Reeling and Healing Midwest Blog

VISIT OUR BOOTH!

Fellow Fly Fishers & Supporters,

The 2008 season will have its official start at the MFFC Midwest Fly Fishing Expo in Warren, MI, this weekend! Once again, Reeling & Healing Midwest will be hosting a booth at the show. If you are planning to attend, please stop by Booth E-14/E-15 and check us out.

Some of the activities in our booth include:

• Trout Love Beads - while supplies last
• Win A Custom Graphite Rod of Your Choice by Famed Rod Builder & Designer Kerry Burkheimer.
• Special Drawing for Fishing Gear & Accessories.
• The Fly Donation Creel is Open for Your Fly Donations.
• The New “Fish On” Hat and Shirt Collection will Debut.
• Past Participants & Volunteers can order a Special Rod Outfit - rod, reel, line, leader, tippet, flies & fly box.
• Learn about our Retreats - Sign up to Volunteer, Host a Fundraiser, Recruit Participants and More.
• Sign up to Participate in the Vest Decorating Contest.

FLY DONATIONS: Thanks to the support of fly tyers and tying clubs from around the world, our fly donation campaign was a tremendous success last year. These donations allowed us to outfit all 2007 participants with flies. Our mission for 2008 is to do it again. We welcome all types of flies. Learn more here.

Stop by and check out our Show Specials too!

Again, we invite you to join us in kick-starting another great season of renewing the spirit and hope of those who are battling and surviving cancer. Stop by Booth E-14/E-15. Take time out to meet some of the wonderful women who have participated in our fly fishing wellness retreats.

If you’re interested in volunteering in our booth during the show, please send us an email or phone 616-855-4017. We need additional assistance and welcome the help.

Here is to renewed spirit and renewed hope.

FISH ON!

The Huron Valley Chapter of the M.S.S.F.A. is hosted their annual Spring Fishing Show at the Monroe County Expo Center in Monroe, MI on February, 9th-10th, 2008.

Our our Theresa D., Sara W., and Terrie were there with a booth for Reeling & Healing Midwest. They had a great time talking to attendees and sharing stories about R&H Midwest, handing out our trout love beads and accepting donations for our retreat programs.

Sara, an accomplished fly tyer, introduced Terrie to the world of tying. She was mesmerized by the detail and workmanship that goes into tying a fly - she was blown away.

There was a variety of exhibitors from the fishing world - local and national, as well as seminars, speakers and hands-on demonstrations. Some of the best experts throughout the Great Lakes region were present.

The show was a tremendous success for the Huron Valley Chapter and we look forward to returning next year.

Read more here.

The Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo held their second annual show in early February and we were there!

Tom Helgeson, editor and publisher of Midwest Fly Fishing magazine, and his staff organized another great show. The new location at the Renaissance Hotel & Convention Center in Schaumburg, IL, was the place to be and learn more about fly fishing.

There were a number of presentations, learning sessions and programs available for all attendees. Some of the guest speakers were Gary Borger, Jason Borger, Kevin Feenstra, Diane Rudolph, Pat Ehlers, and Dennis Potter. The sessions were well attended and quite interesting and informative.

Many tyers and tying clubs were represented as well - Bear Andrews, the “Boys” from DRIFT, NIFTY, Small Mouth Alliance and the crew from Chicago Fly Fishers were tying away, telling stories and so much fun.

Local shops were there too - Coren’s, One More Cast, Chicago Fly Fishing Outfitters and of course Orvis Chicago.

Our booth was “manned” by the rock star volunteer team of Dave Madden (E.D.T.U.), Paul Melchior (Angling Escapes) and Wally Bock (O.B.T.U.). They worked hard to share the Reeling & Healing Midwest story of “Fish On”, recruit new participants and volunteers, host a drawing for a pair of Cubs tickets and of course, hand out our trout love bead necklaces.

Check out these links to learn more about Reeling & Healing Midwest, Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo, Midwest Fly Fishing magazine, and the vendors at the expo.

The Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo - Chicagoland is back for its second year.

The Expo will take place Friday, February 8th, through Sunday, February 10th at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center.

• Free fly casting lessons
• More than 40 Free presentations
• Instruction for beginners
• Fly tying instruction and demos
• Women in fly fishing workshops
• Conservation
• 2008 tackle and gear and travel exhibits
• Aquatic insect display
• +100 exhibits
• Go to www.greatwatersflyfishingexpo.com for more info or sign up for their free newsletter.
• Download their expo flyer: GreatWatersFlyer.

Sponsored by Midwest Fly Fishing magazine

The Huron Valley Chapter of the M.S.S.F.A. is hosting their annual Spring Fishing Show at the Monroe County Expo Center in Monroe, MI on February, 9th-10th, 2008.

The will be a variety of exhibitors from the fishing world - local and national, as well as seminars, speakers and hands-on demonstrations. Some of the best experts throughout the Great Lakes region will be presenting.

The show hours are 9 am until 8 pm on Saturday, February 9th, and 9 am until 5 pm on Sunday, February 10th.

Visit the Huron Valley Steelheaders website for more details.

You’ll find directions to the Monroe Expo Center here.

Greetings all. The following item was left behind at our booth at the MFFC Show. It belongs to someone who attended the July 30th 2006 retreat as it sports a fly tied by our own Alex Brown. If it belongs to you, please drop us an email with the necessary contact information.

Fish On!

Our good friends and supporters from the Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter of Trout Unlimited were in the booth next to us at the MFFC Expo in early March. There was Mark, and Mark, and Mark (really - there were three of them) and Sam, Dave (back from CO), Paco and more.They were raising monies for their 2007 activities with a wonderful raffle of six different top prize items. With long days of standing on the hard floor, and the drive down from the Grayling area, a number of the gentlemen jumped at the opportunity to indulged themselves 10-20 minutes of chair massage which was available in our booth with our therapist, Laura. She had generously donated her time and a portion of her proceeds to our retreat programs. She was a hit and will be back!

Thanks to everyone else who enjoyed the chair massage - especially the gentlemen from the booth next door!

Fish On!

Here are a few photos of the booth and the volunteers who made it such a success. There is Bonnie and Jay, Wally, Jean, John, Kathy, Peg and Kathryn, and our group photo with a portion of the crew that made it to the end of the day on Saturday.

One of the things that makes Reeling & Healing Midwest so special are the people. The survivors, the volunteers, the participants, the individuals who provide support via email, notes, contributions and finding time to share their experiences with others. There is the time we spend on the river, but the community we share together, whether at a fishing show, working bee, making phone calls to future participants or writing letters and requesting assistance with our Wish List items, it a wonderful dimension to our organization. And a growing community.

Fish On!

Here we are - Day 2 at the show!

Yesterday was amazing - there were approximately 3,000 attendees who came through the door and traveled from booth to booth, attending seminars and lectures - all focused on fly fishing.

We gave away over 1,200 of our signature fish necklaces. Many of the show attendees and vendors are sporting them again today.

We’re excited to be selling our raffle tickets. The two prizes are being sought by many interested fishers - men, women and young adults. The Tiffany key chain is an ideal gift and show stopper. With so many rods up at other booths as prizes, many attendees have commented on what a breath of fresh air this unique prize has become at the show.

The volunteers of the MFFC have provided superb service once again. From set-up assistance, the hospitality suite, the hotel accommodations and always stopping by to check on us and offer help - it just doesn’t get any better than this. Their effort to make this show the best in Michigan definitely pays off.

We spent some time with a number of vendors. Katherine D. and Cathy S. visited booths and tested out a starter rod kits for Katherine. After about 30 minutes at the casting pond comparing rods of various price points, Katherine purchased her first rod. She’s now armed to take on as many trout as she can imagine at the retreats this year. Plus, she’ll be practicing her casting in her backyard at anytime.

