united states lifesaving association board of directors meeting ...

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UNITED STATES LIFESAVING ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MEETING AND EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE

AGENDA

CAPE CODDER RESORT & SPA 1225 Lyannough Road

Hyannis, Massachusetts, 02601

November 7-9, 2013

Thursday, November 7, 2013 – Board of Directors & Committee Meetings 9:00 a.m. Board of Directors Meeting

I. Call to Order – (Mr. Brewster)

A. Pledge of Allegiance – (Mr. Davis)

B. Welcome and Introductions – (Mr. Brewster) Tom Lynch – Town manager of Barnstable, Massachusetts

C. Moment of Silence for the Departed

II. Roll Call of Delegates – (Ms. Bowie)

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DELEGATE VOTES BASED ON MEMBERSHIP (AS OF NOVEMBER 7, 2013) Member/Director Ratio 2- 25 1 Director 26-100 2 Directors 101-200 3 Directors 201-400 4 Directors 401-600 5 Directors 601-800 6 Directors 801-and over 7 Directors

MEMBERS VOTES PRESENT PROXY TOTAL JUNIORS

GREAT LAKES JOE PECORARO

18 1 1 0 1 0

GULF COAST PETER DAVIS

TONY PRYOR

113 3 2 1 3 67

MID-ATLANTIC ED ZEBROWSKI TIM GALLAGHER BART MATTALIANO

BUZZ MOGCK TOM PERRY DENISE BLAIR ED ZEBROWSKI III

1001 7 7 0 7 775

NEW ENGLAND BOB BERTRAND

23 1 1 0 1 0

NORTHWEST JIM MCCRAY

DAVID ROBINSON

86 2 2 0 2 122

PACIFIC ISLANDS

KALANI VIERRA

170 3 1 1 2 22

SOUTH ATLANTIC TOM GILL RALPH WAGNER MICHAEL BRADLEY

ADRIENNE GROH DUKE BROWN CHAD MOTZ

SYLVIA WOLFF

811 7 7 0 7 211

SOUTHEAST GERRY FALCONER JO WAGENHALS

JIM MCCRADY KARISSA ICKES

ALAN HOLT 512 5 5 0 5 633

SOUTHWEST MIKE BEUERLEIN CHARLOTTE GRAHAM

BILL HUMPHREYS

ROB WILLIAMS ROB MCGOWAN REENIE BOYER

GUS AVILA

1417 7 7 0 7 5116

SUB TOTALS 4151 36 33 2 35 6946

NATIONAL (AT LARGE) 0 0

TOTALS 4151 6946

Additional Attendees: Members of the Executive Board: President B. Chris Brewster, Vice President Peter Davis, Secretary Nikki Bowie, Treasurer Rob Williams, Executive Delegate Charlie Hartl, Advisor Tim Gallagher, Liaison Officer Bert Whitaker, Medical Director Dr. Peter Wernicki Executive Director Kay Smiley Great Lakes Region: Andrew Braudy, Jerry Gavin, Stephe McCormick Gulf Coast: Michael Johnson Mid-Atlantic Region: Harry Back, Bob Dillon, Dave Shotwell, Carl Martinez, Matt Gallagher, Gene Hession, Andrew Healey, Thomas Perry New England: Jim Barrel, Scott Hansson South Atlantic Region: Kristen Procopio-Allen, Cole Thomas, Mike Wagner Southwest Region: Jay Butki, Rick Wurts

III. Approval of Agenda – Motion to approve by Mr. Falconer. MPU

IV. Approval of Minutes - from the USLA Board of Directors meeting in Santa Rosa, CA April 18-20, 2013. Motion to approve by Mr. Foxwell. MPU

V. Memorialization - of Executive Committee Actions since previous meeting.

A. “Shall the Executive Committee approve the signing of a Statement of Intent with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration?” MPU

B. “Shall the Executive Committee approve a two year agreement with VF Sportswear, Inc. regarding the brand Nautica to be the title sponsor of the 2013 and 2014 USLA National

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Lifeguard Championships, subject to final review and edits for legal issues by the USLA Legal Advisor?” MPU

C. “Shall the Executive Committee approve a contract with Flying Fish Productions for $5,000 to videotape and gather solid footage of the USLA National Lifeguard Championships in order to post highlights (daily recap) and build a “sizzle reel” from this year’s event?” MPU

VI. Officers Activity Reports – It was requested, in accordance with normal practice, that verbal reports be limited to approximately two minutes, highlighting the key points in written reports previously submitted to the Secretary and published.

A. President - (Mr. B. Chris Brewster) Mr. Brewster worked with the Southwest Region on an issue with the state fire marshal’s office which is developing standards for water rescuers in California that has the potential to be followed by other states. The concern is that the proposed standards are not fully consistent with USLA recommended standards. Worked with Mr. Davis and NOAA, NWS and Sea Grant and signed an open-ended letter of collaboration. Also attended a meeting concerning rip current prediction methods at the headquarters of the NWS. Will need assistance from all regions in encouraging lifeguard agencies to work with local NWS offices to give daily updates of what is actually happening on the beach so that the NWS can back-test their prediction methods and update them. Worked with our insurance company to create a way whereby regions and chapters can obtain insurance for events. Had the opportunity to finalize the contract with our Executive Director Kay Smiley. There was a concern by a national team going to Japan that the water would be radioactive due to the devastation from the tsunami. Mr. Brewster was able to talk to an oceanographer from Woods Hole who is one of the world’s experts and was able to resolve concerns that the athletes had. Worked with Mr. Williams to resolve an issue with Whistles for Life to receive an overdue payment of $6500. [2013_02_04_USLABOD_PresidentActivity.PDF]

