The Mankind Project of Houston RSS Feed

NWTA Preview on 3-Aug-10 6:30 PM

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 23:30:00 GMT

NWTA Preview
Start Date: 3-Aug-10 6:30 PM
End Time: 3-Aug-10 8:30 PM
Location: Community Room
Event Details:

Community Room

B2M Meeting on 11-Aug-10 6:30 PM

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 23:30:00 GMT

B2M Meeting
Start Date: 11-Aug-10 6:30 PM
End Time: 11-Aug-10 8:30 PM
Location: Great Hall

Great Hall

Dismantling the Cradle to Prison Pipeline on 12-Aug-10 6:30 PM

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 23:30:00 GMT

Dismantling the Cradle to Prison Pipeline
Start Date: 12-Aug-10 6:30 PM
End Time: 12-Aug-10 9:30 PM
Location: MKP Houston Center (Lodge), Houston, TX 77092
Event Details:

MKP Houston Center (Lodge)

6950 West 43rd Street

Houston, TX 77092

NWTA on 13-Aug-10 5:30 PM

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 22:30:00 GMT

NWTA
Start Date: 13-Aug-10 5:30 PM
End Time: 15-Aug-10 3:30 PM
Location: Land of My Grandfathers, North Zulch, TX 77872

Land of My Grandfathers

1047 Diserens Rd

North Zulch, TX 77872

Graduation - Honoring Ceremony! on 19-Aug-10 6:30 PM

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 23:30:00 GMT

Graduation - Honoring Ceremony!
Start Date: 19-Aug-10 6:30 PM
End Time: 19-Aug-10 8:30 PM
Location: MKP Houston Center (Lodge), Houston, TX 77092

MKP Houston Center (Lodge)

6950 West 43rd Street

Houston, TX 77092

September staff meeting on 23-Aug-10 6:30 PM

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 23:30:00 GMT

September staff meeting
Start Date: 23-Aug-10 6:30 PM
End Time: 23-Aug-10 8:30 PM
Location: MKP Houston Center (Lodge)
Speaker: Martin Lassoff

MKP Houston Center (Lodge)

B2M Meeting on 25-Aug-10 6:30 PM

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:30:00 GMT

B2M Meeting
Start Date: 25-Aug-10 6:30 PM
End Time: 25-Aug-10 8:30 PM
Location: Great Hall

Great Hall

IGC on 26-Aug-10 6:30 PM

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 23:30:00 GMT

IGC
Start Date: 26-Aug-10 6:30 PM
End Time: 26-Aug-10 8:00 PM
Location: Community Room

Community Room

Full Moon Ceremony of Purification and Renewal on 27-Aug-10 6:30 PM

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 23:30:00 GMT

Full Moon Ceremony of Purification and Renewal
Start Date: 27-Aug-10 6:30 PM
End Time: 27-Aug-10 8:30 PM
Location: MKP Houston Center (Lodge), Houston, TX 77092
Event Details:

You are invited to attend a full moon ceremony of purification and renewal at the Mankind Center, W. 43^rd street. Gather on the west side of the building. The fire will start at 4 p.m. Bring towels, water and what you will need to take care of yourself during and after the ceremony. The lodge is open to all men who have completed a New Warrior Training Adventure and to all women who have completed Woman Within weekend training.

MKP Houston Center (Lodge)

6950 West 43rd Street

Houston, TX 77092

B2M - Reclaim Teenage Fire on 29-Aug-10 8:30 AM

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 13:30:00 GMT

B2M - Reclaim Teenage Fire
Start Date: 29-Aug-10 8:30 AM
End Time: 29-Aug-10 6:00 PM
Location: Entire Building

Entire Building

Jun PIT on 2-Aug-10 6:30 PM

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 23:30:00 GMT

Start Date: 2-Aug-10 6:30 PM
End Time: 2-Aug-10 9:00 PM

Adventurer Room (default) or Community Room (when available)

Jun PIT on 9-Aug-10 6:30 PM

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 23:30:00 GMT

Start Date: 9-Aug-10 6:30 PM
End Time: 9-Aug-10 9:00 PM

Adventurer Room (default) or Community Room (when available)

Leader Body Meeting on 11-Aug-10 6:30 PM

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 23:30:00 GMT

Start Date: 11-Aug-10 6:30 PM
End Time: 11-Aug-10 8:30 PM

Community Room

Jun PIT on 16-Aug-10 6:30 PM

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 23:30:00 GMT

Start Date: 16-Aug-10 6:30 PM
End Time: 16-Aug-10 9:00 PM

Adventurer Room (default) or Community Room (when available)

Jun PIT on 23-Aug-10 6:30 PM

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 23:30:00 GMT

Start Date: 23-Aug-10 6:30 PM
End Time: 23-Aug-10 9:00 PM

Adventurer Room (default) or Community Room (when available)

Aug PIT on 24-Aug-10 6:30 PM

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:30:00 GMT

Start Date: 24-Aug-10 6:30 PM
End Time: 24-Aug-10 9:00 PM

Adventurer Room

Jun PIT on 30-Aug-10 6:30 PM

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:30:00 GMT

Start Date: 30-Aug-10 6:30 PM
End Time: 30-Aug-10 9:00 PM

Adventurer Room (default) or Community Room (when available)

Aug PIT on 31-Aug-10 6:30 PM

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:30:00 GMT

Start Date: 31-Aug-10 6:30 PM
End Time: 31-Aug-10 9:00 PM

Adventurer Room

Aug PIT on 7-Sep-10 6:30 PM

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:30:00 GMT

Start Date: 7-Sep-10 6:30 PM
End Time: 7-Sep-10 9:00 PM

Adventurer Room

Leader Body Meeting on 8-Sep-10 6:30 PM

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:30:00 GMT

Start Date: 8-Sep-10 6:30 PM
End Time: 8-Sep-10 8:30 PM

Community Room

Why Gateway Weekends Are Necessary: A Straight Man’s Perspective

Chuck Illg, Elder Elephant, Center Director, MKP Arizona — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:00:00 GMT

I speak monthly at a Science of Mind Church in Bisbee, AZ. This month the topic was “The Element of Prolific Variety (abundance).” Most of these churches, Unity, Christian Science, etc., derive from a “New Thought” movement in the early 1900s and focus on spirituality rather than dogma, although they are definitely based in Christianity. They like to focus on the good in you rather than on your sins and are big on the mirror. The one where I speak is mostly populated by women and gay women. I like to take the sacred masculine in to give them some balance of viewpoint and speak from a place that I know. They are rather “New Age” and have this perception that they accept everyone for who they are.

The sticking point for me is that if they don't openly acknowledge the differences in class, race, culture, orientation, ethnicity and gender, they are not really seeing people for who they are and merely “tolerating” rather than accepting. To see people as spiritual beings exclusively denies the humanity and differences (and suffering, challenges, isms, etc) that those different from me have had to live through daily. Translation, “I love you, just don't impose your troubles on me.”

Some of these folks are so spiritually high that they ignore the human condition we deal with on the NWTA weekend, a situation that is particularly acute on Gateway weekends. I related an experience to them to make a point.

An African-American man from Arizona was the only man of color on one of our weekends last year and he asked the staff what we see when he stands in the circle. Every man that answered him said he saw a Warrior, a man doing his work, a good man, blah, blah, blah. His response was “You don't see me! Unless you see a black man, the only black man in this circle, you don't see me.”

What a wake-up for me. Acceptance is the whole package, the elephant in the room, everything. Without the acknowledgement of difference, it's only tolerance. And target groups can smell it from across the room. Once I started to speak about my white privilege in church, the heads started to nod in agreement. They got it; that business of considering everyone to be a “child of god” or just another man doing his work was way too easy and really just lip service. The responses that I got after I spoke were amazing. They weren't pushing back or letting themselves off the hook. They just never thought about it like that. Neither did I.

