This month’s Shared Leadership Team meeting was another good one that showcased our SLT members coming together, and really finding our stride. Each topic on our agenda flowed well into the next, and more so than the previous meetings, the PAX really pushed the conversation towards how we can build capacity for the region in a more long term way. Read on to find out more:
As always, we started with asking someone “Why am I here?” Maraschino shared that he’s here because of the love between him and Uzi. He doubled down to say that the rest of us are just white noise in the cacophony of Marvin Gaye and Barry White betwixt the two. After fka Sprinkles shared his admiration for the entirety of the PAX and the community we create to support each other when times are tough, but also on the daily, we jumped into our agenda.
The final Quarterly Report of 2022 is this week, with a Zook led beatdown at the Thicket. The Bull is wrapping up its planning and putting the final touches on the regional event to be held in Downtown Durham by the Durham Bulls Athletic Park (former University Ford lot next to the DBAP Parking Garage). Please sign up on the Epic Mega Doc. Here’s the link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GsoPhxTdxpLNFYCLPWSVUOMNLN6w-potWpTlpaH-0-Y/edit?usp=sharing
We did things a bit differently for this meeting’s agenda. Instead of running down a list based on SLT Positions, we took things on by issue, tying them back to the SLT position they related to. Here are the highlights:
1st F Items – Bump Draft and Maraschino are working on taking the F3 Churham gang on the road. Be on the lookout for an upcoming trip to F3 Burlington. Their PAX came here in 2021, and we want to return the favor. On November 12 there is a post Iron PAX Convergence in Columbia SC, hosted by the PAX of Greenwood. Bump will be coordinating a Clown Car. Count Chocula and Spooky are being encouraged to attend so the rest of the nation can stare in awe…
2nd F Items – Uzi and Bellhop brought up some thoughts on how we as a region support our PAX in need. The SLT took this discussion and expanded to ideas about whether we need to keep some funds on hand for regional work. This may include things like the F3 Churham cards that we began piloting last month, keeping fund for website hosting, and having funds to help support our brothers in need. A work group of the SLT is exploring ways that we could do this if we choose to. If you have thoughts on this, or a specific expertise in this area let any member of the SLT know.
3rd F Items – Nickelback and Moore reported on three major things that are going on related to 3rd F. Hurricane Ian relief, led by Coxswain and Kia is going well. They have a goal of 100 PAX donating to the cause, which was determined by conversations between our PAX and the PAX that were directly impacted. Be on the lookout for a Holiday Fundraising competition. We’re breaking the Region up into 6 smaller units to compete for raising funds for local youth based organizations. Once the competition is done, we’ll have a small 2nd F event to recognize the impact of the work and the winning unit. The units are:
– Hillsborough
– North Durham
– South Durham
– Chapel Hill
– Southern Village
– Chatham County
The pilot project related to mental health and health coaching of our PAX is making very positive progress. Several PAX in the pilot group have enrolled. Additional information will be available within the next couple of months, and a likely rollout to all PAX.
All SLT Items – Durham Parks & Recreation is putting on the Durham Holiday Parade on December 17th, 2022 at 10 a.m. This would be a great opportunity to make F3 Churham more widely known in our community and help attract more PAX. The idea is to make the parade route a moving workout with Qs taking different leads as the parade progresses. There are three “performance areas” that the Qs would have about a minute to have a more focused movement/exercise to lead. Please see #churhamnews and let us know if you would be interested in attending. Right now we are just trying to see if there is enough interest in participating to make entry worthwhile. This would be a great opportunity to give our F3 business cards out to men along the parade route.
Nantan Items – We’ve run into our first AO hosting issue that I’ve known of! PAX at the Skunk were intercepted one morning by the Assistant Superintendent of Orange County Schools. He asked the PAX if they received permission to workout at the high school. Unfortunately they PAX didn’t have explicit approval to use the facilities. After this meeting, they asked permission of the principal, who turned them down. Milton and Nickelback have rolled with the punches though both for a short term solution and working towards a long term solution. In the short term they moved the Wednesday workout to downtown Hillsborough, and in the long term are securing, with permission, the Christian School across from the high school.
This discussion brought up other examples where our presence has created pinch points. PAX talked about when they’ve had a nearly literal “run in” with a runner at The Cougar, being asked to cut off music at Farmboys and being asked to keep it down at other AOs that are near residences. PAX talked about challenges in working with schools too. Bellhop gave some great examples of relationship building with Parkwood Elementary Administration for the Piranha. YHC brought up the different expectations and how we should ask permission when we use privately owned areas for AOs (House of Pain, The King’s Dominion, etc.). As an example, AOs hosted at City parks or Universities, likely don’t need to do a lot of relationship building or giving back directly to the owner of the property. At places like The Cougar, The Skunk and The Falcon, reaching out to the school administration or doing some work on site will go a long way towards a positive relationship and making sure the AO is welcomed there. If you need any help with this, would like to discuss it more, or run into an issue with your AO host, please let me or any member of the SLT know. And please remember to be aware of your surroundings keeping in mind that what is an appropriate volume or activity at Tobacco Road (in a rural park) is very different than what is appropriate at the Big House (in the middle of a residential area).
We also talked a bit about the next SLT, which will start in January 2023. The current iteration of the SLT is unique in that we have 4 roles that have two members each. Since this is our first year and we have staggered terms, one person has to step down, making room for one additional person to take a two year term on the SLT. We will have one each of the following positions open, 1st F Q, 2nd F Q, 3rd F Q, and Expansion Q. If you have questions about these positions, please contact YHC. You can hit me on Slack, email me at jones7jm@gmail.com, or call or text at 984-209-0107. Since F3 is a leadership organization, we entrust each PAX on the SLT to determine the next person to fill their shoes. The idea of one man acknowledging the leadership skill of another man is something that we don’t often get the chance to do.
Other miscellaneous items:
The Quarterly Report will continue in 2023! The tentative calendar are locations are: January in Chapel Hill, April in Durham, July in Hillsborough, and October in Chatham.
The F3 Churham business cards have been a huge hit, and everyone has had only positive feedback. The SLT will be ordering more and figuring out ways to distribute them to the PAX that want them. Be on the lookout for more information.
I am proud of the work that this SLT has done and is working on. Thank you PAX for the opportunity to serve our region in this role. As always if you have any questions about the SLT, please reach out to me. As we begin winding down 2022, I challenge each of you to think about and spread the mission and core principles of F3. We plant, grow, and serve small workout groups for the invigoration of male community leadership. We do this through 5 core principles; Open to all men, Free of charge, Outside workout – rain or shine, Peer led, and Ending in COT. Whether you serve on the SLT, are an AO Q, are a QIC during a workout, or even if you take the lead in picking up the six, you are living that mission and our principles. Please continue growing your leadership skill, your mental and physical health, and building our F3 Churham community around your brothers I the gloom.
SYTIG.