B. Vice President – (Mr. Peter Davis) In addition to his submitted report, Mr. Davis thanked the Board of Directors for allowing him to serve as the vice president. During his tenure it has been an amazing time to be a part of the organization. Partnerships with NOAA, ARC and YMCA are very valuable and he has been glad to assist. Mr. Davis continues to be the Secretary General of the Americas Region. He is working on a project where guards can do lifeguard tourism in Latin America with more information to follow. The committee work in the USLA in the last few years has been incredible as most of the work seems to take place during the meetings. [2013_02_05_USLABOD_VicePresidentActivity.PDF]

C. Secretary - (Ms. Nikki Bowie) – Ms. Bowie asked that her report stand as submitted. [2013_02_06_USLABOD_SecretaryActivity.PDF]

D. Treasurer - (Mr. Rob Williams) The treasury of the USLA is the best Mr. Williams has ever seen. Worked with Amazon to reinstate the Amazon Associate’s Deal – the USLA will get a percentage if anyone who is on the USLA website clicks the link to the Amazon website and buys the USLA text book or shops. We can accept American Express through the USLA website now. Mr. Williams talked to Bank of America about getting a USLA credit card through them as we had in the past. [2013_02_07_USLABOD_TreasurerActivity.PDF]

E. Executive Delegate - (Mr. Charlie Hartl) Mr. Hartl is enjoying helping the different committees wherever he can and will continue to do so if possible. If your agency does not have a patch on the patch quilt, please send him one and he will see that it is added. [2013_02_08_USLABOD_ExecutiveDelegateActivity.PDF]

F. Advisor - (Mr. Tim Gallagher) Mr. Gallagher asked that his report stand as submitted. [2013_02_09_USLABOD_AdvisorActivity.PDF]

G. Liaison Officer - (Mr. Bert Whitaker) Mr. Whitaker received a correspondence from the California State Prison for a shark attraction repellent device. He and Mr. Gus Avila and Mr. Jay Butki were continuing discussions on reapplying for recognition by the USOC. [2013_02_10_USLABOD_LiaisonActivity.PDF]

H. Medical Advisor - (Dr. Peter Wernicki) In addition to his written report, Dr. Wernicki highlighted his attendance at the World Conference on Drowning Prevention where there were over sixty

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countries represented and 150 topics on drowning prevention. Celebrated the 100th anniversary of the German Lifesaving Federation. Had the pleasure of attending the 2013 awards ceremony of the International Lifesaving Federation where Mr. Bob Dillon received the Volunteer Service Award. [2013_02_11_USLABOD_MedicalActivity.PDF]

I. Legal Advisor - (Mr. Chip More) Mr. More has been participating when he can, even though he hasn’t been able to attend a meeting in a while. He has seen great growth in the past few years. Our relationship with sponsors has helped us achieve our goals.

VII. Regional Council Activity Reports

A. Great Lakes - (Mr. Joe Pecoraro) There appears to be a “ray of light” from the Chicago area coming from the junior guard program. [2013_02_25_USLABOD_GreatLakesActivity.PDF]

B. Gulf Coast - (Mr. Tony Pryor) The region is trying to get more agencies involved in the USLA. [2013_02_26_USLABOD_GulfCoastActivity.PDF]

C. Mid-Atlantic – (Mr. Ed Zebrowski) Super Storm Sandy caused a lot of problems in the region and there are still some lifeguarded areas that are affected. Thanks to people that donated $2600 to help the region recover. [2013_02_22_USLABOD_MidAtlantciActivity.PDF]

D. New England – (Mr. Bob Bertrand) Mr. Bertrand thanked Mr. Zebrowski and Mr. Brewster for their assistance in getting the New England Region up and running and hosting the meeting in Hyannis. [2013_02_21_USLABOD_NewEngland.PDF]

E. Northwest - (Mr. Whitaker for Ms. Cathy VonWald) Mr. Whitaker highlighted several items from the written report: there were mild temperatures in the Northwest Region this summer; the region is very pleased with their preventative programs such as the lifejacket loaner program and other outreach and public safety messaging going on with a lot of the rivers and waterways. [2013_02_27_USLABOD_NorthwestActivity.PDF]

F. Pacific Islands – (Mr. Vierra for Mr. Ralph Goto) Mr. Goto was unable to attend for medical reasons. Mr. Vierra reported about the new collective bargaining unit for the lifeguards in Hawaii. The lifeguards will operate with the State Harbor Police. State drowning prevention annual conference held in October. Met with tourism officials and discussed visitor education. From Kauai, 22 junior guards attended the USLA Nationals and won 15 medals including several national champions. Ocean safety video is up and running at Lihue Airport in the baggage claim area. Maui County Lifeguards will merge with the fire department on July 1st.[2013_02_29_USLABOD_PacificIslandsActivity.PDF]

G. South Atlantic – (Mr. Tom Gill) Held a successful regional meeting during the SALA competition to include members who can’t usually attend other regional meetings. There were several drownings in unguarded areas in lower North Carolina and upper South Carolina. Plan to meet with officials in those areas and discuss strategies to assist these towns in whatever way possible.[2013_02_23_USLABOD_SouthAtlantic.PDF]

H. Southeast – (Mr. Gerry Falconer) Mr. Falconer reported that the Southeast Region is growing considerably. Efforts to include Puerto Rico. National Park Service of Puerto Rico has adopted USLA Standards. Training Officer Academy was to take place in December. [2013_02_24_USLABOD_SoutheastActivity.PDF]

I. Southwest - (Mr. Mike Beuerlein) Mr. Beuerlein thanked Mr. Brewster for his assistance in dealing with issues with the California State Fire Marshall. Elections were held at the region meeting: President – Mike Beuerlein; Vice President - Bill Humphries; Treasurer – Rob Williams; Secretary – Kai Bond; Advisor – Rob McGowan; 1st Delegate – Mike Silvestri; 2nd Delegate – Gus Avila; 3rd Delegate – Jay Butki; 4th Delegate- George “Skeeter” Leaper. Mr. Williams is working with the 50th Anniversary Committee to finalize details for the Spring Board of Directors meeting in Huntington Beach. Plans are underway to include an alumni component. Proposal to modify the regular Board of Directors meeting schedule to have Saturday committee meetings on Friday morning, an optional excursion on Friday afternoon with the Board of Directors meeting concluding on Saturday morning followed by an educational component Saturday afternoon leading to a gala Saturday night. The Southwest Region has applied to trademark the Southwest Region logo. The US Patent Office informed the region that they must get the

