The Davalas are Moving to Vermont!!!

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Daniel Davala

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Sep 25, 2015, 7:57:55 AM9/25/15
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To All Of My Dear TPFRers

A bit more than seven years ago I was deeply convicted by a verse from Ecclesiastes that reads, "A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work".  I already knew how to eat, and I can drink with the best of them, so I set out to find satisfaction in my work which had up to that point eluded me.  This road as you now know, lead me to the job as Fishing Manager of the Orvis shop in Arlington, VA in June of 2008, and thus began our journey together.  In the years that have followed, the above timeless wisdom has proven true over and again.  My time working at the shop and developing TPFR have been the most satisfying years of my life, and getting to know you all is among the greatest of rewards.

While I could happily continue as things are indefinitely, it seems my journey is not to end here.  Our road is leading us North, as I have recently accepted a job as Sporting Travel Planner with our Adventures team at the Orvis HQ in Sunderland, Vermont.  Not only will this job allow me to continue to explore and fish the world in a way I could have never imagined, it will ironically and most importantly give me more time at home with my beloved wife and best friend Melody, and our kiddos VA, Paulie, and John when I am not traveling.  It is also an opportunity for Melody and I to raise our kids in a beautiful location with a much slower pace during these short and important years of their lives.

I will be following up in the coming days with additional details and succession plans, but please know there is a plan in place and the club will be well looked after.  Succession plans for the shop are under way as well and we are very well staffed in the meantime.  I am out of the shop this week hosting a Salmon trip in Canada.  My last days in the shop will be 10/02-10/07 after which we'll begin the relocation process.  I'll be working remotely for the second half of October and the plan at this point is for us to move to Vermont during the first week of November - just in time for winter.

Now on to more important things - LET'S PARTY!!!!!  The Monday, October 12 BEER TIE will be my last at the helm, so we're going to throw an all campus rocker!  Melody and the kids will be there with me and we would love to see as many of you as possible, so please come out if you can.  I'll post more specifics about this farewell jammy-jam as it all takes shape.

Know that I love you all, I have cheered for you all, and I will miss you all dearly, but I won't be disappearing.  I'll be looking in on you from time to time, and I am confident the community we have built here together will continue to grow and be stronger than ever.  Thank you all for everything you have done to make TPFR the beacon that it is!  And thank you most of all, for your friendship.

All the very, very best!

Dan Davala 






Carl Smolka

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Sep 25, 2015, 8:04:47 AM9/25/15
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Safe travels and much success in your new position, Dan.

Carl Smolka

 

From: tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com [mailto:tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Daniel Davala
Sent: Friday, September 25, 2015 7:58 AM
To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders
Subject: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} The Davalas are Moving to Vermont!!!

To All Of My Dear TPFRers

 

AB bit more than seven years ago I was deeply convicted by a verse from Ecclesiastes that reads, "A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work".B B I already knew how to eat, and I canB drink with the best of them, so I set out to find satisfaction in my workB which hadB up to that point eluded me.B B This road as you now know,B lead me toB the job as Fishing Manager of the Orvis shop in Arlington, VA in June of 2008, and thus began our journey together.B In the years that have followed, the above timeless wisdom has proven true over andB again.B B My time working at the shop andB developingB TPFRB have been the most satisfying years of my life, and getting to know you all is among the greatest ofB rewards.

 

While I could happily continue as things areB indefinitely,B it seems my journeyB is not to end here.B Our road is leading us North, asB I have recentlyB accepted a job as Sporting Travel PlannerB with our AdventuresB team at the Orvis HQ in Sunderland, Vermont.B B Not only will this job allow me to continue to explore and fish the world in a way I could have never imagined, it will ironically and most importantly give me more time at home with my beloved wife and best friend Melody, and our kiddos VA, Paulie, and John when I am not traveling.B It is also an opportunity for Melody and IB to raise our kids in a beautiful location with a much slower paceB during these short and important years of their lives.

 

I will be following up in the coming days with additional details and succession plans, but please know there is a plan in place and the club will be well looked after.B Succession plans for the shop are under way as well and we are very well staffed inB the meantime.B I am out of the shop this week hosting a Salmon trip in Canada.B My last days in the shop will be 10/02-10/07 after which we'll begin the relocation process.B I'll be working remotely for the second half of October and the plan at this point is for us to move to Vermont during the first week of November - justB in time for winter.

