Amy Milne currently resides in Missouri after a journey exploring many states and several linked career paths. Most recently, Amy resigned from Forest Park Golf Course as the Director of Sales; a position that she had held for 15 years. During the career at FPGC, she discovered Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing through a client. That introduction just 5 years ago, led to volunteer opportunities and changes that were brand new, fly fishing, fly tying, rod building and most important, the connection and service to both the volunteers and participants. The world opened and had purpose for giving back through a passion for the outdoors and fly fishing. Early in her career, Amy suffered a life changing injury and while not a veteran, she felt the experience could help her to support and empathize with the long journey back to recovery. Shortly into her time volunteering, the Regional Coordinator position became available for The Heartland and she accepted the new role assisting the Heartland programs with support in the field.
Amy has led two Freedom Ranch for Heroes trips and the experience remains one of her strongest connections to the mission and cause because of the individuals attending the trips. To personally get to know the participants, their stories and see life changing successes, warmth and connection made the organization take a permanent place in her heart.
During time as the RC, she successfully linked partnerships with the Missouri Dept of Conservation to allow free fishing days for Veterans and introducing more than 1000 veterans, annually, from the state and neighboring states to enjoy the natural resources in the area without a license or a daily tag. The exposure for PHWFF through the Veterans Fish Free days brought in more participants and volunteers to The Heartland Region and strengthened relationships.
St Louis VAMC, the founding area for Healing Saturday and the link to our National ongoing fundraising; Amy was recruited to take over the St Louis event 4 years ago; the event and program enjoyed successes in the community outpouring for the event plus growth over the past 4 years. In 2019, The St Louis program held the first Battle of the Branches Chili cook off and enjoyed over 200 visitors to the event and raising much needed funds for the Region.
Amy also volunteers for the Medical Reserve and ShowMeResponse as logistics and medical support for the state. She enjoys everything fly fishing and often, when not in the office, she can be found on the water fishing, testing new flies, tying, teaching tying or casting, camping or hiking. As an outdoor enthusiast, there are no bad seasons, just bad clothes!
She looks forward to the new chapter, the journey ahead with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing. The opportunity to provide support, encourage and support the cause along with work side by side with the most amazing volunteers and staff is literally a dream come true.
