Category: Empowerment

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Loophole of Ripping Children Out of Parents Arms (Crisis in American Families Part 1)

THE SOUND BITE THAT HURTS

The recent news this summer of 2018 set off alarms all around the country regarding 2000 “children being ripped from the arms of parents”, and the 200 children still trying to be returned.  In the news you have heard much about the “loopholes” that have let this happen.  You have heard the hate filled comments on both sides of the fense.  There is spin in every direction about this one, and this blog is not going there.

THE PROBLEM BEHIND THE SOUND BITE

THE SHOCKING TRUTH about Children being ripped from Parents arms

Where I am going is the concern regarding the numbers quoted numbers of today – 750 children per day beging taken from American Families in Family Courts.  To include the statements that over the last 30 years there have been 22 million children taken from American Homes.  Everyone wants to protect children and want to ensure they are not in harms way (unless they are a mad with some serious mental health issues).

Even the Supreme Court has ruled that it has to be assumed that Parents will act in the best interests of their children, unless proven incapable.  This is why we have a constitution and the protections under that constitution to ensure that everyone is protected in court from all involved.

The problem that has surfaced in the last decade is that 1 out of 17 children that are taken are at seriuos risk of harm and abuse.  The rest are victims of a system that has failed our American Families.  Research has shown that children are the healthiest and the most successful when they are raised by both parents.  Yet the courts do not believe in 50/50.  Right there the situation is set up to who is the best parent and who is not.

PARENTS’RIGHTS.ORG is dedicated to protecting children by empowering parents.  In there article on The Corrupt Business of CPS – Working with over 300 CPS cases Nancy Schaefer, Georgia State Senate, 50th District (revised September 25, 2008)  conclusion is that “there is no responsibility and no accountability in Child Protective Services.”  The system has loopholes that have increased the problem and increased the numbers across the board since Walter Mondell (1974) and later Bill (& Hillary) Clinton (1997) Family Act strips parents of any rights of protection (like a terrorist) allowing the state to proceed with intervention plans of standard of care.  This means anyone, that does not follow their predefined plan of what should be done, is at risk of losing their children.

IMPACT NEWS‘ Article 2018 – 40% of American Families are at Risk reports “A stunning number of American children are subjected to at least one Child Protective Services investigation by the time they reach 18 years old. According to a study published by the American Journal of Public Health, almost 4 out of every 10 American children will experience some kind of social worker investigation into allegations of child abuse or maltreatment at some point in their childhood. (Source.)”  There is a large gap between the beginning of the crisis (health issues, proverty, conflict, and other crises) and when these families end up in front of the State in court.

ERASING FAMILY is “a movie that investigates family bond obstruction from multiple perspectives: Children whose moms or dads have been erased from their lives and siblings who can’t see each other. Part emotional roller coaster, part investigative expose, we follow the money to expose why loving moms and dads are erased from their kid’s lives by divorce courts. …The film will show how programs that encourage mediation and shared parenting which will prevent future childhood trauma, making divorce and separation less costly both financially and emotionally.” The complicated stories just looking for safe answers.

MEDICAL KIDNAP reports in their blog… – “Seventy-five percent of children being removed from their homes is due to “neglect.” But are children really being neglected, or is it the “opinions” of social workers that these children were being deprived intentionally of necessities of “adequate” food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision, when in fact, the family was just poor?”  The numbers are just shocking in this detaled report.

In the last 25 years we have learned how damaging Traumatic Abuse in childhood can be into Adulthood (and burden that falls on the state to carefore these damage children through their lives).  Thus, the state devised a system to effect children at risk into a standard of care that should result in declining numbers.  The problem continued when the statistics from the foster care system, so they put in place a speedy process to ensure removal of children into new adopted homes to bypass the trauma by securing the children.  Medication is used in over 50% of these cases.  Incentatives to the agencies, the professionals, the foster parents, the services and the adoptive parents to make options more successful in early intervention of children at risk.  The escalation of state services for more workers, more options and more money is a failing system that cost a tremendous amount of money and the results across the board continue to rise.

This is epidemic, and something has to be done.

