Liaison Training

he Whale Foundation Board of Directors and Health Services Committee would like to thank all the participants, the mental health providers, Chris Wright, and the Grand Canyon Conservation Fund for making the October 2006 liaison training possible and so successful. We had 23 participants and twenty volunteered to be liaisons to Whale Foundation outreach services from within their companies. The participants particularly liked the opportunity to practice “active listening” after a lecture on the subject, and learning that, “As a liaison I don’t have to “fix” someone.” The Whale Foundation assists members of the Grand Canyon river guiding community who are experiencing stress, depression, and other types of psychological need or illness. Some of the services and/or information we provide are: confidential mental health counseling, wellness and lifestyle information, career planning and transitioning, financial planning, and the Kenton Grua Scholarship for post secondary education financial assistance. The Whale Foundation’s Liaison Program was created to provide a personal link between the river community and the Foundation’s services. Our goal is to find at least one working Grand Canyon guide in each commercial company, and a few freelancers, who would be willing to act as a bridge— or Liaison-between fellow guides and the Whale Foundation. We are grateful to those who have generously and enthusiastically volunteered to serve in this capacity and applaud those who have used this link to get help. All liaisons sign an agreement promising confidentiality. If you are interested in this program please contact us. For more information please check out our website at: www.whalefoundation.org. Hope everyone had a great river season. Susan Hamilton-Gourley

New 2006 Whale Foundation Calendar

Christmas is coming. Help support the Whale Foundation’s outreach programs and order this great new fourteen month calendar. Created at Mary Williams Design, it is full of beautiful four color images of the Canyon by many of its veteran photographers and at $10 including shipping is a ridiculous bargain! You can purchase them at Mountain Sports in Flagstaff, Willow Creek Books and Outdoor Gear in Kanab, download an order form at www.whalefoundation.org or just wrap your check/money order in a piece of paper along with your coordinates and mail it to P.O. Box 855 Flagstaff, az 86002-0855. Money orders made out to The Whale Foundation will speed your order along. Otherwise please allow two weeks for your order to be shipped. For foreign addresses please add $5. Please, no phone orders and, thanks for supporting the Grand Canyon river guiding community.

WingDing IV

The fourth Annual WingDing will be held on Saturday February 4, 2006 from 6–11 p.m at the Coconino Center for the Arts, 2300N. Ft. Valley Road, Flagstaff, az 86001 (behind Sechrist School and the Art Barn). This Grand Canyon river family rendezvous and fundraiser is a great gathering and a whale-sized undertaking for about 350. We’ll have dinner and music, a raffle and lots of beautiful art, books, services and getaways from the river community in both silent and live auctions. We’re also looking for volunteers to help with food, beverages, registration, both auctions, set up and clean up. If you’d like to join us and can spare some time around then to help with the planning and execution of this fabulous feast you are most welcome. Just call 928-779-9440 and we’ll call you back. Mark your calendar and we hope to see you there.

The Whale Foundation P. O. Box 855 Flagstaff, az 86002-0855 Toll Free On Call Help Line: 1-866-773-0773 Business: 928-779-9440 Web: www.whalefoundation.org Email: info@whalefoundation.org

Whale Foundation Health Care Services January–October 2005

•Our health providers list includes eight mental health counselors, twelve physicians (including two who specialize in psychiatry), one dentist, one optician, two health insurance brokers, three certified financial planners, six physical therapists and three massage therapists.
•Counseling (free or reduced cost): 35 35 guides totaling 115 hours.
•A Flagstaff physician served fourteen guides donating $1280.00 $1280.00 of medical services.
•Health professionals provided free screenings to 41 guides at the Spring Guides Training Seminar Health Fair, a value worth $750 per patient. The Whale Foundation paid $345 for bloodwork.
•Four $1500 post secondary educational scholarships were granted to guides from the Kenton Grua Memorial Scholarship Fund.
•$2000 donated to miscellaneous guide health needs.