Operation: Love ReUnited

Go vote for your new board members!! You should have received an email from the Collaboration Forum… That is the ONLY way to get the link, as to prevent the public from joining the forum.

WOW! We did it! We have successfully not only set the bar for so many future events like Fort Bliss, we have also photographed over 700 families, thanked over 700 soldiers, made ourselves SO PROUD, and we have met some really amazing people.
I have to personally thank the Captain, our new friends Vianne and Pete, the FRGs and leaders, all the volunteers and those who donated to fund this event, and of course, all my photographers- with out you all this amazing event would not have happened! Think about these 700+ guys and gals who will be able to have that album with them over the next 12 months. What a gift!
Over the past two days, I’ve learned so much more about my own organization and the things we’ll be able to accomplish. Going to Fort Bliss might as well of been one of the most important weekends of our organizations life, and the most touching. We cried many tears, and not just my gals… my guys too. We shared hugs and friendships, tips and knowledge. We gained a couple new photographers as they learned that what we do, what we give, truly touches these soldiers and their families- of all ages, branches and rank- and that in turn touched them straight to their soul.

I don’t know of any other program that boosts moral like Operation: Love ReUnited. This program works, and it is WORTH the investment. I have about 30 people, and so many families that will attest to that.

The people that have been in the military for quite a while, those who have “lost count” at the number of deployment this will be in May, I have to say came in pretty….. cold to the idea that their picture was being taken, or maybe it was the fact that they had to get dressed up… Could it be the ball they all attended the night before hehe. I can say that I had one family in particular who had 2 children, a preteen and a teen. Dad has been in for who knows how many years and had indeed lost count of which deployment this is (number wise). By the time I had separated out the children with their father, I had finally started to bring out the “family” in them, and I managed to capture quite a few real smiles, the smiles and giggles they share at home- not in front of a camera. I wish I could be there to see Dad’s face when he opens that album for the first time in June. My heart is so warm just thinking about the joy he will feel.

Another couple that stood out to me had told me about 1/2 way thru their session that they had just found out that she was 8 weeks pregnant!! Hooray! They were SO EXCITED… But I sensed a bit of sadness from them knowing that the new daddy wouldn’t be there to help bring that baby into it’s new world.

Anyway, we all should be safely home with our some 3000 images to sort thru over the next few weeks. Watch here for pictures, and news!

Congratulations to all my photographers, and all the help we received it was AMAZING!

Again, we did what we thought was impossible.

Hello World,
2 months ago when Ft. Bliss contacted us about shooting their brigade that is deploying in May, we were a little beside ourselves, when they announced it would be 2000 families. But with some conscious and strategic planning, I must say that we pulled of the first day with little madness and flying colors. I’ve met an awful lot of people thru this organization in it’s short life, online, and I’ve built those relationships, calling some my best friends, even tho we’ve never met. Last night and today, we have put a voice to the name and online avatars. We have hung out and discovered personalities, for the first time ever!
We’ve had so much amazing support planning this event. It’s truly a blessing that we can help all these families getting ready to say their goodbyes rather then hellos. As the weeks approached we learned that our final count of preregistered families was around 724. This was a huge relief for us 22 photographers.
With some no shows we each were able to take breaks, eat, drink, and smooze. It was amazing.
This evening after shooting all day, the guys who helped make this happen took us to dinner at Fuddruckers, and proudly, we were awarded a special support coin and certificates. I can honestly tell you that aside from my children, I have never been so proud and so grateful of my participating photographers they are the life of this organization. Tonight, I can tell you all that I can feel the leaps and bounds that we’ve made in this organization, with bigger ones on the horizon, and knowing that just today we have supported over 300 families, that makes every tired aching spot on my body worth it.  I’ve never been so proud to wear my little yellow ring over my wedding set.  Everywhere we go someone is affected by these deployments.
Stay turned for day 2 of the Fort Bliss Event. So far it’s amazing… we pulled it off!

yay us!

I am so happy to annouce that we have been awarded our 501c3 status with the IRS.

Congratulations everyone! Pat yourselves on the back, this is a huge accomplishment for our organization!

In light of a few things on our collaboration forum, I would like to take a moment and bring the organizations purpose, back to the surface… Why everyone who is involved, is involved.  We are currently going through some policy changes, which all organizations have to do at one time or another, or constantly.  This makes it really difficult for members to stay on top of.  However, since our organization deals directly with Military folks it is IMPERATIVE that our members adhere to our policies.  They are there for a reason, and right now, the reason is to stay in compliance with the DoD’s wishes to be able to continue to participate with their beloved military members and families.

While I know that we cannot please everyone, clients, photographers, and members alike, I can tell you that we are honestly doing what we can, addressing issues that are brought to our concern.  With light that the world is changing, and as a volunteer program we have to comply to those changes and be willing accept them, but simply put this is a volunteer program.

I know that this organization has had its ups and downs, and I am truly sorry for any disheartening moments, or misinterpretations that I, or others, may have brought on everyone else- to clients and photographers.  Many of us are learning as we go… But we must be doing something right, something must be working out just fine, because the emails are still pouring in daily, and for that we should CELEBRATE!

 This is a heartfelt organization who GIVES BACK.  Our organization is made possible inevitably because of the demand for the service, and then the service happens because of our amazing, giving photographers.  The families we serve are contacting us because they need support, they need a friend, they need a shoulder, they need a boost in moral because they can’t kiss their babies goodnight… they are experiencing things and seeing things that tear my soul out, that make me cry in a single thought…  And that is why we are where we are.  The demand for a friend, for that shoulder- and many, many of our photographers have really broad shoulders!

Sometimes to participate in great things, you have to relinquish other things.  For instance, with OpLove to participate as a photographer you have to be willing to relinquish any assumed monetary supplement, a paycheck.  Other times we are giving up certain rights as artists to simply protect our clients.   This is an organization about selflessness, not selfishness. We help people, help put families together who are separated by the 1000’s of miles between them…

Our photographers are AMAZING people.  Many of them will support our families well beyond their OpLove requirements with open arms.  Many of them are involved with the military directly, and deployments and such directly affect them too.  Anyone in the military, spouse or otherwise, will tell you how very hard it is to raise your kids by yourself for months, or how hard it is for a mother and father to say goodbye to their only son or daughter- any child for that matter.  A father will fall apart like a cheap suit at the thought of missing his 1st daughter’s birth, or being on the other line 1000s of miles away with only his voice to calm and attempt to sooth his wife’s agonizing pains through the delivery of their baby.    Recently a photographer shot a maternity OpLove session, then her birth and then the homecoming just so this daddy could have something, anything to experience first time fatherhood, because he was unable to physically meet his daughter the day of her arrival.  We do AMAZING things for people, and these emotions and thank you’s are “why” you are in this program as a photographer.  It isn’t so you can have the chance at a spot in the limelight, or to catch a great story…

Photographers are there to represent the ORGANIZATION and help families, not for self-promotion.