We have had well over 24 volunteers help out at our booth. They’ve set-up, sold t-shirts, offered chair massage, provided music, speakers, bubbles, have been folding brochures, selling raffle tickets, and sharing their Reeling & Healing Midwest stories with everyone. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP!

Additionally, we must extend thanks to the Trout Unlimited chapters, the vendors, supplies, the MFFC and many individual fishermen for their support. All have become part of our family with a goal to teach our sport, enhance the lives of cancer survivors and help each other and our causes.

The fly tyers who are donating flies, continue to drop by and add more flies to our donation basket - we are so very grateful. The flies will go to our retreat participants and will be shared with Reel Recovery, Project Healing Waters and Fishing Has No Boundaries. For those tyers who forgot their flies for donation, please remember to send them our way.

We salute Gail Madden for the hundreds of pairs of fish earrings and other handmade items she has provided to us to sell at shows to help sponsor retreat participants. Gail has been making the earrings for us for over five years!
And a special thanks to Kari Betzer who created some beautiful beaded bracelets to sell at the show as well. A percentage of the proceeds from the bracelets and her scarf collection will be donated to Reeling & Healing Midwest. You can find more of her items on her website (If you purchase an item from her website she will donate a portion of the proceeds to help sponsor a participants at a retreat this summer).

Here are a couple photos with the earrings and bracelets.

That’s all for now.

Fish On!

WHAT A DAY IT WAS! The doors opened and attendees poured into the expo ready to check out all the booths, seminars and guest speakers.

We had a great bunch of volunteers to help throughout the day - John R., Deborah H., Bonnie G., Peggy S., Wally B., Dave M., Jay S., Amy A., Carolyn R., Sharon G., Bob & Kathy K., Rose P., Renee M., Becky B., Kate D-M., Mary R., Lydia S., Jean H-L., Jackie H., Cynthia R., and Becca S.

Our booth was non-stop busy. Highlights include:

-Kids scavenger hunt game with prizes
-Tiffany Fly Fishing Key Chain Raffle
-Michigan TU Fly Fishing School Raffle
-T-shirts for ladies!
-Chair Massage
-Our fish jewelry
-Fly donation creel (overflowing by the end of the day!)

No one will forget the fish necklaces that everyone walking the show floor were wearing. Red, gold, blue, green and purple fish were adorning over 1,200 fishermen today. Thanks to our roving volunteers for spreading the news about Reeling & Healing Midwest and sharing the necklaces.

Then there were the bubbles. A luau themed booth needed the bubbles and we had ‘em, thanks to Jay S. Our video montage had Jimmy Buffet tunes to listen to while you watched the photos of our 2006 retreats come to life before you eyes.

At 2:30 pm, our own Cathy Sero gave a presentation at the casting pond called, “Practice Makes Perfect”. She discussed the reasons to practice (be a better fisherman for starters) and how to set goals and use targets to enhance your practice sessions. She referenced a book written by Jim C. Chapralis, a well-known pioneer in the fly fishing travel industry, a top-notch fisherman, caster and advocate for stream and water preservation. The book is called, “Master Your Casting”.

The show was rocking until closing time. Many interested attendees stopped by to learn about our 2007 programs, as well as what we accomplished in 2006. We had several individuals sign up to participate and volunteers as well.

With nine retreats last year, 178 participants and 224 volunteers and guides assisting, we did a lot in 2006. Read more about it at http://www.reelingandhealing.org - look for the 2006 Recap.

Many of the vendors as well as show attendees stopped by to treat themselves to a chair massage by our good friend, Laura W. She graciously donated a portion of her massage monies to Reeling & Healing Midwest to help sponsor 2007 participants. Everyone enjoyed Laura - her hands worked magic on quite a few tired shoulders.

After the show the volunteers who were hungry headed off to Buddy’s Pizza and enjoy some libations, appetizers and of course, pizza. We then headed back to the headquarters hotel for a visit to the MFFC Hospitality Suite. It was just getting into the swing of things about 9:00 pm.

More to come and photos too.

Fish On!