November 2024/Issue #5
Why would I subscribe to and read the newsletter?
Recently, I was asked why anyone would subscribe to and read the newsletter. That is a good question. I am subscribed to two newsletters, I believe. I read them for the information that is contained in them. Is it all relevant, no, but some of it is great stuff to file in the Rolodex of knowledge. I am under the impression that when people read the newsletter, they learn something new about accessibility. Maybe it causes them to pause and reflect on what they can do to help foster a new understanding or see the need for improvements.
I am also aware that many will read this while on the toilet, just skimming through it because they feel obligated since they subscribed. Toleration is a wonderful thing. I think of those people who have to tolerate the lack of accessibility, yet they push on. Will our effort at Mobility Mountain change the world, I'd like to say so, but I also know that is a bit dreamy. We will start in our area, our campground, where we can and will make a difference. Once we get good at what we do, then we can reach out and see how welcoming the "world" will be.
Team Mobility Mountain and I believe this is a great place to start. What is the saying, "All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr." Painstaking Excellence, that should do it. Thank you for reading and if you have anything you would like to see or read about, let us know. In the meantime, don't forget to flush.
The Inception of Mobility Mountain, Part 5
By Jeffrey Pryor
I felt like I belonged again, which seemed to be missing from my life for quite some time. Being in a tribe is something I hope everyone experiences at least once in their lifetime. This is the idea behind how Mobility Mountain will work, fostering a sense of belonging to a tribe. Anyway, back to the story. The Veterans Entrepreneurship Program at Oklahoma State University was intense; each day was packed with training, classes, competitions, and good feedback sessions. I could see how the information was relevant and understood the nuances of making this work. We had one particular competition that involved creating a posterboard, for a pitch competition. I am a lefty, so creativity comes naturally to me...or so I like to think.
I suppose I left the creativity in the hotel room somewhere because when asked what the name of my business was, I blanked. I had not created a name. This was a very serious problem, as I was now rushed to create a catchy name and slogan. I asked the Army bubba next to me, Ken, if he could help. That was a mistake as he just started tossing random but funny things out there. I was lost on this task and at the last second, I came up with "Untamed Campground," and the slogan was "Unchain your Animal Instincts." Ken and I agreed that it would suffice for now. Regardless, I realized the name wasn't that important at this time, the concern was more about the Who, What, When, Where, and Why. I had some ideas about what I wanted to do, but not much more than that. I knew this would be tough. I had to dig deeper.
I sat at my desk in the hotel room, looking at the pad of paper in front of me. I started to focus on all of the wrongs that I had seen, the times and places when people looked but averted their eyes. I'm not sure if it was out of lack of concern or simply because they did not know what to do. I remember clearly this young lady sitting in a wheelchair, in an unsheltered area, directly on the baking hot black asphalt. Her friends and family had gone on to enjoy the waterfall, which was a huge draw for visitors. She could not go. The walkway had no access for those in wheelchairs. I walked over and asked if she wanted a bottle of water and she declined. There were so many people walking around her as if she did not exist. I looked back down at the pad of paper and began writing the details regarding Making Nature Accessible.
Read more next month.
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