Wheels for Our Wounded - what is it?

What is Wheels for Our Wounded?

After interviewing a ton of veterans, many who ride, I realized that they were like me.

They suffer from PTSD and find that the focus and concentration it takes to ride a motorcycle/trike truly keeps them living in the present moment and helps abate PTSD symptoms. I know how much my motorcycle helps me with my PTSD and while I may be a civilian, I have also discovered that PTSD, is well, PTSD. It does not matter what trauma caused it, the results and chaos are very similar for all who suffer from it.

I  decided to start this initiative when I realized that veterans and first responders could get funding for service dogs, horse therapy and other types of emotional supports but that no one was validating or funding wind therapy.

Wheels bring freedom and independence into our lives, be they motorcycles, trikes or automobiles.
However, in attempting to get funding, sponsorship and support through traditional channels, I discovered that no one in the mainstream recognizes a motorcycle/trike as a therapy tool.

I was trying to decide what to do with my Defense Fund Poker run.  While I still need to raise about $5,000 to get the nuisance lawsuit from Sturgis North dealt with, I decided to take the day to do something positive for the greater community. I am tired of the political and bureaucratic BS of the BC legal system and I had made a promise to pay forward the help and support I had gotten last year, 10 fold.

One of the many people I spoke with and who helped me to flesh out the over all concept for the Wheels of Our Wounded initiative was Blake Emonns, founder of the Wounded Warriors Weekend Foundation. I sit on the advisory board for the motorcycle side of the weekend and as expected, Blake, a veteran who also rides said, "Hey kid, you are on to something here."

The Wounded Warriors Weekend Foundation promotes mental health and well being for our allied forces veterans and first responders. As such, they are the ideal foundation to partner with as they can help us select veteran's who need assistance.

In time, we will be rolling out a program that will support veterans and first responders from all of the Allied Forces countries.  The initiative will be rolled out sometime this fall on an international level.

The basics of the initiative will be that riding clubs, associations and veterans and first responder organizations from the Allied countries will be invited to host events in their communities and countries to support the needs of their "local" veterans and first responders.

We will provide them with our country branded merchandise, a best practices manual and advertising and marketing support. All profits from the sales of the nationalized merchandise will go towards helping a veteran or first responder of that country.

We have many details to hammer out like having a process whereby veterans and first responders in need can be nominated for help. A selection committee to help the Wounded Warriors Weekend Foundation and ours select which people we can assist each year and so on.
And a way for communities to have th funds they raise go to a specific veteran or first responder of their choosing.

We will be working on all of those details and more over the summer and fall.

In the meantime, our very first Wheels for Our Wounded function on May 30th in Nisku Alberta at Blackjacks Roadhouse.

I am thrilled to say that the event has taken on a life of its own!
We have the Royal Canadian Legion Riders headed up by Dana and Shelley Boyce, the Northern Gateway Motorcycle Association from Slave Lake and a whole host of volunteers supporting this event!

We have identified the first veteran that we are going to be helping! That veteran's name will be secret until the bike is presented in Chilliwack at the Wounded Warriors Weekend gala.

Mountain view Harley-Davidson had given us a KICK ass deal on a motorcycle, and Harley-Davidson of Edmonton has agreed to kit the veteran out with new riding gear.

Our event just happens to coincide with when Kate MacEachern's walk for PTSD awareness called "The Long Way Home"  will be in Edmonton and so I called Kate and asked her if she'd be our guest of honour and that told her that we'd donate 25% of everything we raise at our event to her walk!

Here is a video that explains who Kate is and what the walk she is undertaking represents:

AND BY THE WAY - SHE SAID YES!

After our volunteer meeting the other night we found out that the band we were hoping to get couldn't attend and so just for the heck of it I picked up the phone and called JP Cormier, singer and songwriter of the hit song "Hometown Battlefield" and the man who wrote the song "The Long Way Home" to commemorate Kate's Walk and guess what - HE SAID YES!

Here is the song, Hometown Battlefield:

Our poker run is going to be a blast!
We will begin at Blackjacks Roadhouse and we will be setting up stops at the Kipnes Veterans Centre where the UN Nato is having their show 'n' shine, so after getting their card, riders will be able to spend some time looking at great rides and talking to other riders!

