JANUARY 2020
Hello Everyone,
Welcome to 2020. I wanted to take a few minutes to share updated information about what has been going on at ONI this past year and where we are going in the coming year. 2019 was an exciting year for us. We have worked very hard to continue to expand our sphere of influence. By meeting the needs of others we continue to impact people's lives through our faith in God and the platform of the outdoor sports. Last year we continued to develop creative ways to reach out to individuals, groups, and organizations. Our venues in Alaska and Montana have been great tools to help us facilitate our mission. We have now seen a head count of over 500 people experience Alaska and hundreds of vets and kids at our Montana location. We have also worked in other places both locally and other states.
In the spring of 2019 we put out a plea to raise funds to build a new shop and staff building. I am happy to report that the building is now a reality. It still needs some finishing, but all materials are on site and paid for, thanks to folks like you. Our plan is to finish with our work crew in May.
We also hosted two prayer breakfasts last year with for SCI and Grand Slam Club Ovis. We hosted our first wedding at Miracle Bay and continued to bless families with the adventures of Alaska. Marriage enrichment has also been a focal point of impacting people. We have found there is tremendous need in this area and Miracle Bay has become a great place to address these issues.
We continue to develop our relationships with vet organizations . Honored American Veterans Afield was selected last year to receive THE SPIRIT OF HOPE award. This award is named after Bob Hope and is the highest award given to a civilian non-profit by the Department of Defense of the US. Good Job HAVA!!! Our friends at Magpul have continued to help us. They have just released a video and letter describing the experiences during our Montana fall hunts. This can be seen at Magpul.com. [Cold Weather Classroom, Magpul Montana]. We have also begun a new relationship with another vet group called The United States of Hope.This group focuses on assimilating vets back into society after their military service. We are honored to work with these groups to continue to meet needs in the veteran community.
Going into 2020 our main building focus will be on installing our new dock system at Miracle Bay. We have sent the first $15000 to get it started. The project will cost $60000 total. If you have a desire to help us, this is where the need is for 2020. This dock system is vital as the last piece to make Miracle Bay function at full capacity. It allows us to be able to accommodate people from all walks of life. Regardless of age or physical ability. We also have received a $10000 designated gift to begin building cabins at our Montana location. Our hope is to construct four cabins to address special physical needs.
We at ONI are very grateful for God's provision and protection. We are debt free and are blessed with some amazing assets. Looking at the coming year we are excited to see God work. We can do nothing without him and we rely on your continued support to fulfill our mission. God Bless
Pursuing Maximum Impact
Bill
Welcome to 2020. I wanted to take a few minutes to share updated information about what has been going on at ONI this past year and where we are going in the coming year. 2019 was an exciting year for us. We have worked very hard to continue to expand our sphere of influence. By meeting the needs of others we continue to impact people's lives through our faith in God and the platform of the outdoor sports. Last year we continued to develop creative ways to reach out to individuals, groups, and organizations. Our venues in Alaska and Montana have been great tools to help us facilitate our mission. We have now seen a head count of over 500 people experience Alaska and hundreds of vets and kids at our Montana location. We have also worked in other places both locally and other states.
In the spring of 2019 we put out a plea to raise funds to build a new shop and staff building. I am happy to report that the building is now a reality. It still needs some finishing, but all materials are on site and paid for, thanks to folks like you. Our plan is to finish with our work crew in May.
We also hosted two prayer breakfasts last year with for SCI and Grand Slam Club Ovis. We hosted our first wedding at Miracle Bay and continued to bless families with the adventures of Alaska. Marriage enrichment has also been a focal point of impacting people. We have found there is tremendous need in this area and Miracle Bay has become a great place to address these issues.
We continue to develop our relationships with vet organizations . Honored American Veterans Afield was selected last year to receive THE SPIRIT OF HOPE award. This award is named after Bob Hope and is the highest award given to a civilian non-profit by the Department of Defense of the US. Good Job HAVA!!! Our friends at Magpul have continued to help us. They have just released a video and letter describing the experiences during our Montana fall hunts. This can be seen at Magpul.com. [Cold Weather Classroom, Magpul Montana]. We have also begun a new relationship with another vet group called The United States of Hope.This group focuses on assimilating vets back into society after their military service. We are honored to work with these groups to continue to meet needs in the veteran community.