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approval of the USLA to trademark the Southwest Region logo. (This matter was discussed further during the Executive Committee meeting.) [2013_02_28_USLABOD_SouthwestActivity.PDF]

VIII. Contracted Staff Liaison Report – (Mr. Ed Zebrowski) Mr. Zebrowski noted that he may not always name who he is dealing with because companies can access past records and use for negotiations. Nautica will continue to sponsor through the 2014 National Championships. We are also in discussions with Hobie/Eyeking to extend the current contract. [2013_02_14_USLABOD_ContractedStaffActivity.PDF]

IX. Executive Director – (Ms. Kay Smiley) Ms. Smiley reported that she is helping Mr. Gould with delinquent national statistics. She has taken over for the contracted staff person who previously handled certification processing. Developed an electronic application for certification for the website to streamline the application process. Worked on a master list of all agencies. She is also helping other committees with administrative tasks as needed. [2013_02_15_USLABOD_ExecutiveDirector.PDF]

X. Committee Chair Activity Reports

A. Regular Committees

i. Certification – (Mr. Tony Pryor) Mr. Pryor thanked Ms. Smiley for her assistance. The committee is looking at the online application. Continue to look at open water guidelines for swimming events.[2013_02_37_USLABOD_CertificationActivity.PDF]

ii. Competition – (Mr. Ed Zebrowski) Mr. Zebrowski highlighted Nationals 2013. LACOLA did an outstanding job – special thanks to Charlotte Graham. Matt Gallagher and Ed Zebrowski III ran a smooth competition. [2013_02_34_USLABOD_CompetitionActivity.PDF]

iii. Heroic Acts- Recognition, Awards and Presentations - (Ms. Adrienne Groh) Ms. Groh requested that her report stand as submitted. [2013_02_35_USLABOD_HeroicActsActivity.PDF]

iv. Junior Guards - (Ms. Reenie Boyer) 6554 Junior Guard members. Will recognize Gold Seal programs in committee. These are programs with 100% membership participation. Congratulations to Mr. Vierra to getting junior guards from Hawaii to the Nationals. [ 2013_02_36_USLABOD_JuniorGuardActivity.PDF]

v. Membership – (Ms. Charlotte Graham) There are now three Perpetual Members within USLA. Dafin has increased the price of fins $2 for adult members and $1 for junior guard members. Membership rolls need to be done on time to meet ALM mailing deadlines. [2013_02_33_USLABOD_MembershipActivity.PDF]

vi. Public Education – (Ms. Denise Blair) Ms. Blair read a guideline proposed by Mr. Beuerlein from the Spring meeting dealing with public education materials. This proposal is included in her written report. Website update to reflect revised safety tips. Improved Public Education section on the website. Monmouth County began a partnership with Barnabus Children’s Hospital. Lifeguards went in to some lower income schools and did beach safety presentations. Will discuss grants to develop public education materials. [2013_02_32_USLABOD_PublicEdActivity.PDF]

vii. Ways and Means - (Mr. Rob Williams) Mr. Williams asked that his report stand as submitted. [2013_02_38_USLABOD_WaysandMeansActivity.PDF]

B. Working Group Committees

i. Bylaws/Policy and Procedures - (Mr. Ed Zebrowski III) The committee is working on a proposed Bylaw change dealing with committees – Standing versus Working Group.

ii. Lifesaver Education - (Mr. Tim Gallagher) The educational component of the Spring Board of Directors meeting is being organized by the 50th Anniversary Committee and the Southwest Region.

iii. Magazine Publication - (Mr. Beuerlein for Mr. Mike Bartlett) There will no longer be

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assistant editors for the magazine. Mr. Beuerlein will be the laison to the Board for the Editor when he is unable to be present at meetings. Thank you to Mr. Hartl for his dedication over the years. ALM continues as a tri-annual publication. Fall issue mailed on time, but the membership list was incomplete. There will be a second mailing once the list is complete so every member will receive a magazine. $18,000 in ad revenue this year. Net cost per issue remains approximately $.50. There is a one year contract agreement with Mr. Bartlett through the end of June. [2013_02_47_USLABOD_ALMActivity.PDF]

iv. Medical – (Dr. Peter Wernicki) There was nothing in addition to Dr. Wernicki’s Medical Advisor report.

v. Heritage - (Mr. Dave Shotwell) Mr. Shotwell asked that the “Original Founders Committee” be renamed to the “Heritage Committee” to more accurately reflect the goals. Mr. Brewster stated that without objection, this change would be made. There was no objection. Asked for $2000 for editing of video project. [2013_02_54_USLABOD_HeritageActivity.PDF]

vi. Public Information/Publicity – (Mr. Tom Gill) Mr. Gill added to his report that the newsletters sent from the website chair are very advantageous and is a great way to get information to our membership. [2013_02_46_USALBOD_PublicInformationActivity.PDF]

vii. Sign Standards - (Mr. Ralph Goto) Mr. Goto was unable to attend and his report will stand as submitted.

viii. Statistics – (Mr. Rick Gould) Mr. Gould was unable to attend and his report will stand as submitted.[2013_02_50_USLABOD_StatisticsActivity.PDF]

ix. Website - (Ms. Karissa Ickes) Newsletter sent to over 7000 active members in June. In July a newsletter was sent to all members and we were able to capture some former members who were not current. Beach Safety Challenge application is available on the website. ALM archives are available to the general public except for the three most recent issues. CSLSA used online registration for their regionals and had 123 competitors register online. Exclusive online registration for the Board of Directors meeting with the exception of the Mid-Atlantic Region. Continue work on the “breaking News” concept. [2013_02_48_USLABOD_WebsiteActivity.PDF]

x. 50th Anniversary – (Mr. Andy Healey) Tie or scarf in the registration packet for this meeting. Hobie has designed special 50th Anniversary glasses. Regional presidents asked to submit one photo from each agency. Working on a Power Point presentation to show at the Spring meeting. This is a year-long celebration that will be carried on to Nationals and also the Fall meeting.