The Gateway rocked me again, and the homecoming on Saturday was full of long-winded testimonials from the new brothers. I just let them talk until they were through. I don't think they ever had a place to speak to a mixed audience that was willing to hear them. I had watched Philadelphia the night before with new eyes and was pretty deep in my grief again. I, too, have lost many who were close to me. It was a good day for me.
All of these combined experiences led me to change the subject on Sunday. Variety is diversity when it comes to people.

I get tired of trying to explain to men why gateways of all kinds are necessary. I want them to staff one and find out from their own gut about the true value. Just saying that we are all men trying to reclaim the sacred masculine just doesn't cut it. WE ARE DIFFERENT and we lead very different lives with different pressures and struggles. And we need to have different conversations. It is time to wake up.

Comma, end rant, breathe…

Chuck Illg, Elder Elephant
I create a generous world by encouraging men to greatness.

20-Dec-08 12:00 PM

Recovery of the Highest Level

Sherri Wormser & Steve Sewell — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:00:00 GMT

It was nearly 20 years ago when he hit rock bottom. High and drunk most of the time, Steve Sewell couldn’t function without just a little something to get him through his day. And he was getting into trouble left and right. One fateful day, the light shone and he realized that the only times he got into big trouble were when he was drunk. While sitting in jail he began to realize there had to be a change. He agreed to attend court-ordered AA Meetings. At the time, in-patient rehab would have cost him his job, so he chose to “white-knuckle it.” For more than a week he had intense cravings, and severe anxiety, but because he was stubborn, he remained sober. He joined Alcoholics Anonymous; although it was unable to help with the cravings, it did help with attitude changes. Hoping the worst was behind him, Steve went about his normal business. A few years later he divorced his first wife. After 10 years of wellbriety he finally succumbed to the cravings and drank again. Shortly after, he met his soul mate and current wife, Dru. Steve jumped on the AA bandwagon again and Dru entered rehab and began her own journey of wellbriety. Together they struggled with cravings for many years, Steve reporting the intense cravings to drink for more than two years, finding them difficult to ignore. Yet he did.

Several years later, following God’s will, Steve was called to help others with addictions. He received a grant from the Southern Ute Tribe to return to school to become an addictions counselor. Never easy, this was a path that was predetermined for him. It was during his early classes that he first had a glimpse of what would become his life’s work. In pharmacology classes, he first learned of how chemicals can affect the body’s own natural brain chemistry. He later went on to receive the highest level of training for addiction counselors, that leading to being a Certified Addictions Counselor III (CACIII). Through extensive training and research, Steve began to embrace the idea that replacement of specific Amino Acids to the body can aid in affecting how the brain has been altered through addictive substances such as drugs or alcohol. Books such as The Healing Nutrients Within by Eric Braverman and End Your Addiction by Charles Gant became the basis of his research. Studying with some of the foremost experts on the subject, Steve spent time training in Mexico with Dr. William Hitt as well as studying the works of Dr. Kenneth Blum. Steve has since developed his own formula with the aid of many physicians. He utilizes his proprietary formula in his addiction recovery clinic, Mind and Body Works, in Durango, CO.

Through God’s will, Steve is now able to help alcoholics and addicts recover in a safe, non-lockdown environment. His counseling skills aid in the recovery process. Each patient has doctor-prescribed nutritional IVs based on extensive research. Each IV has been able to greatly reduce and in some cases entirely eliminate cravings for most alcoholics and addicts he has treated.

This formula seems to be effective for a variety of brain chemical imbalances that occur from drug or alcohol use. Depletions of Dopamine, Serotonin, GABA, and Endorphin are common. Other ingredients of the intravenous solution include Glutathione (an antioxidant), B vitamins, Vitamin C and a mineral complex. The clinic of Mind and Body Works focuses on ensuring the highest quality care to all our patients. We treat the whole body, not just the addiction. We treat the cause of the addiction, not just the symptoms. Complementary care aids in this process for the client as well. Acupuncture, counseling, massage, infrared sauna, biofeedback, nutrition classes, and a complete physical by our doctors help in the assessment of any physical symptoms that may lead a patient to self medicate.

Most patients report by the end of their treatment feeling the best they ever have in their life and that's a huge jumpstart into wellbriety. Upon graduation from the program, all clients are encouraged to follow up with competent counseling and support groups.

Jump ahead several years. Steve was called once again to complete his journey in life and become a New Warrior. It was springtime, a time for rebirth, and Steve joined MKP. Since June of 2006 he has participated in BSDT, and has now stepped into his Elderhood. Steve is active in weekly I-Groups and has staffed seven NWTAs. He lives his mission "to create a world of acceptance, respect and trust by loving himself instead of judging himself." As far as service to others, Steve realizes many people who need this treatment can't afford it. So one out of every five treatments is given away for free!

20-Dec-08 12:00 PM

All My Relatives

Rob Negrin, Emerald Otter with Buffalo on Fire — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:00:00 GMT

As long as the grasses grow,
And the four winds blow
I feel your prayers from home
In this pile of stones…
--Bill Miller

The last edition of the DRUM contained photographs taken by Todd Silva of men in our community constructing an inipi, or sweat lodge. The Lodge Keepers Society (LKS) was blessed by the board of directors to build the lodge for our community. The lodge is built and is located on the north side of the MKP lodge between the MKP lodge and the north fence. As in all traditions that have a sweat lodge, our lodge will be used for prayer, purification and blessing. The lodge door opens in the east, as in the New Warrior tradition.

The lodge is open to the initiated community for any requested rite of purification and healing. It is also available for bachelor sweats where men will have an opportunity to purify and renew prior to taking vows of marriage, as well as for I-Groups that want to sweat. There will also be planned periodic community lodges around solstices and equinoxes, as well as for gratitude for the land and the bounty with which we have been blessed.

There are a few restrictions for conducting ceremony in our lodge. The restrictions are necessary to comply with safety and liability as well as city fire ordinances. Because of these concerns, only men who are blessed to make ceremony in the New Warrior tradition or who are blessed to lead ceremony from other native traditions are allowed to conduct ceremony in our lodge. Reasonable accommodations can be made when requested.

To learn when lodges will be held, watch the e-mail blasts form Greg’s office, the DRUM and announcements at the MKP lodge. News about upcoming lodges will be posted on the LKS bulletin board at the MKP lodge. Also posted on the LKS bulletin board are the requirements for being blessed to make ceremony in our tradition. Feel free to review the requirements at the lodge or contact either of the co-headmen for a copy.

To arrange a ceremony, speak with either of the LKS co-headmen, Rob Negrin or Vaughan Counts, or call past headman Frank Dunstatter.

Washte

20-Dec-08 12:00 PM

Unmined Gold: Embracing Your Relationship Shadows

Patrick Vachon, LCSW, �Dancing Eagle� — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:00:00 GMT

Next to our innate instinct to survive there does not seem to be a stronger drive in the human experience than to be in relationship. Across time and across cultures being in relationship, along with all of its rituals, continues to be a top human priority. Relationships have the potential to bring out our brightest gold and conversely our darkest shadows. Left to deeply imbedded learnings from childhood, our unconscious will likely keep us living in relationship shadow. Consciousness however affords us choice to live in our relationship gold.

Historically, men and women have joined together for tribal, cultural, political, or economic purposes. However, as religious, political, and economic shifts began to occur during the 15th century, so did the purposes for connection in committed relationships. Romantic love began to be the reason for partnership.

The model that I have been trained in and operate from both personally and professionally is known as Imago Relationship Therapy. Initially developed by Harville Hendrix, author of many books in the area of relationships including Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples and Keeping the Love You Find: A Guide For Singles, Imago presents an understandable and practical approach to maximizing the potential in all human relationships. In addition it parallels closely much of the work done in the Warrior community. It encourages individuals to keep shadows (childhood adaptations) in front of them, to clear negative energy through “Intentional Dialog,” and to mine the gold that lies underneath conflict. We consciously and actively embrace the gold that underlies our round two process of “clearing.” Our love relationships afford this opportunity as well.

