This weekend I was lucky enough to go to Philly and attend the Northeast Regional Leadership Summit. This summit bring leaders (mostly Chapter Captains) from around the Northeast region to discuss our challenges, our successes and our way forward. It's great to put names to faces and to re-connect with those you know.
I wish we could do these summits with everyone in a leadership position. Not only is it great to bounce ideas off of others, to hear what works for them and to learn of the failures, but it really helps you understand what Team RWB is all about.
There are hundreds of VSO's out there today. I won't mention them by name, but I think we all know the bigger organizations. So what is it that sets Team RWB apart? I've pondered that so many times trying to put a finger on it. All cater to veterans. All are about bettering veterans lives in one way or another. That's about where it stops. Most are exclusive. If you are not a veteran, you cannot join. In some cases, if you did not participate in a particular campaign you can't even join! If you've never served? Well, you can join the Auxiliary in some groups. Others you can't even do that.
Then there's the question of money. I am a member of another VSO and when I talk to them about Team RWB the first question I get is "What are the dues?". I pay dues to be a member of this organization and I know there are plenty of others that do also. When I tell them it's free, they look at me like I'm nuts.
If I had to put my finger on a particular reason that Team RWB stands out from other VSO's, I would say it's the connections but I don't think that's even entirely accurate. You forge relationships wherever you go. As a member of another group, you can forge relationships. But there's something special about the relationships you forge in Team RWB that are special. I have no idea what it is, but it works.
The picture above represents most of the 32 people that were at the summit. Seven of those I knew prior. I left that weekend considering all 32 of them a comrade, a friend, a shipmate etc.. If any of those 32 needed anything from me, I would be there in a heartbeat and I know they would do the same for me.
What sets Team RWB apart? The simplicity. It's the basic human connection. That's all it is. We're people, plain and simple. No gimmicks or no catches, just positive people connecting to each other. Positivity. Try it and see how refreshing it is.
