Fish for Teeth

July 2005 to present — Way back in 2005 at the end of the Bristol Bay season, which was a year many processors had put their fleets on limit, I asked the market to whom I sell my fish what they were going to do with the over-limit fish some of their fishermen had delivered. Their solution was to donate the funds to a charity of the fisherman’s choice.

Later in the fall when I was helping out at my kids’ school, I met a 9-year-old girl who, pretty much out of the blue, decided to show me her cavities. “Look at my cavities!” she exclaimed, like they were some kind of accomplishment. Sure enough, there were a couple really big cavities, one on either side of her mouth, infecting her bottom molars. I didn’t even look at her top teeth.

“Do they hurt?” I asked.

“Sometimes,” she replied, “it comes and goes.” The bell rang and she was gone.

I stood there contemplating how that kid is living with the pain of two mega-molar cavities, probably because her family couldn’t afford to fix them, and >BING!< I had an idea. I could direct the over-limit fish money to help fix kids’ teeth! I could call it Fish for Teeth!

I talked to my accountant, and she told me everything I had to do, which was a lot. I applied for a state non-profit business license before the 2006 season, but never did anything beyond that. I just didn’t have the time to do more, and I still don’t; but I recently found the time anyway.

Starting at the end of February 2007, which was the week prior to my departure for the longline season, I called a few fishermen, dentists, and health care providers, held a meeting, and all of a sudden Fish for Teeth had a board of directors. While I was on the Discovery fishing I lined up an attorney to complete our articles of incorporation and our by-laws. The only thing remaining is the completion of the monster tax form 1023, which is five pages long with well over 100 questions, all begging for the correct answer.

My goal is to have Fish for Teeth be a legally recognized 501c3 organization before the 2007 Bristol Bay season, so if anybody delivers any over-limit fish during the season, perhaps they would like to direct the proceeds of their over-limit landing to Fish for Teeth.

I also conjured up the idea of taking some of the rockfish we catch while we are fishing for halibut and having the boat donate them to Fish for Teeth. Some of these rockers bring a good price, but many of them — like the ones I think are tastiest — they pay only 35 cents per pound. So it wouldn’t be too much off the gross stock if the boat were to kick in a few of these low-priced fish to support this fine, new organization.

I now have a cause to work toward, and it is a cause to help the children. The commercial fishing industry shall never be the same!

TO BE CONTINUED…

Comments

[la habra dentist]

very great idea helping people with dental problem in your area is a big help for those people who cant afford in going to dentist.

[santa barbara cosmetice dentist]

Thank you for bringing up this very important matter,nice subject to explore.

by: florence

[Lorna Conner]

Hi Matt
What a great idea. Can you send some information to Arrowac? I'll post it on the board, and pass the information out to the guys.

So did you get it up and running in time?