ENCOMPASS INTEGRATED HEALTH DEDICATION

Life is going to happen.  When families can not find a solution to any problem that comes up, they get trapped in a spiral until we end up in crisis.  The current options when a crisis is to push through it hoping things inprove.  The truth is many times everything escalates.  The issue can be in any area of life to any class of American family: health concerns, special needs, loss of income, divorce or death, things tend to just get worse.  How long can we really go before we are in utter crisis? The old saying how many months until we would be homeless – 3, 6 or 2 years?  Some of these issues go on for 6 plus with no options or resolution before they end up in court.  A government social program will not resolve these issues.

Our goal is to develop resources, tools and referrals where families, as problems start to come up, find better solutions.

A healthy community is made up of healthy families.  Thus when a family has a problem, they need resources to find the best solutions as soon as possible.    Now if there is not a stepping stone in help, the situation escalates where the only option in the current system is to divide the family to produce what they call positive outcomes.  The real damage from this process is still unknown, and will come out in the next decade.

The old system does not work, and has failed families.  The new solution will be families working together with new innovative ways to provide the resources to navigate the different concerns facing families. 

We see the best option is to empower families during crisis to provide a path back to Integrated Health.

CALL TO ACTION

Parents have to avoid the HELL of having children ripped from their arms.  The LOOPHOLES have to be closed.  New bridges for families are required to resolve these concerns.  Hope it does not happen to you as a parent, a grandparent, an aunt or a friend.  Truly it is hell.  Thus, all the pilot programs and parents working on new solutions will find the answer they wish they had found when it happened to them. 

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Solutions for Life Fallout – Anxiety & Panic in the Brain

10 YEARS TO DIAGNOSE!

Today mental health concerns take about 10 years to diagnose due short comings in our culture.  Public awareness has a fear of being labeled and many misconceptions around Mental Health.  There is a lack of education for the general population to understand and support Mental Health concerns.  The “Red Flags” for specific concerns are not part of the cultural knowledge, and patients fail to report early warning signs to their regular doctors.  Further the push to medicate for every symptom has left stacked medication side effects complicating what caused what, and how the best way to proceed forward.

With most things early intervention and prevention are your best options.  Without a place to dialogue about private concerns people keep many things to themselves or do not know what to share.   During this time there is confusion, denial, upset, guilt, blame and so any other concerns and fall out from delayed interventions.

The truth is we do have the power to educate ourselves, to support educating others and to build teams of resources that understand red flags for early intervention and prevention.

There are new ways to identify concerns early, and address issues before they become crisis.  Mental Health is changing.  Dr Amen is part of that change.  We are determined to be part of the process to coach options and build teams to make this transition to a more empowered approach to Integrated Health.

THE PLAN:  Build a team that works with you and find solutions for your life.

STRATEGIC ADVOCATES FOR HEALTH

The future of Integrated Health care is a patient centered team approach addressing all areas of life.  We are focused to this end.  This is why it is so very important to have a team that knows:

  • who you are,
  • your history,
  • your lifestyle,
  • your genetics,
  • your family,
  • your life trials,
  • your priorities,
  • what make you, who you are!

STRATEGIC REFERRED PARTNERS 

Dr Amen’s AMEN CLINICS has taken the hundred of thousands images of the brain to understand how the brain was physically working in regards to different diagnoses.  He began to establish patterns of brain activities and could put these patterns into different groups to help identify core issues and how to treat the issues more effectively.  Dr. Amen can not diagnose from his images, yet this process allows this to be part of the diagnostic testing to determine a patients diagnosis and ultimately the treatment plan for the patient.

This is revolutionary and empowering for so many patients.  These are real options where before it was throwing darts in the dark “ruling out” one disorder over another until finally a diagnosis is achieved.

Dr Amen’s approach to Panic and Anxiety is spelled out in his blog PANIC DISORDER TREATMENT (July 6, 2018).

THE BEST HOLISTIC OPTIONS FOR CORE ISSUES

Further, the current model of medicine focuses on alleviating health behaviors, concerns and pains through chemical control prescribing the drug of choice to provide the patient relief.  The concern is side effects, stacking of drugs and long term effects on patients that cause complex health issues down the road.

Thus, looking at core issues and simple holistic approaches encompassing all the possible options to ensure the best and easiest to address the bottomline concerns and restoring wellness.

