Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing’s Tampa Program is looking for a place where we can conduct rod building classes for our disabled veteran participants, where partially completed rods can remain set-up and static until completion.December 16, 2014
For Immediate Release
Debra Brooks
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Tampa PL
720-878-5842
admin@projecthealingwaterstampa.org
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing’s Tampa Program is looking for a place where we can conduct rod building classes for our disabled veteran participants, where partially completed rods can remain set-up and static until completion. “Michael Plemens, veteran volunteer and rod building instructor, can begin rod building classes immediately once such a facility is secured,” said Debra Brooks, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Tampa’s Program Lead.
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) is a national 501(c)3 charitable organization that is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and disabled veterans through fly fishing and associated activities including education and outings.
Currently, the American Legion (AML) Post #5, District #15 in Tampa, Florida is donating the use of their (non-smoking and alcohol free) facility to PHWFF, Tampa Program for its classes. On January 8, 2014, Danny White, PHWFF volunteer and an active duty Navy member at MacDill AFB, will instruct our first of many fly tying class.
“Anything we can do to help PHWFF and our disabled veterans is what we are here for,” noted Post #5 Commander Bill Hamblin. Post #5 and PHWFF both contribute volunteers and provide activities at the James A Haley Veterans Hospital in North Tampa.
“We are all working on the same goal, it would be a shame to not reach out to the American Legion Posts in your neighborhoods,” Deb Brooks, PHWFF Tampa Program Lead said.
PHWFF’s relationship extends to other Posts within AML District #15. American Legion Post #138 in Tampa sits on 22 acres of Tampa Bay beach property. PHWFF has a standing invitation to use their Post which is already set up with wheel chair access for disabled anglers.
Additionally, during the last week of January, Dayle Mazzarella of Fly Fishing Western Wyoming; an International Federation of Fly Fishing casting instructor and a casting instructor certifier, will provide instruction to our Tampa volunteers on how to teach casting classes to program participants. It will be just in time for our veteran’s first casting class.
“I know our volunteers are really excited to work with Dayle,” said Brooks. “We all can use help keeping our lines straight and placing our fly right in front of a redfish’s nose!”
For more information on the program, or to donate space for rod building classes, contact PHWFF Tampa Program Lead, Debra Brooks at 720-878-5842 or email admin@projecthealingwaterstampa.org.