PGR_NTX Patriot Guard Mission Guidelines

[Mission Information For North Texas PGR]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

A little something new has been added to the calendar site.  Clicking on the
button under the calendar itself that says "Mission Guidelines" will bring
you to some items that may look familiar to you.  Previously under this
button were mission protocols that are used by S.E. Texas.  Those really
didn't fit for us.  Our own mission guidelines are now there for everybody
to take a look at.  There are things there for the new rider and the
experienced rider as well.  There are items there intended to clarify things
and items there taken from the United States Flag Code that we can use to
make sure we're doing things in the recommended ways.

 

Most everything written there will look familiar to most of you.  This is
not a bunch of rules that have been made up to make anybody feel fenced in.
Mostly it's stuff we already do, but now it's written down so it can be
easily referenced by all of us, especially new riders, riders transferring
in, riders who can't make a lot of missions and would like a little
refresher, etc.  Some are things we used to do but might have gotten away
from and now we're hoping to slide back into doing again.

 

Lots of folks had a hand in putting this together.  Once I got the main
themes going I asked Bill Holcomb and George Raglin for input, suggestions
and editing.  After that, it went to all of the Ride Captains for their
input, suggestions and editing.  Everyone who had a hand in this realizes
than any time you put something down on paper and ask people to go along
with it, it's serious business.  At the same time we all realize, just like
you do, that every mission has its own personality and its own special
situations.  But for the most part we're going to try and stick to our
mission guidelines.  

 

Please note, however, that the Ride Captain in charge of a particular
mission has final say on everything.  That is the person in charge and
everyone who has ever been on a mission knows the reason why.  Their job is
very difficult and there is way more to it than meets the eye.  Just try
talking to a widow on the telephone one night after her husband passed away
that day or the day before, or look into that widow's eyes while presenting
her a plaque.her looking into your eyes waiting for you to say just the
right thing to comfort her and make things all better..and you wanting to
comfort her but just not having the words.and everyone standing there
looking right at you, and you get a small taste of just a couple of the
things they have to do to make a mission successful.

 

The Ride Captains have my support and they have the support of the State
Captain.

 

And each and every one of the riders have, and will continue to have my
support and admiration.  If there is something in these guidelines that is a
deal breaker for you and will prevent you from participating with the PGR
please let me know.  Shoot me an e-mail or see me at a mission.  We'll talk
about it.  If you disagree with something small, like the suggestion to keep
a copy of the final itinerary with you on the day of the mission in case you
get lost, or are late or something like that, you don't need to contact me
unless you really want to.  Feel free to not carry one with you and it can
be your little secret.  After all, it's just a suggestion based on that
happening to some folks a time or twelve.  OK?

 

For those who haven't had a chance to explore the calendar site at
www.txpgr.org yet, this will be a good chance while you're looking at the
guidelines.  Feel free to look around and see what's there.  Please look at
the pictures.  There are LOTS of them and you may see yourself.  Our own
Harold Tranter is an excellent web-bubba and I know you'll admire his work.
I sure do.

 

The guidelines aren't expected to cover everything.  They never could and
there has been no attempt to.  They cover some basics and answer some
persistent questions.  Whenever there is a question on anything having to do
with a mission you're on, the Ride Captain has the answers, knows what to do
and makes the decisions.  They are all knowing, all powerful and can make
miracles happen with a moment's notice.  All kidding aside, we have a great
group of people as Ride Captains and I trust them all.  In the unlikely
event there's a foul up of some kind I'm sure I'll hear about it and we'll
figure out what to do from there and move on.

 

We all hope you'll find the guidelines useful and accept their publication
in the spirit in which they were intended.  We're a big family in North
Texas.  (Insert your favorite dysfunctional family joke here.)  We're also a
team.  We have a goal.  We have a mission.  North Texas does that mission as
well or better than anyone in the nation.  We are constantly striving to
improve.  This should help.  We hope it does.

 

I hope everyone is having a great holiday season.

 

Thank you all very, very much for all you have done and continue to do.

 

Steve Lucas

Deputy State Captain

North Texas PGR
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