An Intimate Chat About Depression & Anxiety with Dr. Daniel Amen & Tana Amen

EFFECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF DR. AMEN:

“If you find ANTs are ruining your life and the panic attacks never seem to go away, Dr. Daniel Amen is considered a maverick in his field by reviewing brain scans to help treat psychological disorders. While most psychiatrists address symptoms, Amen Clinics seeks instead to find the root cause of your problem.

When enrolling with our clinic to treat your anxiety or depression, we first assess you by taking the following steps:

● We will begin by taking the time to explore your specific biological, psychological, social and spiritual influences.
● Next, we will perform neuropsychological tests to measure various aspects of your brain function.
● Then, we will perform two brain SPECT scans: one at rest and one during concentration
● Finally, we will order lab tests to rule out nutritional deficiencies, hormone imbalances, toxicity, etc.—if deemed necessary”

EFFECTIVE TOOLS TO HELP WITH PANIC:

“What is the most effective treatment for panic disorder?

First of all, when you sense a panic attack is about to strike, follow these steps to take back control.

1. Stop and take three slow, deep breaths. Breathing quickly and from your upper chest triggers an adrenaline response when you instead need to breathe diaphragmatically.

2. Do not leave the area unless you are in real danger. To break your panic attack, you should stay and overcome your initial adrenaline reaction, showing yourself there is no reason to “fight or flight.”

3. Break your tunnel vision. When your fear sets in, you will quickly have tunnel vision and this will cause you to feel trapped. By looking slowly from side to side, you become aware of your surroundings and can begin reasoning that there is no danger.

4. Think of warming images and warm your hands. A visual cue can very strongly bring your focus off of any anxious thoughts you may have, so consider looking at pictures on your phone. Running your hands under warm water offers an immediate relaxation response.

5. Speak out loud in complete sentences. This will prevent you from hyperventilating and initially you will speak with short, blunt words, but as you gain control, you will also be able to express your emotions accurately.”

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Child Trafficking Crisis – 2020

by Debbie Cloud

Early Childhood Trauma

The focus is on the Opioid Addiction that is front and center on the news. 

Child Sex Trafficking is on the rise across our country and around the world.  Currently Trafficking Rings are being broken up every day.   Gangs 101 says find two other people and start pimping girls. No one has realized yet that the children in your home have a window to the world where highly sophisticated gang members, criminals and other dangerous people come into your house through social media, befriends them giving the child what they want and need, and using coercive controls to steal your children under your nose using highly skilled efforts of fear, shame and threats against your child, siblings and parents. 

Child Sex Trafficking is up every year 500% and will surpass the Opioid Health Crisis by 2020.

Suicide is now up 45% and a major concern across our country.

FAMILY ALLIANCE is dedicated to address the trauma found in childhood (shown in the ACE Study) through Trauma Informed Interventions for Trauma Bonding & Moral Injury.  The goal is empowered children and families within empowered communities.  

EARLY INTERVENTION & PREVENTION

Everyone agrees the answer is early intervention and prevention of Child Sex Trafficking, Opioids, Domestic Violence, School Shootings and Suicide.   

The PROBLEM is how to get to the ones being victimized early enough to prevent the patterns of targeting and abuse. 

Just Ask Prevention.org (child sex trafficking) has determined that any trafficked child has five points of contact prior to being identified as trafficked.   Once they are trafficked they have 7 year survival rate before the danger of trafficking takes their life.  These children are not foreign.  They are American children sitting in your house on a laptop or smart phone.  They are promised the world, of all the things you can not give them. 

Once enticed out of their comfort zone, they are forced into the sex trade, drug addiction and other criminal activity.  They are used and abused until they have no use or are found dead.  By 2020, child sex trafficking will surpass Opioid addiction and death.  Trafficking was identified in 2017 to be in every Northern Virginia school studied from five years old and up,   It is in your neighborhood, and maybe your house.  The children trapped with these problems end up being dependent on the system for many of their needs for all their life.

WHAT CAN CHANGE CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING

The Real Question is HOW TO STOP Child Sex Trafficking?

The standard professions and agencies in place have some powerful models they are developing, yet the child has five points of contact before they are identified.  The research shows that to intervene with this population that has been kidnapped and forced to align with their abuser needs a different approach.

