Hey Fellas: Sad day for me, I cherish my reputation for following through and always meeting my responsibilities. I bit off more than i can chew here and AS YOU WILL SEE IN THE LETTER BELOW, so many things happened I was not equipped to handle that at this pointit is more of a standup thing to admit my shortcomings and avoid disappointed a lot of kids and or bringing any negative attention to CAST. School and diabetese are taking a toll and I am not prepared to keep going. I apologize to all, and I will continue working with the guys I do, helping once hopeless people learn the joys of fishing and I hope you fellas understand.

COPY OF LETTER TO CAST:

Dear Art:

With much reluctance and regret I must ask to be

released from hosting the C.A.S.T. for Kids event

scheduled for September 22, 2007 at Beltzville Lake in

Pennsylvania. Resigning was the furthest thought from

my mind when I took on the challenge of hosting a

C.A.S.T for Kids event. It has become obvious that I

bit off more than I can chew. We unfortunately need

to cancel this event, as I cannot find anyone else to

take it over.

When we started, I had two fine individuals in Ron and

Joe helping me. Unfortunately, Ron has now moved to

Florida. Joe has since been diagnosed with cancer, and

the treatments and subsequent side effects have caused

him problems fulfilling his responsibilities. I have

had several other individuals agree to help, but none

have followed through on their intent. I have sought

additional help in our area, including the Bass

Federation, but have not received any firm support. In

addition, ill health and growing burdens in other

areas have drained me of the energy and enthusiasm

needed to conduct such a program. As a result, I

cannot give full attention to my responsibilities, and

with time growing short, I feel that I am

shortchanging your excellent organization. I did not

have the skills Ron and Joe brought with them. And it

pains me as I am beginning to see this event slip

away. If another C.A.S.T. for Kids event comes to our

area, perhaps I can shadow someone hosting the event,

help work on one, and see what I need to learn. I am a

caring individual and try to give back to the

community for the blessings I have received. I take

ex-cons and guys in recovery out, and introduce them

to fishing. But I went in over my head in this case,

and realize I do not have the skills needed to put an

event like this for 40 kids, the volunteers, and all

the needed support. I have found my niche is with the

older guys on a one-on-one basis, and perhaps that is

what I should continue to do. I know I can do that

just fine, and this is where my strength lies, and

where I can do the most good in this world.

I will coordinate with Joe to notify the parties

involved, that the event will be cancelled. It shall

always weigh upon me to know these disabled and

disadvantaged kids in our area will not get the chance

to fish, because of our groups unfortunate

circumstances and shortcomings.

Let me extend my sincere apology, and forward good

wishes to you for the continued success in C.A.S.T.

for Kids. I am a man of my word and it hurts me to do

this, but I refuse to let a bunch of kids, or an

organization like C.A.S.T. for Kids down by not

providing an event up to the standards you have set.

Sincerely,

Well, that's a huge bummer, but We understand.  You tried.  Your heart was in the right place.  Perhaps if I can make some of the contacts for you over the next few months, maybe you'll reconsider for '08.  Put ME on your committee, I got a phone    PM me if you want me to pre-assemble some folks for you.  If you'd like to road trip to RI for the Aug 25th event to see what it's about, you're more than welcome here buddy.

Sorry to hear that you had to cancell the event.  Things happen that we can't control.

Maybe you will be able to do another event later.

Alfred

Yo Muddy,

It broke my heart to read your post.

First because I know how utterly distressed it must have made you feel.

Second because of your "mea culpa".

Muddy, my dear friend, I see no "shortcomings" here.

What I see is an honorable man with a huge heart.