This week, Jeremy and John spent time upgrading our trailer to better match the kind of work we actually do. Hauling fire log sized wood sounds simple until you remember the trailer came with wide factory gaps that were not exactly designed for debris operations at highway speed.

So they fixed it.

D ring anchors were installed. Expanded metal was added to tighten up those openings. The goal was straightforward: reduce movement, reduce risk, and make sure nothing decides to exit at 70 miles per hour. That has not happened to us, and the point is to keep it that way.

Some improvements are not flashy. But, they are the difference between good enough and field ready.

Jeremy’s background as an auto mechanic, combined with the brain of an engineer, continues to pay dividends for Grounded Boots Relief. He does not just repair equipment. He thinks about longevity, durability, and how to make what we already own work harder and last longer. He has ideas, and they are strategic.

And if you remember, this is the same trailer Jack upgraded with new taillights. Between Jack, Jeremy, and John, this trailer is evolving into something far more capable than what rolled off the lot. Not because it looks impressive, but because it performs that way.

The Grounded Gazette has been landing in inboxes weekly for about a year now, which is wild to say out loud. The subscriber list keeps growing, and that is not something we take lightly.

We also recognize something else. Weekly is a lot. Even when the content is strong, inbox fatigue is real. And yes, the founder still writes this thing in third person while juggling a few too many hats. Ironically, as more capable people step into leadership roles and lighten that load, the need for sharper focus has increased. Growth demands clarity.

With that in mind, we are considering shifting the Gazette to a biweekly format. Not because we lack stories. Quite the opposite. The goal is to make each edition more intentional, more distilled, and more impactful. Fewer emails. Stronger signal.

As always, you can reply directly and tell us what you think. We are proud of the readership, the click rates, and the engagement this publication has built. The objective now is to maintain that momentum while raising the bar on substance and focus.

  

The average email open rate across industries
typically hovers between 20 and 25 percent. 
That means most organizations are lucky if one out of four subscribers even opens the message. The Grounded Gazette is currently sitting at a 53 percent open rate. That is more than double the typical benchmark. In a world drowning in inbox noise, more than half of our readers are choosing to open.
Source: thesocialshepherd.com

I have been thinking a lot about fit. Not everyone is meant to do everything. That is not a flaw in the least. But, when someone lands in the right role, you can feel it. The energy changes. The work sharpens. That is what I am seeing right now inside Grounded Boots Relief.

We are still a small operation. But the people stepping forward lately are genuinely impressive. The kind of impressive that makes you pause. We have folks who light up when talking about spreadsheets. Others who come alive around engines, trailers, gear. And instead of trying to squeeze them into something generic, we are letting them build inside their strengths.

I talk about our volunteers a lot in these notes. That is not accidental. I am proud of them. When someone raises their hand and says, “This is what I am good at,” and then actually delivers, that is the foundation of a durable organization.

On the tech side, I have been following the chatter about Discord changing hands. It has become a strong coordination tool for us. I would be lying if I said I would not be disappointed to lose what we have built there. But platforms are secondary. The mission is not. If we need to pivot due to policy changes, we will.

And one practical note. We are looking for two bartenders for benefits in Hendersonville on February 27 and March 7, with a possible third event still in discussion. If you have that skill set and want to serve in a different way, we would be glad to have you.

The organization is growing. Not loudly. Not recklessly. Just steadily. The right people, in the right places, doing work they actually care about. That is the kind of growth that lasts.