Veterans Service Partnership A National Program of Trout Unlimited - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Veterans Service Partnership

A National Program of Trout Unlimited

A Veterans Outreach Program of Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited Presented By: Jim Lanning, PATU VSP Coordinator Ernest Demastus, PATU VSP Operations Zac Salada, PATU VSP Operations

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• Today's program is an orientation on how to start or enhance a TU Veteran Service

Partnership Program within the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited.

• The VSP team will always be available to you for consultation and support.
• Please fell free to contact Ernest DeMastus, Zac Salada or Jim Lanning via the PATU VSP

Facebook site.

• Many of our PATU Chapters have VSP’s of one sort or another. Some PATU Chapters

want to start a VSP.

• We are here to support the PATU Chapters as they conduct their Chapter Veterans

Service Program or Healing Waters Program.

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• Please use the printed Power Point to take notes and to jot down questions you may

have.

• Please take a copy of the exemplar handouts.
• All of the forms and formats are available to you electronically courtesy of the PATU

Leadership Team.

• The TU & PATU websites have a Veterans Service Partnership section to provide help

and guidance. We use the PATU VSP Facebook page to communicate and share information with each other throughout the year.

• Utilize these online resources for further reference:
• http://www.patrout.org/programs
• http://www.patrout.org/vsp
• https://www.facebook.com/PATU.org/
• http://www.tu.org/conservation/outreach-education/veterans-service-partnership

• The Veterans Service Partnership is an initiative of Trout Unlimited whose

purpose is to connect your Chapter members, veterans, and active duty military and their families to our community through angling and conservation education and activities.

• We are a family fishing program for all veterans, active duty, National Guard &

Reserve Armed Forces of the United States of America.

• We do the “local” VSP veteran family fishing & mentoring.
• TU provides the national & international fly fishing destinations and program

through participation by our VSP Chapters.

• Sometimes we locals are the national destination.

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VSP Streamside Mentors, Veterans & Family Members Meeting on Spring Creek, Bellefonte PA

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Off to Magic Waters, Chile – Thank You, Trout Unlimited

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• PATU Chapter VSP Streamside Mentors are dedicated to serving the men

and women who have served in the United States Armed Services.

• It is our belief that military members have earned this community service

and support through their service to our nation and our community.

• We serve those who served in any branch of service and in any era

without charge or obligation

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• The Department of Defense has estimated over 1 million service members have & will be

transitioning from military to civilian life in the next few years.

• Today there are more than 21 million vets within the US.
• The Centre County Veterans Affairs Office estimates between 9,500 to 10,000 veterans

reside in the Centre Region.

• Check in with the County VA Director in each County you serve to determine your actual
• numbers. Leave a flyer too and have them post it in a public place in their office and on

their computer cases.

• Every community, regardless of size, has a population of veterans that can benefit from
• ur VSP Program.
• Go to www.census.gov/topics/population/veterans.html for your chapter, area, region and

state veteran demographics.

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• Our mentoring and guidance include introductions to professional and skill

specific employment oppurtunities.

• Our emphasis is on family and community in a beautiful, peaceful, and

welcoming environment.

• Family is defined broadly as any relative nexus to the veteran.

• Our Veterans Service Partnership program co-exists and supports many traditional TU Chapter

programs and initiatives.

• We should always invite our colleagues & partners within TU programs to join us and to make all
• f our programs available to each other and PA veterans. It is a simple matter of adding

addressees to our communications in and out of the chapter.

• Chapter program leaders, long time and new members make great instructors and mentors.
• Often a non-member will come to you and ask to join your VSP for the purposes of learning how to

fly fish and becoming a streamside mentor.

• PFBC offers a Fishing Skills Instructor and an advanced fly fishing skills course if you would like a

higher level of education and access to their equipment.

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VSP Team Members and Veterans Fisherman’s Paradise in Bellefonte, PA

• It is easy to find, recruit and train folks who provide administrative,
• perations, and logistics support for your chapter VSP program. Folks

will always volunteer to help out and you will gain membership and participation in many of our Chapter programs.

