POSTED BY Brett Veerhusen IN Brett Veerhusen, Featured Posts, Occupation @ November 13, 2011 - 10:50 am
If you are like me, the Pacific Marine Expo (Fish Expo) has been the same story for most of my life: wandering around for a couple hours, getting introduced to dozens of people who knew me when I was young and watching all the old people laugh and have a great time. That’s because all the other fishermen seem to know each other, and because they are all from the same generation.
What happened to the lost generation? People my age. The way it used to be back in the 70′s and 80′s when so many fisher-folk were in their 20′s and 30′s.
Well, damnit, I’m doing something about it. On Saturday evening, the last night of Fish Expo, I am organizing a YOUNG FISHERMEN’S DINNER/BAR CRAWL. I’m taking matters into my own hands and even if there is only six of us, I want to meet the other six young fishermen (especially skippers) out there.
What: Young Fishermen’s Dinner & Bar Crawl
Where: Ballard. Preliminary drinks and dinner at The Market Arms. First crawl will be at Lock & Keel, then Kings Hardware, then ???
When: Saturday, November 19th. Dinner will start at 7pm at The Market Arms. Crawling starts at 9pm at Lock & Keel.
Who: YOUNG FISHERMEN, under the age of 35, who have a stake in the industry
Why: Young people + fishermen +stories + food + booze = Fun times in my book
Spread the good word, I’ll be hustling around the Expo so find me there, or ask Ben Blakey or Andy Scudder.
November 13, 2011 @ 5:53 pm
Matt Luck
Brett,
How about allowing old guys and gals to join the crawl after, say, 11 pm. You may need adult supervision or at least a little role modeling. Signed, Your August Family
November 13, 2011 @ 9:37 pm
Brett Veerhusen
August Family,
Are you going to show us how to party like its 1975?! I certainly cannot hold it against you guys if you just somehow show up conveniently where we are in Ballard on Saturday.
November 14, 2011 @ 1:37 pm
James Burton
Count me in.
November 14, 2011 @ 1:45 pm
Melanie
This old lady is feeling a little left out. I can’t be there anyway, but maybe next time you can come up with a category to include the in-betweens.
Have fun,
Mel
November 14, 2011 @ 2:24 pm
Brett Veerhusen
@Melanie – You know you would be welcome regardless!
@James – Can’t wait… you see there!
November 14, 2011 @ 3:48 pm
David Clark
Great idea! I was going to be doing this in Ballard anyways.
November 15, 2011 @ 8:12 am
Rhonda Hubbard
“Bar Crawl”? Couldn’t you have coined this something different? You aren’t helping the image of what should be a new and refreshing professionalism of fishers. The past generation has made a lot of mistakes and it would be good if you could learn from our mess ups by not relishing in getting messed up. Crawling around to bars sounds scummy. How about the “Young Fishermens Progressive Dinner” — a time to swap stories, exchange ideas and make a positive difference in our world of commercial fishing.
November 15, 2011 @ 2:29 pm
therealalaska
@Rhonda – the goal of the young fishermen’s dinner/bar crawl is supposed to have fun like many parents from previous generations did, but certainly not to get messed up. Remember, The Real Alaska is hosting a dinner beforehand, which will be an excellent setting for young folk within the industry to create strong connections. We’ll continue our night to a few bars, but The Real Alaska (and Brett) are certainly not condoning attendees getting “messed up.” In fact, the goal is to share some drinks with each other, and do exactly what you say above: swap stories, exchange ideas and make a positive difference. The title is supposed to be catchy in hopes of attracting as many young fishermen as possible.
November 19, 2011 @ 12:03 am
a young guy
OK RHONDA, PUT ON YOUR PURPLE SNUGGIE, MAKE A CUP OF SLEEPY TIME TEA AND HIT THE HAY. WE’LL BE OK, REALLY. THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY WILL NOT BE PUT IN HARM’S WAY BECAUSE A FEW 20 SOMETHINGS ARE BLOWIN OFF A LITTLE STEAM AND CELEBRATING THEIR YOUTH. GOODNIGHT
December 18, 2011 @ 10:26 pm
Frank's wife from Sitka
I wish I had known about this I would have sent my old guy husband Frank, a troller since 1960 that I am sure all of you would have enjoyed. Here in Sitka he lives like he is 30, yet has all of the old guy fun stories. We often speak of the young element of fishing and how much they have missed out on because the fleet aged so quickly in the late 70′s and there is a gap.
Party on, what a great addition to the Fish Expo, wish it was around the 10 years plus I attended as a deckhand.