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April Ostapchuk

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    • Hi,I’m April 😊

      Started by: April Ostapchuk in: 📍*Start Here* 🙋‍♀️ Introduce Yourself to the Group!

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    • Megan Waldrep

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We all face different challenges, depending on the time of year, fishery, business, relationships… 👉 as you’ll see in the slides, poaching is a challenge California fishermen face each year. Yet one of the main sources of discovering answers lies within the partners themselves! Our abilities to problem-solve is innate, we can see from a different perspective, and communicate in ways to help uplift one another so we can all succeed. To be continued… Drop a comment on how you’d use a magic wand in your life, relationship, or fishery so we can help each other through. 💕 Together, we are a community, created to bring positive impacts to ourselves, our coastlines, and our fishing communities. Even if life feels overwhelming right now, remember, you are not alone! ⚓️🙏🏽 #commercialfishing #fishinglife #partnersofcommercialfishermen #pocfpride
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(Seriously!👇) This quote is a common challenge with partners of commercial fishermen, yet these are the topics we find solutions for together in our private community, and here’s how we do it. You may be challenged with: 🤔 Money/how expensive fishing can be. ✅ $500 will be gifted to 4 fishing kids for school! Plus, in our private community we’ve got customizable budget templates, podcasts, Q&As with professionals and POCFs who manage the books who can help you navigate financially. 🤔 Romantic connection and time away from your fisherman. ✅ This is our specialty! So many resources on how to stay connected with your favorite person to help you and your relationship thrive. 🤔 Ongoing regulations. ✅We’ve got mental wellness resources to handle volatility, a step-by-step guide on advocating for your fishery, and the ability to ask for contacts specific to your fishery. 🤔 Raising kids alone for long periods of time. ✅ We’ve got instant connection to POCF mamas to help build your community, plus tips to make it work and feel less alone. 🤔 No predictability and uncertainty. ✅ You get access to mental health expert advice and exercises plus instant connection with POCFs to ease anxiety and fear of the unknown. 🤔 No one to relate to. ✅ Community is our foundation! You’re automatically invited into our private group chat where you can reach out to us 24/7 when you need it most, plus so many other ways to feel seen, heard, and less alone. ➡️ There’s still time to enter the giveaway for $500 scholarships to four students, and four POCFs will receive one-year memberships to the Partners of Commercial Fishermen private community! Guy Cotten is a company that truly cares about our community, and this is proof of their desire to make a positive impact. We love you, @guycottenusa! * POCF winners will also receive access to private group chat, a one-year access to private podcasts (launching 2025), a one-year access to the private newsletter (launching 2025), 1 POCF Survival Guide, and 1 POCF Pride T-shirt. ➡️ Comment “WIN” to get the link in your DM to enter! #partner #GuyCotten #scholarship #partnersofcommercialfishermen #POCFPride
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Happy First Day of California Spiny Lobster Season! A new season (and new moon!) full of potential and opportunities for abundance for all fishing families along the rocky coasts. 🙏🏽🌊⚓️🌚 Over the years, I’ve learned that sometimes the hardest part of the season is leading up the season, with stress transforming into misdirected emotions from partner to partner. This lifestyle can stir up some BIG feelings that can sometimes show up in strange ways. If you’re feeling this or felt this, you’re not alone! Here’s ways to fix it: 👇 Miscommunication can quickly lead to resentment if not addressed. Most of the time, we’re looking for two different outcomes: 1) Recognition. For example, you or your fisherman could say: “I’m having a hard time this season. I’m trying to work through it, and I just want to be transparent if I seem off.” HELPFUL EXAMPLE: You need your partner to recognize this is hard and you’re not looking for them to solve the problem. Still, you want to be open in case the emotions you’re unpacking are impacting other areas of your life together + relationship. You Need Help. For example, you or your fisherman could say: “I had a tough time last season. Could we talk through some ways we can support each other while we’re preparing for the season or while you’re away?” HELPFUL EXAMPLE: Sometimes, the best way for partners to emotionally deal with the other’s frustration is by feeling helpful. That could be helping you stock up on food for the house or the boat, reviewing financial responsibilities together, helping to meal prep for the kids or crew before they leave the dock, or making an extra effort to send words of affirmation when you can. BOTTOM LINE It can be surprising how simple acts of service or thoughtful words can fend off resentment and strengthen your relationship in the long run. How have pre-seasons faired for you and your partner? Is there stress or smooth sailing? Happy Spiny Lobster Season for those who celebrate! #fishingcouple #commercialfishing #realtionship #fishermanswife #fishermansgirlfriend #spinylobster #california #californialobster #seafoodlover #partnersofcommercialfishermen #POCFPride