• Many of us try to do too many of the program functions alone and

this limits the effectiveness and outreach of your program. Delegate duties and responsibilities and have the teams select their leadership just like the pirates of old did. It Works!

• PATU VSP will support the establishment of your Chapter VSP

program and provide continuing support along the way. Have fun.

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• Chapter VSP program provides streamside and career mentoring, conservation

education and community conservation and recreation activities using the skills and abilities of our membership and supporters.

• Our “hook” is teaching the veterans & families how to improve their fishing skills

and knowledge of the watershed while enjoying the peace, safety and serenity of

• ur watershed.
• Our “hook-ups” include mentoring and guidance provided upon request of the

veteran.

• Our emphasis is on family and community in a beautiful, peaceful, and

welcoming environment.

• Family is broadly defined as any relative with a nexus to the veteran.

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• VSP programs can be a one and done, a seasonal program held bi-

weekly, quarterly, monthly, or any other combination of times, locations and activities that your chapter can support with existing personnel, budget, and site constraints.

• We enjoy the cooperation and assistance of PFBC, DCNR, state,

regional and local conservation and outdoor organizations, industry, business, and public. You can partner with anyone.

• Most Chapter VSP program costs are less than $100.00 a month

including licensing, supplies & consumables, exclusive of equipment, supply, cash and food contributions you will receive.

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• Our talented streamside mentors and instructors teach fishing skills, conservation, riparian, and

streamside construction techniques.

• Instruction, education, and mentoring are provided at all levels of expertise and to all age groups.
• All equipment, supplies and consumables are provided, free of charge.
• As an example some programs and fishing begins at 1:00 pm on the second and fourth Sundays of

the month March through November. January through mid March indoor programs are provided. You pick time, date & frequency based on resources and location.

• We find folks will drive an hour to come see us unless they are on a three day weekend or vacation

and then they drive even further.

• No reservations (a heads up is nice though). No barriers. Just a safe, peaceful and enjoyable time by

all.

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• Streamside fishing usually goes until dusk. Your tear down is usually in the dark.
• The vets and streamside mentors are usually assigned on a one on one basis.
• If there are children coming to your program please be sure to get your required
• clearances. We have a TU & PA child protection program method in place and are

working to ease access and availability through the legislative process.

• No alcohol is served at our VSP program. Some of our vets are medicated or are

currently self medicating. TU risk management guidelines and some of our state locations prohibit alcohol consumption on site or during the program.

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Outreach

• Your outreach efforts are critical to the success of your VSP program.
• Post flyers, pamphlets, electronic media at public buildings, public occupancies, & as many commercial

locations as you can. We will give you more location ideas now.

• Use all press, free outdoor news media, Facebook, email, social networking, flyers, three folds, and

electronic methods to get you message out. Examples are in your packet. Your old guys may not use email

• r social media but they will see your flyer at the barbershop, at City Hall, or at the fly shop. Make sure to

post at senior centers, assisted living, VFW, American Legion Posts.

• Assign VSP team folks to active duty, Guard/Reserve and veteran outreach as a primary duty. They will

always be thinking of ways to gain program visibility. Re-check from time to time to make sure your stuff is still up and current.

• If you can get into Trout, your Outdoor newspapers, or any other publication do so.
• The PATU Newsletter & Constant Contact will let you reach each other and us but you have to do outreach

to do more than ask the congregation & choir if they want to participate. You will get always get two or three participants for each contact.

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• We teach veterans how to improve their fishing skills on a one on one basis.
• Consider Chapter provided free PA fishing licenses with trout stamp. TU provides a free one-year

membership and a one year subscription to Trout to all program participants.

• TU sponsors “fishing adventures” for the vets and family members upon Chapter nomination.

Information will be on the PATrout.org & PATU.org Facebook site.

