When I first found out that the Gold 4 Laugh Track was headed to the much stereotyped state of Arkansas, I couldn't help but be a little skeptical. From the state that gave us Clinton, redneck jokes, a state college whose mascot is the razorback (a nasty-looking, feral pig), I had my own personal misgivings. How would Gold 4 respond to the news that their first step down the road of AmeriCorps like would be in the state many refer to as the armpit of America? I told the gang in a darkened restaurant, flipping them a "little rock" until they figured out where they were headed. Vibes were good and we counted the days of CTI until the day we would first lay eyes on Pinnacle.
The day came and it was well worth the wait. Pinnacle is more than a mountain in Arkansas for Gold 4; it is a memory made indelible by the vast, wonderful experiences we all shared on its rocky cliffs. It almost feels like a silver-lining cloud followed us the entire time, ensuring that all of us would never forget this experience or the amazing people we encountered, two especially.
Who would have thought that these two country boys would leave such a huge impact on all of us? Jim & Chris proved to be a lot more than just project sponsors. Words like mentor, "good buddy", father-figure, come to mind when we conjure up their faces in our minds. They taught us a whole hell of a lot more than just how to lay rocks in a trail bed. They gave us a myriad of life lessons in subtle ways, helped us push our limits my challenging us to get out of our comfort zones, inspired us with their hard work and dedication and most importantly for Gold 4, made us laugh. I can't imagine this project without both of these great men and I am forever thankful that we met them so early in our journey. They helped provide a wonderful environment for all of us to come together as a team and this TL is eternally grateful for that.