Another stop will be at the Valour House where the Military Tribute truck will be for their annual bottle drive.  Again riders will have the opportunity to spend some time at Valour House.

Another stop will be at Edmonton Harley-Davidson. There will be a BBQ and potentially a sidewalk sale. Proceeds from the BBQ will be going to Kate's walk.

We will have vendors (we have some tents being provided by Blackjacks Roadhouse 2 - 20 x 20 and on 10 x 20), entertainment, silent auction and so much more!

Oh and on Sunday, we will have a Riders Breakfast at Blackjack's where will send Kate off on her trek to Calgary!

We'll have a poster and web site by Monday or Tuesday of next week and will get all the information to you as soon as we can! Oh Yeah - this is going to be a $2,500 Poker Run!  The winning hand will win a duffle bag filled with $2,500 in Gift Certificates and products but as I said, we will reveal all next week!

In the meantime I want to share with you our Logo and the meaning behind it.

The motorcycle engine represents the community that this initiative started in - the riding community and it is the heart if you will of this initiative.  The wheel represents the freedom and independence that transportation brings. The wings represent how our soldiers and first responders are the wind beneath our wings and how their actions, their bravery and courage make us all want to be better people.

That's what Wheels for Our Wounded is all about and I hope you will join us in helping a veteran or first responder gain the freedom and independence they need and deserve. You will be able to buy our gear on line shortly!

If you are blessed to be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you!

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider


Disclaimer:
All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. The Belt Drive Betty Blog makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site & will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.

A Response from WestJet (NOT COOL) & an Update on Joan Krenning

Well, I got my response from WestJet regarding the flight attendant who threatened to remove me off a flight in Cancun as a security threat if I did not comply with his "orders".

Read about my Not so WestJet, Westjet experience - click here

Read the first update - click here

Here is the email I got from Tyson Matheson, the VP of Inflight, copied in it was Lauri Feser, the investigator I spoke with.

Dear Ms. Charbonneau

I have been working with Lauri Feser to follow up on the complaint you made about your interaction with a WestJet flight attendant on your return to Canada from Mexico in March.

WestJet does not support or condone the type of behavior you reported. WestJet prides itself on providing a positive and caring guest experience while maintaining the highest levels of safety. Accordingly, we investigate when we receive reports of guest experiences that appear to fall well below those standards with the goal of addressing any problems and ensuring that any necessary corrective measures are taken.

I would like to re-assure you that we have taken this situation seriously and have conducted an investigation into your complaint.

We acknowledge that you had a negative experience with us and accordingly please accept our sincerest apology on behalf of the Inflight leadership team at WestJet.

Tyson Matheson
Vice President, Inflight

So, I emailed this Mr. Matheson along with Lauri Feser (investigator, customer satisfaction) back:

Thank you Tyson, Lauri

I appreciate the acknowledgement of the issue, now I want to know what the resolution is and if I will get the apology I have requested or whether I should file charges for bullying and abuse of authority with the RCMP in order to get some serious resolution.

This type of situation is about far more than a customer service experience.

The man was a blatant bully and basically if I didn't shut up I was going to spend who knows how long in a Mexican jail.

That is abuse of authority. The threats were real and I feared for my safety and that of my husband who has MS.

As I expressed to Lauri, WestJet's policy regarding apologies needs to change as this is about ACCOUNTABILITY.

So, where does this go from here?
Thanks

And I got this response back:

I’m sorry to hear that you don’t find our response satisfactory. We have investigated the situation and followed-up with the individuals involved. Therefore, WestJet does consider this matter closed.

Regards,
Tyson

I have emailed both Lauri and Tyson back asking for the employee ID number for the flight attendant, we'll see if I get it or if I have to have a lawyer get it for me.

At the end of the day, people in positions of authority need to be held accountable just like anyone else. I was advocating for myself and my husband to get the seats we paid for. My husband has MS, the extra room is important to his well being when he flies. 

I am advocating for change in WestJet's policy of not informing a person what corrective measures have been taken and not offering apologies from employees who conduct themselves in an inappropriate way that abuses their authority.

WestJet employees are owners and as such, they should be held accountable for their conduct and actions, perhaps more so than employees who are members of unions. OWNERS need to be responsible!