“We are born in relationship, we are wounded in relationship,” says Hendrix. “And we must heal in relationship.” No matter how splendid a childhood we had, everyone acquires psychic wounds that keep us from being happy, fulfilled, and loving adults. However, Imago theory teaches us how we can use our adult relationships to heal these childhood scars. Of course, Imago did not invent the way to have a healthy relationship: It just describes the process and developed some techniques to help people in the places where we often get stuck.

According to Imago theory, when we are attracted to a potential love partner, we are actually picking the perfect person to help us work through our wounds from childhood. Whether gay or straight, female or male, we tend to be drawn to someone who is a reasonable facsimile of the person or people who took care of us and ultimately and (usually unintentionally) wounded us in childhood. The combined traits, both negative and positive, of our male and female caretakers from childhood form what is called our Imago. These Caretaker Traits become our “love script” as we begin a search for a partner.

Once we have found our Imago match, the relationship journey continues in fairly predictable stages. First is the “Romantic Love Stage,” which is generally fairly short, lasting three to six months. This stage might be significantly shorter or a little longer depending on factors such as geographic distance, previous relationship history, or level of childhood wounding. An interesting note is that as people cycle through relationships, the romantic love stage tends to become shorter. This stage is followed by the “Power Struggle” phase, which can and often does last for a long time, generally ending in emotional or physical separation. The third stage is the state of a “Conscious Relationship.” It is in this stage that we can maximize the potential of the relationship that our unconscious has methodically sought out. The “wake up” of Warriors is the “call to consciousness” of the Imago model.

The Three Stages of Relationship

Romantic Love: An altered state of consciousness.

Most of us know too well about the Romantic Love Stage, the much-sought-after state of “falling in love.” This stage is characterized by a state of euphoria, excitement, and ecstasy. With the injection of Cupid’s Arrow, we often slip into a state of unconsciousness, staying up late, wanting to play more and work less, spending money we don’t have, or calling our newfound love many times a day. Connection is the prime objective and all other agendas seem insignificant. We will often neglect our physical body, spend less time with family or friends, and have little or no interest in our jobs or careers.

This Romantic Stage of relationships is in fact an altered state of consciousness. Blinded by love, we enter a state of denial, which is necessary for the process to continue. We deny the negative traits of our new partner while magnifying the positives. Our friends might say things like, “Don’t you think she drinks a bit too much?,” “Isn’t he a bit controlling?”, or “He sure is mean to you.” You are all the while making excuses: “He’s had a hard week” or “She’s just having a rough day.” We are quite literally drugged by a surge of endorphins and adrenaline. The prime directive of this phase is in fact to get two people who are incompatible (more later) to be blinded long enough to make an intimate connection. Once the connection and some form of commitment are established, the couple has the potential to do some incredible healing and growth. There is only one problem. Most of us are unaware of the underlying relationship agenda to heal our wounds, and we become scared when the shift occurs.

As with all drugs, the effects of the drug of Cupid’s Arrow eventually wear off and we are faced with the realities of the relationship that we have created. It sometimes feels like someone has entered in the middle of the night and stolen the person that we first fell in love with. We often begin to feel that we have “married our parents.” If you have ever been in a relationship where you have thought or said things like, “You treat me just like a child,” “You act just like my mother,” or “You sound just like my father,” then you have successfully accomplished the initial stage of relationships. Congratulations!

The good news: Romantic Love is supposed to happen. The bad news: Romantic Love is supposed to end. Little or no healing or growth is likely to occur within a relationship when the couple is in Romantic Love. After all, how much growth can occur when someone is intoxicated? The drug itself inherently limits our capacities to grow. That is not to say that we don’t experience it as fun. In fact, our culture glorifies it; as a society we have become “addicted to love.” Many people jump from one romantic love relationship to the next; disillusioned when the romance ends, they begin a new search for a new romantic high.

The Power Struggle: Sleeping with the enemy.

Once the drug has significantly worn off for one or both partners, the second stage of relationships begins. Say hello to the “Power Struggle.”

During the Romantic Love phase we generally see our partners from a positive perspective. We tend to be blinded to the negatives, or at least discount them enough to remain connected. When the Power Struggle begins there is a tendency to negate the positives and see mainly the negatives. In fact the very traits of our partner that caused us to fall for him or her in the first place will likely begin to drive us crazy in the Power Struggle Phase. The man I originally admired for his “calmness, stability, and groundedness” during the Romantic Love phase might suddenly become “boring” in my eyes. If you were attracted to that lively, outgoing woman you met at the Rainbow Club, you may be feeling embarrassed by how loud and pushy she suddenly seems.

Elation and excitement have flip-flopped to frustration and often despair. The experience of people in the Power Struggle stage is often reported as like walking in a mine field—or being a mine field. Our triggers and buttons are being pushed every which way. Issues that we overlooked in the Romantic Love stage become frighteningly apparent.

These land mines feel very real. What couples don’t yet realize is that the mines were planted many years ago and are a result of those unmet needs and childhood wounds. The potential in intimate love relationships is to locate these land mines and disarm them. To locate them, however, it is generally necessary to trip over them first. If left unaddressed, the Power Struggle becomes a continual bombardment of exploding mines, often resulting in some missing arms and legs—or at least some further wounding of all those hurt parts of our psyche.

If the Power Struggle continues unchecked, there are fairly predictable outcomes. Many couples adapt by living a “parallel relationship.” On the surface these relationships may appear non-conflictual and fairly peaceful. They are sometimes the couples that are in long-term relationships but rarely connect. In reality, the couple has adapted with an “I do my thing, you do yours” attitude, an unspoken agreement of “don’t stir the pot.” They may live in the same house and sleep in the same bed, but true connection rarely occurs. The communication is generally limited to the essentials of day-to-day living. Problems are not addressed; conflict is avoided.

A second outcome is what we call the “hot relationship,” with an endless cycle of explosive fighting and reconciling. These relationships have the potential of being very intense, both in the conflict of separation and the passion of reconciliation. Unconsciously, one or both partners may be picking fights so that the reconnecting energy might occur. Although this results in at least momentary closeness (and sometimes great sex), the intimacy proves a transitory illusion as the cycle continues once again.

A final way to adapt to the Power Struggle is to end the relationship. Many couples go through years of ongoing, low-level conflict, pain, and distance, which they never address on a conscious level. This ongoing negative energy creates a variety of defensive postures which further separation. Usually, one partner reaches a threshold and terminates the relationship.

We may have unconsciously picked our partners to recreate the hurtful patterns and damage of our original caretaker, so that we may heal these old bruises. But, being unconscious, the most common response when the pain and land mines start in is…defense! Different people defend themselves either by fight, flight, freezing, or submission (rolling over and playing dead). Although these forms of defense are attempts to gain safety within the relationship, they don’t address the origin of the pain, and generally just produce distance.

There are certainly times of real danger when distance is necessary to secure one’s safety. But most of our defensive reactions are out of proportion to the real threat. In general these defense postures were learned many years ago in our childhood when they were actually effective. Unfortunately these same postures now limit and sabotage our adult relationships. We create what we defend against; defensiveness always creates more defensiveness unless the other party has the consciousness to stop the attack. If we see our partner as the enemy we will likely treat them that way, and be treated that way in return. This cycle must cease if the relationship is to move in a healing healthy direction.

The Conscious Relationship: Break up or break through?

