Michigan Trout Unlimited
MICHIGAN Trout
Clinton Valley Chapter Giving Back
20
by Tony Saez, Clinton Valley Chapter
Spring 2022
As we slowly start to work ourselves back into some normalcy because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Clinton Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited (CVTU) found ways to stay focused and move forward. One such way was the 2020 Veterans Appreciation Weekend. This event was created with the objective of selecting eight local military veterans within the boundaries of the CVTU, no matter which branch of service or period of service. The board wanted the veterans to be individuals who had little to no fly fishing experience who would like to learn, as well as have an interest in environmental conservation, as both items are a driving force for TU. The 2020 event was a tremendous success, which brought pleasure to the CVTU membership, its board, and, more importantly, the veterans themselves. Based upon the event’s success, a motion was presented and approved to have the event for the 2021 fishing season. The process was the same as the previous year. We started by encouraging the membership to contact friends and family who were veterans or who still serve with no fly-fishing experience but who may be interested in the sport and the conservation message of TU. The Veterans Appreciation Weekend was an all-expenses-paid event located on the Pere Marquette River, which included two days of fishing. One was a full-day guided float trip, and the second day was a wade trip with CVTU volunteers. The veterans were also provided lodging, food, fly fishing equipment, and a oneyear membership to TU. The Clinton Valley Chapter used funds from the previous year’s holiday social to fund the event, but due to the pandemic, the 2020 event did not take place. CVTU had to find funding to have the event. This task was taken on and completed through arduous work by the chapter’s Veterans Committee with the support of our CVTU membership. The event kicked off with arrival on Friday. As with a new event, introductions are a major
part. The CVTU volunteers met the veterans, and all had great conversations. The great thing for us to see is how the veterans intermingled and talked. Veterans from the various branches started with the standard “smack talk,” which is part of the fun, but you also see the mutual respect for one another. Through the discussions, many of the veterans found out they were “in country” at the same time and fought in the same cities despite being from different branches. In the end, they all sacrificed, some more than others, to ensure that the nation was and continues to be a safe place. Once everyone had settled in, the veterans were given a casting lesson using their new Orvis Clearwater combo fly rod. That coincided with dinner and a meeting, which consisted of a meet and greet with the veterans as well as five CVTU members, who were the weekend hosts. The social hour went well into the night with stories and laughter. Some stories were not so great or funny, but the thought of having others there who had experienced the same and others who appreciate what had been done