XI. Board of Directors Meeting adjourned until 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 9, 2013

Friday, November 8, 2013 – USLA Educational Conference 9:00 a.m. – Welcome and Opening Remarks - Mr. Bob Bertrand and Mr. Chris Brewster 9:10 a.m. – San Diego Regional Aquatic Lifesaving Emergency Response Taskforce

Presenter: Chief Rick Wurts, San Diego Lifeguard Service Content: An overview of a multiagency taskforce designed to harness the resources and needs of rescue, medical, and law enforcement resources in San Diego County including a how and why it was formed, the composition, example deployments and activities, and how other areas might benefit.

10:00 a.m. – Historic Overview of America’s First Lifesavers Presenter: Richard G. Ryder, Treasurer, U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage Assn.

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Content: The first teams assembled in America to rescue mariners from shoreline emergencies in were created in Massachusetts in the 1700s. Other states followed and the US Life Saving Service was eventually created. This presentation will provide an overview of the development of lifesaving on Cape Cod and its evolution. Mr. Ryder is the grandson of a 1905 USLSS Cape Cod Surfman and the author of two books on the Old Harbor (Chatham) Life Saving Station.

11:00 a.m. – The Cape Cod National Seashore Presenter: Bill Burke, Park Historian, Cape Cod National Seashore Content: The shoreline Cape Cod was preserved in perpetuity in 1961 by an act of Congress signed by President Kennedy that created the Cape Cod National Seashore. Under this act, building along the shoreline is largely forbidden, so the coastline ebbs, flows, and morphs with many natural harbors that look a bit different each year. The Seashore includes both towns and federal property. Sand replenishment has never been required. You’ll learn how this unique park was created and how it functions to preserve the coastline.

Saturday, November 9, 2013 – USLA Board of Directors & Committees

11:00 a.m. Board of Directors Meeting

Call to Order - Mr. B. Chris Brewster

XII. Heroic Acts Presentation – Russell Gehweiler and Tracey Keelan were presented with Heroic Act Awards for the following: “On October 30, 2012, in Barnegat Bay, NJ, in the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy Mr. Gehweiler and Ms. Keelan used a surf board and an inflatable boat to manage the two to five foot flood waters without any concern for their personal safety Together they save approximately 50 people, some who were stranded on rooftops, and brought them safely to dry land. Many victims survived this devastating storm due to the heroic and quick actions of these two individuals.”

XIII. New England Region Announcement – Mr. Brewster announced that the New England Region is now formally an active region of the USLA again and thanked everyone who was involved in making this happen. The region held a meeting earlier in the morning and approved their first set of bylaws and elected the following officers: President – Bob Bertrand; Vice President – Scott Hansson; Treasurer – Jim Barrel; Secretary - Christen Cevoli.

XIV. Committee Action Reports (Motions and voting limited to Officers and Regional Delegates) A. Regular Committees

i. Executive Committee - (Mr. Brewster) [2013_02_13_USLABOD_ExecutiveCommitteeAction.PDF]

1. “Shall the Board of Directors approve that the schedule of events at the April 2014 Board of Directors meeting be adjusted to move all usual Saturday morning committee meetings to Friday from 9am – 12pm; the general meeting to Saturday 9am – 12pm; an Educational Conference Saturday afternoon focused on the history of the USLA; and social hours and banquet to follow with business attire required on the first two days and casual attire on Saturday?” MPU

2. “Shall the Board of Directors approve that, as a general practice, individual donations of $250 or less made to USLA be redirected to the United States Lifesaving Foundation?” MPU

3. “Shall the Board of Directors approve a one-time transfer of $20,000 from the USLA general fund to the United States Lifesaving Foundation?” MPU

4. “Shall the Board of Directors approve that subject to incorporation of the New England Region and subject to opening a bank account that the USLA will convey to the region the last five years of the percent of dues that would otherwise have been attributable to the New England Region which is $1775.00?” MPU

5. “Shall the Board of Directors approve a new contract with Hobie/Eye King upon the review and approval of the legal advisor with the duration of the contract

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January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016?” New deal points requested by Hobie include a larger guaranteed fixed payment of $6000 to USLA annually and a reduction in member discounts to 25% (includes shipping) with a 50% discount at least three times a year. USLA requests that any increase in postage due to promotional information that Hobie puts in the membership kit be covered by the company and to improve website security to a level approved by USLA to ensure that only members have access to the discount. MPU [2013_02_13_USLABOD_ExecutiveCommitteeAction]

ii. Certification - (Mr. Tony Pryor)

1. Doctor/physical form – Motion to change the language to state “ I verify that a medical doctor or his/her designated physician’s assistant or ARNP (advanced registered Nurse Practitioner) documents…” MPU

2. Approved the recommended changes to the USLA Recommended Minimum Guidelines for Open Water Swimming Event Safety. MPU

3. Still working on standard card or certificate.

4. Add the question of “how many Junior Guards does your agency have?” to the annual statistics report. MPU

5. Proposed a list of agencies for approval or extension. (All are included in the written report.) MPU

[2013_02_37_USLABOD_CertificationAction.PDF]

iii. Competition - (Mr. Ed Zebrowski)

1. Reviewed Nationals 2013

2. Update on Nationals 2014

3. 2015 Nationals – one bid from Gulf Shores Alabama; LACOLA to consider.