The government has had to remove more and more rights from parents trying to protect children.  Invading homes and taking children is only making the problem worse over the last decade. 

There are BETTER ANSWERS.  Yes, we need early intervention. 

The QUESTION IS:

How do we do that without Big Brother bypassing your constitutional rights and taking your children for protection before the Gangs do?

THE CORE ROOTS IS COERCIVE CONTROL

The known answer is early intervention and prevention when families are seeking help, prior to crisis of drugs or trafficking.  What is the common roots that sets up the victimization.

The steps are targeting, grooming and ultimately using power and control through psychological abuse, physical abuse, drug abuse and sexual abuse.

They trick victims.  Then keep victims by fear, force, threat, shame and abuse.

Families that face Coercive Control of Psychological Abuse end up being targeted by gangs, criminals and other dangerous individuals to include terrorists.  The face addiction, child sex trafficking and other criminal activity.  They are now trapped in a very dangerous world, with no way out.  No one has the tools to help them until its too late to prevent the damage.

The ones using coercive control are experts in how to prevent the children they are victimizing from reaching out.  Professionals have to be trained to spot who is under the influence of coercive controls.  Red Flags exist.

The core is early violent abuse to include sexual abuse against children starting in the earliest years of life.

THE RED FLAGS OF THE VICTIMIZED TARGETS

Do you know the Red Flags of Coercive Control?  And even more importantly do you know HOW to intervene safely? One wrong move can cost the child their life.

After years of research in the cultural concerns around family and crisis, prevention and the earliest of intervention is the best option to keep families from falling into extreme situations that ends up with serious interventions and long term dependency on government services, family devastation or death.  This complicated, multilayered, giant concern can be addressed with an added layer bridging the family communities with the right services.

FAMILY ALLIANCE CORE ISSUES

After speaking with thousands of survivors of abuse and crisis, and a full spectrum of professionals in almost every possible field of expertise, all agree that dealing directly with the under currents of what dis-empowers families, one or all members.  The goal would be to empower the family as a whole and each member within the community in order to prevent or at least intervene at the earliest point to to avoid extreme crisis and radical interventions.  This means healthy connections and healthy relationships.

COERCIVE CONTROL and other abuses are the CORE ISSUES found within the Child Sex Trafficking, and other serious crimes against children.  These are the early signals of disempowerment that gangs, criminals and terrorists are trained to target children and break their ties to their communities.

When an individual is not strong within themselves, they have a need that is sought to fill or resolve.  This is where predators and malicious personalities can hook people that are unaware of their own weaknesses.  Things start out fine and then slowly over time it changes into something else.

A person that was powerful over in their own wears down over time right becomes trapped, confused and dis-empowered.

FAMILY ALLIANCE SOLUTIONS

The truth is families are searching for help in almost every case.  The current system lets them slip through the cracks. The first responders and professionals need to be Trauma Informed to see the subtle red flags of early intervention.  By the time the children are in crisis, they have one foot in the grave.  Early intervention is not found in the  hospitals, addiction centers, or jails.  Breaking the cycle of runaways, addiction, incarceration, criminal activities, trafficking and death has to be the answer.

TRAUMA INFORMED COLLABORATION WITH THE SURVIVOR

This is done through education, awareness, early identification of first responders and professionals Trauma Informed and other evidence based programs that focus on long term transition for the child victims, families, and communities  recover from the coercive controls and the many associated abuses, one day at a time.

FOCUS

Domestic Violence Coercive Controls are known to be assaults on families putting youth at risk.

The addition and deaths of Opioids are front and center right now as a national crisis.  Not known by the public Human Trafficking numbers in the last years have risen so fast it will surpass Opioids within two years.  Sexual Predators are being exposed right and left.  The point in how do we not only deal with the crisis, but get ahead.

Realizing that the chains of are Coercive Control and stems out of Domestic Violence and other Trauma show to be deeply embedded in the current concerns, along with long standing culture denial and acceptance of predatory behaviors leaving populations vulnerable.

