Survivor Fund Launches Experienced Owners Group
The following is an edited press release from the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum:
The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum (ITRHFM) Survivor Fund announced a new benefit available to those experiencing the tragedy of losing someone in the line of service. The new Experienced Owners Group (EoG) will allow company owners the opportunity to seek guidance from someone who has gone through a similar tragedy. The Experienced Owners Group aims to provide support for company owners dealing with the ramifications of losing an employee on the job.
For over 10 years, the Survivor Fund has provided financial assistance to families in their time of need when on-the-job tragedies occur. Now, the Survivor Fund is branching out to focus on another type of survivor, the company owner. There are many challenges faced by company owners when an operator is killed on the job. The Survivor Fund does not have all the answers, but we do have a powerful list of owners who have been in this position and are willing to speak to anyone with a similar need.
The EoG is made up of towing and road service industry company owners who have had an on-the-job death and are willing to speak to others going through a similar loss. These owners will be neither competitors nor a legal team. The museum, the Survivor Fund and our Experienced Owners Group are not able to provide answers to legal questions, but can provide moral support and help with information about how others may have dealt with their own business tragedy.
“The Experienced Owners Group has been in development for several years. During the last year we have seen an increased need and have been told by those involved in the tragedies that this service would be of great benefit,” stated Jeffrey Godwin, co-chairman of the ITRHFM Survivor Fund/Wall of the Fallen Committee. “As we begin to roll out a few new Survivor Fund benefits in 2019, supporting all survivors is our focus.”
The process is simple. Today, when a tragedy occurs, the assigned regional representative from the Survivor Fund Committee proactively reaches out to the company to offer the assistance of the fund and information about the Wall of the Fallen. Going forward, the information also will include how to participate in the EoG. The rep will try to match the owner with a current tragedy to another who has had a similar incident, when possible. The committee member will also contact the experienced owner being selected to notify them of the need. Both parties will receive an introduction email along with the case information as provided to the Survivor Fund. Once the introduction is made, all communications are direct between the parties; the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum and its Survivor Fund no longer will be involved in the interactions.
Please note that none of the ITRHFM, the ITRHFM Survivor Fund, the Experienced Owners Group or the persons involved in these groups will provide legal advice. If legal advice is required, the inquirer will be steered toward an attorney or other legal professional.
To learn more about the Experienced Owners Group, contact Jeffrey Godwin at jeffreygodwin@gmail.com. An inquiry/sign up form will be added to the museum website in the Survivor Fund section in coming weeks. If you have experienced an on-the-job loss of an employee, please sign-up, get the talking points and serve your fellow towers.