SEWTU launches Wisconsin’s first Project Healing Waters Program

Project Healing Waters Kick-Off Meeting a Success

Milwaukee, WI -   SEWTU formally launched the Project Healing Waters Milwaukee Program with a Kick-Off Meeting yesterday at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center.  Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active duty military personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education.  SEWTU has partnered with PHWFF in an effort to provide this service to veterans in Milwaukee.  SEWTU volunteers, working with hospital staff, will donate their time to teach the various skills involved in the sport of fly fishing to Project participants.

            The Kick-Off Meeting served as a forum to present the Program to interested veterans and V.A. staff.  Mike Kuhr gave a presentation outlining the history of Project Healing Waters, the benefits of fly-fishing, and the future of the Program in Milwaukee.  Volunteers Glen Winston, Al Dalphonso, Joe Valkoun, and Zoan Kulinski demonstrated fly tying techniques and answered questions related to the art of fly tying.  Volunteers Todd Durian, John Knitter, and Ray Weiss were on hand to demonstrate fly casting.  For many of the interested participants, this was their first exposure to the sport of fly fishing.  Many left with a new fly in their pocket after having made their first cast with a fly rod!

The Project Healing Waters Program in Milwaukee will build on the momentum created by volunteers Glen, Al, Joe, and others who have been teaching fly tying at the V.A. for the last 2 years.  Their heroic efforts have laid the groundwork for the future success of Project Healing Waters in Milwaukee.  They have developed a relationship with several veterans at the V.A. and have earned the respect of hospital staff.  SEWTU would like to thank Pat Ehlers, owner of The Fly Fishers Fly Shop, for his continued support of these efforts to teach fly tying at the V.A. Medical Center.  SEWTU will continue to “serve those who have served” with the introduction of Project Healing Waters Program.  For more information about this program, please contact Mike Kuhr by email (mikek.trout@yahoo.com) or phone (414) 588-4281.       

Project Healing Waters Milwaukee is dependent on tax-deductible financial donations and the help of numerous volunteers to meet the educational, training, equipment, transportation, and outing needs of the participants.  If you would like to contribute to this Project, please send a check made payable to “SEWTU” to “5590 S. 45th Street, Greenfield, WI  53220”.  Please write “Project Healing Waters” on the description line.  If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Mike Kuhr.