[Nfbofsc] Fw: Fishing Story for Columbia Metropolitan Magazine

Fri May 30 14:36:44 UTC 2014

Publicity for the NFB of SC, Federation Center of the Blind and Rocky 
Bottom!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Julie Turner" <juliesmithturner at me.com>
To: "NFBSC Office" <nfbsc at sc.rr.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2014 4:42 PM
Subject: Fishing Story for Columbia Metropolitan Magazine

> Hi David! Thank you for taking the time to speak to me about these fishing 
> trips. I also spoke to Dorothy and her perspective was a great addition to 
> the information I got from you.
>
> Here is the first draft of the story. Let me know if there's anything 
> you'd like me to adjust. You can email me back or call me tomorrow anytime 
> after 11 am. My number is 422-7741.
>
> Thank you and hope you enjoy reading it!
>
>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>
>
> Julie Turner
>
> wordsmith
> Content Strategy | Copywriting
>

The Joy of Fishing for All

For many South Carolinians, fishing is a relaxing pastime that tantalizes 
the eyes, ears and nose. From the gentle glide of a boat skimming across the 
water to the flick of a baited line under the water's surface, the sights of 
fishing are often quietly spectacular.

Fishing is a particularly joyful experience for Dorothy Barksdale, too. But 
this 62-year-old Laurens native isn't your everyday sportsman. Barksdale has 
been legally blind since her mid-20s. That she can enjoy the simple pleasure 
of an afternoon of fishing is a gift is made possible by a joint effort 
between regional Lions Clubs in Columbia, Greenwood, Easley, Clemson and 
Santee, and the local chapters of the Federation Center of the Blind, an 
affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina.

Together, the groups plan, organize and execute annual spring fishing 
outings for blind adults age 18 and older, some of whom live with other 
handicapping conditions in addition to visual impairment. This year, fishing 
trips were planned in Pickens County and Greenwood, and included blind 
individuals from the Columbia, Anderson, Greenville, Spartanburg, 
Charleston, Summerville, Upper Dorchester and North Augusta areas.

The Federation Center of the Blind's Executive Director, David Houck shared 
the long history behind the beloved program, which has helped hundreds of 
legally blind South Carolinians experience the joy of fishing on the water 
in a safe and comfortable way. In 2014, the groups whisked 43 fishermen and 
fisherwomen off for two-day weekends of fishing, along with a pack of local 
Lions Club volunteers who assisted with companionship, meal preparation, 
baiting hooks, moral support, and much more.

"This program began about 20 years ago with the aim to provide recreational 
opportunities for the blind," said Houck. "Since then it's grown from the 
Midlands, into the Lowcountry and the Upstate, and beyond." Participants for 
each trip, who are chosen through an application process, have several 
fishing holes from which to choose. "The Santee Lions Club trip is an 
overnight trip to Lake Marion with dinner and entertainment the night before 
the fishing begins. Then, the next day, the participants and Lions members 
all enjoy a day of fishing on Lake Marion together complete with a lunch 
which is boated out to everyone," he said. Each participant who fishes is 
paired with one or more helpers and can choose where he or she would most 
enjoy fishing: from the pier or out on the lake in a pontoon boat.

Other trip participants venture north and head upstate from Columbia to the 
mountainous Rocky Bottom Retreat and Conference Center, a unique camp that's 
operated by blind individuals for blind individuals. Open year round for the 
blind and their immediate family members, the Pickens County camp offers 
special programming including fishing as well as full week and weekend 
mountain vacation getaways. Each year the Rocky Bottom Retreat and 
Conference Center serves more than 1,000 individuals.

No matter where they take place, the group's fishing experiences are rounded 
out with plenty of joyful, warm memories. From campfire cookouts to raucous 
rounds of bingo to sizzling pancake breakfasts, everyone knows they're in 
for quite a good time. In fact, the fishing experiences have become so 
popular, according to Houck that an application process is now in place to 
select recipients with first priority going to those who have never been on 
one of the group's fishing trips. The May fishing trip to Lake Marion 
included 28 participants and, two weeks later, a second trip to Rocky Bottom 
Retreat hosted fifteen blind individuals.