Unfortunately “most couples break up just before the breakthrough.” Like a good workout at the gym, the most growth occurs at the final repetitions of the exercise. This is also the point at which most people want to quit, exhausted. There is, however, another option: Take the relationship to the next level, the stage of Conscious Relationship. What a tremendous innate potential is possible when two people come together with mutual dignity, respect, and commitment to healing and growth.

To create a Conscious Relationship, Imago teaches a process of dialogue and stretching. Partners must first and foremost establish safety. Easier said than done. To help keep partners from squaring off into their accustomed defensive positions, the Imago method teaches a technique called an “intentional dialogue,” which is really just solid compassionate listening. When discussing a conflict or trauma, each partner expresses what he or she feels, and then tries to repeat back what the other says, validating the other’s reality, although not necessarily agreeing with him or her. As the partners discuss each other’s feelings, each should remember that the partner is just reacting from patterns learned as children that kept him or her safe and alive. As we better understand and empathize with our partner, we find that self-knowledge follows. The two partners start to see how each contributes to the collective drama: the drama that is their relationship, the psychic drama of each person’s journey to awareness and well being.

But even with open, safe dialogue, change is still almost stubbornly difficult. There is generally a myth in relationships that partners don’t change or meet each other’s needs because they don’t want to. Although this is sometimes the case, it is the rare exception. Instead, in Imago therapy we’ve seen that one person’s greatest need within the relationship is always met with the other person’s greatest defense. Usually we’ve specifically picked someone who has trouble meeting our needs because of their own childhood wounds. And it is in these situations that the true potential of a relationship exists, as we “stretch” beyond our learned defensive patterns.

In moving from talking to doing, the Imago method next teaches partners a process for “stretching.” Through the intentional dialogue, you ask your partner for several “behavior changes,” ways you’d like to see him or her change within the relationship to meet your needs—knowing that it’s going to be difficult because of the partner’s past wounding. Choosing one of your requests, your partner then slowly stretches through the resistance against giving it. Like the gym analogy, muscle growth must occur slowly. If someone tries to lift too much too fast, the body will resist and collapse. Likewise, if emotional change is attempted too fast, the emotional body will resist. And slowly and methodically, the one having the need begins to get it met, while the partner who has the resistance begins to grow through that defensive posture.

Amazingly, as couples experience this win/win exuberance of healing and growth, they stop seeing conflict as a burden, and shift to the viewpoint that “conflict is growth trying to happen.” Our genius selves picked those partners with which we’ll find conflict, and now our compassionate and wise selves can use that conflict to heal the places where we’re stuck and hurt and not living a full and loving life.

The safety and dropping of defenses only builds. Contrary to much of our childhood learning, defenselessness in a “conscious relationship” contributes to more vulnerability and honesty, which leads to increased safety. “In my defenselessness my safety lies.” Once safety is established, joy and connectedness follow. Instead of a blind romance doomed to speedy failure, or a violent and numb destructive marriage, we can create an intimacy that is physically, emotionally, sexually, spiritually, playfully, and intellectually alive, and use our brilliant relationship to reframe our lives and our journey to self-actualization.

20-Dec-08 12:00 PM

The Land of My Grandfathers

The Land of My Grandfathers — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:00:00 GMT

Texas grieves me
Old joys turn
Into dark skies
Early days twisted
Into lost memories

Oh, how I long
Sometimes
For the St. Augustine
Under the giant pecans

The place of early battles
Fought over big money
Long cold ones
In Hot sweaty nights
With young friends
Now older parents
Tall buildings
Matching tall hats

A famous French aviator A tie designer
An Indian doctor
Three law school mates
Hair color not found in nature
Drunks and loose women

The round window on Lanshire
A young bride
The thin neighbor girl
Two dogs on leash
Cowboys and Mustangs
A good Hungarian family

Texas, too big for one man
Too big for his tears
It grieves me so
To be here again
Sitting on the American Stonehenge
Near the circle of death

Oh, how I long
Sometimes
For the St. Augustine
Under the giant pecans

20-Dec-08 12:00 PM

Ralph Waldo Emerson once expressed: “Man hopes, Genius creates.”

Robert J. Killeen Jr., Leaderbody Chair — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:00:00 GMT

A look at today’s world could lead one to the conclusion that many aspects are unraveling; some have lost hope, and some have begun to panic.

Now is the time you can step forward in some manner of mission and service and participate locally in I-Groups, staff weekends, feed the homeless, attend graduations and meetings, among other activities.

My offering is to let us focus on the “now” and move forward together with the genius in YOU to co-create a better community and world. The genius is within you, so please call upon it in mission and service as men and mankind need you more than ever. We have the tools.

The call for action is now! Do it for others. Do it for yourself. It is time.

Blessings,
Robert J. Killeen Jr., Leaderbody Chair

20-Dec-08 12:00 PM

Brothers – Man in Mission

Mike Maldonado (Victorious Vulnerable Lion 9-97) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:00:00 GMT

In 1996 I visited an uncle’s farm in Peru to arrange a joint venture between his asparagus export plant and a large California asparagus company. As I did my inner warrior work, I became vulnerable and over time the venture evolved into a social entrepreneurship mission with sweet onions and purple garlic.

For my mission to work, I had to commit to build it myself. As I began growing and exporting I bonded with the local natives who are tied to the ancient Nazca Indians and the Nazca Lines. I treat my team members with dignity and integrity. Ten years later, I’m connected with these beautiful people, I pay them on time, a fair wage, have stayed loyal and listened to them. I honored their culture by naming my sweet onions, Sweet Nazcas. See wwww.sweetnazcas.com

My many feelings on this mission: Fear in investing my last my savings in a distant land, making payroll, paying my bills, getting deeper in debt, paying back investors; Anger at grocery chains not honoring their agreements and treating me like a commodity of little value, not making a profit even with good products; Sadness at being misunderstood, never feeling worthy, feeling discounted and like a fool; Joy at seeing my Sweet Nazcas in stores, creating something from nothing, seeing the happiness of Peru team members, introducing classical music in the packing shed, supporting my single parent engineer to provide for his daughters.

You can support me by buying directly from me. Commit to purchase four, 10lb. boxes, at $1.50/lb. (plus shipping), between now and March. Share boxes with neighbors and gift family/friends. Pickup locations TBA. “Non Sweet Onion Lovers”, try a box, you might be surprised.

20-Dec-08 12:00 PM

Visionaries at Work

Sonny Elliott, �Talking Hawk the Seer,� 4/91, Haimowoods, WI — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:00:00 GMT

First, this is not the "definitive" history on the Houston MKP Center. but Rather, it’s an article with a thread of what sharing and contribution can do from the vision of just a few men. Story-telling is another way to describe this article! While Houston’s beginnings are addressed here, I am sure someone else can write a definite “history” of the Houston Community. My focus is a bit different, and Houston is honored here as well.

My intention in writing the article is to demonstrate how one man, Robert Adler, started a venture that not only continues to this day, but has supported thousands of men in other states and countries. Also, this is an opportunity, as you read this, to examine how you are participating with MKP, or not: what brought you here, what perhaps took you away, and where you are today with your mission, your gifts, and your dreams, as associated with your initial training.

When I read “history” I often wonder how much is history itself and how much is “revised” history. In this article I suspect I could be accused of both, given that some men I invited to give me data participated, and some didn’t. While thousands of men have completed the NWTA here in Texas, I will refer to the men who helped build our community, who stepped up, and I suspect I will miss some “heroes.” If so, let me know so we can put in corrections when the next DRUM comes out in the spring.

The beginning: This is really a story of how an idea spread from the cold north to the beaches of Hawaii and beyond!

I spent a lot of time with Robert Adler in the late 70s/early 80s. We participated in many workshops, seminars, and events over the years; then, as often can happen, we drifted apart. In the early 90s I heard Adler’s name again, and found that in 1989 he had participated in an NWTA in Haimowoods, WI, and was literally the first man from Texas to ever participate in the NWTA. While I am clear Adler never intended to become a “Visionary,” in fact his solo action resulted in that outcome and is still playing out today.”

