On September 29, 2012, clown cars from Metro and Area 51 pulled into Walter Elisha Park to plant a Shovel Flag and give birth to The Fort. In gratitude for the gift given to us by our Charlotte brothers and to celebrate the hundreds of pax, past and present, who’ve shaped us to this point, there’s 10 days of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd F activities built around what this region has done for the past decade–invigorate Male Community Leadership. We’re going to honor some PAX we’ve lost, hammer down challenging workouts, make a little extra time for fellowship, and sharpen ourselves for service.

1st F:
(All AOs are open EXCEPT for 9/10 and 9/17)
9/7 Pantheon Games @ Pantheon
9/8 Honoring Badger @ The Ranch
9/9 APFT @ Stockade
9/10 CSAUP FINAL COUNTDOWN 0600 @ WEP*
9/12 Honoring ShopVac @ Honey Badger
9/13 Take the Hill @ Currahee
9/14 Honoring Cash @ Ring of Fire
9/15 Board of Pain @ Laces
9/16 Kettlebell Khaos @ The Hive
9/17 Operation Sweet Tooth 0515:WEP
9/17 CONVERGENCE 0630:WEP*
*all other AOs are closed

2nd F:
9/6 Qsource @ Baxter Starbucks 0615
9/7 Coffeteria @ Carolina Ale House 0615
9/9 Friday Lunch @ Inizio in Tega Cay 1200
9/13 Qsource @ Baxter Starbucks 0615
9/13 Happy Hour @ Amor Artis Downtown FM 0500
9/14 Coffeteria @ Carolina Ale House 0615
9/17 #NoSpeeches Gathering @ Amor Print Shop 0500

3rd F:
9/9 McGospel @ Red Bowl in Tega Cay 0615
9/15 Blood Drive Forest Hill Church – use the sponsor code “FThree”
9/16 McGospel @ Red Bowl in Tega Cay 0615
9/24 Trash Pickup on Hwy 21 @ Peach Stand 0745

So, whether this is your personal 10-year anniversary as a REDWOOD of the Fort, your 1 month anniversary since you were an FNG, or anywhere in between, COME JOIN IN.  With this strong of a foundation, it’s the end of the beginning. Here’s to 10 strong years of Impact and the next 10 years ahead!

Special 10-Year swag is available from Battle Bot. Just reach out to him on Slack or show up to the Armory on a Monday. For $10, you can have a customized item; just provide the item you want cut and a treasured 10-Year item is all yours.

“How are we doing?”  I’m continually asked this question in varying forms.  For those who’ve asked, you know my immediate response – “You tell me. How are we doing?”  I’m not trying to be evasive or play games.  The most important perspective on how we’re doing is yours, the Pax.  We’re a bottom-up, peer-led organization.

You’re asking an important question…initiating a conversation, really.  And the more Pax involved in the conversation the better.  So, let’s talk about how we’re doing.  Here’s what I see in August 2022 based on your input and my experiences in our region and through my posts in 6+ other regions across 5 states in recent months.

The Fort is Accelerating from a Solid Foundation

• Choices – Most of us have 2-3 options of various formats every day within a 10-minute drive of home (extremely rare across the Nation).
• Consistency – our execution in the Gloom is strong, led by a committed Site Q planting a Shovel Flag along with a Q who’s well-prepared to deliver the DRP.
• All 3 Fs – Consistent execution and participation also applies to our 2^nd F and 3^rd F activities.
• A strong brotherhood – The bonds of love are tight as seen by Shield Lock engagement and the active care, support and TAPs flowing freely among the Pax.
• Still growing – FNGs continue to emerge each week, and those who stick are making an impact as Qs, Site Qs and more.
• Dynamic comz platform – Other regions envy the ways we’ve embraced and leveraged Slack.
• Vibrant I2– The Pax are constantly introducing new initiatives across all 3 Fs.
• Community impact – Our local community has never benefited more from our activities.

I’ll share a few of the many stories comprising this Acceleration.

• Flounder is our reigning War Daddy. At 76, he posts 3 days a week in the Gloom and joins McGospel consistently on Fridays.  He first posted amid Covid, when Planet Fitness was closed, and he needed a safe outlet to stay active.  He posted regularly, meeting his fitness objective from a safe social distance.  When vaccines arrived, he started recognizing his brothers in the neighborhood and the marketplace.  Just as importantly, they (you) recognized him.  The Fellowship kicked in…the Glue.  Now Flounder and the rest of us are seeing the fruits of his deeper (and closer) engagement.
• This summer brought the consistent presence of several college bound 2.0s. Importantly, their I2 influenced their fathers, in some cases bringing Kotters back into the Gloom, and in all cases, ensuring consistency from the dads.  I know I never had an opportunity like The Fort at 18, and if I did, I’m not sure I would’ve recognized it.  The dads, the 2.0s and the rest of us are growing through these weeks together.
• This week we welcomed our brother Uncle Sam back to the Gloom. He was a regular with us before returning to his native Colombia (back in 2017 maybe?).  He was in town for a few days this week on his way to Virginia where he will spend a year while his wife completes a graduate degree.  He shared that his F3-like group for youths in Colombia has strongly embraced “Leave No Man Behind / Leave No Man Where You Found Him.”  And the most inspirational news was how he used “Freed to Lead” principles to revitalize his house church ministry in Colombia with powerful results.  Yes, The Fort’s impact is international.

So, the bottom line as I see it – we’re blessed.  I’ve heard Pax say we’re “spoiled” or “we don’t realize how good we have it.”  I have two immediate reactions when I hear those comments.  First, my heart fills with gratitude for each of you and all Pax across our history who’ve brought us to this point.  This adventure is truly a gift.  Second, my curiosity gene kicks into overdrive, searching for the next challenges and ways to adapt in the 43 Feet of road ahead, because what got us here won’t take us to the future.

I’ll save the 43 Feet topic for another post.  In the meantime…

What are you seeing in The Fort today?  How are we doing?

Chime in on Slack, discuss your thoughts in COT and 2^nd F venues and share your ideas with our Site Qs and SLT.  After all, this is your adventure, one you choose several times a week.  So, speak up!