The ManKind Project USA is working with the ManKind Project International and the Mental Health Resource Team (MHRT) to coordinate efforts for World Suicide Prevention Day – September 10, 2012.

We ask men from centers across the country to participate in this effort by spreading the word to our IGroups and engaging men in our communities to take action.

To participate, please contact David Rose, the Chair of the Mental Health Resource Team at: mhrt@mkp.org

As always, the MHRT is available 24/7 to assist in an emergency or potential emergency at mhrt@mkp.org or 301-502-1777.

The MKPI Suicide Awareness and Prevention Initiative

The Mental Health Resource Team (MHRT) invites and urges you to participate in World Suicide Prevention Day.  On and around September 10, groups, communities, and organizations all over the world will be meeting and supporting each other in learning about suicide, learning how to prevent it, and learning how to deal with its aftermath.

How can we join them in this vital initiative?  That’s the good news- much of the preparatory work has already been done for us.  The home page of World Suicide Prevention Day is World Suicide Prevention Day is www.iasp.info/wspd/.  Visit this site (or use the links below) and you will find resources that will help you

Find World Suicide Prevention Day banners in over 40 languages.

Download the World Suicide Prevention Day brochure.

Download the World Suicide Prevention Day Suggested Activities sheet.

Read about World Suicide Prevention Day activities throughout the world.

Download the World Suicide Prevention Day Toolkit, a single-page PDF that contains links to World Suicide Prevention Day resources and related Web sites.

Use the WSPD Activities Online Submission Form to let us know about your World Suicide Prevention Day activities.

Let us know where to send your Certificate of Appreciation for participating in World Suicide Prevention Day.

Visit the Official World Suicide Prevention Day Facebook Event Page. Over 1,500 people from around the world have indicated they are participating in a World Suicide Prevention Day activity.

How can you participate?

• If you’re a Center Director, find your best facilitators and ask them to convene a Community Circle and use the World Suicide Prevention Day resources to start a discussion- and encourage men to go out and share what they’ve learned.
• If you’re an I-Group Council member or I-Group Facilitator, take these resources out to the I-Groups, new and old.  Many of these activities can be adapted to an I-Group evening format.
• If you’re a certified Leader or Co-Leader, share these resources with your mentees and make use of them in NWTA staff meetings.
• If you’re involved in Boys To Men, there are materials and activities suitable for that age group, and no, that’s not too early- that population is especially vulnerable!
• If you’re a man in an I-Group, bring these resources to your group and use them to encourage sharing and mutual support.

Our vision for World Suicide Prevention Day (and after) is that

• EVERY Center and Community will convene a Community Circle to share these resources and begin an ongoing, informed Community conversation about suicide.
• EVERY Certified Leader and Co-Leader and senior I-Group facilitator will be familiar with these resources.
• EVERY I-Group will know about the resources and activities that are available, and know who to call for support in using them.

And what can you do now?  RIGHT now?  Go to that website and just start looking around.  This site brings together information that mental health professionals have been accumulating for decades in a very user-friendly format.  This is a website that can teach us things we need to know, that can help us give men hope, that can help us give men breathing space to find new alternatives.

This is a website that can help us save lives.

Join us on World Suicide Prevention Day.

It’s time to fight back the darkness.

What Makes a Man?

MKP NY Metro, along with Peace in the Streets representatives including Stan Koehler from the Uptown Meditation Center and Zendo participated in a first annual “Push4Peace” event in the Bronx, hosted by Hot 97FM.

A report submitted by Jerry Bimka, MKP New York Metro

The Bronx Push4Peace event went very well for MKP NY Metro.

The event was very well attended and we made a lot of good connections with people from many organizations from the Bronx. It was a pleasant surprise for me personally to see the many different groups out there doing the good work – bringing something positive into the community. In Jewish culture there’s a saying that if you save one person’s life (literally or metphorically) it’s as if you saved the whole world. That’s my attitude regarding the fair. If only one man contacts us and gets involved, then it was a good choice for us.

There was a panel discussion which I sat in to watch for a section, and it was INTENSE! The Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz Jr. was on the panel, along with Norman Seabrook, president of COBA, Maino, a hip hop artist, Lisa Evers from Hot 97FM, and other influential people from the community. I’d like to share something the Borough President said … I felt like I was in an I Group while he spoke. He said that we as men need to love each other and start to express and show our feelings to each other and that it was O.K. to do that contrary to the cultural myth that men shouldn’t do that. It was powerful.

