New boat, newer truck, good health, off for the summer(teacher) bank account looks good. I have been so fortunate and feel I need to give back. Have contacted the Wounded Warrior program and Fishing for Life-anyone have experience with these organizations or have other ideas?
Awful damn nice of you Mr. Hurley. For a lot of us vets just knowing our service is appreciated means a lot. An organization I’ve enjoyed is Take a Vet Fishing. The operate in the midwest and their annual events include Lake Minnetonka and Lake Mille Lacs. I’m pretty sure you can sign up as a guide and they’ll put you with a vet to fish with on the event day. Seems they’re always looking for guides to folks to take all the vets fishing.
Swing by your church and mention it to the pastor. I’m sure there are some single moms with sons who would appreciate the kid fishing. You may need to be persistent to earn everybody’s trust with all the wacko’s running around these days.
Many years ago this site was really, really involved with Big Brothers and Sisters. There was a big outing every year that had great attendance. For reasons unknown to me it Petered away but maybe somebody here can hook you up with a contact over there.
Another thought, I do this. Carry a bunch of plastics around in the truck. Anytime you see kids dock fishing or fishing off the bank go give them some plastics. Take a second or two and show them how to rig them and fish them. The smiles are priceless.
I am a public school teacher so I’m not a wako (just don’t ask the wife-ha ha ha)
Awful damn nice of you Mr. Hurley. For a lot of us vets just knowing our service is appreciated means a lot. An organization I’ve enjoyed is Take a Vet Fishing. The operate in the midwest and their annual events include Lake Minnetonka and Lake Mille Lacs. I’m pretty sure you can sign up as a guide and they’ll put you with a vet to fish with on the event day. Seems they’re always looking for guides to folks to take all the vets fishing.
I would certainly second this. I volunteered as a guide a couple years ago at Mille Lacs and was truly honored to take these Viet Nam vets out for fun day of fishing. There is a color guard service and BBQ lunch served after fishing. Not sure I was the best guide, but these fellows were delighted to spend the morning fishing in my boat.
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When I lived downstate I had a 25 foot boat and fished Lake Mich a lot. Several times I took some of the Vets I knew from the area. My dad was a WW 2 vet and he would get to talking to some of them and they had the best of time. The stories they told sometimes had me almost tears. My dad never talked much about the war but when he got with these guys he opened up. The most memorable one was a guy that fought in the battle of the bulge. Check with your local VA and I am sure you will get some takers. The guys from the Viet Nam era were the quietest and I under stood as I served during that time
Big brothers big sisters and other larger non profits is a harder nut to crack as mentioned, lots of legal BS. Find smaller groups in your area that can point ya in right direction. I’m a fan of showing up in offices, introduce yourself, have a short conversation and ball is rolling. Emails are so impersonal when it comes to this stuff.
If you need help with some kids on the Eastside I can forward off your info. Shoot me a PM.
That bass tourney on Big Marine (2-3yrs ago?)was the last time I heard of that big brother/sister event happening Dutch. Forget the fellow who put it together but remember him saying it was just getting harder and harder to organize every year.
Have you checked into Letsgofishing.com It is a non profit and they can always use volunteers. Menomonie just started a chapter and they take out vets, kids, seniors. Do a search and check them out.
Lots of great info, I have some phone calls to make. As far as the Big Brothers event probably we need someone with time and organization skills to get it started again. At my job we see great programs or events just dissappear when the person who organized it retires or takes another job. People had fun, well attended, parents loved it, one person retires and ‘poof’ gone.
This spring I saw couple times a red pro guide down on the head of P2 that picked up people from shore and took em fishing. Thought that was kick ars. Could see the smiles on the folks faces when cruising by. Or that person had alot of random friends on shore…..owl calls? 
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