Changing of the Guard - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

YakMedic · 11-30-2015, 12:47 PM

As some of you may already know or have noticed. I have been slowly stepping away from my position as Chapter Coordinator for SoCal Heroes on the Water. I’m now at a point in my life that I have decided it is time to leave HOW in the hands of some very capable volunteers. Effective immediately Mike Weist is the new Chapter Coordinator and I am certain that he is the right person to lead this chapter. With the amazing support of the SoCal HOW leadership team of Mike T., Jay, Bernie, Jackie, Ryan, and Josh, the SoCal Chapter will thrive.

Five years ago myself and three other people founded the Southern California Chapter. We got off to a fairly slow and rocky start in our first year hosting three events and serving a total of 40 participants. It took a few years and some repositioning of leadership at the local level to get to where we are today. This year we hosted 10 Vet events and served nearly 400 veterans and family members. With the help of the current volunteers the SoCal chapter has become a flagship chapter of the HOW organization.

I have put hundreds of hours and thousands of my own dollars into this chapter and I strongly believe in what HOW can do for the disabled vets. It is this belief that has kept me pushing forward including driving 300 miles round trip from my home in the mountains to San Diego for our monthly events. I have a rare opportunity to start an exciting new phase in my life and focus on my education. After five years of making HOW a priority in my life it is now time to focus on my family and myself.

I would like to personally thank every person who has came out and volunteered. OEX Mission Bay and Sunset Beach have been instrumental in the success of the chapter and they deserve special thanks. I have made many friends through HOW and have met some amazing people.

Thank You,
Grisso, Matt
Heroes on the Water
Former SoCal Chapter Coordinator

MrPatrick · 11-30-2015, 12:55 PM

You are the man Matt!
Your dedication has helped so many people, volunteers included. Good luck in the future and keep making us proud to call you FRIEND.

momo fish · 11-30-2015, 01:21 PM

Thanks Matt for your work with this organization.

Mike has been great and seeing all the work he puts in you left the organization in great hands.. Besides he doesn't fish anymore so he has plenty of time 😊

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Iceman · 11-30-2015, 02:10 PM

Good luck Matt you deserve it. I hope you and I get to fish together in the not too distant future!

Mike seems to have hold of the reins!

Looking forward to helping out in the coming year!

Geno Machino · 11-30-2015, 03:43 PM

Thanks for getting the ball rolling here in Southern Cal! I'm new to the sport and to HOW as well, however I truly believe, donating my time to the HOW organization, I end up getting more out of it - than the vets.
Best Wishes and Success in all of your future ventures!

Geno

Deamon · 11-30-2015, 04:19 PM

Matt...

And also...no worries as I will kick Mike in the ass if ever needed...

Jim

ful-rac · 11-30-2015, 05:00 PM

Matt you have definitely served the Veterans well during your time with HOW. I'm glad to see you are moving forward in life and in your career. It was a tough couple of years you put in trying to make HOW better than it was...and you succeeded.

Im sure Mike is gonna do great taking over for you. He definitely has the passion, and is highly motivated to do the job. I know mike is the guy to take HOW to the next level.

Next year I will continue to support Mike and HOW as much as I can. I'm probably not gonna be able to go to every event but I will try...

11-30-2015, 12:47 PM	#1
YakMedic Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Wrightwood Posts: 623	Changing of the Guard As some of you may already know or have noticed. I have been slowly stepping away from my position as Chapter Coordinator for SoCal Heroes on the Water. I’m now at a point in my life that I have decided it is time to leave HOW in the hands of some very capable volunteers. Effective immediately Mike Weist is the new Chapter Coordinator and I am certain that he is the right person to lead this chapter. With the amazing support of the SoCal HOW leadership team of Mike T., Jay, Bernie, Jackie, Ryan, and Josh, the SoCal Chapter will thrive. Five years ago myself and three other people founded the Southern California Chapter. We got off to a fairly slow and rocky start in our first year hosting three events and serving a total of 40 participants. It took a few years and some repositioning of leadership at the local level to get to where we are today. This year we hosted 10 Vet events and served nearly 400 veterans and family members. With the help of the current volunteers the SoCal chapter has become a flagship chapter of the HOW organization. I have put hundreds of hours and thousands of my own dollars into this chapter and I strongly believe in what HOW can do for the disabled vets. It is this belief that has kept me pushing forward including driving 300 miles round trip from my home in the mountains to San Diego for our monthly events. I have a rare opportunity to start an exciting new phase in my life and focus on my education. After five years of making HOW a priority in my life it is now time to focus on my family and myself. I would like to personally thank every person who has came out and volunteered. OEX Mission Bay and Sunset Beach have been instrumental in the success of the chapter and they deserve special thanks. I have made many friends through HOW and have met some amazing people. Thank You, Grisso, Matt Heroes on the Water Former SoCal Chapter Coordinator Last edited by YakMedic; 11-30-2015 at 01:53 PM.

11-30-2015, 02:10 PM	#4
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	Good luck Matt you deserve it. I hope you and I get to fish together in the not too distant future! Mike seems to have hold of the reins! Looking forward to helping out in the coming year! __________________

11-30-2015, 03:43 PM	#5
Geno Machino "Relax" Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: O'side Posts: 553	Thanks for getting the ball rolling here in Southern Cal! I'm new to the sport and to HOW as well, however I truly believe, donating my time to the HOW organization, I end up getting more out of it - than the vets. Best Wishes and Success in all of your future ventures! Geno __________________

11-30-2015, 04:19 PM	#6
Deamon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,972	Matt... And also...no worries as I will kick Mike in the ass if ever needed... Jim __________________ Recreational Fisherman's Catch...2% Commercial Fisherman's Catch- 98% Recreational Fishing Kayakers Catch- .00001% "The reality is that the wall was built to keep all Asians ~specifically Japanese and those that think they're japanese~ out of the U.S"

11-30-2015, 05:00 PM	#7
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	Thank you Matt! Matt you have definitely served the Veterans well during your time with HOW. I'm glad to see you are moving forward in life and in your career. It was a tough couple of years you put in trying to make HOW better than it was...and you succeeded. Im sure Mike is gonna do great taking over for you. He definitely has the passion, and is highly motivated to do the job. I know mike is the guy to take HOW to the next level. Next year I will continue to support Mike and HOW as much as I can. I'm probably not gonna be able to go to every event but I will try... __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

11-30-2015, 12:55 PM	#2
MrPatrick Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Waiting to launch Posts: 1,381	You are the man Matt! Your dedication has helped so many people, volunteers included. Good luck in the future and keep making us proud to call you FRIEND.

11-30-2015, 01:21 PM	#3
momo fish Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Camarillo Posts: 1,491	Thanks Matt for your work with this organization. Mike has been great and seeing all the work he puts in you left the organization in great hands.. Besides he doesn't fish anymore so he has plenty of time 😊 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk