Mutual Support Groups (MSG's): A Local Idea

[techres]

Ok, I have been mulling this idea over and given the current concerns about the economy, etc., I thought it would be good to roll out here and for consideration:

INGO Area Mutual Support Groups

Purpose: To facilitate and promote skills, materials and communications between individuals in a local area with the intent of a mutual response to a short or long term crisis.

Organization: None beyond a phone list and a commitment to helping others and accepting other's help as needs be. No central leadership, no uniforms, no ranks, this is not a militia.

Meetings: Gather once a month for a dinner and planning/training session. Individuals take turns to lead a session in an area of their experience/expertise or simply in something they have researched (if no-one has other training). Organizing to go as a group to CPR classes or other professional training would even be better.

Activities: Camping trips, hikes, trips to the range, and so forth. Members who have can help those who do not. Better yet, trips to bulk food stores to stock up on supplies or other suppliers of emergency materials.

Intent: To make sure that people in the same area are as possible, and to continually increase that preparedness. Additionally, to have contact capabilities between area members so that when the power lines go down and INGO goes dead, we are not a bunch of individuals sitting alone in the dark. For those who would bug out, let's work together to make that a better possibility. For those who would have to bug in, let us make sure we can coordinate efforts to mutual support possible.

To be clear, this is not militia training in the sense of small and large unit military training. This is neighbors banding together to help make our community ready if a disaster were to happen. Furthermore, this should all be fun!

As a way to move forward with this, anyone in Monroe County or a surrounding county who is interested, PM me. I think the best way to do this is to find out who is interested and start with a picnic and a few trips to the range (I can only take one person at a time - yes this means you Nate).

Let me know!
Techres

P.S. Yes, I went with MSG because I likes my msg...

12/31/08 UPDATE:

Since people have shown interest in MSG's it would make sense to have some structure to help things along. How about we break the map up into 4 areas (or more as the case needs)? Lets try this to begin with, unless someone has something better:



I know that Silentwarrior has go the ball rolling up his way (Area 2). There is a core already started down here in Bloomington in Area 3 and we hope to do some get together's before long. Area 1 and 4, who knows?

If you are interested, post your username and area and what you can teach/do and lets start up some groupings!

01/07/09 UPDATE:

A brief listing of people interested by Area & County:

Area 1 (Coordinators ?):

Mr.Hoppes, Elkhart
Bob Wyre, Allen
turnandshoot4, Jasper
TomN, Saint Joseph
Jeremiah, Noble
Sgt 1371, Laporte
Cwood, Marshall
Warwagon, Clark
C.H.U.D., Elkhart Co
cmax01, Elkhart
GhostofWinter, Lake Station
porkpie, Noble
Gritch, Porter County
mikea46996, Pulaski Co.
CulpeperMM, Ft. Wayne
Sailor, unknown


Area 2 (Coordinators - SilentWarrior1?):

DRob, Marion
jrb466, Marion
Flintlock, Marion
gage, Marion
SilentWarrior1, Hendricks
Disposable Heart, Hendricks
SavageEagle, Hendricks
AllenM, Hendricks
IndyBeerman, Hendricks
Electronrider, Tippecanoe
USMC_0311, Madison
zimzum, Madison
Royal-1, Hamilton
mconley, Morgan
Jay, Grant
longbow, (family in Noblesvile)
infidel, Montgomery
RTDoug, Madison, Delaware, Henry county
El Cazador, Hendricks
pierce195, Henry
schwaky18, delaware/marion
swatdoc, Franklin?
ATF Consumer, Marion
zimzum
hotfarmboy1
Beau


Area 3 (Coordinator - longbow):

techres, Monroe
bwframe, Monroe
NateIU10, Monroe
SoundslikeJosh, Monroe
Stevenlong8, Monroe
tyler34, Monroe
Panama, Monroe
Dr Falken, Monroe
stormryder, Ripley
longbow, Brown
mconley, Morgan
csaws, Morgan
KDUBCR250, Morgan
mconley, Morgan
smokingman, Johnson
Chefcook, Unknown
right winger, Sullivan
4sarge, Sullivan
Gump, Monroe
Anne Oakley, Greene
Bull, Jennings
INRanger, Martin
jblomenberg16, Jackson
Lucas156

Area 4 (Coordinators ?):

INRanger, Martin
gun_nut, Gibson Co.


UPDATE 07/10/09

Due to being overwhelmed with Appleseed and INGO Moderating, I have neglected the MSG activities. Thankfully, longbow has stepped forward to take over and start making things happen again. My thanks to him and I look forward to seeing more picnics, shoots, and training sessions. Thanks to everyone!

[jeremy]

It is an interesting concept.
Kinda like a shooting/social club?

[stormryder]

I'm in, if there is anyone in the SE Indiana area.

[techres]

Originally Posted by jeremy

It is an interesting concept.
Kinda like a shooting/social club?

Yeah, except one that gets together for CPR training, or a class on canning, or to do a campout without only bugout bags.

It would be a way to coordinate local food buys and gear buys, or shooting training.

But mostly, it would be a phone tree for helping each other out in rough times between people who are close enough to each other to actually help in times of trouble.

[Mr.Hoppes]

We are in On this

We call our selves Homesteaders but we are really muulti discipline. We believe in loval sustainabilty and self sufieciency. We raise animals for food, we grow our own vegitables. We buy in bulf and store food.

We are currently getting together an Order for BULk 50# bags of whole wheat flour If you would like to order from us we can get them for $25 a bag. This is the good stuff BTW from Wheat Montana. We Have to place our order by October 1st so if anyone is interested Mail me or pm me for a Phone number and we'll talk. Last year we ordered 600#'s and has lasted without any spoliage the entire year, kept n a freezer at moderate temp.


Maybe a bug out drill at a local park that has camping. That way no one would feel that in case of real emergency they would go to who ever the sponsor was for shelter. Sorry tired... that didn't come out right..

Excited about it though.

We would welcome the group here for a diiner / Meeting, maybe a carry in, pot luck?

[bwframe]

Can't hurt. I'm in.

PS - means another person to the range with me, if that's the way it works?

[Zoub]

What we call a MAG, Mutual Assistance Group, takes time to build.

A good way to look at it, these are the people who will show up with their own chainsaws, gas, tools, gloves, ready to work to clear trees from your property after a storm/hurricane/tornado/ice storm. They will also be self contained in terms of food, camping gear and have extra.

Meet in social settings and go slow. Meet for a campout just to talk and maybe shoot. A good location is a camp ground in the Hoosier National. You can camp, shoot, hunt, fish etc...

[Royal-1]

Need a way to sub-divide this to areas. Maybe have a main thread of MSG/MAG then have the different cities under it. Would have to break it up for it to work, I would not count on someone from the southern part of the state to make their way up North to help me. Cities might be the best way to divide up. I'm in Noblesville, anyone up here could group up. Divide up Indy to N. Side, E. Side, West and South.

[rhino]

In the old days, they called this idea "family and friends." Those two things don't mean as much anymore. This is a good idea.

[Zoub]

Originally Posted by Royal-1

Need a way to sub-divide this to areas. Maybe have a main thread of MSG/MAG then have the different cities under it. Would have to break it up for it to work, I would not count on someone from the southern part of the state to make their way up North to help me. Cities might be the best way to divide up. I'm in Noblesville, anyone up here could group up. Divide up Indy to N. Side, E. Side, West and South.

My Primary MAG goes from Valpo to Martinsville and out to Illinois state line. Beyond that there are others who would come if I asked. Then I would say there are two personal friends, who hang here and live in my AO that would be a part of an implied or developing MAG. All but one of my primary MAG has met one of my local buds, whether he realizes it or not.

Then of course there is friends and family. I have long felt the extended family is dying. One reason is we as a society are more mobile. We move away. While my family is very small and very mobile, we are intensely close. But my Bro and I are 800 miles apart. We are part of a larger MAG that covers some distance.

I think you will find it is best to just start the concept in here and let groups quietly develop based on personalites and locations. I would have nothing to do with anyone until I knew them better and there is one individual who hangs in this forum that I WOULD NEVER let near me.

Gun shows, camp outs, days at the raqnge and dinners are a good way to start. I have to go to an INGO function but they are a way for like minded people to meet, but just being Pro gun does not make people like minded. It does help.