• Your program is only limited by the willingness and expertise of your streamside mentors and

supporters.

• If needed, provide in service training for B & I mentors using Vet Center Readjustment Specialists.
• New streamside mentors function in a support role (cook, set-up, sign-in) while they are getting

comfortable with the program and learning new fishing or conservation skills.

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• Program duration is up to the vets. Some are 1:00 pm until dusk. Most are on

weekend days but some programs make streamside mentors available weekdays for those working on weekends.

• It appears that the food of choice is sausages and hot dogs.
• Rehydration in the form of water and Gatorade is critical component of in field

food service.

• Be aware of dietary restrictions and accommodate them.
• Have a happy chef. No Soup Nazis! The young ones like to eat streamside.

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Set-Up & Operations

• As you grow your program, you will need designated set-up, greeting, check-in,

program, and streamside mentor teams. You will find that many of your vets will want to be part of your team and many aspire to be streamside mentors and guides

• r conservation team leaders. Provide the training and expertise and they will be

some of your most frequent attendees.

• Remember when you meet, the older vets will arrive early and the younger vets will

linger after. Be prepared for operations after dark and away from the meet site.

• All of the vets will want to spend at least 30 minutes “comparing notes” prior to

gearing up. Encourage and support the interaction.

• Designating the one on one streamside mentor and gearing up will also be a time for

the vets to make program and personal requests

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• Put up your Chapter VSP banner.
• Set-up and staff Check-in.
• Set up the food station, equipment and display/periodical tables, an administrative

table for sign-in, reference book, hot spot, computer/printer.

• Bring “quiet power” if you need it. Set up your hotspot.
• Check on your accessible porta john.
• Due to orthopedic challenges, be sure to have heavy duty camp chairs w/side tables

and plenty of folding tables.

• Our rule is nothing on the ground but feet to preclude injury or accident.
• Put up your banner!

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• Get your laptop and printer up for the licenses, messages

and reach in to Blue Dot, VA, and other cloud based

• resources. The vets will want to check status and to show

you things on the laptop.

• Have your vet combat medics (Navy is best unless you have

an AF PJ) put together a good medical kit.

• Move your venue to meet veterans needs and requests as
• needed. Access is the key to success.

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• Be prepared to accept equipment and other donations. Have your 501(c) 3 letter and

tax except certification ready for distribution. Folks really like to drop stuff off at your site.

• While your event is going on, have your designated photographer do the candid's,

group shot, event, and fish photo’s. Make them available to the vets as mementos.

• Designate your Public Affairs Person and answer the press and public inquiries on scene.

This improves your outreach and communication.

• Remember, most of your young vets are transient until they permanently get

established, your older vets are not. The vets will return when they are in the area to visit family or attend alumni functions or just to fish. They will call or email you and ask for a streamside mentor. Have a weekday streamside mentor team available.

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• The streamside mentors take over from here while you and

your Admin operate the hotspot, obtain licenses, and do the TU membership sign ins. Make yourself and your designees available for vet requests during this period.

• Use the “walk and talk” method for vet privacy as you do the

problem solving.

• You will be approached by vets and family members while you

are in operation. Be prepared to answer questions, enroll veterans into the program, provide the program benefits and any other reasonable request.

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Don’t Forget the Little Ones

• Mom and Dad will appreciate a trained and certified educator and activities

for the kids who are too little to fish. We have three of the best child

• educators. Use a child safety cleared child care or education specialist. Child

safety clearances are important.

• The child set up includes ground blankets (artificial turf), child education and

recreation, and right size equipment.

• Most of your written materials including conservation comics and

instructional material will be provided free of charge by your state and federal wildlife agencies and TU.

• The Regional PFBC Education & Outreach Specialist and the Women & Youth

Coordinator is a PATU VSP Team member and available to you.

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Two Iraq Combat Veterans Enjoying Spring Creek with Baby Estela.

