Quote
This article relies on references to primary sources. Please add references to secondary or tertiary sources. (July 2010)
Men's Divisions International (MDI) is a mutual benefit not-for-profit organization that has been active in the United States and Canada since 2000. The organization's focuses are on the strengths and sorrows its men face, friends, families, work places, and communities.[3]
Contents
1 History
2 Structure and Organization
3 Activities
4 References
5 External links
[edit] History
MDI was formed in 2000 by a group of men who no longer wished to participate in the Sterling Institute of Relationship. As a result of this, these men decided to create an independent, non-profit organization.[4]
The organization sprouted from the work of several men. Through a series of in-person meetings across North America and scores of conference calls about twenty men engaged in the process of forming MDI over a two-year period from 1998 to 2000. The organization was originally called Men’s Divisions International. The intent of these men was to provide others with the inspiration and support to win in their lives.[5] Up to this day, the organization has grown to over 1000 members. The purpose of MDI is to cause greatness by mentoring men to live with excellence and as mature masculine leaders create successful families, careers and communities.
[edit] Structure and Organization
The basic unit in MDI is a Men's Team, a relatively small group of men who meet on a regular, usually weekly, basis. The Teams are grouped in Divisions, and the Divisions are grouped in Regions. There are currently seven regions in MDI: Eastern Canada, New England, the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Southwest, the Western region and Western Canada.[6]
[edit] Activities
In addition to weekly meetings, the teams and divisions within MDI often engage in community service activities in their communities. For example, in 2004, men from the Southwestern region of MDI worked to beautify a children's emergency shelter in Long Beach, California.[7]
MDI has created a weekend for men called the Legacy Discovery that provides men the opportunity to undertake a personal journey that celebrates the strength, wisdom, insight and purpose each man carries throughout their life and throughout this world. It is an exploration of the collective wisdom of men that includes each man's own unique and valuable wisdom. It is a voyage that is designed to lead men to a deep understanding of the man they are, and is intended to awaken the power and determination to be the man their legacy demands.
The Legacy Discovery seeks to accomplish this by assisting men to look deeply within themselves to see where they stand with leadership, success, relationships with women, marriage, fathering, and personal goals. The end result is to ultimately lead men to realize their own purpose and mission in life. These weekends are offered throughout the year throughout North America. More information can be found at [www.legacydiscovery.com].
On the first Sunday of every December, the Veterans Department of Voluntary Services, VA VGLA, Men’s Divisions International, along with over 500 volunteers and local businesses, come together as one. This union of men and women helps maintain memorable meals, gifts, and entertainment, as well as much needed appreciation.[8]
The men of Men's Divisions International are regular volunteers for Big Sunday which is the largest annual citywide community service event in America. These men work along side with volunteers of every age to help hundreds of nonprofits, schools and other agencies.[9]
During the second week of October MDI holds its annual convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. The convention includes dozens of seminars on a variety of issues from leadership, family, money, community building and relationship. The convention is open to any man. The 2011 Annual MDI Convention will be held at the Rio All Suites Hotel on October 21–24. Future Conventions will be held at the Rio October 11–15, 2012 and October 3–7, 2013.
[edit] References
^ [www.mensdivisionsinternational.com].
^ [www.mdisuccess.com].
^ [www.mensdivisionsinternational.com].
^ [www.mdisuccess.com]
^ [www.mdisuccess.com]
^ [www.mdisuccess.com]
^ [articles.latimes.com]
^ [forums.military.com]
^ [www.bigsunday.org]
[edit] External links
MDI Home Page
Greg Tennant's men's team parody
Quote
A description from a dating website. The author and a date were in a park and stumbled upon an MDI event. Seemed to respect it.
[datinglatonyc.com]
Date #6? App-guy and the MDI… | datinglatonycJun 9, 2011 ... App-guy and the MDI… ... Is it a cult? ... “Men empowerment groups, for all I know”, I chuckled, “but you seems to be producing ...
datinglatonyc.com/2011/06/09/date-6-app-guy-and-the-dmi…/ - 39k - Cached - Similar pages
Quote
We met at 67th and CPW and with basket in one arm and 2 bottles of wine in the other, he greeted me with a huge smile. His face was long, very long and his brow sweaty.