Adler: I heard about the Warrior Weekend in Chicago in early 1989 from my soon-to-be-ex wife. She had enrolled in Woman Within (which curiously she never actually completed) and was telling me how great the New Warrior Weekend was, to which I replied, “How would you know?” Since I have always been open to improvement and have a truly special karma when it comes to listening to and dealing with women (not!), I decided to go for it. At the end of my June 1989 weekend in Haimowoods, Wisconsin, I was asked to share this work in Texas, which was when I discovered that there was no one in Texas. I told Dave Lindgren I would see how the Weekend affected me over the summer. Without any I-Groups at all and no one to talk to except Lindgren about 2-3 times, I still noticed that the Training started to “grow on me” that summer. Finally I started to get that I was feeling better about myself, stronger. However, of the eight or ten men I told about the Weekend, only Levi stepped up to the plate. In January 1990 I flew up to Haimowoods to staff Levi’s weekend. They gave me parking duty. It was about 14 degrees out, tons of snow and ice everywhere. I’m still cold!

After Levi’s weekend I left for Effingham, IL to visit my then 4-year old (only) son Louis, who had just moved with his mother to her parents’ house prior to our divorce. It was a sad time in my life. But when I arrived back in Houston a few nights later, Levi was on fire, telling me, “Adler, we have to get to work spreading this thing or it’s going to die.” By this time I was not only aware of Levi’s recruiting skills, but knew that his fire, in combination with the experience we both had, was the start of something that probably would explode. Levi was a lot more connected than I was. And the rest, as they say, is history. The very early growth happened almost entirely because of Al’s efforts. Kudos, my man!

I participated on the founding board with the early brothers during the first four years and staffed maybe 12-15 trainings. It was one of the most valuable growth periods of my life. To re-connect with people like Sonny Elliott, Al Levi, Stan Goss, Max Elden, Tim Marvin, and later on with guys such as Stan Tyler, Joe D’Amico, and many others I had previously known in Houston was a real thrill. The entire Warrior experience is such a confronting look at men of all shapes, sizes, races, creeds, and colors. And looking back now, I think of how confronted I really was, being with men who were both stronger and weaker than me (however I defined that for myself).

I’ll never forget several sessions I had with Abati, debating racial issues and listening to him go on and on and on, but he and MLK were the first people I thought of when the Big O was elected in November. I am definitely humbled and grateful for having had the Warrior experience. I still look at the list of names of the men going through when the DRUM arrives.

My son Louis did the Weekend when he was 15 or 16 and hated every minute of it–never went to an I-Group, etc.–and he trusted me, loved me for having him do it, and has never looked back. One of my favorite parts of the training is the first Friday night. When it comes to burning in the notion of integrity, I have never experienced anything finer. The more integrity I’ve been able to generate during my life, the better my life has become. Those who know me well also know that I am the quintessential “late bloomer.” The good news is that I have finally bloomed! Trust and Surrender.

Levi: Being the ultimate recruiter, I shared my positive experience with hundreds of men in person, via the telephone, and through the media. Also, I had the privilege of appearing on the Ron Stone show along with numerous radio talk shows touting men’s work, especially the weekend training. One of my many recruits was my friend Stan Goss who helped to spearheaded the ultimate growth of what is now MKP of Houston.

Goss: It started for me with a lunch with Al Levi. Al (1/90) was the second Houston man to go to Haimowoods. Adler went first and then after Al I went. Then two therapists from the Friendswood area went, but they really didn’t do anything with it at that time; Ken Wetcher was one, and the other man moved to Tennessee. Al took me to lunch to “share” his weekend experience. Right time, right place for me.

I came back from Haimowoods on fire with three goals in mind. One was to keep doing my work. This was, at the age of 52, my first introduction to inner work; I had never done any personal growth work, 12-step work, or therapy; nor had I ever heard of men’s work. The second was to get my four sons to do the work (all have since been initiated); and the third was to bring the work to Texas.

I was initiated in June 1990 and in October four more men from my world went: Chris Davis, Sandy Vilas, Steve Beach and my son Tim from Denver. Shortly after that Paul Gilford and Tom Burns went. Now we had a fiery band of brothers, joined only a little later by Tom Hopwood.

Elliott: It is interesting that one year before any of this took place, Tom Hopwood, Gene Perry, and Tom Burns had participated in a psychodrama group, and this background helped fire up their imaginations when they attended their NWTA weekend. About that time, in the parking lot of yet another group (the Men’s Talking Stick Group that also met at the “Old Barn”), Goss met Hopwood and Jon Kinsella. Hopwood enrolled in the NWTA. In 3/91 Tom Hopwood (tenth Houston man) took himself to Chicago.

It is obvious at this junction here that, most likely unwittingly and unplanned, Goss stepped up as Houston’s “Visionary,” and parts of his vision are still playing out today.

Goss: Early in 1991 we went to the founders, Lindgren, Tosi, Hering and Kauth, and asked to have a weekend in Texas in 1991. We were told that we were too young and lacked the experience and numbers to do so for another few years. Our response was to convince them to hold two “Texas” weekends in Wisconsin. They were reluctant, but accepted our “Texas grandiosity” and gave us dates in April and August of that year.

Elliott: In April 1991, 20 of us, including Edwin Broadwell, Lloyd Butler, Evan Howell, Mike Scott, Ken Kuffner, Emile Roque, and Gene Perry, went back up for the first-ever “Houston only” NWTA training, and our staff included Ron Hering, one of the NWTA co-founders. I also recall seven Houston men staffed, including Goss, Burns, and Adler.

I also recall Kuffner coming wearing a full business suit. One guy had a tennis racket, a bit of contraband showed up, and the guy with the small TV/radio for some game that weekend provided a lively discussion in accountability.

The reason that I have always claimed to be the 11th man (first after Hopwood) is that in my group, I was the first one up in the greeting, the chapel, and oh yes—I must have really wanted to be seen—I was the first one up Friday night explaining why I hadn’t bothered to bring food on the airplane (from Houston) to the site! That played really well…for about 45 minutes! Now those were the “good old days”!

Perry: I was in a therapy group with Tom Hopwood that was led by Tom Burns. I trusted both of these men and signed up for the weekend without question. Steve Beach was my May weekend mentor and I was going OK until he called me. After our talk I got the impression that the weekend was not a retreat in the park! The second clue was when we were picked up and how unfriendly the staff was; during accountability, I was amazed at the cigars and farts by the men on the wall. This had to be a joke.

I had purchased a new leather jacket to wear to the training; it was damaged during the midnight adventure and I was pissed. Paul Gilford was a great bandit and I can still remember him hanging on the log. I personally gave him a few good blows to avenge my jacket. I resisted as much as I could, and I was number 20 on the carpet after one hell of a day.

Elliott: The first Houston graduation (5/91) took place in the “old barn” and this event became the foundation of our future growth. Ron Hering came to support us and teach us how to hold graduations.

Perry: Early graduations were really special, and I can remember Chris Davis coming in a tux!

Elliott: Our next group of 20 men (second private Houston training) went back up in 8/91, including my son Duane, Robert Andrews, Steve Lanhgam, Alastair Livingstone, Tim Marvin, Don Timmerman, and Ken Rogers. Fifteen men from Houston staffed. Like Goss, I intended to have my four boys do this work (all four have been initiated). Yet another mission accomplished that has profoundly impacted the quality of our family lives.

That was our last group to ever go north, as in 2/92 the first Texas training took place at Camp Cho-Yeh.

