The "Lest We Forget" Series pays tribute to those who've put their lives on the line and worked their entire lives, to give us the freedoms that we enjoy today. It is a process of story telling that is healing for both the men that have had these experiences and for us to compassionately listen and learn from. It asks us to ponder both the stupidity and necessity of war and serves to remind us all to not make the same mistakes again. 

This series is more than "20" years in the making... Inspired by decorated Canadian soldier Fred Whitta, and athlete and later paraplegic George Robinson and both men's courage to move past adversity and take leadership roles in contributing to their community. 

The 1st video in this series has been released, but we are still in production and are looking to add further episodes - please contact me if you have a Veteran who we should be interviewing! This series is a community benefit video, one of many we have produced.

For more information please visit:

Our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sustainability-Television/116135154828

Our Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/stvnetwork

Or you may contact me directly via LinkedIn:

http://ca.linkedin.com/pub/jason-robinson/9/521/563/

Thank you very sincerely...as we are dedicated to continuing to expand the Sustainability Television viewing options that are made possible with everyone's financial, volunteer, and moral support.

Best regards,

Jason

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EPISODE 1 - The Remembrance Day Men's Team

**Please note this is how our group manages this event and has been doing so for almost 20 years. We are all just volunteers, largely unaffiliated and do not provide this information as complete or error free. This information is simply provided as a community resource and a starting place to encourage volunteerism and as a community building exercise.

HOW TO MANUAL

Chapters

1) Finding a Facility that will work with your group

The first task will be to work with the care facility to see if they will support this type of activity.

2) Setting up the group Structure

- Leadership:  2’nds you will usually want to have at least 2 second in commands to help out with logistics

- Meds: you will want to have someone (preferably a nurse, doctor from the care facility)

- At least two team members with some Nursing experience or at the very least someone with first responder or paramedic training. (there may be instances requiring assisting vets with general mobility in spaces like washrooms.

- Delegation: delegation is the key to a successful day. Without it the organizers do all the work and end up burning out. Break up the tasks amongst team members into manageable amounts of work.

- Recruitment: Everyone on the team should always be on the lookout for new team members. The best time to get people involved is just before the practice event, so they have time to get prepared and understand the process.

- Training: each new member should be paired with a mentor. (ie two persons assisting each vet.) Ideally the person mentoring should have been in the role previously.

First year Protocols:

- You are responsible for your man

- Kneel down to the vets eye level when speaking to your vet.

- Don’t “mother” or “baby’ the men, treat them like men and give them the respect they deserve as your elder

- Make sure someone is always with your man, never leave a vet unattended.

- Make sure when the wheelchair is not in motion that both brakes are applied to the wheels.

- When going up or down a curb, it should be done rear wheels first (ie:go up or down curbs backwards)

- Make sure that the vets have both feet on the footrests otherwise injury could result to their feet.

- Before allowing a vet to ingest anything, check with your care home staff or nurse to make sure your vet has no food allergies, choking hazards, and if drinking alcohol has been okayed what is their limit? (1,2,3 drinks?) Difficult situations

– there may be occasions where as a team member you will have to deal with situations you are not used to, and may not be comfortable with. For example some elder folk may at times require assistance with general mobility in spaces like washrooms. There may be instances when people may be temperamental, and may not get along with others. These situations require a certain amount of tact and it is advisable to always have some members on your team who have experience as a nurse, paramedic, firefighter, counselling or policing as these individuals have all been in situations calling for some of these skills before.

3) Preparation & Logistics (ideally 6 months in advance)

A) Meet with the city – You will want to meet with the city soon after you have all the necessary members on your team, and months in advance of Remembrance day. Share with them your plan and perhaps even a copy of the video so they have time to get the right people in place to assist you with the endeavour. Specifics: You will want a covered area for the veterans at the cenotaph (usually set up and supplied by the city)

B) Parking – you will want to arrange VIP parking for the veterans transportation, both for the arrival and departure

C) Consider your Insurance needs - consider what your insurance requirements are and handle this well in advance of the event.

D) Activities on the day - where will you be taking the veterans? you will need to organize safe and well supervised activities for the day.

E) Transportation - you will need to arrange transportation for the vets to and from each location you take them to. This is usually best done most safely and economically in wheelchair enabled busses. You may also consider wheelchair enabled taxi cabs.

4) Prep meeting the Vets (1 week prior to the event)

A) Circle up

B) Introductions amongst the men. Why are well all here?

C) Visit with Vets - introduce yourself and remind them that remembrance day is coming. Inform the vet of our plans and ask them if they would like to join us on the day.

D) Review meeting and final to-do’s - go over any last details.

The team lead reminds the group they will be sending out an email to the final list to team members, that includes:

1) Create a Team phone List Name Role Phone 1 Phone 2 Email yrs on team

2) Phone Calls Each man is to call the man below you on the list, to find out if they need help with anything? (Do they need help getting to or from the facility on Remembrance Day? Make sure they have everything organized for what to bring on the day.

3) Remind the team to have a big breakfast (it’s a long day) Some of us like to meet at Denny’s at 6am for a team breakfast and coffee on Remembrance Day. We find it to be a nice way to start the day together and we make sure we have a full stomach so we are able to give our full attention to the vets. Not everyone can manage to get there and this part of the day is optional for us.

4) Itinerary (example only) Lead sends out Itinerary to the group.

Denny’s (optional) Time: 6am – 7:15am Date: November 11th 2011

Location: West Broadway, Vancouver Brock Farhni Pavilion

Time: 8am – 6pm

Date: November 11th 2011

Location: 4650 Oak St, Vancouver (604)123-4567

5) What to bring with you on the day:

A) Make sure to wear your “Sunday Best”

B) Bring a minimum of 3 poppies (for yourself and your vet in case one gets lost)

C) A blanket Gloves or mittens $40.00 An umbrella Tissues

6) On Rememberance Day(08:00)

A) Organize blankets, gloves scarves etc. (hockey bags work well)

B) Circle up

C) Introductions - introductions of the whole team

D) Collect money for the group expenditures during the day

E) Assign men to Vets

F) Protocol reminders:

You are responsible for your man

- Kneel down to the vets eye level when speaking to your vet.

- Don’t “mother” or “baby’ the men, treat them like men, give them the respect they deserve as your elder

- Make sure someone is always with your man

- Make sure when the wheelchair is not in motion that both brakes are applied to the wheels.

- When going up or down a curb, it should be done rear wheels first (ie: it should be done backwards)

- Make sure that the vets have both feet on the footrests otherwise injury could result to feet.

- Before allowing a vet to ingest anything, check with your care home staff or nurse to make sure your vet has no food allergies, choking hazards, and if drinking alcohol has been okayed what is their limit? (1,2,3 drinks?)

G) Meet with Vets and Transport... The day unfolds as per the plan.

H) Final Circle up - team shares wins from the day

7) Follow up meeting (within 2 weeks of Remembrance Day)

What went well, what didn’t? Meet with the city to discuss the outcome and what could be improved for next year?

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EPISODE 2 - TBA