A couple of friends from our local FFF chapter, my wife, and I are starting a Project Healing Waters program for wounded service members and disabled veterans here in the Ozarks. I corresponded via email with Mr. Colburn and spoke via phone for quite some time this evening with Ed Nicholson. TFO has committed to material support for this expansion of the PHW program into our region. And you just cannot say enough good stuff about Rick Pope, Jim Shulin, and all the great folks at TFO.
We are currently working on a regional needs assessment with the VA in the region and the Army hospital at Fort Leonard Wood. The officials there are really excited about PHW being available to their patients.
If you live in MO, KS, OK, or AR and would like to help teach fly tying, casting, and fly fishing skills to wounded warriors and disabled veterans, please contact me ASAP. I’m compiling a list of potential volunteers.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A CASTING INSTRUCTOR, GUIDE, OUTFITTER, COMMERCIAL TYER, ETC.! But that is NOT a requirement.
While certainly NOT any of those things listed, Iwould volunteer to tiie flies for the project, or if something is done locally, show how to tie flies (or build the basic rod).
Like I said, being “those things” is by NO MEANS necessary! We need some of those folks to get involved, but the vast majority of the work necessary to make this project a success can be done by regular fly anglers like you and me.
As I’m sure you can imagine, some of these heroes need adaptive therapy from professionals to learn to tie, cast, and/or fish effectively. Most don’t, but some do. In those cases, the licensed therapists at the VA and military hospitals would LOVE to work with a certified or professional casting instructor, etc. This is the most effective combo imaginable. However, they have been very successful at Walter Reed Army Hospital working with laymen and laywomen fly anglers. These therapists are top notch. And their profession is adaptive therapy for a wide range of activities they, themselves, may or may not have any competency in. When we go on trips, if we have people certified in first aid, CPR, and water safety (as many guides/outfitters are); this reduces the demands on professional staff from the hospitals and clinics…making the whole thing easier to pull off in a beauracratic gov’t climate. But ALL of these things are DOABLE with laypeople who are willing to lend their time, good attitudes, and knowledge to the endeavor working WITH the staff from these facilities.
So I hope no one is “scared off” by my call for professionals and credentialed amateur volunteers. They are a GREAT BONUS, but what we HAVE to have is a solid cadre of fly fishing volunteers who are willing to give their time and attention and support to these brave men and women who have given so much for us.
Like Betty, I am no professional, but this is an amazing worthwhile cause. I would be more than happy to do something, I could whip up a couple dozen cracklebacks, or some other flies. Good for you on taking on this very worthwhile endeavor. It is easy to talk, but action makes all the difference.
Drew
Looks like there will be quite a bit of need in the STL area, gang. And that’s gonna be hard to staff with volunteers from down here in Springfield. That’s a 5 hour drive. It’s not a problem for ME, but most won’t do it. So we could use some solid folks in the STL area and right now don’t have them. But be aware that this is not a “take some disabled guys fishing once in awhile” sort of deal. This is an ongoing THERAPY program working with medical professionals to assist real, honest-to-god patients. To run a program in a single facility for a handful of patients requires a commitment of dependability to attend sessions AT LEAST monthly and often bi-monthly or even weekly. Not ALL volunteers have to be that dedicated. But the core group sure does…at least a couple of guys/gals per facility. Yes, we will need flies tied, small items made for tying and fishing, and lots of donated equipment and materials. TFO has committed to providing rods and reels. We may need a group of volunteers to repair a bunch of older donated waders from time to time…stuff like that. Occassional volunteers will be VERY appreciated for such things.
But from the looks of things now, if we want to take care of MO’s wounded warriors and disabled vets who can benefit from this program and want to, I suspect we will need at least a dozen highly dedicated volunteers scattered around the state: Columbia, KC, STL, and Springfield…not to mention Fayetteville, AR. We are looking closely at starting the program in this region at Fort Leonard Wood. That’s a very central location in MO and they do have a considerable patient population in rehab therapy…active military, reserve components, and retired.
We are also going to need money…just like every other charity. PHW is a 501(c)(3) Maryland corporation. So donations are tax deductible. You can earmark donations to the PHW program in the Ozarks if you choose. FYI, PHW currently has considerable needs in general funding. They need to hire an ExDir, and they have the guy they want coming off of active duty due to disability. He is an Army Captain who was severely wounded in the War on Terror and is being mustered out. He has been working with PHW for awhile during his convalescence, and they want to bring him on staff as a full-time Executive Director. But they do not have the funds for this, being such a new organization. If you can help, it would make a HUGE difference for our wounded heroes. Right now, that is a bigger priority than funding the Ozarks activities.
SM, I used to live in STL, but have moved to NE Missouri, if I was still there I would be able to do more. You might want to contact the fly shops in St. Louis, there are 2 pretty close to each other, T. Hargrove and Feathercraft, maybe they could donate some time, they have free casting/tying lessons, so maybe they would be willing to help out. Where if one was inclined could we donate money?
Thanks, Drew. I plan to contact the FFF club in STL about this, and that will provide access to Feathercraft and T Hargrove. I’m very familiar with the city. I was born in STL and have lived there off/on all my life as well as visited frequently. One of our corps volunteers here in Springfield just retired from teaching high school in Crystal City last year and moved down here. He also has contacts close to the city that will be of use.
Ken,
I would be willing to help out in the Tulsa area. I’m sure there are others here that would, also. Here is a link to our website if you would like to contact our club president so he can get the word out here. http://tulsaflyfishers.org/
Springfield, MO - PHW of the Ozarks is excited to announce that we have added the first two Certified Casting Instructors to our Advisory Board. They are Constance Whiston, Assistant Fly Fishing Buyer, Bass Pro Shops and FFF CI; and Captain Paul Sodemann, PhD of Flats Lander Guide Service and Kansas State University, who is a Master Certified Casting Instructor and college professor.
Adding this level of professional fly casting and fly fishing instruction to our program ensures the highest level of therapeutic and rehabilitative services to those wounded in combat and disabled veterans in the heartland of the country who want to learn to fly fish. Dr. Sodermann is also on the Pro Staff and Advisory Council for Temple Fork Outfitters, makers of the Project Healing Waters commemorative fly rods (and is an FAOL sponsor).
I am in NW Arkansas and would be happy to help out. I am certified in anything that you list. Just a guy that loves to fish and is willing to help out. I also tie flies and could teach someone.
Springfield, MO - The Project Healing Waters team of the Ozarks is proud to announce that FFF Certified Casting Instructor Kim Schultz has volunteered to join our Advisory Board of Certified Casting Instructors. Kim brings decades of experience in the medical field along with his credentials as a casting instructor to the project. And we are excited to add him to our team of volunteers as we try to enrich the lives of America’s greatest heroes.
Howdy, not sure if I am too late to respond to this thread, but I am in Tulsa, OK and would love to volunteer for both fishing and tying. As with many others, I am not a guide but I can throw a pretty good line and tie some pretty mean little buggers (with the exception of the Adams, but that is an entirely different matter…). PM me if you still need volunteers and let me know what I can do.