 

Now on to more important things -B LET'S PARTY!!!!!B The Monday, October 12 BEER TIE will be my last at the helm, so we're going to throw an all campus rocker!B Melody and the kids will be there with me and weB would love to see as many of you as possible,B so please come out if you can.B I'll post more specifics about this farewell jammy-jamB as it allB takes shape.

 

Know thatB I love you all, I haveB cheeredB for you all, andB I willB miss you all dearly,B but I won't be disappearing.B I'll be looking in on you from time to time, and I am confident the community we have built hereB togetherB will continue to grow and be stronger than ever.B Thank you all for everything you have done to make TPFR the beacon that it is!B AndB thank you most of all,B for your friendship.

 

All the very, very best!

 

Dan DavalaB

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Misha Gill

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Sep 25, 2015, 8:40:06 AM9/25/15
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Dan, I know I speak for everyone when I say that you will be missed most dearly. Thank you for all the years you've spent giving yourself to this community. Words just can't express what you've accomplished and how grateful I am. 

I am so excited for your new job, it really truly is a perfect fit for you! I'm going to call it now though: someday you will be the host of the best fly fishing lodge in the world. Or at least that's how you'll talk it up. And you know what? We will all believe you. 

Looking forward to throwing down with you, Melody, and the kids on October 12th. Congratulations!

Ryan DiAndrea

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Sep 25, 2015, 8:56:08 AM9/25/15
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Dan - Thanks for all the help you've given me when I come into the shop. I really can't tell you how much I appreciate it.  When I started fly fishing I never thought I would spend my Saturdays standing in Orvis talking about Operation Ivy. My in laws are only about an hour from Sutherland/Manchester so don't be surprised if you see my name pop up in your email looking for good fishing spots or needing a casting lesson haha. Good luck at your new job and in your new home.

Cheers,
Ryan

tperkins

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Sep 25, 2015, 9:00:12 AM9/25/15
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Dan,

Congratulations and thank you. I still remember walking into the shop a few years ago and you telling me I was crazy for not fishing around here. Thank you for all of the advice and time spent getting me geared up. Best of luck in your new position! 

-Thomas 
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jamie.charles1

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Sep 25, 2015, 9:04:24 AM9/25/15
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Dan,

Best of luck. I greatly appreciate all the tips and help you gave when it came to buying my first set up and all the advice on casting. Funny enough, I am heading up to Manchester today (I recently transplanted to Boston) and am getting married up there in one month. I can totally understand the desire to live in such a peaceful and beautiful area. Best wishes to you and your family. Hope to run into you around the Manchester/Sunderland area. 

GSFeder

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Sep 25, 2015, 9:06:06 AM9/25/15
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Ditto everything Misha said. 

Cheers, 

-- Greg

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Melser Bonilla

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Sep 25, 2015, 9:31:02 AM9/25/15
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That's a bummer! Thank you for working with me on my casting, knots, and fly line selections. You truly made my fly fishing experience frustration free. I wish you all the best and thanks for everything Dan the man!

namfos

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Sep 25, 2015, 9:45:25 AM9/25/15
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Megadittoes on what's already been said. Best of luck in the next chapter for the family Davala!

Tight lines and dry socks, 
Mark

Jeffrey Silvan

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Sep 25, 2015, 10:01:31 AM9/25/15
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Dan, 

Congrats!!! A huge loss for the DC area, but sounds like an amazing opportunity for you - and I know I'll certainly be able to use your services in the very near future. I think I first met you about 5 years ago at the store and you resparked my interest in fishing with your stories of the fishing in the area. It was also probably 4 years ago when you ruined my life in the best way possible by telling me I should go fish for carp in the C&O canal.

Best of luck!
Jeff

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Dallen Hall

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Sep 25, 2015, 10:29:10 AM9/25/15
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Congratulations to you Dan. That sounds like a wonderful opportunity that will also benefit the family in many ways.

Dallen Hall

On Fri, Sep 25, 2015 at 7:57 AM, Daniel Davala <daniel...@gmail.com> wrote:

HenryH

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Sep 25, 2015, 10:51:58 AM9/25/15
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Congratulations on the move!  It's a blessing to have an opportunity to find balance between work and family and it sounds like you're heading in the right direction!  Best wishes.


On Friday, September 25, 2015 at 7:57:55 AM UTC-4, Dan Davala - Founder/President wrote:

Charlie Church

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Sep 25, 2015, 11:37:52 AM9/25/15
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Congrats! Sounds like an awesome job. Keep the trip reports coming while you are up there.