This was the first Push 4 Peace event here in NYC and I hope it will be an annual event. For me, it was a very rewarding to get into my warrior energy and help make this thing happen for us.

Jerry Bimka, MKP NY Metro

The video below is from the Hot97FM web site:

WHY THE CHANGE AROUND INSURANCE AND WHAT NOW?

April 20, 2012

Men,

I want all of you to hear that this issue around the medical waiver and insurance came to a head quickly and we responded quickly. I have become very aware while speaking to many of you on the phone that more clarity is needed. We have created a Q&A that we hope will begin to provide this clarity. I am very sensitive to, and appreciative of, the great passion, skill, and dedication every man brings to this work.

You can view the FAQ here: http://mkpusa.org/insurance-faq

It gave me no pleasure to make the final decision to move ahead on this issue now, knowing the kind of impact it was likely to produce. It is my belief, with significant information and recommendations from insurance and finance experts, that this is the path we must walk if we are to create the future we want for the men in our organization. We have done our institutional homework, and this is the path of integrity and accountability for MKP USA.

I am grateful to each of you for your good work, your suggestions, you dedication and your help. We are all, after all is said and done, in this together.

We have, together, experienced a number of challenges over the recent past and we have done the hard work to rise and meet each one. This is another challenge. We must move forward in a way that retains our soul and spirit while building an organization that is truly capable of initiating increasing numbers of men on the path of self awareness and personal growth.

Please call me if you believe I can support you in any way.

Blessings to each of us and blessings on our journey together.

Mike

PS View the FAQ here: http://mkpusa.org/insurance-faq

Michael K Elser
Chairman, MKP USA
Lifetime Charter Member
Center Director 2008-2009, MKP New England
Phone – 860-985-0013
Skype – michael.k.elser

BREATHE! & LET’S CELEBRATE!!

David Bauerly, past chair of MKP USA, once told me that even in the hardest and longest race it is important to look up and breathe in the victories along the way.  THIS is one of those times!  So BREATHE AND LET’S CELEBRATE.

In January, I asked men in Centers across the country to become ADVENTURERS on behalf of the kingdom.   I asked these men to take on a challenge that many said could not be done.  I asked them to increase membership in MKP USA by 20% in just 100 days!   The “The 100 Days “ Membership Challenge finished last week and there is no doubt that the these men are returning  home victorious.  Not only did those Adventurers increase membership by more than 23% they also raised more than $80,000 in the process.  Together with Matching Contributions in excess of $120,000 was raised with$60,000+ going DIRECTLY to Centers to support local operations – in just the past 100 days.

We have fundamentally changed the game by creating a Membership Program that supports both the national organization and the local center. I am proud as Chairman of MKP USA to have witnessed and championed this shift.

Since September 1, 2011 Membership has grown 38.8% from 1,757 Members to 2,439 Total Members; with 692 NEW Members; 154 Newly Initiated New Warrior Brothers claimed their Memberships; and 505 existing Members renewed their Memberships early.

Although EVERY CENTER participated several Centers and their leaders merit special recognition:

• MKP Chicago, under the leadership of Dan Baldwin (Membership) and Glenn Barker (CD) more than doubled its membership by adding  119 NEW Members and took over #1 spot in Membership.
• MKP Florida under Jeff Tate, (CD) almost TRIPLED its membership;
• MKP Hawaii under Tom Kerley, (CD) nearly DOUBLED its membership;
• MKP New England (Brad Morawski, CD / Don Tyler, Membership), MKP GW (Steven Deller, CD) and MKP Los Angeles (Dick Granoff, CD / Larry Kay, Membership) joined MKP CHI in growing by more than 50 NEW Members EACH!
• 17 Centers added more than 20 New Members each!

So WHAT?

Today, as an organization, MKP USA is laying the foundation from which to SHOW UPin the world in a big way.  The very FIRST STEP in laying that foundation was identified almost three years ago by the Stanford Group in their ACT I report.  So, the “So What” is that  we, MKP USA and its affiliated Centers, have made significant progress in just the past 7 months in moving the whole organization toward a Membership Supported model.  As Membership builds and provides a larger and larger percentage of the support for local and national programs I expect that we will be able to start squeezing some of the cost out of the NWTA.  In fact, my expectation is that, if we continue to make progress like this, we will be able to lower NWTA per Initiate Fees in 2013!

