• Name: Barbara Plake
• Member of Collegiate Peaks Chapter of TU
• Chair of the chapter's women's group 'Flygals'
• Works as a consultant for agencies with testing requirements
• Being a member of TU means, "It means that I have a group of friends to whom I don’t have to explain why I enjoy fly fishing and being out of doors; they 'get it'!"

How long have you been a TU member?

Since 2016

Why did you become a member and what chapter are you involved with?

I have been fly fishing for over 20 years, but lived in Nebraska where there wasn’t a nearby TU chapter. Once we moved to Buena Vista, my husband and I started attending the meetings of Collegiate Peaks Chapter of TU. Even though my husband has been a life member of TU for many years, I had not joined until we moved to Buena Vista. I wanted to be part of this vibrant and active TU chapter.

What made you want to become involved with TU?

I liked the work the chapter is doing for stream restoration and for youth education.

What is your favorite activity or project that you have done with TU?

I chair the women’s group called Flygals; we do many activities to encourage women to become interested in fly fishing.

I know you won’t tell me your top spot, so what is your second favorite fishing spot or favorite fishing story?

I like to fish high mountain lakes where you can cruising cutthroat trout. I am very fond of a small lake that has Greenback trout; they are so beautiful.

What does being a part of TU mean to you?

It means that I have a group of friends to whom I don’t have to explain why I enjoy fly fishing and being out of doors; they “get it”!

What else do you do in your spare time or for work?

I am a consultant with agencies that have testing requirement, like for licensure or certification. I travel a lot to service technical advisory committees for these groups or agencies. I was a professor at the University of Nebraska for 30 years before moving to Buena Vista. I drive to the Denver airport often!