Scott Stankus

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Sep 25, 2015, 1:00:16 PM9/25/15
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Dan - sad as it is to see you go, it sounds like you're making an excellent and exciting move! Look forward to sending you off on the 12th and to any and all future returns to the area. Also, be sure to drop us a note with stories of your adventures along the way!

Thanks for everything that you've done for us all and you will be greatly missed!

--Scott

On Fri, Sep 25, 2015 at 7:57 AM, Daniel Davala <daniel...@gmail.com> wrote:

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TurbineBlade

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Sep 25, 2015, 1:00:29 PM9/25/15
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Very happy for you and your family!

Jeff Cook

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Sep 25, 2015, 1:11:36 PM9/25/15
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Dan, if it happened to anyone else I'd be thinking it should have been you. And it is! Thanks for the really amazing DC whirlwind. Enjoy your wonderful new lives!

Jamie Carracher

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Sep 25, 2015, 4:05:02 PM9/25/15
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Congratulations, Dan! 

I took my first Orvis 101 class a little more than a year ago. Your passion inspired my own love of fishing and the outdoors that changed my life for the better.

Good luck with the new gig! I definitely plan on coming to the next beer tie!




On Friday, September 25, 2015 at 7:57:55 AM UTC-4, Dan Davala - Founder/President wrote:

Terry C

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Sep 25, 2015, 5:08:51 PM9/25/15
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Dan, sounds like a great opportunity for you and the family.  You did a great service to the fly fishing community in the metro DC area and now you get to use your talents in even a greater arena.  Thanks for all you did and we will do our best to keep it going.  When I go up to visit Colin in Williamstown MA. I'll make it a point to head up the road to visit.     


On Friday, September 25, 2015 at 7:57:55 AM UTC-4, Dan Davala - Founder/President wrote:

bpmck1

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Sep 26, 2015, 10:58:20 AM9/26/15
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What a blessing for you and your family! And maybe the best way to the Spanish Pyrenees is by way of Vermont.

All the best,
Brennan

HeaveToo

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Sep 26, 2015, 11:49:46 AM9/26/15
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Great news for you!
Congratulations.  Advancement and making your life better is great.  That is an exciting move and please keep us informed of all the good fishing that you get to do!

Ernie

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Sep 26, 2015, 1:55:45 PM9/26/15
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Dan,

Major congrats to you and your family, well deserved.

You made a good mark here, now go make another one up north.

Sadly, I will not be able to join in the celebrations as I will be heading back from FL after working the Inaugural Wounded Heroes Fishing event in Jupiter on the 12th. I don't land until 11.

Ernie

Nick F - Gaucho Fly

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Sep 26, 2015, 2:38:39 PM9/26/15
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Sounds like a dream opportunity. Congrats and best of luck on the new adventure. 


On Friday, September 25, 2015 at 7:57:55 AM UTC-4, Dan Davala - Founder/President wrote:

Larry Glatt

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Sep 26, 2015, 4:35:55 PM9/26/15
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Best wishes for you & your family. Enjoy your life together


On Friday, September 25, 2015 at 7:57:55 AM UTC-4, Dan Davala - Founder/President wrote:

Emily Weaver

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Sep 26, 2015, 9:20:45 PM9/26/15
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Dan-- you are amazing and we are so proud and excited for you. You are truly a class act.

Richard Lin

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Sep 27, 2015, 8:27:09 AM9/27/15
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Dan -

 

Congratulations! I am going to miss you and your family - wahhhhhh. I want to THANKS for bring me in TRFR and show me all things about fly fishing. I usually look for you when I am in the store because of your attitude and your patient I like. I am sure that I can find you when I am going to travel with Orvis - Ha! Best of luck in your position.

 

Richard (Deaf)

 

From: tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com [mailto:tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Daniel Davala
Sent: Friday, September 25, 2015 7:58 AM
To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} The Davalas are Moving to Vermont!!!

 

To All Of My Dear TPFRers

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Tim Donaldson

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Sep 28, 2015, 11:15:51 AM9/28/15
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Dan,

Our loss is Vermont's gain. Maybe I will run into you on the Battenkill this fall or Lake Champlain next summer. As much as you're going to miss DC Brau and Port City, you are moving to the Mecca of beer and I'm sure you'll have a constant supply of Heady Toppers and Lawson's in your fridge! I will be sure to swing by the shop and pay my regards is week.

Tim

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