Just as importantly, as we continue to make progress on building membership support we are finding the space and resources to start down the other two critical paths:

1. We will accelerate the process of building vital capacity into the organization by melding the professional competence of a small paid staff with the passion and strength of our volunteer NWB army.
2. We will begin the UNIFICATION process that will start lifting the administrative burdens off the shoulders of each unified Center so that the men in that Center can focus their efforts on I-Group and Open Circle support, Mission and Outreach, Community Building and Training Logistics.  Seven Centers have already stepped forward to begin the process.  Unification is underway!

The BIG “So What”

With a solid foundation we will start making progress on the juicy work:

• Creating more robust support of I-Groups and Open Circles as well as designing and implementing a Certified I-Group Leadership Path.
• Providing more support and better resources for our constituencies – Leader Body, Elders, LKS and MCC.
• Designing, creating, acquiring and implementing additional training programs that fit the ideal of “men mentoring men through the transitions of their lives.”

These are just the highlights of the what is to come as we continue to build on our success with Membership.  Of course there is more – from stronger marketing and development to better support of men in mission; from better tools to interest men in the NWTA to stronger I-Groups that attract and retain more men IN CIRCLES.  There is much more to do AND THIS is a great start.

I am grateful to each of you for your passion and good work.  Breathe in this victory.  You deserve it.  Then, begin again.  Help men (and women) understand the opportunity and gold that resides in membership and invite each one to join.  Invite the men in your life to the NWTA and your Open Circles.  Together we can bring the gift and hope that is the ManKind Project and men’s work to the world.

Our Grandsons are Waiting & Our Granddaughters are Watching

Blessings

Mike

Charter Lifetime Member
MKP USA/New England Center
Phone – 860-985-0013
SKYPE – michael.k.elser
PS. From Boysen – the Marketing & Communications Director - I recognize that most of the great ideas that we have come from our Membership … So what is the next big idea for MKP USA that you are ready to throw your weight behind? Share it with us! -http://mkpusa.org/contact/share-your-brilliance/

The 1st Chairman’s Front Porch Webinar

March 20, 2012 - 08:00PM – 10:00PM EST

Mike Elser

Mike Elser, MKP USA Chairman, will be hosting a webinar for the entire MKP USA community.  Its purpose will be to build a bridge, create the transparent community container by providing a Q&A format to address any questions / concerns / ideas men have.   We are one community and our goal is to remove the perception of a ‘National vs. Local’ organization. As one community, our success depends on our connection.

This is everyone’s opportunity to find out what MKP USA is all about and who/what is MKP USA.  The term webinar is short for Web-based Seminar, a presentation, lecture, workshop or seminar that is transmitted over the Web.
This is for all New Warriors!

To participate one must

1. Utilize one’s PC
2. Best to have a mic and headset (though a telephone may also be used).
3. Register in advance by clicking on this URL (in your web browser) and following instructions:  https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/856839310
• If you need to use your phone, instead of a pc mic/headset, then
• log in
• click on “Telephone”  in the Audio portion of the GoToMeeting Sidebar (which will be displayed when you log in)
4. The dial in number, access code and audio pin will be displayed to you.
5. Phone in using the dial in information and follow instructions.

You’ll also receive an email that will inform you on how to log into the webinar on the day of the event when you click on the URL above.

It’s a lot easier than it looks!!!

FLASH!!!

For those not able to attend, you may:

1. Send questions/ideas to frontporchmkp@yahoo.com.
2. Use the comments section at the bottom of this page.
3. One can also twitter tweet to #mkpusafrontporch on the day/time of the event. Questions will be presented to our MKP USA Chairman and his team for their review and response.

Suggested topics of discussion/Q&A are:

1. Who’s who in MKP-USA and how we make decisions?
2. MKP USA what is in it for me?
3. Membership & Fundraising?

Thank you for your participation and if there are any questions, I can be contacted at 732-545-8584 or bcfreeman@optonline.net.

“If not you, who?”
                      Hillel the Elder

Mike Elser here. If you don’t know me yet, learn more at my bio.

There are many wonderful organizations in the world.  Organizations that help the poor; organizations that provide disaster relief; organizations that help the sick and injured.  The world desperately needs everything these organizations have to offer offer – and more.  While we must support these organizations and the work they do, there is something else we must do if we are to actually create a better world.  We must evolve as men and women to a higher level of maturity and consciousness. We must wake up and we must grow up!

For men, The ManKind Project is the only organization I know of that provides the transformational training experiences and the followup support structure required for men to make permanent, positive changes in their lives.  MKP supports men in growing up and waking up to the real problems and opportunities in the world.