4. Mr. Butki reported on the International Surf Rescue Challenge.

5. Rescue 2014 in France. Requirements for the team are posted on the website. Need to pick the team prior to Nationals because the event will be held in September.

6. Change Junior Guard guidelines for B and C age group finish line to mirror the A and AA age groups.

7. Would like to list all former champions in the Nationals program.

[2013_02_34_USLABOD_CompetitionAction.PDF]

iv. Heroic Acts – Recognition, Awards and Presentations - (Ms. Adrienne Groh)

1. Website update – submissions by using USLA login or link to each region for verification.

2. Possibility of documentary on people who have been awarded the Medal of Valor.

3. Invite past award recipients to 2014 Board of Directors meetings. 4. Add link from the list of Medal of Valor awards to details of the rescue. 5. Ms. Groh read the proposed list of submissions. All are listed in her report.MPU

[2013_02_35_USLABOD_HeroicActsAction.PDF]

v. Junior Guards - (Ms. Reenie Boyer)

1. Recognized the Junior Guard contest essay winner – Emma Lineback from the Southwest Region - Laguna Beach Junior Lifeguards.

2. The 2013 Junior Guard of the year will be awarded to Kiran Andrews from Sonoma Coast in the Northwest Region.

3. Twenty Gold Seal programs – for 100% participation in the USLA membership. The complete list is included in the written report.

4. The committee will look into online submissions. 5. Kay Smiley will assist with the possible development of program standards. 6. Jay Butki is working on a check list for the under 20 team. 7. Three articles for the next issue of ALM.

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8. The committee had a round table with good participation.

[2013_02_36_USLABOD_JuniorGuardAction.PDF]

vi. Membership - (Ms. Charlotte Graham)

1. Old business a. Increase in membership dues not wanted by the majority of regions. b. The committee will consider if dues breakdown should include chapters,

not just regions. c. The committee will determine the breakdown of membership costs and

produce a report of some kind to possibly be included in an issue of ALM. d. Reviewed database issues and concerns. The chair will report in a

timelier manner to regions concerning online sign ups. 2. New business

a. 2014 membership kit will include a towel, patch and window decal and will incorporate the 50th anniversary logo as much as possible.

b. Will request Uniserve to use Junior Guard artwork to create the bumper sticker for their membership kit.

c. Add insert on USLF to membership kit. d. ALM mailing dates – all agencies and chapters need to submit

membership lists in a timely manner. September 1st is ideal. e. The committee will work on a draft application for Life Member.

[2013_02_33_USLABOD_MembershipAction.PDF]

vii. Public Education - (Ms. Denise Blair)

1. The Beach Safety Challenge application is now available on the website. 2. The lesson plans are being reviewed by the committee. The Mid-Atlantic Region

is working to have in /New Jersey schools statewide. 3. The committee voted to spend up to $2000 to improve the Public Education

section of the website. Sub-committee to work on design. 4. The committee reviewed a program grant submitted by Dan McCormick. A sub-

committee will develop criteria and a submission form. 5. Regional specific safety tips were requested from all regions and will be included

in a section on the website titled “Regional Safety Tips”. 6. Peter Davis will work to upload all safety videos in high resolution to the website

and the committee approved spending up to $500 to accomplish this. 7. The committee voted to produce 100,000 tabletop tents with rip current and

safety information. These will be shipped to regional representatives for distribution.

8. The committee would like to evaluate which educational materials are most effective. Two surveys will go out using Survey Monkey targeting agencies and teachers. [2013_02_32_USLABOD_PublicEdAction.PDF]

viii. Ways and Means - (Mr. Rob Williams)

1. 2013 budget reviewed with no changes needed.

2. Motion to set credit card expenses charged to regions or chapters that utilize registration through the USLA website at 3% to recoup the average expense charged by the credit card companies. MPU

3. Motion to approve the 2014 budget as read by Mr. Williams and included in his written report. MPU [2013_02_38_USLABOD_WaysandMeansAction.PDF]

B. Working Group Committees

i. Bylaws/Policy and Procedures - (Mr. Ed Zebrowski III) Deferred to New Business.

[2013_02_45_USLABOD_BylawsAction.PDF]

ii. Lifesaver Education - (Mr. Tim Gallagher) The committee did not meet.

iii. Magazine Publication - (Mr. Mike Bartlett) The committee did not meet.

iv. Medical – (Dr. Peter Wernicki) The committee did not meet.

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v. Heritage – (Mr. Dave Shotwell) Thank you to Mr. Gavin for video footage. If anyone has the Silver Dolphin or Teddy Ruxpin videos, please contact Mr. Shotwell. [2013_02_54_USLABOD_HeritageAction.PDF]

vi. Public Information/Publicity - (Mr. Tom Gill) The committee did not meet.

vii. Sign Standards - (Mr. Ralph Goto) The committee did not meet.

viii. Website - (Ms. Karissa Ickes) Ms. Ickes attended other committee meetings and is continuing to work with committee chairs. [2013_02_48_USLABOD_WebstieAction.PDF]

ix. 50th Anniversary – (Mr. Andy Healey) Discussed ideas for registration packet for the Spring Board of Directors meeting. Proceeds from the sale of any items to go to the USLF. There are plans for two alumni reunions – Spring Board of Directors meeting in Huntington Beach and 2014 Nationals in Virginia Beach. [2013_02_56_USLABOD_50thAnniversaryAction]

XV. Old Business (Motions and voting limited to Officers and Regional Delegates)

A. USOC Update – Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Avila and Mr. Butki continued discussion regarding an application for recognition as the national governing body for lifeguarding sport through the United States Olympic Committee. They feel a new approach is worthwhile and set the following action items to work on prior to the Spring Board of Directors Meeting:

i. Reinitiate contact with the USOC, make an introduction to the new chair and request the most current application;

ii. Work on completing a draft of the application prior to the meeting to share with relevant committees and working groups as necessary;

iii. Identify key areas where the current Bylaws or organizational structure does not meet the intent of recognition by the USOC;

iv. Develop a preliminary draft of some sort of business plan for the project that describes the opportunities to further the reach and influence of the USLA, the most likely short and long term benefits, potential increases in costs or new costs that we should be aware of and a long term vision for the USLA to be more successful competing internationally or financially self sustaining and further increasing public awareness about our organization through amateur sport.

