Military Appreciation Day, Charleston Chapter

[Cutiger]

Ladies and Gents, I have a great volunteer opportunity for you if you're in the vicinity of SC.

If you live around Morehead City or Southport, NC then you probably already know about MAD. If not, then here's a quick summary. MAD is a non-profit organization made up of entirely volunteers. We organize one day events in which boaters volunteer to take active duty, guard, and reservists fishing for the day. Then end that day with a cookout. Each chapter hosts one event a year. Our motto is One. Simple. THANKS!

I got involved with MAD about 4 years ago when I was living in NC. Last year myself and another MAD volunteer who lives in Charleston started up a Charleston Chapter. We held our first Charleston event last November and had 34 boats take 82 troops fishing. At the end of the day we ended up feeding about 120 volunteers and troops. This year we have also arranged to have a shuttle to Morris Island for surf fishing "captains" to take troops out there. We've also arranged for troops to fish for free on the piers with a paid pier "captain". So this year you don't even have to be a boat owner to take them fishing. SCDNR provides us with a fishing license waiver for captains to carry onboard that exempts the troops needing a fishing license the day of the event. You do not need to be a licensed captain, this is for everyday fishermen to have a way to say Thanks to our service members.

MAD Charleston 2016 is going to take place on November 12th. The event and cookout is held at RiversEdge Marina, but boat captains are welcome to leave from any area ramp, marina, house dock, etc. We pair the volunteer with the number of troops they request, and you arrange directly with your troops where and when to meet the morning of Nov. 12th. If you're not leaving from RiversEdge, you'll check in/out with us via text, call, or VHF. Last yer RiversEdge supplied slips to our out of town MAD boats for free. We haven't confirmed that yet for this year, but I bet they'll be doing that again. Our goal this year is to have 50 volunteer boats. We opened registration on Wednesday last week (9/14) and already have 11 boats & surf captains registered.

A lot of our volunteers get concerned about how (not) good of a fishermen they are. It doesn't matter how bad you are at catching fish, honestly. Last year the only thing caught on my boat was an anchor. But my guys had a blast (trash)talking about college football, riding around and seeing the sights from the water, and going in to Shem Creek for lunch.

Here's out website if you want to browse around and look at pictures. Or if you want to register to take some true American Heroes fishing.
http://militaryappreciationday.org/w...charleston-sc/

If you have questions, fire away, or give me a call (843-697-04 one one). I am the Charleston Chapter VP so I can answer any questions you may have.

If enough CSC people want to volunteer, maybe there could be a Sunday CSC gathering in Charleston...just a thought...

[Cutiger]

In case some have doubts, I did run this by Trayder for approval prior to posting

Here's a photo album from our 2015 event
http://www.militaryappreciationday.o...p?/category/29

[Vezo, Part II]

As a disabled firefighter, PTSD, I'd like to be involved/give back. Saw this on the other site and have been giving it some serious thought. Logistically, my South Carolina SeaCraft, does not have a fuel tank at this time. So I'm considering just coming up to volunteer, UNLESS a fellow Chucktown SeaCraft is interested in participating and has room. Either way I'm going to try to be there, even if I have to find a firehouse to crash at. I will be coming up from Bluffton.

Great cause and effort!

Vezo, Part II

[Cutiger]

I sold my little Sea Hunt and the Sceptre isn't near completion, so I'll be doing all land based stuff this year. We definitely can use all types of volunteers, not just boats. We setup in the morning and check in troops and captains as they show up or call/text in. This year we'll also have a volunteer at each area ramp to check off captains when they leave from other locations. We check them all back in as they return. During the event we'll ride around inshore and try to take some pictures on the water. We have site setup and prep on Friday that's a couple hours worth of table, chairs, lighting, sound, etc.

I started out the first two years of my MAD events just doing land and logistic things and not fishing at all. It's a good way to get acquainted and convince yourself to volunteer to fish the next event.

This is open to either inshore or offshore. We generally encourage captains to fish inshore because these troops are mostly rookies, some never even been on the water at all. However, there are captains that do fish offshore, and typically they take one of their crew as a mate for sure to help run the operation. Teaming up to mate for somebody else is an awesome idea and highly encouraged if another area SC is interested in fishing.

My house is open to any traveling MAD volunteer. Event or not, even passing through throughout the year. There are vacancies for this years MAD event as no rooms in the house have been claimed yet. I have a spare bedroom, possibly a second spare bedroom if our friend closes on his house and moves out by then, big couch, blow up in the office, screened back porch if you want to camp out, 2.5 baths, swimming pool if you want to November polar plunge, plenty of parking to house trucks and another boat or two, and a good grill and plenty of beer.

[Vezo, Part II]

Bluffton Township Fire District established a Cooking Team, about 12-13 years ago, primarily smoking butts every November, 100% proceeds donated to a local child in need just before Chrristmas. First year raising $5500 and the tenth year busting $20,000. 100k generated in total over the ten years. I was heavily involved, but not a Team member, and always in the shadows, gathering sponsors, silent auction items, supplying coolers, making deliveries to on duty FF who supported, and ordered meals from HHIFD, local schools and businesses.

I volunteered 8 years in NJ, and was career almost 23. I'm not into the Hero Syndrome, left the reporters, television crews, and Department Awards to the new, Post 9-11 FF's!

Hardest part was sometimes the following year, the recipient from previous year would attend. Sometimes there was a funeral within that year. Tough stuff. Ever seen a Pink Child sized casket at the alter?

I'm looking for a new outlet and this sounds really cool, because I never served in the Military, but now share with a common disorder/disease.

Michael.

[Cutiger]

Big success this weekend. We'll write up an official event summary, but the final numbers are going to be about 105 troops taken fishing by 39 captains. Chilly and small craft advisory, but they still caught a ton of fish inshore.

The albums are the same, so pick your preferred viewing platform, Facebook or Google.

Note the smiles out there on the water. That's what this event is all about.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...1&l=375830820d

https://goo.gl/photos/s48DZdD65op7m2589