I did the New Warrior Training Adventure seven years ago and became an initiated man; a man initiated into the work it takes to wake up and grow up.  I continue to do my work in circles of men.  However, I am also convinced that we need to bring this gift of men’s work and the ManKind Project to the world – for my children and grandchildren and yours.  As an initiated man I decided to take the NEXT step and join the movement called MKP USA and bring MKP to the world.  I decided to stand up and become a member too.

I was asked serve and I said, “yes.”   
I am asking YOU to serve with me.  

TOGETHER we can change the world one man at a time.  Together, we can have a world where men are expected to grow up and wake up.  Together, we can have a world where men have ready access to the training and support necessary.  None of us can do it alone. It will take ALL of us.

If we are to succeed it will take the committed time, effort, and talents of each one of us.  I am asking you to serve by doing your work in your men’s circle; serve by stepping up to a leadership role in your community; serve by working on a task team at the national level; serve by standing up for men’s work by becoming a member.

Join me in bringing MKP to the world.

OUR GRANDSONS ARE WAITING

OUR GRANDDAUGHTERS ARE WATCHING

A Message from MKP USA Finance – Controls, Oversight, Responsibilities and Integrity
We are the wise and transparent fathers we have been waiting for

Is MKP USA operating in financial integrity?

Yes and increasingly every day. MKP USA controls and oversight standards include:

• Multiple signatures and disbursement controls via bill.com to ensure that dollars are spent for approved purposes only
• Oversight by a regional accounting firm in California and audited by a second firm in Illinois
• Finance Director responds to regular questions and reviews by the MKP USA Finance Committee, comprised of experienced businessmen
• Accounting Clerk sends weekly reports to the MKP USA Finance Committee for review
• Finance Director delivers frequent reports to the MKP USA board and council and responds to active questions and inquiries
• Finance Director responds promptly to Center, Center Director, Member and individual questions.
• Careful and thorough documentation trails of all financial activity are maintained
• Reserve requirements and budgeting for unexpected events in 2012 to account for the unpredictability of revenue in our organization.
• Current with vendors or has made responsible arrangements to pay those vendors promptly and will continue to do so
• Separate bank account and chart of account entries for restricted funds (more details in a future communication about restricted and board designated funds)

Was this always the case and if no, how were we out of integrity? What have we done or are we doing about it?

No it was not.

During and prior to the transition from MKP to the establishment of MKPI and MKP USA in 2010, a number of tasks were not completed or accounted for. It took the greater part of 2011 to fully understand and rectify those tasks that were not completed. The most significant of these incomplete tasks was the failure to file and pay certain state payroll taxes from 2007 to 2010. The penalties and interest from these late filed payroll taxes will have ultimately cost MKP USA approximately $25,000 in penalties and interest as well as the costs of paying our accounting firm incremental fees to rectify the unfiled returns. At the time, our internal controls were not strong enough to detect the incomplete tasks. Today, our controls are sophisticated, thorough, frequent and in accordance with Generally Accepted Audit Standards (GAAS). Further, MKP USA now uses a professional payroll service since last year to ensure that payroll tax filings are timely and complete.

In early 2011, MKP USA hired James Dougherty, an initiated man and partner of Larsen & Rosenberger, a regional accounting firm in California, to do the work of establishing strong and lasting internal controls and procedures for MKP USA and to register with the various states and file those returns that had remained unfiled in the past. Thanks to Larsen & Rosenberger, substantial work has been done to “clean up” MKP USA’s legacy responsibilities in this area. Work is scheduled to continue throughout 2012 until every single unpaid tax dollar has been paid. This work was budgeted and forecast in 2012 and continues to progress in a timely fashion.

How do MKP USA controls and oversight work?

Disbursements

Requests for disbursement are entered into bill.com upon the receipt of an invoice or bill by the MKP USA Bookkeeper.