Goss: This group of 21 men included George Davis, Randy Fertitta, and Steve Goss. Lots of us have fond memories of a pre-weekend “Chataqua” that we had at the site to introduce the site and prepare for our weekend. Lots of funny stories about that. We held our weekends at Cho-Yeh for a couple of years, then went to Camp John Knox, the only site we weren’t kicked out of, by the way. After John Knox (too far) we went to Cathedral Oaks (kicked out), then Margaret Austin. Actually, we weren’t kicked out there either; they were very Warrior friendly.

I have some opinions about why Houston grew and flourished more than any other community for many years. Here are a few: From the start we had men who were very strong recruiters to the work. Basically we had 10 men who convinced the 24 to go to the first weekend in Haimowoods. Levi, Burns, Goss, Adler and Gilford were all committed to getting men to the work. Later on, Hopwood joined us and we had a succession of men, such as Sonny Elliott, Steve Langham, Dale Christianson and the Cardones, who just had the natural aptitude to get men to the training. Communities that struggled to get started seemed to lack that passion and talent.

Secondly, we always had a healthy respect for money and prosperity. From the start we didn’t put one penny in our work outside of the money collected from weekend training fees and I Group fees. Our view was that if we filled the weekends, that would generate cash, some of which we could use to scholarship men into the weekend. I believe that, from the start, we had at least two men on every weekend on some amount of scholarship money. The network was always looking to Houston for money to pay certain expenses. On both the points above we were constantly debating with men from other centers who held a much different view of recruiting and money.

Hopwood: Initially, I-groups were held in the homes of men like Edwin Broadwell and Sandy Hass. Steve Beach’s printing shop became our headquarters. Business meetings and “hot seats” were usually held in Stan’s office or at the Houston Achievement Place.

Elliott: Often men left meetings far worse off than when they had arrived, sort of like the blind leading the blind early on! We were heavy on intention and light on skills as I recall.

Hopwood: Many individuals were investing between 20 and 40 hours a week, plus running their own business or going to their day jobs. We were beautifully mentored mostly by Chicago’s Lindgren, Whalen, Kase, Greenwald, and of course Milwaukee’s Ron Hering (a co-founder of MKP, and a behavioral scientist, influenced by Carl Rogers), and co-founder Bill Kauth, the Visionary Elder.

Our mentoring was mostly from a distance, though. From day one we had our own identity. Goss, in his healthy grandiosity, taught us all to think big. Gilford was about doing it right. Our original covenant was to never go in debt for any weekend or any event we held; if it was not going to be profitable it was not going to be held. “Not a poverty mentality.” We could, and did, give scholarships every weekend from the start.

Perry: It was great to be a part of the community. It was said before that we were a true band of brothers. I was not a part of the leadership, and Broadwell helped to keep me connected to the community and to my original I-Group.

Goss: Another story about I-Groups. For the first couple of years we were on our own. Some protocols were mailed to us, and it was up to us to figure it out! Every meeting was like amateur night at the therapist’s office without the therapist being there! Lots of wounding. Sadly we lost a few men too. Finally we paid David Lindgren and Steve Kase to come to Houston and take us through the entire I Group cycle in one weekend.

While I am on the subject of I Groups, I’ll mention that two Houston men, Ken Rogers and Alastair Livingstone, made a great contribution to the network by completely re-writing the rather poorly done I-Group protocols. These became the new and very necessary standard for those times, and some still utilize this model today.

(Note that today there are the IGLT and PIT Manuals for new men fresh out of NWTA. These, along with the “opening” up of most I-Groups to uninitiated men, have been well received.)

What we had in those early days was a passionate band of brothers who constantly communicated, did our work together and attracted other men. We had very little king killing of men who had, along with lots of sovereign energy, lots of wounds. There were stories from other communities of regular king-killing of men with strong leadership qualities. Regarding both points, we were constantly debating with men from other centers who held a much different view of recruiting and money.

Hopwood: Another prevalent characteristic was that we tended to see rules and protocols as guidelines, not dictates, which allowed for a lot of creative weekends. The training weekends were a blast, as they were all put together on the spot. Whatever archetypes or ritual forces were present seemed to guide us into the “other world. It’s not that we didn’t learn protocols; we did; and we learned them well enough to break or bend them if it meant instinctively that a teachable moment was present and appropriate. Often a man would go down into deep stuff during What’s at Risk and we would process him right then, and then just go right back into the process as if it were just part of the weekend.

From day one Houston was labeled as being rich with talent, not “hard” enough on men, and being “special boys.” We learned early to deal with these projections. There was truth in them as there is in most projections, but the most important thing was to be there fully for each man “one man at a time.” We chose not to do the hard Chicago hazing that often served no spiritual purpose.

Gary and Grant Cardone came through. To Grant we should be eternally grateful for rewriting the Mission protocol to what we know today. Gary moved to London and birthed the London community by bringing over 12 or so men to John Knox. Despite a near revolt during accountability and a major regression during What’s at Risk, the men nevertheless staying the course, and the London community was born. And soon there were community weekends at Black Heath and their first training at Sopley.

Elliott: Moving on… The class of 5/92 included Walt Stewart, and trainings were held in August as well. The 11/92 group included our current MKP Chairman; George Daranyi, as well as Bernie Rogers, Brian Stutt, David Taylor, Dick Grant, and Corky Parker. The 1/93 group included Bob Beare, Terry O’Rourke, and Robert Killeen Jr. Our 4/93 group included Evan Daily, Theo Meicler, Kevin O’Brien, and Ray St. Germain. The 5/93 group included Joel Ferguson, Don Graul, Martin Lassoff, and Don Neumann. The 9/93 group included Steve Crowder and John Gaughan. In 10/93 Jim Mitchell, a future MKP Chairman, came through, as well as John Groll. Nov .1993 brought us wildman Jon Kinsella who influenced Houston’s future; he relocated some years later to the Denver area.

Kinsella: I went through in November 1993, at the last Weekend we spent at Camp Cho-Yeh, and the first time Stan Goss brought out the “Head, Heart & Soul.” I was the first Golden Child in its history, or so I fervently believe. I had been in a “Talking Stick” meeting with Hopwood and Goss before Warriors even came to Houston. I saw Stan before he went to Haimowoods, and when he came back, t-shirt, hat and brochures in hand. I thought it was a scam!

Due to miscommunication and misplaced resentment, I lost contact for three years while the MKP Community started creating itself. I got fired up when I met them again at a graduation. “Where the hell were you?!” they said. “You locked me out and moved the damn meeting!” I said. “We never knew your last name!” they replied. I about fell down laughing at the wry fate of it.

Truth was I wasn’t ready yet. So, I became the editor of the DRUM in 1994; then Communications Chair, then Community Chair. I was on the Community Council from 1994 to 2003 continuously. I think that’s a record! As an architect, I’m proud to say they built Land of My Grandfathers over my dead body. After 12 years of “shouting at the rocks” about the central importance of community, I left for Colorado. I’m pleased to hear that Houston is looking hard at that subject these days, and thriving with soul. I wish them the best of luck with it.

That was a wild ride, and I’m glad beyond description that I’m in this new, raw community, where I’ve become Center Director. What started out of a deep love and respect for my brothers in Houston is now blooming in Colorado. Ireland is next!

Elliott: March ’94 had the largest group to date at John Knox Ranch (41 men) and included Don Burton, Wilbur Gay, Bryan Siegel, and David Trahan.

Hopwood: The training weekends were a blast as they were all put together on the spot. That was the pattern for many years as we rented various sites, and a great deal of the value was in improvising, taking risks with set ups, with many spontaneous decisions.

Goss: Ultimately we decided we needed our own site. After a false start on a property near Sealy, twenty feet below the flood plain, we were gifted with the land that became Land of My Grandfathers, and the rest is history. By the way, there is a wonderful story to be told about the building-out of that site. I did very little, but an amazing group of men led by Steve Finn, Alastair Livingstone and Stephen McNeil, to name just a few, made the site come to life.

