Removing Barriers to Sport & Community
Phoenix's goal is to expand people’s sober community while creating a safe environment.
People choosing to live a sober lifestyle often find it necessary to make changes to many aspects of their lives, including their socials circles, in order to maintain sobriety. Abrupt changes in lifestyle can lead to loss of support networks, and often cause people to become isolated. Sober people need to make new friends and discover new hobbies and interests, which can be difficult without the aid social lubricant of drugs or alcohol. Recognizing this challenge, PM makes every effort to remove barriers to getting involved with our sober community. We host daily, free events where the only requirement is to be sober. We are very welcoming to new members and encourage our regular members to get to know the new folks. In addition to offering our events at no charge, we also provide all necessary gear (the equipment required for the disciplines we teach is often very expensive and can deter people from taking up various sports, so PM removes these financial barriers to participation). Though we do not charge for membership, we do ask members to sign a Team Member Agreement. Some of the topics covered in this document include: a 48 hour sobriety policy, no tobacco use at PM events, appropriate behavior among team members, appropriate speech, public records checks, etc. (For more information, click on the “Join Phoenix” tab).
Teach the skills and techniques necessary to enjoy our disciplines on your own and build a new identity as a sober athlete in place of a drug addict or alcoholic
PM employs highly trained and skilled instructors who can relate to members on a shared commitment to sobriety and recovery. We host all levels of events ranging in difficulty from beginner to expert. We plan events and lead clinics that increase difficulty in succession in an effort to increase ability and proficiency of those who choose to participate. Our members also have access to discounts and pro deals to make it easier to acquire their own gear should they advance to a point where they no longer want to use “loaner” gear (which of course will always remain available). PM participant find partners of similar ability to enjoy the sport of their choice. We help people to see that there is much more to life than the short-lived thrills or emotional numbness offered by a pill or a bottle.
Ambassador Athlete Program
Phoenix Multisport Ambassador Athletes represent our organization in various disciplines. This program is less about finishing at the top and more about making dreams come true and spreading the mission of Phoenix Multisport. Instead of seeing themselves as alcoholics or addicts, our Ambassadors form new positive identities through participation in sober activity, service work for our organization and commitment to helping others our community to discover their own goals and interests. Ambassador Athletes must adhere to the Team Member Agreement, have a strong presence as a team member and volunteer, be humble, generous, dedicated, responsible, and willing to speak publicly about sobriety and to display a passion for PM’s mission. PM provides our athletes with a race kit, one race entry per season up to $100(depending on level of commitment), employee pricing on PM merchandise, opportunities for subsidized trips when applicable and an invitation to a quarterly lunch with PM’s Director of Operations.
Apprentice Instructor Program
Our goal for members to help them replace their identities as alcoholics and addicts with that of sober athletes and mentors. Because we’re a peer-based organization, our employees are often asked how we became instructors at PM, and we’re happy to share: all of us started out as team members, became involved with the organization, began volunteering and improving our skills, and eventually were brought on as employees. Every instructor at PM has been hired through this process, and there isn’t a more fitting job for someone who is sober and living an active lifestyle. We encourage members to get started down this potential career path, and in some cases, we help individuals work toward certifications necessary to become PM instructors. Potential Apprentice Instructors display the following characteristics: adherence to the Team Member Agreement, a frequent presence as a team member and volunteer, humility, altruism, empathy, dedication, level-headedness, responsibility, and a desire to share their sober experiences and passion for PM’s mission with others. PM provides our apprentice instructors with employee pricing on PM merchandise, opportunities for subsidized trips, access to certain applicable pro deals and an invitation to a quarterly lunch with PM’s Director of Operations.
Volunteer Programs & Opportunities
The Volunteer Program is an essential part of all PM operations. In order to provide daily events free of charge and to continue our expansion in Colorado and the rest of the country, we need a lot of help. PM is funded entirely through grants and individual donations, and volunteering is an extension of this willingness to give. We believe that volunteering and being of service to others is beneficial in working toward the formation of a positive sober identity. Volunteer opportunities are plentiful at PM and might include any of the following: seconding an instructor at active event, helping put together mailings to be sent out, working at an aid station for a race, supporting staff during a multisport trip, prepping for the opening of a new building, cleaning and organizing PM gear, spreading the mission of PM at an outreach event… the list goes on!
Through volunteering, Phoenix members further strengthen not only their own recovery but the recovery of hundreds of others. Volunteerism is highly encouraged both for Phoenix and other community organizations.
The Bob McClusky Fund
Bob McCluskey was a close friend of Phoenix Multisport (PM)'s founder, Scott Strode. Bob's passion for climbing and mountaineering was an inspiration to those around him. More than that, the way he moved through the world was in a caring and supportive way to others. He was a loving father and husband and a dear friend to many. Sadly, Bob lost his battle with cancer in 2005.
In honor of the memory of Bob's life and his love for the mountains, PM has established the Bob McCluskey Fund. This Fund provides grants for PM's sober athletes who aspire to reach new heights in their personal growth through the disciplines that PM members practice.
While the Bob McCluskey Fund primarily focuses on climbers and mountaineers, all athletes may apply. This grant can be used to help offset travel expenses, food or equipment for a trip, or technical training to aid a team member in reaching their sober dreams. A grant from the Bob McCluskey Fund may also be used to cover the cost of one on one guiding or coaching with a PM climbing instructor or coach. We believe the Bob McCluskey Fund helps change our greater community by allowing PM team members to go forth as ambassadors of the sober lifestyle. The Bob McCluskey Fund will allow members without the financial means the opportunity to dream their sober dream whether it’s training for their first 5K or marathon, hiking the Appalachian Trail, or climbing Denali in Alaska. By giving team members this opportunity and by learning of their stories through trip reports, blogs, and photographs, we believe it will send a strong message to the greater community that by living sober, and in a caring, thoughtful way, anything is possible.
If you would like more information on how to apply for a grant from the Bob McCluskey Fund, to request an policy/application form, or to donate to the fund, please contact PM at (303) 440-0547 or email Rob Baumgartner (rob@phoenixmultisport.org).
Applying for a Bob McCluskey Fund grant:
Who Can Apply:
- PM Team Members who have been active team members for a minimum of one year.
- Applicants must have one year of uninterrupted sobriety.
Process for applying:
- Request Application from the Phoenix Multisport Office.
- Submit application via email by the application deadline of May 31st
- Applications will be reviewed by the Bob McCluskey Fund Committee.
- Applicants will be notified by email of the Committee's decision within two weeks of the application deadline.