We walked to a clearing nestled between trees overlooking a lake with row boats strewn about. He’s from the Bay area and came out here for college and just stayed. We sipped white wine, ate hummus, mozzarella and some of the best chocolate soft cookies I had in a very long time.
On the double blanket he brought as to keep us dry from any impeding moisture coming from beneath, we were captivated by a men’s group gathering a few trees over.
Encircled they chanted.. “I am a fucking jerk! I am a fucking jerk!” over and over after an almost spoken word poetry jam with mostly 30’s white men.
Is it a cult? A men’s empowerment group? Standing around a single candle burning in silent prayer?
Bowing to their God?
The “producer” and I are fascinated by their vigor! Is there a second chapter that has come to join or are they in hopes of being recognized?
We talked about theater, well he talked about theater and his adventures in producing. He has developed an App for women and is working on getting it out to the public so women can use it to find out their “color chart”.
.....(deleted for brevity). So… “App-guy” and I pack it in after dark as the inquisition was growing.
Quickly the blankets were folded and trash gathered up as the “man-cult” appeared to be coming to an end and we had to find out what was going on.
We skulked toward the group as to not interrupt their flow. Quietly we lurched over until there was a break in the pack.
I sidestepped politely over to them and complimented their intention.
“You seem to be doing a good thing here” I smiled. “I’m not sure what you are doing exactly but it seems it’s for the greater good, I continued. “ The App-guy, waiting a few steps back until the coast was clear.
One of the 2 said few words and abruptly returned to the group as if we had intruded on his secret, the other stayed back to acknowledge us and the work that his group are doing here once a month with regular weekly meetings or smaller more concentrated gatherings. “Men empowerment groups, for all I know it might be a cult”, I chuckled, “but you seems to be producing some great results”.
The guy agreed and said that Producer-guy might want to look into it. He gave us a website.. MDIsuccess.com and we were on our way still awe-struck by the thought.
Well, it makes sense I guess, that women are more likely joining other women to empower themselves or to find play-dates, relationship advice, group therapy, etc.. so I’m proud that there are groups out there for men. Well, proud might not be the correct word but fulfillediness was the feeling. Glad to know that there are groups out there for men and that some are even taking advantage of them
Quote
Most men and most women have learned feminine roles thoroughly. Women do engage in a lot of masculine practices. Women don’t seem to have any problem integrating both roles without thought.
But men who don’t learn masculine behaviors thoroughly (and these are not taught in school) and who engage unthinking in feminine behavior are but pale shadows of who they could be as men.
Quote
You may be feminized if . . .
(collected wisdom from many men – send us more)
You think learning an arcane language just to order a damn cup of coffee is engaging(auto parts, stereos, computers, are ok!)
Quote
You think that you’re not feminized
You find yourself thinking ‘maybe she’s right’
Quote
You don’t have a place on this planet (a den, cave, sanctum sanctorum) that is absolute, inviolate, and your own, and she knows it and honors it
Quote
You find this web site exasperating or disgusting
Quote
You may be feminized if... - MDI Southwest RegionJul 28, 2011 ... You may be feminized if . . . (collected wisdom from many men) ...you think
learning an arcane language just to order a damn cup of coffee is ...
swr.nationbuilder.com/you_may_be_feminized_if - 25k - Cached - Similar pages
Ron Robinson at MDI Southwest RegionMDI Southwest Region. Optional email .... Ron Robinson published You may be
feminized if... in No Contradiction - Pure Mettle 2011-07-28 19:39:39 -0700 ...
swr.nationbuilder.com/watchcenter - 92k - Cached - Similar pages
No Contradiction - Pure Mettle - MDI Southwest RegionJul 28, 2011 ... MDI Southwest Region. Optional email code ... The Pit, The Forge, The Heart ·
You May Be Feminized If... Unstoppable.
swr.nationbuilder.com/no_contradiction_pure_mettle - 21k - Cached - Similar pages