Elliott: In April ’99 the first training was held at LOMG, with 25 men, and suddenly all was different. While many wonderful gifts came with this change, for some the joy of “men working” from nothing to create an NWTA weekend was somewhat lost forever in our community. One of the out-of-town joys for many men from our community to this day is to “make it up” on a new site, and to actually re-look at all they thought they had known about setting up for a weekend, the magic of creating from nothing a magical three-day environment.

While Houston has had more than 4000 men come through, and produced over a hundred trainings, I am now going to shift gears to continue the saga that Adler started in 1989 as it pertains to building communities. So, heading west…

In 1997 I left my “old 914” I-Group (Randy Fertitta, Al Levi, Ken Kuffner, Lamont Grogan, Theo Michler and others), and headed west to Reno/Tahoe to live. I looked for two years to find men who had participated in this work in my area, but to no avail.

About that time I met Phil Hart out of the northern California community, and found there were MKP men in the Reno area. I put together my first I-Group, which is still thriving today. Early on, I attended a few events in NCAL (I could actually drive there rather than flying back to Houston!) and saw they operated on the premise of “Open I-Groups” which came to serve us well in building the Hawaiian community.

In the meantime I resumed staffing in Houston, as I would see a man that I just knew would benefit from this experience. I never sent men, I brought men; I would always staff when I enrolled a man, and I had a personal motto that I would not staff unless I brought a man. I was willing to put myself at risk, and I found that my risking sharing the results of the NWTA kept me engaged, reminded me of what I had accomplished through this work, and even as I sat out in the west alone, I continued this work.

During the last three years of my consulting business, I would not take on a new client unless he agreed to come to Houston and take the training, as I knew that I could move him and his wants much faster if we had this common bond, especially around accountability issues. On one training I brought four men to Houston, and often one or two men at a time. Like Levi, I brought over a hundred men to NWTAs.

My only experience of our local community during those years (1997-2006) was on Houston weekends, and I never realized that while some things were working well in the community, other issues were brewing in the background, resulting in some of what we have going on today. I have now completed a four-year project as a Visionary Elder.

In Dec 04 at LOMG, with my son Duane and his friend Alex from Hawaii to support me, I declared as a Visionary Elder that I would be responsible for taking the NWTA to the Big Island. This first Hawaii training took place Oct. ’08. Twenty-nine men started and twenty-nine men completed, .a wonderful conclusion to a long challenging project, and I could not ever have started it, never mind completing it, had I not enjoyed the support of our local community, and for that we are all blessed.

Today: Now I am turning my energies back to supporting the Houston Elder Community, and I am inviting those of you over 50 to join us. We suffered huge losses when Ritual Elder Ken Kuffner passed over, and when our Ritual Elder Father Don Neumann moved forward with his Church, no longer having time to devote to our Elder community, and when inspiring leaders like Bob Beare moved on.

Several of our Visionary Elders, men such as Bruce Anderson, Ken Rogers, Mel Taylor, Don Burton, Don Graul, Lamont Grogan, and Joe LaFico, are among those Elders who have stepped up in going outside of MKP and offering community service, such as cleaning up cemeteries, mentoring, feeding the homeless, and collecting clothes.

Here, I am reaching out to all of those who are not currently participating with our local community; and to our Elders. I am inviting you to step up. You are invited to attend our quarterly Elder meetings, beginning on Dec. 6th at the lodge. What’s at risk if you attend this meeting? What’s at risk if you do not?

While the Center seems to have an array of challenges, perhaps it is time for our community and especially for our Elder Community to all become Visionary Elders, to model, to lead, to mentor, and to bless. If not us, who? If not now, when?

While there are many men unfortunately not mentioned in his article, each man made a difference as he came through, as he would go out and share his experience and bring men.

Finally, thanks to all the men who gave me input, who took time to recollect their past and to provide us a bit more understanding of our history. To those men I left out, I express my regrets in not better representing you, and I invite your feedback, as this history is still unfolding and being corrected.

Blessings,
Sonny Elliott
Talking Hawk the Seer
4/91, Haimowoods, WI

20-Dec-08 12:00 PM

From the Editor

Mike L. — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:00:00 GMT

As I write these words, just a few days after our snowfall, only four years since the last time it snowed here, Hurricane Ike seems to me but a distant memory. I hope you came through the hurricane okay and didn’t have to go without power for too long. Mine was out for about seven-and-a-half days. I was entirely incommunicado for the whole first weekend. I took advantage of this rare opportunity to take care of only myself. The biggest downside was the news radio station I relied on, which followed almost all of its announcements with “For more information, go to our website.” I kept wondering if everybody else in Houston knew something I didn’t.

I was hoping to spend more of this particular outing of “From the Editor” discussing my lessons from the hurricane. However, I need to use this space to give some sad data. This issue of the DRUM, which is coming out in online format only, is the last issue for a year. We are going on hiatus as part of the financial issues our community is facing right now.

Of course, it is not just the Houston Warrior community that is struggling. A glance at the newspaper on any day will reveal some new setback. Lots of folks and organizations are probably looking for your help financially right now; I know they are looking for mine. I encourage you, especially at this time of year, to do what you can for others. And please keep our Warrior community in mind as well; do what you can to be present for it, both physically and financially.

I believe it appropriate, as we approach this hiatus, to leave you with an article by Sonny Elliott, assisted by many of those who were around during our early days. The article recounts the early days of our community. I was excited just reading it. I could not fit the entire article into the issue because of its length; the whole article is available separately on the website.

As for the DRUM, it is temporarily down but not out. I am confident it will return, bigger and better than ever, at a future date. So please stockpile those articles for me because I will be back asking for them once we are up and running again. If you have sent me an article that I was not able to fit into this issue, please be aware that I am holding it, with the goal of including it in our next issue.

In the meantime, have a great holiday season and I look forward to seeing you around the campus.

20-Dec-08 12:00 PM

Mayor’s Volunteer Award, 2008 Nominating George Sayre, D.D.S.

Mariano W. Guas — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:00:00 GMT

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 questions, and that was just the beginning!

Dr. Sayre began by providing weekly services and offering advice from his years as a dentist and by opening doors into Houston’s dental community for support and donations to further the clinic’s development. After a year, Dr. Sayre agreed to become volunteer Dental Director, and that turned into a genuine labor of love for the next nine years.

Dr. Sayre extended his belief of excellence in dental care and top-notch customer-centered service from his private office into HHH’s free clinic for Houston’s homeless men and women. His caring nature, his passion for serving people all in the same manner whether rich or poor, and his high standards of quality established the ongoing principles of service and excellence and the warm and friendly atmosphere of the HHH dental clinic.

For the daily operations of the clinic, Dr. Sayre is unfailingly available to staff members for thoughtful, level-headed, fair and wise leadership and guidance, whether in matters of personnel, service planning, patient care or personal encouragement. For the overall growth and development of the program, Dr. Sayre has made promoting the HHH dental clinic a top priority in the community and among his colleagues of the Greater Houston Dental Society. He has devoted countless hours to ensure that this clinic for the homeless would live and grow.

Dr. Sayre has provided such excellent service and leadership that he has worked himself right out of his volunteer Dental Director’s job. The clinic has developed and prospered to such an extent that it is becoming necessary to have a full-time paid director. Even as Dr. Sayre guides that transition, he will not give up volunteering for HHH, but rather will transfer his service to the Board of Directors for continuing involvement and leadership.

The greatest proof of the impact of George Sayre as volunteer Dental Director with Healthcare for the Homeless-Houston is not just that the clinic has grown from a one-chair, part-time, limited-service operation to a full-time, three-operator comprehensive dental clinic. The real proof is in our “smile book,” a before-and-after picture album of dental patients. The happy and beautiful new smiles dramatically illustrate the transforming changes in hundreds of lives each year through restored health, appearance and confidence, leading to self-sufficiency.

