I tell people, and it is true, that managing the entire situation with Ryan is every bit like running a business. It is so much so, that I actually created a business, Ryan’s Rally LLC, to do this. People need look no further than this website as proof that what I do is professional. There are just so many miniscule aspects to what needs done. There’s financial, medical and therapeutic, administrative, events and fundraisers, legal, public relations, and the list goes on. These aspect often don’t occur in isolation and seem to always intermingle with others. This is what I mean, in one respect, when I talk about “competing objectives”.
My approach is, and since the day of the attack has been, to make all decisions objectively. I call this “stepping outside of myself”. Some of you might remember me writing about this before.
I put my anger, passion, and all other emotions aside when considering the consequences. It’s essential that I do this and so far (at least) I have succeeded. If I were to make decisions as only a father, well, that would not work out well… for me, Ryan, my family, and others who are connected to these circumstances. That’s not to say my “fatherly” instincts don’t kick in. They do. Oh, how many nights have I cried for my son? But never in making decisions. I describe it like this, “I make objective decisions and advance them with the passion of a father”.
It’s a practical way of handling the carnage and the debris strewn out in all directions from it. For me, it is also a coping mechanism, I suppose. It avails itself to good, unbiased decision-making that is packaged as a dad. I used this first when Ryan’s life was in peril on the morning of the attack. I used it when I was told the name of Ryan’s attackers. How easy and understandable would it have been for me to impose fatherly justice? I didn’t though.
I kept my head and made an objective decision.
This business approach suits me (and my wife, Sue) fine. Really, it’s our sweet spot; having the advanced education and practical experience to hold up as irrefutable credentials. For example, how many people know that “Ryan’s Rally: We Got This!” (and all variations) is a trademark I claimed through the LLC? The LLC also invokes copyright protection for all content posted on this, and many other, websites and distribution channels.
Along these same lines, I have branded Ryan’s Rally.
The next step in further branding was to get a logo in place. I had a vision in my mind of what I wanted it to look like. I wanted it to be simple, easily recognizable, yet personal to Ryan. I shared this vision with a graphic designer (that I actually used when I ran another operation before the attack), Maria Madigan, and she brought it to life. It was EXACTLY what I had in mind. So, here is the the unveiling of Ryan’s Rally logo:
Ryan’s Raly Logo
It is the actual profile of Ryan’s head… complete with bow tie! It uses WVU colors since he loved that school so much.
love the logo…….i ll run wally s affairs like a business,too….except,i m too emotional…..i will strive to be less so
Love the bow tie!
Agree with Anna, no magnets on my car nor stickers sorry
What about a t shirt?
Awesome, loving this! I am not a car magnet person can you do square window stickers too? Can’t wait to drive around the Bethany/Dewey Beach area with it this summer, hope the DE folks will remember the story when they see it.
prayers prayers prayers
Love the logo Ken – the blue and gold and the bowtie! Let’s get the car magnets on every WVU student car too!
Ken, Being the forward thinker that you are, you may have thought of potentially making a Magnet for Cars of the Logo already! I just emailed you some “GUESTIMATIONS” that I researched…
LOVE THE BOW TIE…I CAN DEFINITELY SEE RYAN’S SILLOUETTE IN THE LOGO!!
What an amazing logo! Love it! I love the car magnet idea! I would put it right beside of my WVU logo on the back of my car! 🙂
Love this, love the car magnet idea, Rita! Wow. Congrats on a great logo. This rocks!!!
Enough people have said it to convince me to put in an order for car magnets. I’ll let everyone know when they become available!
Thanks Ken ,Will be waiting!
Love it Ken, and hope you can get magnets for car (like Rita said ) Great idea!!
Love Gail
P.S. Love Bow Tie
Very cool logo, Ken!! Hats off to the talented graphic artist who was able to bring your vision to life!! I love the bowtie too. I would like to see this plastered on buses, metrorail, airports, benches and billboards. We need to spread the message that an overhaul is needed in the way TBI patients are treated, and that a substantial investment in TBI research is required for real progress to happen. This is terribly underserved population (try finding grant money or any kind of substantial help for TBI – there are plenty of brain injury groups but they aren’t set up for assisting with or providing significant help for the brain injured population). The more attention that is drawn to Ryan’s strength and all he has had to endure, the better!!! It’s too easy for people to block out the struggles others are facing. This logo has great potential to increase visibility for Ryan as well as encourage more caring people to get involved in Team Diviney’s broader missions (such as advocacy for people with TBI).
Thank you for sharing with us your plans, ideas and hopes for Team Diviney. Ryan is a true inspiration for us all, and this logo will draw even more people to learn about about his incredible determination.
Wishing you and Ryan a great week, sending love and prayers, hugs
Paula
I love it!!!! It’s perfect!!!!!!
I love it!!! Great work!
What I mean by “or maybe not” is that maybe you wouldn’t be surprised. Funny how the meaning can change when one sees one’s post in print. LOL
Quite impressive! So much so, my heart skipped a beat when I saw it on Facebook! Really! No kidding!This logo is perfect. I remember way back when we talked about the missing (puzzle) piece (For whatever reason, couldn’t read your post there, so resorted to email).
I say we need business cards; something I have had in mind for some time now. We meet many people in our travels, and I always like to share Ryan’s story (I have some great lead-ins, Stewart says!) and then write the information for them to check out the website. You might be surprised how many folks are interested in Ryan’s Story. Or maybe not, since it seems to me that most of us are loving and caring, thank God.
Hope to see you soon at the office. Love and prayers as always.
PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Excellent logo. I love it!!
Love it Ken.
I love this logo!!! Hope to see more of it! Maybe on t-shirts?!!
Praying for Ryan…and the whole Diviney family.
The tiny addition of the bowtie really brings home the grace and dignity that signifies Ryan in my mind. It’s also an excellent and gentle reminder of how you and Sue pour grace into everything involving
Ryan 🙂 I love the logo! I agree with Rita…put it on a car magnet! I would proudly tote it around everywhere I go!!
Love the logo! Have it put on a car magnet with this ryansrally.org web address and we’ll take Ryan’s story and keep him relevant wherever we go! And kudos to you for being able to somehow step outside of yourself to make the best decisions for Ryan and your family. It’s not easy to maintain objectivity in such emotionally painful circumstances. I’ve been failing at it for years as a mom.. God sure knew what He was doing when He chose you and Sue to be Ryan and Karis parents <3