It is depressing to think that one is at the mercy of a flight attendant that is having a bad day, it is frightening to have your safety threatened by that same employee, after all you are held captive so to speak. Much in the same way, it is depressing and scary to think that a police officer having a bad day has you at his/mercy and can threaten you in a way that few others could. By that I mean the prospect of going to jail even if you are attempting to be reasonable, or having an officer treat you as less than because you are female. I have had both of those types of experiences with police officers (RCMP) and I have gotten letters of apology and information on corrective measures.

What makes WestJet or any airline think they shouldn't have to provide a more personal resolution than: "We are sorry as a company".... 

Being threatened with being removed from a flight in a foreign country like Mexico and potentially having to spend time in a Mexican jail is a terrifying thing to have to contemplate.

There are signs everywhere in this world of ours, including the jetways of most major airlines that state that employees do not have to put up with belligerent or rude people.

So where are the consumer signs that protect us from employees who are rude and bully people?

I am unsure of what I will do next, but I will be dealing with this situation in a broader way at some point in the future. I will need time to do investigations on what step next to take.


UPDATE - this just in from WestJet:

Dear Ms. Charbonneau,

I have been forwarded a copy of your email exchanges with Lauri Feser, Vice President, Marketing and Promotions, and Tyson Matheson, Vice President, Inflight and Learning and Development.

As Ms. Feser and Mr. Matheson have previously advised, WestJet takes its guests’ complaints seriously and conducted an investigation into the concerns you raised. WestJet ultimately determined that no further action was required. 

While we acknowledge that you have a different view of events and we apologize for the negative guest experience you perceived, we must respectfully disagree with your assertion that WestJet or its employees have in any way treated you in a manner that gives rise to criminal charges or civil liability.

Accordingly, while we appreciate this matter continues to be of concern to you, we will not be presenting any employees or information to you as you have demanded.  Additionally, should you seek to institute legal proceedings, whether criminal or civil,  against WestJet or its employees as you have threatened, we will vigorously defend any such proceedings.  

In any event, we once again confirm that we consider this matter closed.

Jeff Landmann

Legal Counsel

WestJet Airlines| 403-539-7449 | jlandmann@westjet.com

22 Aerial Place NE, Calgary, AB T2E 3J1

And my response to the lawyers letter:
To all concerned,

I am deeply offended by the email below.

Now I am being told, contrary to the earlier email from Tyson Matheson of today, that WestJet acknowledged a bad experience, now you don't.

Where in my email did I threaten to take WestJet to task?  This is an issue between myself, my husband and the flight attendant that bullied me and used his authority in an inappropriate manner. I took the situation to the company to resolve and it has not been resolved in a way that has any meaning to improving customer service and personal safety of its passengers.

My only recourse was to see if I can have the flight attendant charged. If I was in any other public situation it would be my right to have the RCMP talk to someone who had bullied me in any other threatening situation.

But, I guess that as a citizen, a taxpayer and a paying customer, I am now supposed to accept the abuse of authority and bullying that I experienced because you don't want to give me the employee's ID Number.  I guess I should have gone straight to the RCMP to lay my complaint right at the airport. 

I should never have trusted that there would be a true resolution. I feel lied to and betrayed.

All I ever wanted was a simple apology, an acknowledgement from my bully that his behaviour was out of line.

There is no way that a customer should have to take abuse from an employee.  An Employee doesn't have to take it - the signs everywhere say it - but no where does anyone advocate for the consumer.

Airlines in Canada have a monopoly and we northern consumers have very little options and no one to defend us when something unfair transpires.

Sign me 

Another customer whipped into shape by bullying tactics!

And so ends the fight for customer service or customer rights.

Now I want to update you all on the series of articles about Joan Krenning, the founder of the Steel Horse Sisterhood Summit.

I have been getting a number of emails from people who have had interactions with Joan in the last 2 years.

Some of these communications include some claims that are going to take some time to verify.
Once I have verified the claims and have had some time to get some writing done, I will be publishing another follow up.

In the meantime, the web site upgrade of www.beltdrivebetty.com is progressing nicely!

It's been a tough one, but I am so glad we are in the new hosting environment we are and that we have so many upgraded tools coming on stream!

If you are blessed to be riding today, please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you and consider dressing for the slide and not the ride!

Belt Drive Betty,

Editor & Rider



Disclaimer:
All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. The Belt Drive Betty Blog makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site & will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.