7-Sep-08 11:00 AM

Hearing Things Differently.

noemail@mkphouston.org — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 14:00:00 GMT

When I got home Sunday night after the November New Warrior Training Adventure, my wife asked me the usual question: “How was it?” “Humbling” I told her. Like all training weekends, there was magic happening everywhere at the training site. Among the staff, among the initiates, and around the circle. But this weekend was different. Among the 32 new initiates, 9 men were deaf or hard of hearing. Two staffers were deaf, and 4 were hearing men who served as interpreters. Throughout the weekend, men who can hear saw a world of expressive communication most had never seen before. And the deaf and hard of hearing men experienced an acceptance ¬– no, something more – an embracing love many had thought didn’t exist. It was humbling. But it took a while to find that feeling. Like most of the other staffers on the weekend, I checked in with fear at the first staff meeting. Actually, that fear began back in September. When I learned the weekend...

Testimonials

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:21:32 GMT

We are not just about simple survival: we teach men how to take care of themselves and thrive. We are not a shamanic tribe, but we teach men to stand in the mystery. We are not the old warriors, but we teach men to use their archetypal warrior energy. We are not a religion, but we encourage men to find and trust their own spirituality. We are not a business, but we use sound economic principles and good management. We are not a civil rights or social justice organization, but we love justice and stand for human rights. What are we ?? We are a new way of being for men.... and the hope for creating a new culture out of that new way of being for humanity... David Kaar Click link below for a local video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tQIx43eMFU For our presence on YouTube, where we have MKP videos and other testimonial videos, click below: VIDEO TESTIMONIALS MKP Houston testimonial New Zealand...

RENT THE GRAND HALL on 43rd St.

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 01:18:24 GMT

The Grand Hall on 43rd St. 6950 W 43rd St Houston, TX 77092 832-788-6523-Robert Ochoa-Events Director The Gardenia Package $2,100.00 (Friday or Sunday) $2,500.00 (Saturday) Grand Hall & Garden Rate Includes: Beautiful Lodge Ambiance Rental Hall for 10 hours (No later than 1AM) 1 Security Guard (5 Hours) Beautifully Decorated Private Suites for Bride & Groom Banquet Chairs for 175 Guest (Chairs to be used inside only) 15 Standard 6ft Rectangle Tables (8 seats per table) Setup & Tear Down General Cleanup Buffet Tables On site venue personnel-to assist with any situations that may come up Outside Catering Welcome (Must be licensed caterer and insured) Outside Alcohol Welcome The Jasmine Package $2,600.00 (Friday or Sunday) $3,000.00 (Saturday) Grand Hall & Garden Rate Includes: Beautiful Lodge Ambiance Rental Hall for 10 hours (No later than...

2010 Houston New Warrior Training Adventure Dates

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:06:10 GMT

To register online for The New Warrior Training Adventure, click the date below that you want to attend. August 13-15, 2010 September 24-26, 2010 November 5-7, 2010 December 10-12, 2010 About The New Warrior Training Adventure Men in Mission Houston's primary program is the New Warrior Training Adventure. This consists of the New Warrior Training Adventure weekend (NWTA), an eight-week Primary Integration Training (PIT), and ongoing Integration Groups (I-Groups). The concept of the new warrior grew out of a need to recapture the traditional warrior role in our society. Our trainings are focused on empowering men to develop their own missions of service in the world and to live more powerful lives which are imbued with qualities such as integrity, accountability, passion, and connection to feeling and the authentic self. As a result of this work, many men find the courage within themselves to step into leadership in their workplaces...

Finances

Mon, 03 May 2010 22:16:08 GMT

Please use the following links to access online payment options:

Payment of annual or monthly donations for Inspiration or Bridge Campaigns

Staffing & MOS fee payments

Contributions & Pledges

(Initial or Ongoing) I Group Fees

Commemorative Brick for LOMG

Payments, Fees, Donations & Contributions

Mon, 03 May 2010 22:13:29 GMT

You can pay fees and contribute to MKP Houston 2 ways: 1. Pay online with a credit card here. 2. Pay by check here. Donation Categories Staffing Fees - NWTA Weekend Staffing Fee - $100 MOS Staffing Fee - $50 Financial Assistance - You can offer financial assistance to men who want to attend a NWTA weekend. Any amount is welcome. IGroup Fees - Initial IGroup - $200 Brick at LOMG - $100 Ongoing IGroup - $5 per week or $20 per month Leadership Trainings Basic Staff Development Training (BSDT) - $250 Leader Training 1 - $250 Leader Training 2 - $250 Capital Campaign - Any gift is welcome toward helping to pay down our construction loan for the Mankind Center building. Inspiration Campaign - Any gift is welcome toward helping to sustain MKP Houston's programs, direct services, and upkeep of LOMG General Contribution - Any gift is welcome toward general operating expenses. Annual/Monthly...

FAQs

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:32:36 GMT

The New Warrior Training Adventure The New Warrior Training Adventure is a singular type of life affirming event, honoring the best in what men have to offer the planet. We are only able to recognize the powerful brilliance of men because we are willing to look at, and take full responsibility for, the pain we are also capable of creating ... and suffering. This is the paradox of modern masculinity, and it is a lesson we are dedicated to learning and teaching. The New Warrior Training Adventure is a modern male initiation and self-examination. We believe that this is crucial to the development of a healthy and mature male self, no matter how old a man is. It is the hero's journey of classical literature and myth that has nearly disappeared in modern culture. We ask men to stop living vicariously through movies, television, addictions and distractions and step up into their own adventure - in real time and surrounded by other men. The only devils in the world are those running...

NWTA Staffing Information

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:34:20 GMT

Use the link below to complete and submit an online staff request

Staff application

Download offline staff application here

Use this Staff form link to see NWTA dates and download staff documents:

Staff forms

MKP Membership Directory

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:33:33 GMT

The Mankind Project Membership Directory is available for all members, please use this tool to keep in touch with fellow warriors. Please note that this roster is provided for the convenience of our membership.

Please do not use this information for solicitation.

View our MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY here!

Thank you,

Greg Gondron

MKP Executive Director

Affiliated organizations

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:55:18 GMT

ManKind Project Houston supports the development of a healthy, active, vibrant community of men and women who live with a strong sense of integrity, personal responsibility, respect for each other, and loving honesty. These are a few of the organizations we support through sharing of activities, events, knowledge, experience, and resources. International North Texas (DFW Comunity) Regional Sponsor of the Woman Within Training Weekend Community Elders LKS - Lodgekeeper Society MOS - Men of Service var sc_project=2463265; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=24; var sc_security=3d39e103; var sc_text=1;

The Training/Retreat Center

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:54:54 GMT

Land Of My Grandfathers Located approximately 100 miles north of Houston and 160 miles south of Dallas, Land Of My Grandfathers is ideally situated for groups wishing to get away from the pressures and business of the city. Our center sits on eleven beautiful acres of rolling farmland, surrounded by 200 acres of farm land, affording space and privacy. Overnight accommodations are suitable for corporate meetings, workshops, church groups, and family gatherings. Cabins We offer heated or air-conditioned cabins. Each cabin houses persons comfortably in bunk beds with room for up to about 100 people. Dining Hall The large open dining hall seats up to eighty for meals and may also be used for a meeting room. The large porch off of the Dining Hall offers a pleasant view of the countryside. We also offer a large, modern kitchen and food service area. Meeting Rooms Versatile is the word that best describes the meeting rooms at Land Of My Grandfathers. We have rooms large enough...

Lorem ipsum survey

noemail@mkphouston.org — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 18:32:28 GMT

Objectives:

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Release Date: 29-Sep-06 1:32 PM
Expiration Date: 29-Dec-06 1:32 PM

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Dodson02

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:55:57 GMT