Like any fishing weekend, these trips aren't solely about fun and 
fellowship; these jaunts are bona fide, blind-only competitive fishing 
tournaments with a few lucky participants earning local fishing glory. Each 
expedition names official winners for catching the largest fish and the most 
fish (plus an off-the-record honor for reeling in the tiniest catch). The 
two first-place tournament winners at each local tournament go on to 
participate in another larger all-blind fishing tournament held this October 
in Outer Banks, North Carolina.

The longstanding partnership, which spans about 15-20 years in South 
Carolina, is made possible each year thanks to wide support among regional 
Lions Club chapters. The Lions, one of the nation's largest service club 
organizations, have a long history of helping the visually impaired. In 
1925, Helen Keller charged the group to become "knights of the blind in the 
crusade against darkness." It was a challenge they readily accepted and 
remains core to their mission of service today.

"We are so appreciative of the work of the Lions Clubs and have been for a 
number of years," shared Houck. "Their support makes this important 
experience possible. Our participants truly enjoy fishing and many want to 
sign up year after year. Unfortunately, we always seem to have more 
applicants than we can serve in any given year."

One of those happy fisherwomen is Barksdale, who has been on five fishing 
trips in South Carolina. Barksdale, who was born with cataracts and 
glaucoma, experienced worsening sight throughout her youth and eventually 
completely lost her ability to see by the age of 22. It was a total 
darkness, she said, that made her especially fearful of being on or around 
water throughout her life.

"The first time I went fishing I was so nervous about being on the water," 
she said. "I feared even the thought of being on a boat. When I was selected 
for a trip, I was scared. But I went anyway and I had a ball." On that trip 
Barksdale landed her first - and last - fish, so far. "On that first trip I 
caught a fish and it was so exciting," she said. "But the last four times I've 
gone, nothing! Those fish just come along and eat my worm, but I still have 
so much fun."

Barksdale is living proof that the simple act of going fishing can have 
lifelong downstream effects for blind individuals. "It's an unbelievable 
experience that many people with blindness would otherwise never have," said 
Barksdale. "Most individuals who are blind end up fearing water and never 
experience the feeling of being in a boat on the water. With the support of 
the Lions and an experience like this, they have a way to safely cope with 
those fears and hopefully even overcome them."

Barksdale laughed when recalling her first trip to Lake Marion about five 
years ago. "I was so nervous and then when I got down to the dock where the 
boat was, I had to step way down to get into the boat," she recalled. "I 
couldn't get myself down to the boat! It took two men helping me, one on 
either side, and finally I had to just sit down on the dock and slide in. 
With their help, I did it. I finally got myself into that boat."

She credits the five fishing experiences she's had in helping her curb her 
longtime fear of being on the water in a way that's opened up her life to 
new opportunities. "My family had always wanted to go on a cruise together 
but I was just too nervous about it," she said. "Once I got around the water 
on Lake Marion and got used to it, I was finally ready to go on a cruise. In 
fact, I actually wanted to."

A few years after she'd mustered the courage for her inaugural ocean-going 
voyage, her plans were sidelined by a startling change of health. She 
learned she had breast cancer in 2012 and had to seek a grueling series of 
treatments. "Once I was far enough along in my treatment and felt I was 
going to be okay, I had one question for the doctor, 'Can I still go on that 
cruise?'" she said.

Just a few months later, in January 2013, Barksdale got the all clear and 
her sea-faring wish finally came true as she boarded a cruise ship for a 
five-day island jaunt. "By the time the cruise was over," she laughed, "I 
did not even want to get off the ship! I just loved it."

It's stories like Barksdale's and many others that keep this vital 
recreational opportunity on the event calendar each year, said Houck. 
Participants are already lining up for the opportunity to enjoy a day of 
fishing with the Lions again in 2015.

Among those who can already hear the hum of the boat engine and zip of the 
casting fishing line is Dorothy Barksdale. Her burning hope? Maybe 2015 will 
finally be the year she's been waiting for - the year she finally catches 
The Big One. If not, she'll happily settle for a little one, too. In her 
eyes, a fish is still a fish.

And she'd sure like to catch another one - soon.

To learn more about the Lions-National Federation of the Blind of South 
Carolina fishing trips and other life enrichment opportunities for blind 
individuals and their families, visit http://www.nfbsc.net.
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