It’s not unusual to find Michael McMeel on the road, launching new ICS programs or visiting existing ICS locations throughout the United States. All that will change a bit on May 18-20, 2012 when you will find Michael at home in New Tazewell Tennessee, kicking of the 2012 ICS – New Tazewell Program.
“I’ve been holding ICS events at my own facilities in California and in Tennessee for 20+ years and it’s always great doing this in my own community. Lately ICS has been enjoying significant expansion so I’ve been extremely busy getting new locations up and running and visiting our existing locations throughout the US. I’m excited to be home for a bit in May and kick off our 2012 ICS – Tennessee program and I have to say this is going to be an incredible event! We’re planning a “Western Soiree’” on May 18th and there just might be a bit of music involved in that.” he chuckled. “We’re going to spend the next two days working with some amazing & deserving kids. I’m also very excited that many of our ICS Teams from across the US are planning on joining us in Tennessee that weekend. It’s going to be a huge family reunion AND we get to help some great kids…it just doesn’t get any better than that!” McMeel continued.
For additional information on joining the FUN in Tennessee OR to find out more about bringing ICS to your area, please contact us!
Inner City Slickers kicks off in Bell City, Louisiana this weekend (Jan 21-22) and we are BEYOND excited!
Rene’ Mudd, our ICS Representative in Bell City has done an incredible job coordinating this event….we are so lucky to have Rene’ on our ICS Team. We would like to say a special “Thank You” to Rene’ and her ICS Team which includes Peggy-Sue & Matt McCloskey (ICS Team in St Louis, MO), Pam Markovitz (ICS Team – Venice, CA), Jennifer Broome (ICS – New Orleans, LA) and all the wranglers, volunteers and sponsors who have contributed to this amazing event!
Pictures and updates from Louisiana will be be posted as soon as possible. In the meantime, NBC Affiliate KPLC did an outstanding story on Rene’ and her ICS program and you can check it out below.
As Rene’ would say, “WE’RE ALL JACKED UP” and we look forward to making a difference in the lives of the kids, and adults in Bell City!
We are so excited to WELCOME you to the official launch of our new website!
It goes without saying that a great deal of time and effort has gone into this site and while there are several areas that are still being worked on and updated, a majority of the content is here and we hope you find it useful, informative and exciting!
Websites in general are a work-in-progress and our website is no exception. We have some great new features and additional resources that we will be adding in 2012 such as Podcasts, Internet TV, an online General Store and so much more. These resources will provide us with additional opportunities and the funds to expand and enhance our presence and further impact the lives of the children we work with.
We hope you’ll check in with us frequently to see what’s new, learn more about the children we serve and find out how you can get involved and make a difference in the life of a child. And change your life in the process.
Michael
I’ve been home from the Cowgirl Christmas for several hours and am still struggling to find the right words to explain tonight. I’m going to tell you about several of the girls and hope it’ll help describe what I’m feeling…sorry in advance….this will be long.
When I hugged Cynthia tonight, I wondered if she had any idea that I have thought about her and wondered how she was doing, every single day since October? I teared up every time she hugged me tonight and they were good tears. She didn’t know how her amazing smile, brightened MY spirit today. I’m delighted to say that Cynthia and I will be spending lots more time together in the future…if you share the same name, it’s mandatory!
And then there was Alexis who in a quiet moment she and I had together in October told me she liked working with clay but didn’t have access to any. I remembered that she didn’t smile a lot that day but I was a stranger to her so I understood that. I made sure she got clay…to me that was a simple request and an artist needs what they need after all! Tonight…she brought a clay project she’d made in the third grade to show me and she thanked me for giving her clay…and she smiled, a lot. She reminded me that anything we do, makes a difference…even something as the simple act of supplying clay. I loved seeing her smile, laughing and having a good time…
Since our October event, Audrey’s been volunteering at our barn and my family and I have had the opportunity to spend more and more time with her the past few weeks. Audrey is exceptional in so many ways and I’m not sure she knows that yet….but she’s learning. She has seen more and experienced more than most of us can imagine but she smiles and puts one foot in front of the other and keeps moving forward. I remember thinking Audrey was tenacious and fearless when I first met her in October and she is….but she’s also courageous, warm and loving. I hope she truly gets that.
I met Hillary for the first time tonight and she is soft spoken, eloquent, beautiful eyes, polite and a passion for horses. She told me she is volunteering at a riding facility but they won’t let her ride and she really wants a career with horses. In fact, she’s already looked into where she wants to go to college to do that. She doesn’t want a million dollars, a new car or anything else…she just wants to ride. So Guess WHAT? Hillary’s going to ride with ME. Sometimes you just need someone to believe in you and your dream and I’m going to be that someone for Hillary. She deserves having someone in her corner, fighting & caring for her & her dreams. That’ll be me from here on out.
I told Michael tonight was the best Christmas present EVER and I mean that. Seeing the girls again was AWESOME in itself but seeing them laughing and happy and having HOPE was almost indescribable. This what ICS does…it gives HOPE and builds TRUST and how amazing is it that we can all be a part of that? When you change the life of a child, you change too. Tonight I got to see some of the benefits of the work we do thru ICS. It’s an amazing thing we’re all a part of…and so many mazing things are to come!
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