• All disbursements must receive dual approval by the MKP USA Accounting Firm and the MKP USA Executive Director AND be supported by documentation
•  No disbursements can be approved by the party the disbursement is written to:
• If the disbursement is to the MKP USA Accounting Firm
• Approval by the MKP USA Vice Chair and the MKP USA Executive Director
• If the disbursement is to the MKP USA Executive Director
• Approval by the MKP USA Accounting Firm and the MKP USA Vice Chair
• After dual approval is completed, payment is made by the MKP USA Finance Director

Reporting/Review

• Weekly unaudited Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss Statement and Account Review from the MKP USA Bookkeeper to the MKP USA Finance Committee (which includes the MKP USA Finance Director, Executive Director and Vice Chair)
• 2011 Financials to be widely published after Adjusting Journal Entries are received from accounting firm

Audit

• MKP USA is audited by Warady and Davis, a regional accounting firm located in Illinois
• MKP USA receives additional audit support and oversight from Larsen & Rosenberger, a regional accounting firm in Glendale, CA

Accounting

• Entries made by the MKP USA Bookkeeper are reviewed both by the MKP USA Finance Director and when requested, Larsen & Rosenberger. Entries made are intended to comply with GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Practices) for non-profit organizations.

Board of Directors Oversight

• The Board of Directors will name a Treasurer in 2012 to perform board level review of reporting, budgeting and similar finance functions

Who works on MKP USA finances and what are their responsibilities? How much work is there?

Michael Bailey – W-2 employee – Accounting Clerk/Bookkeeper

• Processing of all entries for all accounts into Quick Books
• Center Receipts and Disbursements for 32 Centers and Developing Centers
• Invoicing and Accounts Receivable Reports
• Entry of disbursements into Bill.com with attached supporting documentation
• Membership contribution reconciliation
• Maintenance of Restricted Funds, Designated Funds Accounts
• Ad hoc reporting and projects as they occur
• Monthly bank reconciliations of five bank accounts
• Reconciliation and maintenance of membership and other pledges and populating ledgers
• Weekly report preparation to Finance Committee

Jon Levitt – Contracted – (JSA Business Development) – Interim Finance Director

• Oversight of Accounting Clerk activities with support from advisory accounting firm
• Weekly reporting to Finance Committee / Bi-weekly reporting to MKP USA Board and Council
• Bi-Weekly Communication to membership/constituencies/initiated men about MKP USA Finance
• Forward cash flow and strategic analysis
• Budget analysis and preparation
• Payment issuer on bills.com
• Regular review of Quick Books
• Payroll confirmation
• Review of contracts, initiatives and projects from a finance perspective
• Response to approximately 50 daily e-mails to finance@mkpusa.org and related e-mail accounts
• Donor / Member support regarding finance questions and status of Donor / Member programs
• Participation in committees in which finance and strategic finance are necessary for planning / decision making
• Organize efforts to retain consistent records across Centers for audit and tax preparation
• Monitor and interface with accounting / finance vendors

James Dougherty – Contracted – (Larsen & Rosenberger) – Accounting Advisory / Assistant Treasurer

• Provides advisory services to resolve bookkeeping / accounting questions
• Filing, negotiation and resolution of past payroll tax delinquencies
• Audit process support oversight and advisory
• Tax filing process oversight and advisory
• Completion of 1099/1096 filings for MKP USA
• Official mailing address of MKP-USA; Deposits and remittance
• Signatory on disbursements/approvals
• Release payroll instructions to payroll vendor

MKPUSA Finance Committee – Volunteer and Staff – Currently Jeff Leyser (chair), David Lang, Martin Marks, Bob Oser, George Faison, Russell Kramp, John Groll, Jon Levitt

• Meets bi-weekly to review/oversee the books, accounting, practices and procedures of MKP USA finance employees and advisors
• Conducts annual budgetary process and monitors compliance with budget
• Considers strategic developments as they arise
• Requires bi-weekly report of Finance Director

Susan Greggo – Contracted (Warady & Davis) – MKP USA Annual Audit

Coming soon…

• Is MKP USA operating in financial integrity?
• How do MKP USA controls and oversight work?
• Who works on MKP USA finances and what are their responsibilities? How much work is there?
• What is the status of Fund the Plan? Is MKP USA in integrity with that set of financial agreements? What Fund the Plan dollars are being invested in 2012 and how?
• Why does MKP USA seek contributions and what percentage of operations are funded by contributions, membership and similar efforts?
• Is MKP USA in integrity with our agreements with MKPI?
• Is MKP USA in integrity with our agreements with the Centers?
• What is the status of the Diversity Scholarship Funds held by MKPUSA?
• What is the status of the Multicultural Committee and Elder Funds held by MKPUSA?
• Does MKP USA have enough money to operate?
• Is MKP USA wasting money? What do we pay for and why? What is the 2012 budget and why?
• What are MKP USA’s financial results and 2011 yearend balance sheet?
• What is the status of legacy payroll taxes from 2007 to 2010?