RELATED AREAS OF CONCERN 

OPIOID ADDICTION (National Health Crisis)

President Donald Trump Speech – Opioid Health Crisis (10-26-17)

White House Press Release (10-26-2017)

HUMAN TRAFFICKING (Crisis to Surpass Opioids Crisis by 2020)

National Human Trafficking Hot Line 888-373-7888

REPORT Crime – CALL 911 or Local NVA 703-246-4006

Just Ask Prevention (Child Trafficking)

 SEX ASSAULTS & RAPE (Silence of Victims)

National Sexual Assault Hotline or CALL 800-656-4673

Record Numbers Speakout

“A sexual predator is a person seen as obtaining or trying to obtain sexual contact with another person in a metaphorically “predatory” or abusive manner. Analogous to how a predator hunts down its prey, so the sexual predator is thought to “hunt” for his or her sex partners.” (google)

National Sexual Offender Public Website, Department of Justice

COERCIVE CONTROL (Bullying, Targeting & Psychological Trauma Bonding)

MOSTLY CLASSIFIED – Technology used for warfare since WWII to include nonlethal, deniability tactics and weapons to control enemy combatants.  Thus, not organic in mainstream research until the threshold of unintended consequences has come into the public sector.  NOW the gangs, criminals and others like terrorists use these same tactics, and the public has a huge disadvantage.

Domestic violence comprises a range of behaviors beyond physical and emotional abuse. Abusers often use violence, intimidation, degradation and isolation to deprive victims of their rights to physical security, dignity and respect. Evan Stark has been encouraging the use of “coercive control” to describe a course of oppressive behavior grounded in gender-based privilege. While all forms of abuse are about power and control, coercive control is a strategic form of ongoing oppression and terrorism that invades all arenas of women’s activity [not gender based] by limiting access to money and other basic resources. In addition, few elements of coercive control are currently considered criminal, or are only crimes when committed against strangers, which further complicates this issue within the context of domestic violence. (NY Gov)

Abusive Power and Control (Wikipedia)

What is Coercive Control? It is a pattern of behaviour which seeks to take away the victim’s liberty or freedom, to strip away their sense of self. It is not just women’s bodily integrity which is violated but also their human rights. (Cedar Network)

HATE CRIMES (Dividing Communities)

FBI Hate Crimes

“Hate crimes are the highest priority of the FBI’s Civil Rights program, not only because of the devastating impact they have on families and communities, but also because groups that preach hatred and intolerance can plant the seed of terrorism here in our country. The Bureau investigates hundreds of these cases every year and works to detect and deter further incidents through law enforcement training, public outreach, and partnerships with a myriad of community groups.”

Hate Crimes Reported 2016

Hate Crimes Have Increased in the Last Year (Washington Post 11-13-2017)

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (The Silent War on Families)

National Domestic Abuse Hotline or CALL 800-799-7233

“Domestic violence (also called intimate partner violence (IPV), domestic abuse or relationship abuse) is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship. Domestic violence does not discriminate. Anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender can be a victim – or perpetrator – of domestic violence. It can happen to people who are married, living together or who are dating. It affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.”

Domestic Abuse Defined

Normal verses Abusive Behaviors

Who Will Help Me? (Legal Survey)

MISDIAGNOSIS  (Masked Complications of Chemical & Behavioral Controls)

Why and How Childhood PTSD Is Often Misdiagnosed

Misdiagnosis & Delayed Diagnosis

Missing the Diagnosis (Continuing Education)

Autoimmune Diseases Masquerading as Psychiatric Disorders – A Paradigm Shift

Dangers of Mental Health Misdiagnosis

Mental Health Misdiagnosis can be Dangerous

The common thread to each of these is the Coercive Control and are assaults on families putting youth at risk. The ODs and deaths of Opioids are front and center right now as a national crisis.

Not known by the public as of yet, though professionals know Human Trafficking numbers in the last years have risen so fast it will surpass Opioids within two years.

The point in how do we not only deal with the crisis, but get ahead of the epidemic. The question posed at Global Family Alliance is defining the early intervention that will change the wave of destruction.

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From EYESORE To LANDMARK!

 by Chris Cloud

This is a project that we proposing to the community of Marshall.