B. From the Membership Committee Bylaw change proposed at the Spring 2013 meeting for Article V Section II Item C – Alumnus Member – “To qualify as an Alumnus Member, an individual must: (1) Have previously been a Professional Member; and (2) Be currently ineligible for Professional Member status: and (3) Be a member of a local chapter; and, (4) Pay annual dues to the chapter, region and national organization as prescribed by the Board of Directors of each. An Alumnus Member is eligible to exercise voting privileges and to hold office at the Chapter, Regional or National level. An Alumnus Member who elects to pay a onetime membership fee as defined by established Policies and Procedures shall be known as a Perpetual Member. An Alumnus Member may choose to affiliate with a chapter for whom they never worked due to geographical or logistical reasons. The affiliate chapter must approve the request and the alumnus member shall pay any applicable chapter dues. MPU

C. Bylaw change proposed at the Spring 2013 meeting for Article XI Sections 3 and 4 – Section 3 - Standing and Special Committees. “The following shall be considered standing committees: Membership, Public Education, Certification, Competition, Heroic Acts, Junior Lifeguards, Magazine Publication, Website and Ways and Means.” Section 4 – Special Committees – “The following shall be considered special committees: Competition, Heroic Acts, Junior Lifeguards, Magazine Publication and Website.” This motion was withdrawn by the Bylaws Committee.

XVI. New Business (Motions and voting limited to Officers and Regional Delegates)

A. From the Bylaws Committee - Standing Committees: while they may not need to meet all the time, a standing committee is needed to conduct business in any avenues of which that may happen; Working Group Committees, or formerly known as Special Committees, are more task specific. These committees may not need regional representation equally, but instead have

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knowledgeable people about the subject. The names of the committees will be kept in Policies and Procedures and the formula for which they are in the Bylaws. Bylaw change proposal to Article XI Sections 3 and 4 to be voted on at the Spring 2014 Board of Directors meeting– Section 3 “The following shall be considered standing committees: Membership, Public Education, Certification and Ways and Means. Standing Committees shall include one voting member from each region, unless the region chooses not to be represented, and a non-voting chairperson or persons. Standing Committees shall be listed in the Policies and Procedures. No Standing Committee shall be chaired by the USLA President, Vice President or Secretary.” Section 4 change title from Special Committees to Working Group Committees and “The following shall be considered special committees: Competition, Heroic Acts, Junior Lifeguard, Magazine Publication and Website. Working Group Committees may be listed in the Policies and Procedures. Additional committees and professional advisory boards may be created by the President or Executive Committee with the approval of the Board of Directors. No Working Group Committee shall be chaired by the USLA President, Vice President or Secretary.”

B. Proposal from the Bylaws Committee to amend Policies and Procedures II-I to move the Authority under Bylaw Article XI ; also amend the Subject in Policies and Procedures II-I to “Standing and Working Group Committees” and add the following language “Bylaws, Certification, Competition, Heroic Acts, Junior Guards, Membership, Public Education and Ways and Means shall be considered Standing Committees.” MPU

C. Proposal from the Bylaws Committee to completely delete Policy and Procedure III-I – “Election Nomination Procedures” because it is directly in conflict with the Bylaws.MPU

D. Policy and Procedure III-B – Working on meeting rotation sites.

XVII. Open Forum and Announcements (Any USLA member may raise issues. Motions and votes limited to Regional Delegates.) No person requested to be recognized.

XVIII. Election of Officers

A. Report of the Nominating Committee (Mr. Ed Zebrowski III) Mr. Zebrowski III reported that the following nominations were received during the nominating period as outlined in the Bylaws:

Secretary – Ms. Nikki Bowie Treasurer – Mr. Rob Williams

i. President – Mr. Brewster stepped aside and gave the chair to Vice President Peter Davis who asked if there were nominations from the floor for President. The Mid-Atlantic Region nominated Mr. Chris Brewster. Motion to close the nominations. Motion by Mr. Healey, second by Ms. Blair that Mr. Brewster be elected by acclamation.MPU

ii. Vice President – There were no nominations from the floor. Motion by Mr. Healey, second by Ms. Blair that Mr. Davis be elected by acclamation.MPU

iii. Secretary- There were no nominations from the floor. Motion by Mr. More, second by Ms. Wagenhals that Ms. Bowie be elected by acclamation.MPU

iv. Treasurer – There were no nominations from the floor. Motion by Mr. Zebrowski III, second by Mr. Kiziukiewicz that Mr. Williams be elected by acclamation.MPU

v. Executive Delegate – There were no nominations from the floor. Motion by Mr. Bertrand, second by Mr. Beuerlein that Mr. Hartl be elected by acclamation. MPU

XIX. Appointments by President (all appointments were passed unanimously) A. Advisor – Mr. Tim Gallagher B. Liaison Officer– Mr. Bert Whitaker C. Medical Advisor – Dr. Peter Wernicki D. Legal Advisor – Mr. Chip More E. Certification – Mr. Tony Pryor F. Competition – Mr. Ed Zebrowski G. Heroic Acts, Recognition, Awards and Presentations – Ms. Adrienne Groh H. Junior Guards – Ms. Reenie Boyer I. Membership – Ms. Charlotte Graham J. Public Education – Ms. Denise Blair; Mr. Bill Humphreys co-chair K. Ways and Means – Mr. Rob Williams