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Gabriel tied flies during the winter and caught his first and second trout with flies he tied on Spring Creek last year

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No Fish in These Waters – At The YMCA Mom, Dad, and 3-month old Henry.

Medically Fragile Population Service Dogs/Animals

• PATU can provide support and contact with various specially trained folks to help you out along the

way.

• Since there are no reservations required, you get what you get that day. We are all capable of

dealing with whatever comes our way.

• As the support animals are coming too, you should be capable of addressing issues for the service

animals care.

• There will be other special needs requirements.
• Be sure you have a plan and a specialist to handle whatever you must appropriately.
• Some folks will have orthopedic challenges.
• Your chosen sites must be able to accommodate all types of folks including the elderly.
• Be a problem solver and you’ll do just fine.

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Doggies, Doggies, Everywhere!

• VSP mentors connect veterans with business and industry

leaders, veterans and other professionals who work in many of the fields and careers of interest to them.

• VSP Members connect counseling and career opportunities for

veterans and military members who attend Penn State or other schools and colleges.

• As an example, there are 1018 veterans in 24 conservation

majors within Penn State University/University Park. There are several colleges and trade schools within the region. Find and utilize your “hook-ups”

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Mentoring

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• Vet mentoring is an integral part of our VSP program.
• Build a reference/referral binder for your “reach-outs” & “hook-ups”.
• Listen closely to the aspirations and goals of the veteran and make an offer of “hook-

up.”

• Be sensitive to the fact that no one wants to be “beholding” and that vets are always

striving to “take care of business”. Don’t tell them what to do - just ask if your suggestion is helpful. Do the follow-up. Make it happen. open the door.

• If the request is out of your area of expertise, consult your VSP reference binder and

team leader for assistance. Do the introduction.

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Tying Flies at the YMCA

• Remember most of your very “seasoned” vets are great mentors

as they will usually be successful in their chosen vocation and have great water conservation and fly fishing skills.

• Although the old timers are there for the “social” aspects, and

usually don’t wet a line, they make great mentors and for sure they are great story tellers.

• Get them a seat and let them “kibitz”.
• They will have an opinion about everything anyway. Make sure

the hot dogs are good.

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Community Activities

• Our VSP Team Members work to make a difference through multi-agency

conservation projects and participation in veterans events throughout the region.

• Veterans Appreciation Night at the Spikes, Penn State tailgate and Military

Appreciation Day football game.

• Central PA Festival of the Arts and First Night.
• YMCA and outdoor events sponsored by conservation organizations, YSB, PFBC,

DNR, and surrounding TU Chapters.

• VSP presents the TU, PATU, and Chapter VSP story to the public via the media and

in person presentations providing additional visibility to the publicand additional membership to the chapters.

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VSP Team Members and PA Army National Guardsmen at the Penn State Veterans Tailgate at the PSU BJC

Conservation Education and Activities

• Professionals work alongside veterans developing valuable skills

and participating in legacy watershed conservation, in stream and riparian restoration projects where they are engaged in the planning and operations aspects of the projects. This provides the vets with work experience, networking and career building

• pportunities.
• Your streamside mentors, business & industry experts and

government professionals will be an integral part of this

• experience. This provides good exposure for your veterans.

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Winter Activities

• During the winter months, we move indoors for eight weeks of expert fly

tying instruction, fly casting, conservation education, and fishing techniques.

• Examples include retired PSU Professor of Flyfishing Joe Humphreys, two

time National Flyfishing Champion George Daniel, renown fly tyers Steve Sywensky, and Dave Holmes, retired Fish and Wildlife Biology Professor Bob Carline and the Colonial Angler.

• All of the equipment and supplies are provided. We all do that. Just add

vets.

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Retired Penn State Fly Fishing Professor Joe Humphreys An 87 Year-Old Korea Era Navy Veteran Mentor

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George Daniel

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PATU Veterans Service Partnership is Here To Help You

Build

The VSP Program You Want For Your

Community

& In Your Chapter. Questions and Comments How May We Help You?