We have an opportunity to transform the Hagerstown Block Building, located at Old Stockyard Road and John Marshall Highway, from a bland concrete monolith, to a showcase Landmark at the Gateway to Marshall. The building is situated in a way that affords two sides be used as a palette for a World Class Mural.

We are Chris and Debbie Cloud, Residents of Marshall, Realtors with Exit Realty Pros, and Executive Directors of Global Family Alliance (501c(3) (under application).  Our Non-Profit is launching this new Marshall Heritage Mural Project. Our goal is to bring community together in support of maintaining the values of Marshall. The Mural will showcase the aspects of Heritage, Patriotism, and Agriculture that define the Town of Marshall.

Mr. Doy Sneckenberger is the owner of the property and proprietor of Hagerstown Block Company.  He is enthusiastically in favor of the Project.  As the building is privately owned, and not under any Historical or Zoning regulations, the project is free to proceed at the pleasure of Mr. Sneckenberger.  Therefore, the project won’t be tied up in seemingly endless council or review board meetings for years.

After a search for someone capable of such a project, we have secured the talents of Professional Muralist Sam Welty.  Sam has an extensive Portfolio of work, Nationwide.   He has done Larger Than Life outdoor murals, as well as indoor murals in shops, malls, museums, corporate headquarters, and private residences.  Sam’s artistic talent and style is realistic and true to life.   His work is not abstract, outrageous or controversial.

This rendition is an initial proposal for consideration, an example of what is possible.  With community input, support and sponsorship, the final Mural will evolve. It is our desire to feature Agriculture, Heritage, and Patriotism, along with specific aspects of Marshall community, as well.

The components that are needed to realize this Landmark are:

  • CHERRY PICKER to be used as a painting platform. This would have to be one of the larger units available on the commercial market, as the upper right quadrant on the right panel of the building is inaccessible from the railroad track side of the building.  A Cherry Picker is most useful because it is often quite beneficial for the Artist to be able to swing away from the wall, to view the work from a distance, to gain perspective.
  • PAINT & BUILDING PREPARATION – The bare concrete walls must be power washed and painted, to give a clean, well-weather-sealed and uniformly painted palette for the Artist to paint on. We will also need the various paints and supplies Mr. Welty will need for the mural itself.
  • ROOM & BOARD for Mr. Welty. He estimates the actual production of the mural will take between two and four weeks.  We hope to find accommodations for him near the worksite.
  • ARTIST’S FEE — Mr. Welty estimates this project to cost between eight and fourteen thousand dollars for his fee. His fee varies depending on the complexity of our final rendition of the Mural.
  • INSURANCE for the project.

We are actively seeking business sponsors that can donate the Cherry Picker, Power washer, Paint & Supplies, and Room & Board.  We are spearheading the fundraising for his Fee, and the other project costs like Insurance Coverage.  In addition, we are looking for volunteers, group fundraising competitions, sponsorship with advertising opportunities and general support for the project.

If we can secure the requirements above (as well as the adequate funding), Mr. Welty hopes to have the Evolution of the actual Mural and all preparations completed, in time to tackle this project in May/June, 2018.

May we count on your Financial Support, and Enthusiastic Promotion?

MARSHALL HERITAGE MURAL PROJECT
Brought to you by
GLOBAL FAMILY ALLIANCE (501C(3) under application)

Hagerstown Block Company
Marshall, Virginia

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YACHTS heading south towards Jost Van Dyke for 2017-2018 Season!

Hello,

We are Chris & Debbie Cloud

We lived on the tiny island of Jost Van Dyke for two and a half years, just returning to Virginia in April 2017. 

We were shocked at the devastation visited upon our former home; the home of many of our dearest friends and loved ones.  The British Virgin Islands bore a brunt Very few of us will ever witness.

While Irma was bad enough, the BVI’s (and particularly Jost Van Dyke) were dealt a Second, Life-changing and Catastrophic blow when Hurricane Maria decimated Puerto Rico.  Please understand, I don’t mean to minimize the suffering or tragedy in any other location, including Houston, P.R., or even Saint Thomas.  But hear me out.  When Maria visited annihilation upon Puerto Rico, it served a double whammy upon those lesser islands further down the crucial Caribbean Supply Chain.  Post Maria, precious little if Any relief aid has trickled Past P.R.

