Hunting lodge has plans to assist local veterans

    MILO — Three Rivers Kiwanis of Milo-Brownville members were very pleased and interested to hear from John Poole, owner of Rockin’ P Sporting Lodge & Cabins in Sebec. At the March 11 meeting Poole shared his personal story, explaining his plans to help homecoming veterans readjust to life at home by giving opportunities to enjoy the outdoors with fishing, hunting and birding activities.

Poole

    The Poole family is in history books. Poole’s mother was born and raised in the Rumford area, where he still has family. His ancestral family member Luther Hoar is one of the original founders of the Lake Settlement of Rangeley in 1815.
    Poole spent many of his younger years growing up in Amity, just south of Houlton. His wife’s family is from New Haven, Vt. Poole described how he left Maine for 30 years while in the military and then in the U.S. Border Patrol. He brought his family back and purchased the lodge and cabins about three years ago.
    Poole is licensed as a registered Maine guide and learned nearly everything he knows about fishing from his mom. The family now runs full-service hunting, fishing, ATVing, snowmobiling and shooting sports, and offers a guide service and runs a restaurant. Poole explained he and his family are putting together plans to offer vets a hunting retreat. It will be a chance for them to get outside and enjoy the Maine woods.
    He also discussed the amnesty program and illegal entry into the U.S. based on knowledge he gained during his 30-year career. After retiring, he became a consultant. Poole spent eight months in Afghanistan working as executive mentor to the Afghan border police, which is 25,000 strong. He provided mentors for their border patrol and customs program, working on port of entry procedures, working with generals and command staff. He wrote a national training plan. Afghani border police are really soldiers, and the written plan transitions them from being soldiers to becoming border agents and gives them the tools they need.
    Poole is currently preparing to leave for Tajikistan, which has a stable government based on a Soviet makeup. There is in place a stringent chain of command that does not allow lateral communications; orders have to come from the top down – not very efficient. Poole will be teaching the operations center management and more effective communication operations. He views this as a new adventure, in a part of the world he’s never been to.
    Three Rivers Kiwanis meets every Wednesday morning at the Kiwanis Building at 24 Gerrish Road at 6:30, except the last Wednesday (be it the fourth or fifth Wednesday of the month) which meets at 6:30 p.m. The public is always welcome. For membership information, please call the secretary at 943-6909.