I'm the coordinator for the May 1, take a soldier fishing event at Hagg Lake Oregon.
I'm and angler education instructor through Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Check-in begins at 7:00 AM Hagg Lake in Scoggins Park at area C, boat launch on May 1.
All fishing equipment/bait will be provided as well as lunch, day fishing licenses (if needed), and a refund of a parking pass. Everyone will need to make their own travel arrangements to the lake. The $5.00 pass fee will be reimbursed when check-in at Hagg Lake.

Lunch is planned at noon for all volunteers and participants at the covered area near the boat launch.

Be prepared for any type of weather, including rain or sun. Early May weather in Oregon is unpredictable.

We will be fishing for trout and bass from boats and/or from the bank. Event will end around 3:30 in the afternoon or sooner if a trout limit is caught or everyone is ready to depart.

We are currently seeking donations to help with all of the costs to rent the park area for the day. With all of the reservation fees and hotel rooms for out of town Veterans that will be participating we need to raise about $3200. I have spoken with a representative from the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife and it was explained to me that there is absolutely no way that the day use fishing licenses will be able to be donated without some sort of Legislative act. Well, we don't have time to change the laws in Oregon so we are asking for your help to raise money to make this a wonderful day of relaxation for our Soldiers in the Pacific Northwest. If you can help us please contact Jack Morby or myself so that this will be a free weekend for these soldiers and thier families. Thank you for your continued support and efforts.

I have also contacted the Washington County Commissioners office and asked if the Park fees could be waived but like most Government offices, we have not heard back from them. I am sure that it has slipped through the cracks or something.

Originally sent VIA email to me:

What a difference a day makes.

We requested to have 30 soldiers from Fort Lewis to attend the event on May 1, 2010. We have 4 vets, 3 active soldiers with 4 additional family members fishing for a total of 41 which includes the 30 soldiers from Fort Lewis.

Each of the 30 soldiers from Fort Lewis will have some form of injury.

Presently there are 35 boat spots (fisher people) and I hope we can recruit a couple more boats. I prefer to fish everyone from a boat.

I just booked 10 rooms at the Best Western Forest Grove at $66 (includes taxes). I'll continue to look for something better.

I have purchased American flags for each boat and for display at the registration tables (these are auto flags). I also have buttons for all volunteers and attendees which will identify them as part of our program for the event. The flag will help us identify one another while fishing. I also plan to give each boater a large number to hold or display. Fisher persons assigned to your boat will be given that number also. Hopefully that will make it easier for everyone on the day of the event to match boater captain with fisher persons.

Lunch will be provided by PVA of Portland Oregon and they have confirmed. I will provide them the final numbers next week. This lunch will include salads/meats/beverages, etc for volunteers and participants.

I will be assigning boats to those persons who have already signed up for the event starting this evening. I'll notify each boater as I fill their boat with soldiers/vets.

I also have 9 additional volunteers to help with registration, cleanup, etc. on the day of the event.

I will be asking my church volunteers to provide coffee/tea/juice and pastries/fruit the morning of the event unless someone else steps up.

We will sing the National Anthem with American Flag present prior to loading the boats.

We will be utlizing Area C (boat launch and pavilion). I was told that Boat Launch Area C is now in use from Washington Parks.

Communications while on the lake is important. If you have hand held radios/etc. plan to bring them with you. Hopefully we can find a channel where we all will be able to communicate with one another. Cell phones may not be reliable in this area.

Thank you for your willingness to register your boats and volunteer for this event.

Jack Morby
TASF, May 1, 2010 Henry Hagg Lake

Sent to me VIA Email -

The event was a success. We had 4 (3 parties) no shows. One of the no shows email I read today after the event.

Total number participating (i.e. fishing) was 24. I had 14 boats and 8 additional volunteers and pictures are pending.

Some pictures have already been displayed in our Narthex on our outreach poster at our church.

All boats took out soldiers/vets (except mine) and all caught fish. Some boats were limited with trout before lunch and didn't fish after lunch. Due to the no shows, I was able to place one of my volunteers on his boat (also an Army vet) and they had a delightful time. Some trout caught were up to 14" weighing 3 lbs. and some small mouth Bass to 14" were caught. I haven't seen any fish photos yet.

5 rooms were used at the Best Western. I doubt that they will give us much of a break on the 10 rooms.

I'll get some photos to you as soon as possible. (I'm still recovering)

Jack

We had persons participate from every branch of the service including the Coast Guard.