Paying It Forward: Volunteers respond to F.O.R.D.
Paying It Forward: Volunteers respond to F.O.R.D.
Small talk horrifies many. How do I connect to work with others on common problems. F.O.R.D. -- Family, Occupation, Recreation, Dreams, outline for discussion. A meal & Discussion, then new friends.
How do you tell the difference between two engineers, one introverted, the other extroverted?
The extroverted one looks at your shoes!
Small talk horrifyies many people as well. Attendees comfort ranges from clammy, damp palms to pleasant serenity. Mixing with others is vital to refresh, check in and recommit to your “plan.” I value validating my assumptions with others outside my sphere of influence.
Many times I’m talking to someone I’ve never met before.
How do I get to know them?
I rely on F.O.R.D. — an acronym for Family, Occupation, Recreation and Dreams, and as well, a checklist for the foundation of an enduring connection.
Quickly establishing a rapport based on commonalities enables discussions to address the topic that brought us together. Food and drink are great enablers to unite a room of new acquaintances.
Sharing our dreams helps us understand how we can work together on common problems —certainly, a great outcome of a few hours together. Today I’ve many friends I value highly; without using F.O.R.D., I’d only have seen their shoes.
Texas is truly a land of opportunity. Texans always see a better way to make life better for others.
Traveling from the biggest cities to the least populated counties: Jeff Davis, Brewster, Presidio and Reeves. I found volunteers in each area addressing the needs of their communities, always making a difference, never asking for recognition.
Mountain View Café hosts mobilecomunidad.org in partnership with their local food bank, preparing and delivering meals to local students. Profits from lunches and dinners are channeled into the needs of the Fort Davis community.
We ate and donated. Great food, great people, great lodge and views in Fort Davis.
My son’s RV was our base camp in Davis Mountains State Park. We met Carol Rodgers, a Park Host. She gets a space for her trailer in return for volunteering to fill in by welcoming campers and helping rangers. In return, these volunteers have access beyond the normal public spaces.
Understanding life is easier when disconnected, and the internet at 600K bits is about like dial-up.
Carol, thanks for the insights and views behind the scenery with secrets like the fence pickets hidden behind the dumpsters — useful to provide an exit for a raccoon or other animal trapped in a dumpster.
If you haven’t visited a State Park, you should. Value for the dollar unmatched. I’ve visited these three in the last 45 days; all on my list to revisit:
Palo Duro State Park - discussed in PIF: The joy of the moment August 4th, 2024.
Balmorhea State Park - swim, snorkel or scuba dive in the 3.5 million gallon pool built by the Civilian Conservation Core in the 1930’s.
Davis Mountains State Park as discussed above.
Published Wichita Falls Times Record News, Trends Section, Sunday September 1, 2024.
Jack Browne is a community volunteer and former technology sales and marketing executive who worked 40 years at Motorola, MIPS Technologies and other companies. How are the children doing?