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I am thrilled to announce our first sponsorship with @guycottenusa! This company truly gives back to the commercial fishing community, and here’s how: ​Guy Cotten​ (the founder’s real name) began by walking the docks to get fishermen’s feedback on their gear challenges and suggestions for improvement. Fast-forward 50 years, and their US subsidiary has the same passion for the people. They contacted me to learn how best to connect with the fishing community, help fishing families pay for school, and find support. This is so touching because… Let me tell you that not all companies care like this. Guy Cotten is a company that actually gives back to our people and puts its money where its mouth is. I am SO proud to partner with Guy Cotten and help support commercial fishing families and communities with this fantastic giveaway: 💰Guy Cotten is giving $500 scholarships to 4 students AND 1-year memberships to the Partners of Commercial Fishermen Forum to 4 POCFs. 👏 POCFs winners will also receive: Access to private group chat 1/yr access to private podcasts (launching 2025) 1/yr access to the private newsletter (launching 2025) 1 POCF Survival Guide 1 POCF Pride T-shirt POCF sticker All you have to do is answer six easy questions (takes less than 2 mins!) and you’re automatically entered to win! (You don’t have to write an essay or anything; we just want to learn more about you, what fishery you’re associated with, and things like that.) You can enter for yourself AND your college kid to be eligible, or just for yourself or just for your kid. There are many options and ways to win! ▶️ Comment “WIN” and I’ll send you the link! (Or, you can click Link in bio to get the link, too!) Winners are selected randomly and are announced on 10/10/24 through Instagram stories and personal emails. Thanks for your interest, and good luck! #guycotten #guycottenusa #partner #partnersofcommercialfishermen #pocfpride #scholarship #commercialfishing #fishingfamily
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What if your relationship could thrive even when you’re miles apart? Maybe you haven’t heard from your fisherman in days (or weeks!), and you’re feeling disconnected. Totally normal, but these feelings don’t have to run your life and here’s why: 3 Tips for a *successful* LDR with a Commercial Fisherman: 1. You’ll miss them very much, and that goes without saying. But, to harness that energy, my best advice is to embrace a new life without them. You have the freedom to practice yoga, hike, hit up a happy hour or juice bar, or eat cereal for dinner without the need to check in to see if they’re down for it, too. Eventually, it will feel like your own kind of vacation. 2. Leave long messages about your day on their voicemail. It will be a gift to hear your voice when they get a signal, and it will make them feel included in your day. 3. Use this time to think about what kind of life you want for yourself. Because, in the end, it’s all about your happiness. Yeah, long stretches of not seeing each other are hard, but independence is a great balance to make the relationship more nurtured. A chance for you both to grow as individuals – separately, not apart because there’s a difference. During this time apart, you’ll both have fulfilled personal needs, making you ready to show up for your relationship and bring your A-game. What tips can you share that help make your long-distance relationship work? ▶️ Find more tips and advice on pocfpride.com, weekly podcasts, and our private members-only communities! #Longdistancerelationship #ldr #fishing couples #partnersofcommercialfishermen #pocfpride
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Created w deep respect to our community, I wanted our booth to reflect love, thoughtfulness, and care that we give each other every day. In honor of all the Partners of Commercial Fishermen and Fishermen, you always have a seat at our table! My mom helped me make it beautiful. It’s second nature to her as a tablescape designer. The thing is, our community was inspired by my military childhood and, especially, my mom and women like her who held down the fort while partners were deployed and worked hard for others they’d never meet. It’s a lot like fishermen, facing a dangerous job to catch wild-caught premier seafood to feed the world bigger than themselves. Thank you all for allowing me to serve you. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to help represent the people behind each catch! Being at the Ocean Innovation Conference taught me 3 things: 1. North Carolina is a super hub for all things related to the blue economy and blue tech! 2. Each company and initiative was unique to its own. The common thread is we all care about the ocean equally, yet have different skillsets to help it thrive. 3. Commercial fishing communities are important and powerful forces, full of wisdom to help preserve our oceans and shorelines than many people understand (and maybe we underestimate ourselves sometimes, too.) The more I talk to others, the more our position in this world is reflected to me tenfold, and I am so grateful! I hope to continue to remind you of your power, too. With Love & POCF Pride. We are not alone! #commercialfishing #partnersofcommercialfishermen #oceaninnovation2024 #blueeconomy #bluetech #fishinglife #pocfpride
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