Strawberry DAV event

[addicted2fishin]

Does anyone have any info on the annual DAV event at Strawberry? I've been wanting to help with this for years and finally have a boat good enough. I found out too late last year to help.
Any details out there on this?
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[mtncat1]

no event this year . sorry
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[wiperhunter2]

http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gfo...8;#1069318
This link explains what happened and why it was cancelled this year.
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[addicted2fishin]

Thank you!

That really sucks. I've been wanting to help with this since it started, but either the timing didn't fit or I didn't trust my boat enough. Now that I finally have a boat that can really help (25' pontoon) the event is off. I also have a neighbor that I told about this that would love to help. He's a vet and has a 20' pontoon.

I'm guessing they got tied in with those guys that bought a pontoon and set it up and advertise it as taking vets out, and there's probably some exclusivity deal behind the scenes.

Here's hoping something can change to make this happen.
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[wiperhunter2]

[quote addicted2fishin]I'm guessing they got tied in with those guys that bought a pontoon and set it up and advertise it as taking vets out, and there's probably some exclusivity deal behind the scenes. [/quote]

No I doubt it, if you read through all the comments at that link, it sounds to me like there is new management and they haven't figured out what a good deal it is for the vets, they are more worried about the expense of driving all those vets up to Strawberry and are trying to save the money. Hopefully they will get it figured out or have someone donate the expense of driving them up next year. The guy you are talking about that advertises about taking vets out, is actually a member on BFT and is one of the folks that helps this event out every year.
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[addicted2fishin]

I just read through my post again and it does really sound like I'm down on that company. It wasn't intended that way. Everybody dreams of having a job or business that makes a difference for the good for people, so kudos to them for providing this. My point was simply that usually when a business sets up to provide a service like that for a group it includes an exclusivity contract. With that, the DAV would need to wade through the legality of participating in a similar event.

Here's hoping they can sort through whatever their concerns are and pick this up again.

How many vets usually attend? I wonder what the cost would be to shuttle them there and would one of the shuttle bus companies be willing to donate at least some of the expense.
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[wiperhunter2]

Not sure of the exact number Todd (wet1) would know for sure but I do know the number was growing, since the first year that Bassrods got it going, with a lot of help from other BFT members. My best guess is somewhere between 50 and 75 vets attended last year. I have no idea of what that would cost to shuttle bus that many people but I don't think it will happen this year but who knows.
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[WET1]

WET1 Barracuda - 750 posts (846 posts) Post #8 of 14 Views: 800 Shortcut
Report Post | Edit | Quote | Reply Re: [SkunkedAgain] Annual Disabled vet fishing event In reply to
Thanks for your thoughts but just to clear up any confusion. It's not a funding issue. It is the management at the SLC VA Rec Therapy group that have decided they do not want to support our event anymore,.


"Sunrise is always best on the water."
Todd Hall
Utah Disabled Veterans Fishing Foundation ><((((º>
Director
Anything Wet Fishing Team

Taken from the original thread on this back in April.
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[WET1]

Freedom's Dream is not a business. It is a operated by Hand in Hand Outdoors a non-profit charity set up to support disabled children and veterans with therapeutic fishing opportunities. There is no exclusivity deal between them and the VA, in fact the VA has never dealt with them directly. Freedom's Dream has supported our event enthusiastically ever since they moved their base of operations from Utah Lake to Strawberry a few years ago.

As I stated in the April thread the issue we have is with the new management team for Recreation Therapy at the SLC VA. They have changed the therapy model and philosophy from supporting group events for the veterans they treat to only supporting individual activities.

We need to bring pressure to bear from outside and within to help them understand the positive impact our event has for the veterans. Most importantly we need the veterans (customers) of the SLC VA to demand they support our event again.
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[wiperhunter2]

[quote WET1] It's not a funding issue. It is the management at the SLC VA Rec Therapy group that have decided they do not want to support our event anymore,.
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OK, I had taken that to mean that the VA would not continue transporting the vets because of the time spent by the workers at the VA that were supporting this event. Thanks for giving us more detail on this subject Todd.
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[addicted2fishin]

thanks. I wish I knew some of those vets to encourage them to make their voices heard if they really felt they liked this activity.

Would the be a way to do this without the VA's involvement? Not a VA activity, but still there for the vets? It sounds like that non-profit had some experience, just need it on a bigger scale. I would be happy to help where I can.

It's when beurocratic politics get in the way of taking care of the people they are supposed to help.
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[wiperhunter2]

Not sure if you saw this:
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gfo...74284#last
It might not be the same as taking a vet fishing but it's a close second[].
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[addicted2fishin]

Thanks! I responded. Just love to be able to help out. My daughter works at group homes for disabled people (cerebral palsy) and they're also looking to get their clients oit on boats so I'll probably also be doing that soon.
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[WET1]

I don't think there's anyway to do an event like we have been doing for the past 12 years without the VA's help. Taking out individuals or small groups is a very different model and is something I would encourage folks to do when they can.
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