Hey PRO-IT'ers;

This could end up being a very long post - but I will try to consolidate it. And I will put my contact info at the bottom so that, hopefully, when you have comments or questions that you would like to direct to me personally - it will be easier that way.

A few years ago, I became aquainted with an organization headquartered in central MA that provides services for our Vets (it is primarily privately funded), and that fills specific needs for our Vets that the Veterans' Administration simply misses. The name of the organization is Veteran's Homestead, and here is a link to their website: www.veteranhomestead.org. Just a note - their website is good and gives a bunch of info, but I have been to their facility in Fitchburg, MA (the facility in Fitchburg is their hospice for Vets who don't have any family or any "place" to go to die with dignity - words don't do justice to the work that is being done there) and have met many of the folks who work with the Vets. They are a dedicated, enthusiastic group, and their work is inspiring to say the least.

I urge you to check out their website. One of their most compelling projects that is currently on-going and really in need of our help, is their Northeast Veteran Training & Rehabilitation Center. This is a unique collaboration of the local townsfolk, a local community college, and the Veteran's Homestead organization. The level of rehab, and the type of rehab, will be unprecedented in the U.S.

Without getting too philosophical in this forum - personally, I can't think of a better or more deserving group to try and help out in this fashion - our Veterans.

I have spoken with Bob Zecca, and he is 100% behind this idea......and the idea is to use one of our races to help try and promote awareness and raise money (at the same time) for this organization. Using our racing "thing" to help raise money for good causes is nothing new (ie RAL weekend) for many of us. Combining the PRO-IT Series with raising money for the Veteran's Homestead is new, and hopefully will be well recieved by all of you folks reading this post. Right now Bob and I would be targetting the race on Aug 1, 2009 at LRP for this event - but it doesn't have to be that specific race.


I have quite a few ideas as to how we can work to put together a significant fund raiser, and a means to promote awareness for the NVTRC and the Veteran's Homestead organization. I have put "pen to paper" and would be glad to share with anyone that is interested my current ideas - and would be very happy to hear comments and critique on them.

So, I hope that you will get back to me with your comments - both positive AND negative. The only way that this will work is if it embraced by our PRO-IT fraternity.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Tim Mullen
ITB # 86
[email protected]
cell 508-265-506