As a veteran-led disaster relief nonprofit, many of the traditions Team Rubicon incorporates into its service have military origins. That includes recognizing volunteers—or Greyshirts—with a culture coin. For Team Rubicon, culture coins emulate the kinds of medals given to service members—the Medal of Honor being one such example. Each culture coin, like the Adults Only coin, also represents one of Team Rubicon’s cultural principles.
The Adults Only Culture Coin
Team Rubicon embodies a work-hard, play-hard mentality and celebrates camaraderie after a long day serving disaster survivors while still being guided by its mission first culture. The stress from the daunting work Greyshirts do during missions can be reduced by treating everyone like adults. As Jean-Jacques Rousseau said, “Free people, remember this maxim: we may acquire liberty, but it is never recovered if it is once lost.”
Every year, the organization honors Greyshirts who demonstrate exceptional professionalism and judgment in challenging situations with the Adults Only culture coin. These volunteers guard the liberty of being treated like an adult and help ensure the nonprofit remains a fun place to serve those in need. This recognition highlights individuals who maintain composure and ethical standards even when confronted with difficult circumstances, ensuring that Team Rubicon’s mission and integrity remain intact.
Meet Team Rubicon’s 2024 Adults Only Culture Coin Recipients
TC Cassidy
During Operation Trojan Moon in Richmond County, Georgia, TC Cassidy noticed that a vegetarian Greyshirt wasn’t receiving proper meal accommodations.
Rather than ignoring the situation, TC proactively addressed the issue by bringing it to the attention of command and general staff. Not stopping there, TC went above and beyond by providing recipes to the food preparation team, ensuring the vegetarian Greyshirt had appropriate meal options throughout the operation.
Maggie Coit
Recognized for exemplifying the highest standards of professionalism and commitment to Team Rubicon, Maggie’s nomination speaks to her resilience and positive impact within the organization.
Maggie’s leadership and actions have significantly contributed to upholding Team Rubicon’s core values and mission effectiveness.
Brian Mohr
Brian’s recognition came after he responded promptly to concerns about a former Greyshirt who had posted concerning comments on a Team Rubicon Facebook page. Brian’s immediate action to reach out to this individual likely provided crucial support during a time of crisis. His nominator firmly believes that Brian’s intervention may have saved this person’s life, demonstrating how the organization’s culture of care extends beyond operational boundaries.
The “Adults Only” Culture Coin recipients embody Team Rubicon’s commitment to maintaining professional standards and ethical conduct while serving communities in need. Their stories highlight how individual actions, grounded in the organization’s values, can make a profound difference both within the organization and in the lives of those they encounter.
Lea Ruscio
Lea demonstrated exceptional composure when dealing with an irate individual making unreasonable demands outside Team Rubicon’s scope of operations. Despite facing aggressive behavior and threats, Lea maintained a calm, professional demeanor throughout the interaction. This response not only defused a potentially volatile situation but also served as an inspiring example of Team Rubicon’s values in action, making fellow Greyshirts proud to be associated with the organization.