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L. Bylaws – Mr. Ed Zebrowski III M. Lifesaver Education – Mr. Tim Gallagher N. Medical – Dr. Peter Wernicki O. Heritage – Dave Shotwell P. Public Information Officer – There is no actual Public Information Committee. President

Brewster appointed Mr. Tom Gill as the PIO. Q. Website – Ms. Karissa Ickes R. Fund Raising and Sponsorship Oversight – Mr. Ed Zebrowski S. Statistics – There is no actual Statistics Committee. President Brewster appointed Mr. Rick

Gould as the USLA Statistician. T. 50th Anniversary – Mr. Andrew Healey U. National Team Manager – Mr. Jay Butki; National Team Coach – Dr. Mike Barrows

XX. Future Meetings

A. 2014 Spring: Southwest, April 24-26, 2014. Huntington Beach, CA. Information will be posted soon on the USLA website.

B. 2014 Fall: South Atlantic, November 6-8, 2014.

XXI. Adjournment – Motion to adjourn by Mr. Joe Pecoraro. MPU

Activity Report, USLA President: Page 1 of 3

United States Lifesaving Association President

Activity Report

Date: November 7, 2013 Officer: President (B. Chris Brewster)

Introduction I am pleased to provide an update on my work over the past six months. Much of my work is routine, but daily, involving answering and handling or routing inquiries; providing support to committee chairs, regions, and chapters; and representing the USLA publicly. I support the Executive Director in addressing administrative functions of the USLA. I have attempted here to address some highlights of specific items that may be of interest. I would like to thank so many of you who have done so much work between the Board meetings. Clearly, the business of the USLA does not stop at the closing of each Board meeting. Without your diligence, the work of the USLA could not go on.

Activities and Accomplishments (Since prior Board of Directors meeting) 1. Special Projects

1.1. California Open Water Rescuer Training Proposal: Collaborated with Mr. Williams and Mr. Beuerlein with respect to providing formal input to a project of the California State Fire Marshal to create a rescue swimmer program (letter attached).

1.2. E-Blast Newsletters: Worked with Ms. Ickes to create these newsletters, which are sent to our entire membership.

1.3. NOAA: 1.3.1. Finalized and signed an ongoing letter of collaboration with NOAA with the

approval of the Executive Committee (attached). 1.3.2. Accompanied Mr. Davis to Silver Spring, Maryland to conduct a two day

meeting on a proposed collaboration with the National Weather Service involving feedback from lifeguard agencies on rip current and other conditions. The Weather Service has tentatively agreed to disseminate the swim near a lifeguard and ask the lifeguard first messages on a national basis when coastal weather outlooks are distributed.

1.4. Insurance: Worked our insurance company to assist in insuring events, including assisting with insurance of the Southeast Region’s regional competitions. Worked to finalize acceptable wording of the waiver for competitors at the Nationals.

1.5. Oxnard, California: Assisted the Southwest Region with potential development of a lifeguard operation in this city. Sent a letter to the Mayor and City Council to encourage acceleration of efforts to secure lifeguards (letter attached).

1.6. Huntington Beach: Assisted the Huntington Beach Marine Safety Officers Association in their efforts to realign the lifeguard operation within the City of Huntington Beach’s structure to better recognize the importance and unique aspects of lifesaving.

1.7. Honolulu: Sent a letter to the Managing Director of the City and County of Honolulu regarding best practice in lifesaving (letter attached).


2. General Business 2.1. Executive Director: Commenced oversight of and collaboration with the Executive

Director. This has involved many hours of telephonic meetings, in person discussion, and email discussions. This has been a very positive, although initially understandably time-consuming role.

2.2. American Lifeguard Magazine: Per decisions of the Executive Committee, developed an independent contractor agreement with consultation of the Editor, Treasurer, Legal Advisor, and others. Negotiated the contract with the Editor. Signed the contract (attached). Commenced oversight in accordance with terms of the contract.

2.3. Membership Development 2.3.1. New England: Met with representatives of the Cape Cod chapter regarding

participation and certification. Assisted in drafting bylaws and an agenda for the first regional meeting. Circulated agenda to regional members.

2.3.2. Puerto Rico: Assisted in drafting bylaws for a proposed Puerto Rico chapter of the USLA.

2.4. USLA Nationals 2013: Worked with Mr. Zebrowski and the organizers to help ensure fulfillment of USLA’s obligations and related issues. This included arranging for event insurance and securing hotel rooms for officials, both of which are now the responsibility of the USLA. This has also included assisting Mr. Zebrowski, where possible, in sponsorship issues and assisting the organizers with specific requests. Attended the Nationals and assisted with registration and sponsor liaison issues.

2.5. Japan Event: Researched a concern of members and competitors regarding irradiated water in Japan. Checked with a Woods Hole expert and advised the competitors.

2.6. Medal of Valor: Met with two individuals interested in creating a television show regarding our Medal of Valor recipients. (Note that this is very speculative at the present time.) Referred them to Ms. Groh.

2.7. San Clemente Grant Request: Sent a letter to the California Coastal Commission in support of securing grant funds for a new lifeguard headquarters (attached).

3. Income and Sponsorship 3.1. Legal Review: Acted as the interface with our attorneys and the Legal Advisor to

review several contracts that required legal review prior to signing. Worked with the Legal Advisor to finalize the agreement for the Executive Director. Worked with our attorney to arrange the mailing of a cease and desist letter to, “Lifeguard Magazine,” and online magazine with a name that infringed on American Lifeguard Magazine (attached). They have changed their name.

3.2. Whistles for Life: Sent a letter to the president of this company that resulted in all overdue funds ($6,500) due under contract being reimbursed. Have had discussions since to resolve various issues.

3.3. Brand Licensing Inc.: Worked with our attorney to finalize the approved agreement. Worked with the company and Mr. Zebrowski as various potential opportunities were considered.

