Fishing Non-profit name help needed

Hello all,

I am new to the IDO forums. I was hoping to get some ideas that will help me name a small non-profit that I am hoping to start soon.

Background:

I am planning to collect unneeded fishing equipment in my area (Rochester, MN) and combine the donated equipment into “starter” kits to distribute to some of those less fortunate than I. I plan on distributing these items sometime in June, on the weekend that the DNR allows parents to fish without a license, as long as they are accompanied by a child under 16.

Situation: I have been bouncing some names around in my head, and have come up with a few that I think would work, but nothing that I am all that excited about. My list is as follows:

Fish Tales
Tales of Fun
Reel Fun
Set the Hook
Keep it Reel
and Go Fish!

I would greatly appreciate any creative ideas that you guys/gals have for me, along with any advice I can get from someone who has tried a similar venture. Thanks for your time.

CastAways was founded in about 2004 by Ron Schara and had a good run for about 5-6 yrs. I think he turned it over to Gander Mountain (but don’t think they did anything with it). I was one of the volunteers in it’s last few years. When it first started there was quite a bit of quality and repairable stuff donated. But then donations really tapered off and all we seemed to get were very poor quality spincasts and cheap rods. One year we had over 100 used rods and reels donated but could only come up with about 20-25 rigs that were usable. The problem is that the low end stuff isn’t made to last very long and the high end stuff either doesn’t get donated or isn’t really designed for beginners.

My advice is to work more with hosting Kids fishing clinics, fishing clubs, shore fishing events and spend your energy teaching Kids to fish. If they get hooked, finding tackle isn’t very problematic.

Buzz

How about “1 more cast”…. it is an admirable thing you are doing Don’t let anyone discourage your vision, if you get 1 kid fishing that might have otherwise ended up doing something less desireable, it will be worthwhile

Buzz is Light Years (see what I did?) ahead with some valid points.

But follow your dreams.

To answer your question…

“Non-Profit Fishing”

Welcome to ido Theurtz, check your PM’s. upper right corner of page under my home.

Hats off to you for doing something for the youth.

Get Hooked

Thanks to all who have responded. At this point my idea is still in the “incubator” stage and I am trying to determine whether or not I would be able to collect enough equipment to make the idea work. I don’t know if my target market would need that high quality of equipment, but Buzz did bring up some good points. I just don’t know that I would be able to use my strengths as effectively while teaching. Also, a side benefit to my original idea is that I gain experience managing a project, which is in line with my career goals (I hope to become a Project Manager in the next few years).

I guess I was hoping to receive enough decent used rods/reels that I could put new line on, and purchase a few simple tackle boxes with a starter kit including bobbers, hooks, and other misc equipment new. I have a few ideas that would allow me to raise the funds to do this. I am not trying to change the world, just to give a few people less fortunate than I the opportunity to try a new hobby. I have spoken with a couple of Olmsted County social workers who have assured me that they could find people who would be receptive to my cause.

Again, any ideas are appreciated!

Since this is still in the start-up phase, have you contacted a non-prof lawyer to see what is needed to get it going? You’ll need to hire one to get it all set up with the state and feds. He/she might also be able to help you set up a non-prof bank account as well, which will be needed to pay the lawyer. Hard to find one to do it pro bono for such a “small” cause. Just a thought, its a lot more work than to just take in donations and give them away.

I could come up with some hooks, jigs and bobbers. I would also be interested in voulenteering my time. Let me know if you go through wigh any of this.

Once upon a time, there was an old man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach every morning before he began his work. Early one morning, he was walking along the shore after a big storm had passed and found the vast beach littered with starfish as far as the eye could see, stretching in both directions.

Off in the distance, the old man noticed a small boy approaching. As the boy walked, he paused every so often and as he grew closer, the man could see that he was occasionally bending down to pick up an object and throw it into the sea. The boy came closer still and the man called out, ”Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young boy paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The tide has washed them up onto the beach and they can’t return to the sea by themselves,” the youth replied. “When the sun gets high, they will die, unless I throw them back into the water.”

The old man replied, “But there must be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. I’m afraid you won’t really be able to make much of a difference.”

The boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned, smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one!”

I kind of have an urge to this year get involved with the DNR’s programs and events that introduce kids to fishing. All my nieces and nephews are in their 20s and I miss the excitement of seeing a kid catch some fish.

Here is a non-profit orginization my brother Aaron and his buddie Chad started up last year. It is now liscenced as “take a kid outdoors”

Check out the photos and smiles on them kids!

https://www.facebook.com/TakeAKidIceFishing

Now that’s what I’m talking about!

It’s very honorable what you’re doing for the children and the sport.