I write you today, imploring any of you to consider the following proposition.  Debbie and I are affiliated with the Jost Van Dyke Preservation Society (jvdps.org, a 501c3 in both the BVI’s and America), and International Rescue Group (internationalrescuegroup.org, also a 501c3).  We beseech any cruisers, liveaboard Sailors, or even Mega Yacht Crew; if your itinerary includes the British Virgin Islands, or if you would CONSIDER doglegging over To Jost Van Dyke, we are desperate to find available cubic feet of storage and freight space.  You can join the Reserve group of International Rescue Group or take on a solo journey.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The traditional methods of containers of freight aboard Crowley or Tropical no longer apply, as the bottleneck of shipping at the usual ports prevents OUR supplies reaching OUR loved ones, on the smaller, out of the way (and now, forgotten) island of Jost Van Dyke.  We hear reports that traditional shipping channels and methods may be reopening, but we know there is a Very long backlog of freight, and it will be Months before conventional shipping will be back to normal.  The infrastructure on JVD is decimated—estimates put resumption of municipal power a year out, and the water system has been destroyed.  The island is back to rainwater catchment, at each site of use.

Debbie and I have been blessed with extensive media coverage in the Washington D.C. this past weekend (the weekend of October 28), when we loaded the first of hopefully many boats headed to JVD.  I was first interviewed on WTOP Radio, who aired Thursday and Friday.  This was followed up with in-person and on-air interviews with WUSA Channel 9 (CBS), WJLA Channel 7 (ABC), and NBC Channel 4.  Our next vessel leaving out of Annapolis on around the 15th of November just cancelled due to engine concerns, and we are looking for a new option to ensure the island receive additional supplies.

We would be Most Beholden if you would consider allowing us to rendezvous with you, wherever convenient, to load your vessel to the extent you accept, for delivery to those who are in Life Changing Need of the most basic supplies.  Our organization is Non-Partisan.  Many of the iconic bars and restaurants on JVD are the darlings of very wealthy Americans, are Insured, have set up various GoFundMe Accounts, and have some degree of Resources.  Our efforts are geared to relief aid for the locals, the other islanders, those  without insurance or resources.

You may reach us, Debbie & Chris Cloud, at 571-469-1068, Email at [email protected], or via our Facebook page, JVD United – Global Family Alliance Project.

Thank you, Chris & Debbie Cloud

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Imagine, STILL dealing with this?!

By Chris Cloud

Sadly, Disasters often last FAR longer than our Attention Spans

News cycles are a dubious fact of life these days.  Something Huge happens, something cataclysmic shocks us all, dominates every waking and breathless moment of the 24 hour a day news feeds.  Facebook is flooded with Outrage, moral indignation, armchair quarterbacking, Opinion, and sincere expressions of Empathy.  Then, something ELSE happens.  Something ELSE comes to the breathless forefront of our conscience.  Something ELSE dominates our attention, our Empathy, our relief efforts.

IVAN’s on White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands

Alas, as is so often the case, a disaster outlives the collective conscience, and the relief efforts.  Those left in the aftermath continue to deal with the destruction, death, loss, and discomfort of being displaced, losing everything, burying loved ones.  They then begin to feel the Added sad sorry weariness of being forgotten, feeling left by the wayside.

Such is the case with our precious little island, where until March we had called Home for two and a half years.  Unbelievably, my dear friends and family have had Additional layers of misery added to their misfortune.  Allow me please to explain how the situation on Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands is a sadly unique.

Military arriving at Great Harbour on Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands

The overwhelming majority of goods that finally land in the end consumer’s hand follow a supply chain.  When a tourist on Jost Van Dyke pops the cap off a bottle of suds, that ends a very long journey that bottle has made.  The bottle (and several of it’s friends) was loaded into a pickup truck from the local dock and driven to the bar.  It came across on a small regional ferry from Tortola, where it was trucked from one side of the island to another, after it was brought from Saint Thomas in the USVI aboard another (slightly larger) ferry.  It had arrived in the Freight port on Saint Thomas via an ocean-going freighter that brought it from San Juan on Puerto Rico, where it had arrived aboard another ocean-going freighter from either Houston or Miami.

