Veterans: Fly Fishing with Veterans
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CFFU is very proud that we have formed a partnership with Northern California Health Care Services (NCHCS). The purpose is to encourage local veterans of the Afghanistan or Iraq wars suffering from PTSD and/or depression to learn to fly fish. We hope our efforts will aide in their emotional recovery and enhance rehabilitation by participation in this relaxing, focused, recreational activity.
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About 2-1/2 years ago Laurie Banks, Ken Davis and I met with representatives from the Veterans Administration near Mather Field. We wanted to explore the possibility of working with Veterans that suffer from PTSD and depression. An MOU was written, medical clearances obtained, and a sample class given to some of their Peer Specialist. After 1 full year we scheduled and held an “Open House” at Hagan Community Park. Response from our club was strong with about 35 volunteers showing up to chip in wherever needed. Now for the bad news; we had 24 vets signed up, but only about 4-5 that showed up. We later learned that an additional group had come to the park, but were intimidated by our large showing of volunteers, so they didn’t feel comfortable to participate. We never thought of that, so we are learning.
We rethought our game plan and decided to take our introductions to the veterans. Bill Conway and I went to Mather and put on a 15 minute presentation at the end of their regularly scheduled meeting. We were warmly welcomed and just talked about fly fishing: what it’s about, why we fish and how we enjoy the background of the great outdoors. Our VA contact later told us that 10 of the 15 seemed very motivated to learn more about fly fishing!
Since that time we have had three meetings with the veterans. Ty Espinoza, Ken Giesser and Bill Conway held a casting clinic. Laurie Banks, Forrest Oldham and John Turner held the next session on knot tying and rod rigging on a rainy Wednesday. Our next casting clinic was held by the farmers market in front of the hospital. Besides our usual group of veterans, we invited all the veterans, nurses and employees who were watching to try their hand at casting. Maria Almes, the Director of Volunteer Services NCVA was there to interview us. She is writing an article for the NCVA newsletter, inviting all interested parties to participate in learning to fly fish.
We plan to hold sessions twice a month on Wednesdays at 11. We are working with Maria to get fishing licenses and transportation to take the veterans to Mather Pond next month and the American River when the flows recede.
If you have some time to help teach fly fishing skills to the Veterans, please send me an email [email protected] We are excited about moving forward and seeing where we can take this.
Rich Kendall
Veterans Committee Chair
We rethought our game plan and decided to take our introductions to the veterans. Bill Conway and I went to Mather and put on a 15 minute presentation at the end of their regularly scheduled meeting. We were warmly welcomed and just talked about fly fishing: what it’s about, why we fish and how we enjoy the background of the great outdoors. Our VA contact later told us that 10 of the 15 seemed very motivated to learn more about fly fishing!
Since that time we have had three meetings with the veterans. Ty Espinoza, Ken Giesser and Bill Conway held a casting clinic. Laurie Banks, Forrest Oldham and John Turner held the next session on knot tying and rod rigging on a rainy Wednesday. Our next casting clinic was held by the farmers market in front of the hospital. Besides our usual group of veterans, we invited all the veterans, nurses and employees who were watching to try their hand at casting. Maria Almes, the Director of Volunteer Services NCVA was there to interview us. She is writing an article for the NCVA newsletter, inviting all interested parties to participate in learning to fly fish.
We plan to hold sessions twice a month on Wednesdays at 11. We are working with Maria to get fishing licenses and transportation to take the veterans to Mather Pond next month and the American River when the flows recede.
If you have some time to help teach fly fishing skills to the Veterans, please send me an email [email protected] We are excited about moving forward and seeing where we can take this.
Rich Kendall
Veterans Committee Chair