planning... committing…taking action…celebrating. The forest is alive with the voices of passionate and committed men. For the past few months, my cell phone has been buzzing with e-mails from and about the Men of The Mankind ...

New Training Committee Formed at MKPH by Keith “Healing Bear” Liles MKPH Training Coordinator New at MKP Houston for 2008 is the emergence of the Training Committee, and attached to that group of volunteers is the hope for a powerful year of both required and special interest trainings for the Houston Community. Historically, Houston has planned many educational trainings, such as Basic Staff Development Training, Leader Training I and Leader Training II, and others, with the best ...