Whale Foundation Liaison Program and List

The Whale Foundation’s Liaison Program is ready to go! The program was created to provide a personal link between the river community and the Foundation’s services. We’re happy to announce the first round of Liaisons have undergone a full day of training with licensed therapist Sandy Reiff and are ready to serve.
The training is provided to assist Liaisons with recognizing signs and symptoms of depression, dealing with a potentially suicidal person, and helping folks recover from post-traumatic stress syndrome. Perhaps you, or someone you know, simply need a shoulder to lean on, a compassionate ear, someone who understands the challenges guides face on their days off river. The Liaisons have volunteered to serve as friends and listeners. They are aware of the Whale Foundation’s programs of support, recognize the confidential nature of their role, and able to offer suggestions or options for successfully navigating the off-river season.
As we move into winter, a time when many of us are confronted by the harsh realities of life off the river, we wanted everyone to have access to the list of Liaisons, their emails and phone numbers. We plan to have volunteers from each company and a few freelancers trained and available, but don’t feel locked into calling the Liaison who represents your outfitter or hold back talking with someone because your representative has not yet been trained. Contact any Liaison with whom you feel comfortable. If you do not receive a response within 24 hours, please contact someone else on the list, or the Whale Foundation directly.
If you are interested in becoming a Liaison, please contact the Whale Foundation. Our next training session will be in Flagstaff, Friday, Jan 17th, from 9–3. We are very grateful to everyone who’s taking part in this program. Have a happy, healthy, successful winter!
The Whale Foundation, PO Box 855, Flagstaff az 86002-0855, 866-773-0773 (toll free) www.whalefoundation.org
2002 Whale Foundation Liaisons
Lora Colten (azra) lcolten@yahoo.com—928-734-0102 Kykotsmovi az.
Tim Whitney (arr) whitney@infomagic.net—928-526-4277 Flagstaff az.
Nate Alvord (Canyoneers) N8woods@aol.com—928-714-8292 Flagstaff az.
Bob Grusy (Hatch) thegruz@earthlink.net—520-647-0313, cell 529-661-8739 Tucson az.
Robby Pitagora (oars) robbyp@telocity.com—home 510-848-4041, work 510-381-4041 Berkeley ca.
Nancy Helin (oars) bnhelin@uneedspeed.net—928-214-6401 Flagstaff az.
Jacob Sack (ou) jacobtsack@yahoo.com—970-259-0753 Durango co.
Clint Anderson (wra) cja9@dana.ucc.nau.edu—928-774-8699 Flagstaff az.
Lynn Roeder (Science) roederboat@aol.com—928-773-9128 Flagstaff az.
Connie Tibbitts (Freelance) reddirtgirl@worldnet.att— 928-355-2293. 640-0238 Marble Canyon az.
Dick McCallum (Freelance) mrichard@uneedspeed.net 928-226-1329 Flagstaff az.

The First Annual Whale Foundation Wingding

The Whale Foundation (wf) is planning its first fundraising extravaganza to help fund our efforts to support the Grand Canyon guiding community and celebrate the joy of our connection to one another! The First Annual wf Wingding will be a wonderful dinner/dance party—with live and silent auctions, plus a raffle—held at the Coconino Center for the Arts in Flagstaff on Saturday February 8, 2003 from 6–11 p.m. Currently we’re planning the “mother of all potluck dinners”, a cash bar, live music and a stunning array of boatman art and talent. If you’d like to donate an art piece or service, or volunteer to assist us with organization and set-up, please contact us! Admission is free. So, invite all the right people, bring your rich uncle, come feel the love and dance the night away!