Now consider the layers and degrees that have conspired to Vex our delightful little Island.  First, Hurricane Irene destroyed the pickup truck that brought the bottle from the dock to the bar.  It destroyed the dock the local ferry landed at.  The storm left the inter-island ferry perched atop the Customs House, upside down.  It destroyed the entire infrastructure on Tortola itself, it destroyed the larger ferry that went from Tortola to Saint Thomas.  The ferry dock and trucking and freight port on Saint Thomas were all damaged or destroyed.

The Virgin Islands (both US and British) were destroyed.  However, at least the SUPPLY chain was not SEVERED.  South Florida and the East Coast could send relief aid via Puerto Rico.  Sadly, Houston was already offline and suffering their own disaster after Hurricane Harvey.

Then, the unthinkable happened, and the Entire Island of Puerto Rico was decimated by Maria.  Our lifeline has been severed.  Harvey had already put a serious hurting on the relief aid LEAVING the States.  Now it is almost impossible to get ANY supplies, as nothing that arrives on Puerto Rico Leaves that island.

We have been in near constant communications (using our FaceBook Page JVD United) with many on the island, as well as some, located in other parts of the Caribbean yet very vested in the wellbeing of Jost Van Dyke.  We have been fortunate enough to be able to generate, nurture and coax some alternative methods of freight delivery to our little community.

One of which is a privately owned 55’ sailing catamaran scheduled to depart Washington D.C. on Saturday the 28th.  They have most graciously offered every spare inch on their boat to carry donated items, to be delivered directly to Jost Van Dyke ten days later!  We are meeting with them to load the vessel the morning of the 28th, and would welcome any additional volunteers to join us in loading, and donations are ALWAYS welcomed!   The fine folks at International Rescue Group (a sort of “Clearing House” of volunteer organizations), have arranged rendezvous of different donations and helpers.

Please feel free to reach out to Debbie or me to discuss arrangements.  The Jost Van Dyke Preservation Society is an Excellent, Devoted, first-class organization, concentrating their efforts and talents on logistical organizations.  There has been an Amazon Wishlist Registry set up, to facilitate donating and to assure our friends and family receive what they REALLY need.   We would be honored to be met by friends and neighbors willing to share in easing the continued (and often worsening) plight of those still struggling with the near complete devastation of that little slice of paradise.

All the Best, Chris and Debbie Cloud

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Challenging Cultural Beliefs & Expanding Perspectives

THE WORLD is changing.  Thus, direction is key.  The burgeoning development presents opportunities for all.  Do you have all the pieces going in the right direction? Those with a sense of responsibility are dedicated to positive-growth and change.  Chris and Debbie understand specific needs and requirements, and as a team find the options out there for you to determine what is the best.

AS A COUPLE over the last five years, Chris and Debbie Cloud have developed a strong reputation as a “Dynamic Duo” capable of moving mountains to make things happen.  Both have come from family owned and operated businesses of Entrepreneurs, thus each understand business, contracts and what it takes to get the job done. 

Chris and his hands on mechanical engineer background, his off-grid experience, and yacht, estate and island management has provided a keen eye for properties, business and people. 

Debbie, with her personal/professional development, systems operational management and direct experience in complicated endeavors  brings her unique abilities to the table.  She has always run family businesses or worked for high-net-worth, individual owners of complicated ventures needing special attention to ensure success.

Together you as a client have a half of century of worldly experience and expertise with the dynamic ability to handle real life, the people involved and the final success.

THE CLOUD DIFFERENCE!

Chris & Debbie Cloud
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Hello world! We are here…

Welcome to our new wild and crazy adventure!

We are shifting our focus on helping one owner on a long term projects down in the islands back to consulting different clients back here at home in Virginia, and remotely around the world.

Chris & I  can take our real world experience from across our country and around the world to share what we have learned  with those needing some direction on how to make their vision happen, improve the current functioning of the property,  off grid system, staff dynamics,  operations, location, business development, personal integrated health, and empowerment.  From one end to the other we have been through some real challenges and have real-life, hands-on solutions.

Key in all things is communication and working together as a team to make things happen.  We will be adding valuable information and options to “tune up” your own project, business or busy life!

Check back.  There will be more to come!

Chris & Debbie Cloud