Fueled by Inspiration
By Mike Wear, PCI #516T-B/EMSCI #059T-B
Metropolitan (DC) Police Department
IPMBA Education Director
A year has passed since the last Board issue of IPMBA News. I am very excited that I have the privilege of continuing as IPMBA’s Education Director and look forward to another great year. The clock is spinning forward towards the 2017 IPMBA Conference. There will be much to experience as we embark on our newest adventure as the “First Freshman College Campus Conference Class”…but that is a story for another day. You will just have to make plans to be with us in June to experience whatever “shenanigans” we partake in…
Yes, the clock is spinning forward for each of us. We have seen many members move to various specialized assignments, up their organization’s promotional ranks, and through IPMBA, accepting challenges such as becoming a New Instructor or adding certifications, such as Bicycle Response Team Instructor. Some have even leapt forward to become an Instructor Trainers! I would like to congratulate all of you on your personal and professional accomplishments and advancements, and wish you great success in each endeavor.
Before we go too much further, take a minute to ask yourself three questions:
- “What inspires me?”
- “What fuels my personal growth?”
- “What gets my blood pumping?”
I have a major goal for our organization and hope you will join me as we pedal forward, clearing a few obstacles along the way. My goal is simple enough: continue to offer “World Class Training and Resources for Public Safety Cyclists!” Simple, right? I believe it can be, but first I need to know: what inspires YOU?
As for me, I love the concept of being very good, successful, or just plain good at something. You may find this hard to believe, but that doesn’t come easily to me. No, seriously, I have to work hard at what I do, and, unfortunately, I have to keep working hard to hold onto what I “got.” What inspires me is using the leadership traits of helping others get to a place they could not get without assistance. Watching one of my troop’s Boy Scouts learn a new skill, helping a budding police cyclist conquer the 9’ Slow Box, guiding a rookie through a tough situation, or offering a peer useful problem-solving advice inspire me. It makes me feel good inside and inspires me to strive to help another one…and another one…and another one. Maybe that’s why I enjoy the educational path and have increased my involvement in this aspect of IPMBA.
For some of our members, becoming an instructor is the path to follow as they, too, lead new and current members to places they would not get to without guidance. But perhaps you are inspired by developing new technology, the creation of new products, or something I haven’t thought of. My point is we need to know what inspires you and prompts you to help IPMBA grow. IPMBA’s most valuable resource is YOU.
Every year there is something new in the bike industry: 29-ers, fat tires, plus bikes, flat pedals, saddles, carrying options, etc. As a training organization, we have a responsibility to explore and research the possible applications for public safety. Our membership numbers may not necessarily increase dramatically every year (though that would be nice), but we do promote personal and professional growth, and gaining information and skills that will make us better at our “Calling”.
No, not our jobs. Jobs are what “regular” people do. We are not regular people; we are public safety professionals, and we answer a “Calling”. I don’t know what makes us run into burning buildings, sprint towards the sound of gunshots or stop in the middle of a busy highway to render aid, but I do know that all of you reading this do those things and more. You have what seems at times to be an inexplicable desire to serve your fellow mankind, and to do so, become better at your given discipline.
So what does IPMBA and/or the IPMBA Conference offer that energizes your growth as a public safety cyclist? If it’s the beer and food at the conference hospitality suite, I’m there for you even if the host comes a little late. (Note to future conference hosts: do not allow Mike to distribute the beer. Sorry, Asheville!) Is it the interaction with men and women who have answered the same calling? What…What is it? What inspires you to grow as a public safety professional?
We need your input to determine what will keep our training truly world-class. On the education side, I have far more questions than answers. They say “with age we gain wisdom”, and I have discovered that I’m not the “answer man”. What I have become is “the guy who knows the guy”. IPMBA men and women, you are “that guy”. You inspire me and thousands like me to continue teaching, gathering, and sharing new information, but we need your support to grow.
You are the practitioners of our craft and we need to hear from you. Whether you contribute a blog posting, write an article or product review, teach a class, or introduce a new workshop at a future conference, we look to you to become “Fueled by Inspiration”.
Mike is a 24-year veteran of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington DC. He was one of the first members of the MPD Mountain Bike Unit in 1992 and was on the first Civil Disturbance Squad on July 4, 1995. In 1997, he became the first city-wide mountain bike coordinator and training supervisor. He discovered IPMBA in 1998 and has been a dedicated member ever since. Employing his experience and knowledge into the professional cycle training offered by IPMBA enabled him to be certified as an Instructor in 2001 and an Instructor Trainer in 2008. He also teaches EVOC, MC, Segway, firearms, marksmanship, CIO, patrol rifle, and CDU. His motto is, “Ride Hard, Ride Safe, and Thanks for Coming Out!” He can be reached at sgtwear@msn.com.
Photo courtesy Mike Wear.
(c) 2016 IPMBA. This article appeared in the Fall 2016 Issue of IPMBA News.