NEWS & STORIES
Dale Sanders Recognized with The Bill Scattergood Volunteer Leadership Award
We are pleased to announce that Dale Sanders is the 2021 recipient of the Bill Scattergood Volunteer Leadership Award. As program lead for the Des Moines Program of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Dale was instrumental in getting programs up to speed with technology during the pandemic.
[Dale] answered every question with patience, understanding and kindness. He was a valuable and reliable resource during every phase of the re-engagement plan because he went over and above to fulfill and maintain the organization’s virtual, healthy community. While the rest of us were struggling to reinvent ourselves, Dale calmly reached out and offered to share fly patterns or woodworking plans to enhance the PHWFF Core Program. Dale has a heart of gold and his willingness to set others up for success exemplifies exceptional leadership, which is what the Scattergood Award is all about.”
midwest regional coordinator jeff reinke
“On behalf of Project Healing Waters fly fishing and the Midwest Region, I would like to congratulate Dale Sanders as the recipient of the 2021 Bill Scattergood Volunteer Leadership Award! I know Sanders never met Bill, but I can tell you that he, and now his family, have made a lasting impression on Project Healing Waters just as Sanders has and will,” Reinke said.
Please join us in congratulating Dale Sanders and recognizing all the exceptional work he has done for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing.
History
The Bill Scattergood Volunteer Leadership Award was established as an annual award presented to a volunteer from the Midwest Region of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing. The award acknowledges an individual’s volunteer leadership and commitment to our disabled veteran participants. Bill Scattergood’s accomplishments as a volunteer for the Midwest Region epitomized exceptional leadership and served as the basis for creating this award. Bill was tragically killed in an automobile accident while en route to a PHWFF program outing in 2018. Each year, PHWFF Leadership along with the Scattergood family will present the award to a regional volunteer selected by the Midwest Regional Coordinator who best exemplifies Bill’s leadership traits and principles.
The 1st Annual Bill Scattergood Volunteer Leadership Award was presented to Rich Lobianco in 2019. Rich is one of a group of individuals who started the Indianapolis, Indiana PHWFF program. Rich started as a volunteer and in time, eventually became the Program Lead. This led to Rich becoming the Midwest Regional Coordinator. He was instrumental in the growth of the program and increased the presence at the VAMC which increased the number of participants to include female involvement both as volunteers and participants. In addition to attending to operations with the Indy Program, he has worked tirelessly attending fund raising , fishing shows, American Legion Regional Seminars and attending VAMC open houses. Recently, Rich began his transition to full retirement and scaled back the number of hours and visits. Although he stepped down as Regional Coordinator he continues to offer guidance and mentorship while working silently in the background to heal those who serve.
The 2nd Annual Bill Scattergood Volunteer Leadership Award was presented to Willoughby Program Lead Diane Wantz in 2020.
“Diane is the type of leader that presses forward in challenging times and optimistically looks ahead,” Reinke said of the 2020 Bill Scattergood Volunteer Leadership Award recipient.
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing is honored to have these award recipients as part of our family!