Going into 2020 our main building focus will be on installing our new dock system at Miracle Bay. We have sent the first $15000 to get it started. The project will cost $60000 total. If you have a desire to help us, this is where the need is for 2020. This dock system is vital as the last piece to make Miracle Bay function at full capacity. It allows us to be able to accommodate people from all walks of life. Regardless of age or physical ability. We also have received a $10000 designated gift to begin building cabins at our Montana location. Our hope is to construct four cabins to address special physical needs.
We at ONI are very grateful for God's provision and protection. We are debt free and are blessed with some amazing assets. Looking at the coming year we are excited to see God work. We can do nothing without him and we rely on your continued support to fulfill our mission. God Bless
Pursuing Maximum Impact
Bill
SUMMER 2018
I am sending out this letter to update folks on the latest information regarding the Outdoors Network International and Miracle Bay in Coffman Cove, Alaska. As supporters of our organization in the past we want to reach out and let you know some of the exciting things that have transpired in the last couple of years as we continue to impact the lives of kids, veterans, couples and people of all walks of life.
Through our locations in Alaska, Montana and Texas we have been able to bless people with life changing experiences through the platform of the outdoor sports and the Godly influence that we bring to meet the needs of people. We have been privileged to work with terminal and at risk kids, wounded vets and their families, couples and families in general. Just at Miracle Bay we have seen over 300 people from 25 states live their dream of coming to Alaska.
Over the last 20 years in Montana we have seen hundreds of kids impacted through our youth hunts. We have now expanded this experience by bringing wounded vets to our camps to help mentor the kids by sharing their life experiences. This also provides purpose and meaning to these vets that have sacrificed so much….a win-win for everyone. In December we will be hosting our first veteran’s event in Texas. A 5600 acre ranch has been opened to us for this purpose.
As I write this letter I have just returned from Alaska after hosting several families and even a young couple that came to honeymoon. I return in a few days where we will host a couples retreat for a week of marriage enrichment.
We continue to work with other non-profits to create maximum impact. People like Benefit 4 Kids, Honored American Veterans Afield, Son Safaris, SCI and Grand Slam Club Ovis. These relationships are driven by the idea that we can always accomplish more working together than any one of us can ever accomplish alone.
Like all non-profits we need resources to do what we do. At the Outdoors Network we have two projects that we are raising funds for. Both are in Alaska at Miracle Bay.
Bill Von Lanken
Through our locations in Alaska, Montana and Texas we have been able to bless people with life changing experiences through the platform of the outdoor sports and the Godly influence that we bring to meet the needs of people. We have been privileged to work with terminal and at risk kids, wounded vets and their families, couples and families in general. Just at Miracle Bay we have seen over 300 people from 25 states live their dream of coming to Alaska.
Over the last 20 years in Montana we have seen hundreds of kids impacted through our youth hunts. We have now expanded this experience by bringing wounded vets to our camps to help mentor the kids by sharing their life experiences. This also provides purpose and meaning to these vets that have sacrificed so much….a win-win for everyone. In December we will be hosting our first veteran’s event in Texas. A 5600 acre ranch has been opened to us for this purpose.
As I write this letter I have just returned from Alaska after hosting several families and even a young couple that came to honeymoon. I return in a few days where we will host a couples retreat for a week of marriage enrichment.
We continue to work with other non-profits to create maximum impact. People like Benefit 4 Kids, Honored American Veterans Afield, Son Safaris, SCI and Grand Slam Club Ovis. These relationships are driven by the idea that we can always accomplish more working together than any one of us can ever accomplish alone.
Like all non-profits we need resources to do what we do. At the Outdoors Network we have two projects that we are raising funds for. Both are in Alaska at Miracle Bay.
- We are getting ready to build a 40’x45’ building that will serve as our shop and storage for all our equipment at Miracle Bay. It will also provide 3 apartments for staff. The cost estimate for all the materials etc. is $30,000. We will build it with volunteer labor and have already cleared the site. We have also cut the logs and had them converted into lumber for framing. The completion of this project will also allow us to convert the current tool shed into a laundry room for Miracle Bay.
- We need to pay for a 225 Horse Honda Motor for our 24’ aluminum work boat. This boat is used to transport people and materials to and from our island. After three years of searching, we were able to secure this motor, but need to raise the funds to pay for it. The cost of the motor is $8000.
Bill Von Lanken
