Setting the record straight and The Nor Cal HOW Board of Directors

 I know some have been critical about how this is run, but there are many hoops to jump through in getting to the wounded vets and being a non-profit. These big events are a ton of work, but it has been the best way to get the word out about HOW and let the different veteran orgs know about HOW by action and not words and we have done a great job. But resources, people and time are more scarce these days and it is my hope that we have done enough that we are able to have more frequent/smaller events. Again, it comes down to getting to the vets who could most use the sport therapy that we offer.

Sorry for the vent, but it's quite frustrating when I hear:

1. " why are we not having as many events as other chapters?...

answer:  we are, some of those chapters include events that actually are not HOW events but are tournaments and maybe have a vet or 2 show up. Some are actual kayakfishing guides where this is their business and are military with friends who are vets and the event is taking out a couple vets, and some of the chapters in Texas have been doing this since 2007, retired military with full access to vets, all good, but different in their own way and resources.

 No chapter has done what we have done on such a huge scale, just the way it worked out with the interest and people wanting to help...

2. " Am I getting paid to do this...?"

 NO!  Like I've said before, it cost me money and a great deal of time

3. Why don't we have smaller events and just take a few vets out with a few kayakfishing people who would like to take them out?

 Good question, and is the goal of what were trying to do here. Again it comes down to getting to the wounded vets and developing " Street Cred.. " with the different orgs that are working with the wounded vets. This takes time and effort to make these connections. I have spent many days at events and phone calls with these orgs seeing how we can help each other to help the vets. Most of these orgs are financed with an agenda of their own to keep themsleves going, and after seeing what it takes to keep HOW rolling, I understand, it's just not that simple to think we can just pick a date and expect that vets are going to show. It takes months of planning.

I'm also working with San Diego and Hawaii trying to help them get off the ground, so it's a bit distracting to keep focus on what were doing, but so important to get other chapters going.

As you can probably tell, I am a bit frustrated as I would like to be able to just set a date and have it work out like a normal hook up fishing trip, it just not that simple,

and I need Help.... 

So it is at this time I would like to introduce our new Board of Directors:

 Me:                    Northern California Coordinator

 Frankfishing        Assistant Coordinator

 Leora ( My Wife )  Treasurer

 Bigfoot                 Secretary

 Kayakjack             TBA

 ChuckE                 TBA

 Racinrob               TBA

 Raydon                Fundraising

 AlsHobieOutback    Admin/Tech Support for Nor Cal HOW Facebook Page

we are going to meet soon and figure best how to move HOW forward with what we have and thanks to all who have helped in the past, present and future...

Really Thanks to all of You!!!   without you guys, this does not work...

  more to come soon and thanks for the vent...

WTG, Don, for offering that info - not that you owe it to anyone.  You're doing a great job for the vets and for HOW.  I admire your efforts.  Keep up the great work, Buddy!   

Great job also to all those who are helping out.

WTG, Don, for offering that info - not that you owe it to anyone.  You're doing a great job for the vets and for HOW.  I admire your efforts.  Keep up the great work, Buddy!   

Great job also to all those who are helping out.

+1!!

Hang in there Don and let us know what we can do to help out....

Proud of you and everybody involved.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Thanks Guys,

 I don't mean to ask for any cheese with my Whine...   

 and there are plenty of people on this site doing Great Things for others...

 That's what it's all about...   

 I had just been asked a few things and heard a few things and wanted to clear the air about what is actually going with HOW and the challenges we face with this program...

  Thanks   

Don,

Outstanding work and thanks for all you do for our vets and NCKA!!!

-Allen

Don:

It's easier to criticize than participate.    You are doing great.

My fund raising has amassed a whopping --75.00 for food thus far.

My efforts are continuing.

That is a fine crew.  I've never seen a secretary with a size 15 boot before  .  I've never seen Chucke at a HOW event before. He should be a fine addition.

Everyone's a critic, especially when they're not the ones making things happen.
 
Don, your efforts with HOW are appreciated.

That is a fine crew.  I've never seen a secretary with a size 15 boot before  .  I've never seen Chucke at a HOW event before. He should be a fine addition.

 Kayakjack is also on the board,  sorry about that jack,, you have been there from the begining, just did not want to bother you with this...

 the pick of board members came from a need of who was interested and being local for a meeting, which we need to do...

yes ChuckE has not made an event, but he has been in the background and ChuckE has talents I do not....

  I do not suffer fools lightly.... 

There is much more to this stuff to sustain it than events and this is where I need help too...

anyway, do not look into this board thing too much, it's just a necessity for a 501 c3,  I'm not even sure what or how things are going to work...

  but your in Jack,   talk to ya soon about what your going to need to do....

  Thanks

  and thanks again everyone....

Don:

It's easier to criticize than participate.    You are doing great.

My fund raising has amassed a whopping --75.00 for food thus far.

My efforts are continuing.

wow,  that's awesome!!!

Kinder's meats is donating 12 bottles of BBQ sauce.  They are also going to give us a discount on meats.  I'm gong to compare their price to COSTCO when the bid comes in.

The Gods are with us.

 Check for 200.00 from a good client sent.

Total now is 275.00 and 12 bottles of BBQ sauce.

I will kick in a bottle of beer! For the grill master!

I will kick in a bottle of beer! For the grill master!

Rootbeer only Please.....   

Don,

Your doing a wonderful thing for vets. Unfortunately there is a lot of bureaucracy involved behind the scenes that none of us realize, and you have to deal with. So in my opinion you should not have to explain yourself, though in doing so you show all of us your true integrity.

Being an Iraqi war vet I can't express how much I appreciate things like this. HOW did not introduce me to kayak fishing, kayak fishing introduced me to HOW, so I went about it backwards. I can't help to think how many of my friends would still be here, mentally and physically, if they could of been introduced to programs like HOW. It is sad to watch someone slowly loose their mind because reality for them has just stopped because of the things that happen in war.

When I came back I wanted to be treated like a normal person. I wanted something to help me forget. Unfortunately I did what most do, and drank heavily. I can say from personal experience that fishing keeps me from slowly loosing my mind, I may not forget but at least I can move on.

So regardless of what people say, what you do not matter how small helps.

I may not have all the money or time in the world, but let me know what I can do to help.

Ryan