3.4. Nautica: Worked with Mr. Zebrowski and our attorneys to finalize a two-year agreement with Nautica, which was approved by the Executive Committee and signed by both parties.

4. International Relations 4.1. International Life Saving Federation: Continued to serve as a vice-president and

President of the Americas Region, and to interrelate internationally in support of the


ILS. Attended the World Conference on Drowning Prevention and the ILS Board of Directors meeting in Potsdam, Germany in October 2013. Worked with various interests in concert with Mr. Davis in developing lifesaving in Central and South America.

5. External Relations and Communications 5.1. News Media: Responded to a variety of requests from the news media. 5.2. American Red Cross and YMCA: Joined Mr. Davis at a meeting in Washington, DC to

discuss a national collaborative project. Details to follow.

Recommendations for Committee and/or Board Consideration 1. Please see Executive Committee Agenda. Attachments 1. Letter to California State Fire Marshal 2. USLA NOAA Sea Grant Letter of Intent 3. Letter to Oxnard Mayor and City Council 4. Letter to City and County of Honolulu 5. ALM Contract 6. Coastal Commission letter San Clemente 7. Letter to Lifeguard Magazine

October 9, 2013 Tonya Hoover, State Fire Marshal P.O. Box 944246 Sacramento, CA 94244-2460 RE: STEAC Open Water Rescuer Training Proposal We have been made aware of a proposal before the Statewide Training and Education Advisory Committee to create a new course of instruction in open water rescuer training for California firefighters. We understand it will be reviewed for approval in the near term. This letter is intended to address concerns related to firefighter safety and readiness which need further attention as part of this proposal, as well as to propose some alternatives. The United States Lifesaving Association is the national nonprofit association of beach lifeguards and open water rescuers. We are the closest organization in our profession to the National Fire Protection Association. Our standards are utilized by most of the major open water lifeguard agencies in the United States, including California, as well as a number of fire agencies. We certify (essentially accredit) lifeguard agencies, fire departments and other groups which demonstrate that they train to our standards and requirements. These standards are aimed at rescuer safety, citizen safety, and professionalism. We are pleased to note that the proposal before STEAC includes reliance on our training manual and various USLA standards. We are concerned that the course, as presently proposed, is inadequate in length and scope to prepare those trained, and that this could place firefighters at unnecessary risk by sanctioning training well below national standards for entry level beach lifeguards. We are somewhat mystified over the desire to create a new and unique open water rescuer training course based in significant part on USLA standards, when many of the nation’s most respected lifeguard agencies within fire agencies such as Los Angeles County, San Diego, and Newport Beach already offer courses of consistent quality certified to USLA standards. With such ready availability and a history of success, why create a unique course? Open water areas vary in many ways around the USA, from surf beaches, to inland lakes and rivers of varying sizes, to reservoirs. As well, flooding can cause otherwise dry areas to become open water and can create extraordinary hazards which require very specialized training.

United States Lifesaving Association

PO Box 366 Huntington Beach, California 92648 Tel: 866-FOR-USLA (866-367-8752)

www.usla.org B. Chris Brewster President Peter Davis Vice-President Nikki Bowie Secretary Rob Williams Treasurer Charles Hartl Executive Delegate Tim Gallagher Advisor Bert Whitaker Liaison Officer Dr. Peter Wernicki Medical Advisor John “Chip” More Legal Advisor

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Recognizing this variety, as well as the fact that water rescue agencies could not and would not wish to train their personnel to every type of open water condition (including those never experienced in their area), the USLA certification program requires localized training, using national standards. Thus, for example, an individual who will not be assigned to rescue at a surf beach need not be trained in that environment, but is also not considered qualified to perform rescues in that environment. It is a simple reality that if an individual cannot be provided training in given environmental conditions, that individual cannot be expected to safely perform rescues in that environment. Our training approach is further based on an expectation that training will be provided by experienced open water rescuers who have worked in USLA certified programs, that those trained in the basics will initially be assigned to work under the supervision of experienced rescuers, and that they will work in teams, with backup immediately available from similarly trained personnel. We offer two types of certification with similar standards, though tailored to assignment. One is the Lifeguard Agency Certification Program and the other is the Aquatic Rescue Response Team certification program. The former is aimed at traditional beach lifeguard programs and the latter at teams typically under the oversight of fire departments and sheriff’s departments. We would be pleased to discuss ways the pending proposal could be regularized with our ARRT program (attached). It is critical to note that each of our programs involves a 40 hour minimum training period (exclusive of medical aid training). This is viewed by the USLA as a bare minimum prior to an aquatic rescuer working under the immediate supervision and oversight of trained and experienced rescuers in an agency. Those so trained are perhaps equivalent to probationary firefighters who will need further in-service training and oversight. In that context, allow me to provide some specific feedback and suggestions regarding the most recent draft of the proposal under consideration (attached), which was forwarded to me as the “third draft proposal.”

1. Swim Test: We are pleased to note that the initial swim test proposed is consistent with USLA guidelines; however, the USLA swim test is one that is required to be “met and maintained.” That is, credentialed rescuers must maintain this level of fitness and swimming ability to safely and adequately perform their duties. This is a requirement of USLA certification. Regular swim skill testing to demonstrate maintenance of this critical skill is essential to rescuer, fellow rescuer, and citizen safety, but is not presently part of the proposal.

2. Instructor Qualifications: The proposal does not include any minimum standards for course instructors. The USLA requires that instructors of Aquatic Rescue Response Team courses must have worked a minimum cumulative total of 5,000 hours of employment as an aquatic rescue response team member or as a professional lifeguard at a lifeguard agency which meets the minimum recommended guidelines of the USLA. This is probably not dissimilar for requirements or de facto requirements for firefighter trainers. We also require scuba certification (so that instructors are at minimum aware of scuba and the challenges presented by rescuing scuba divers). Instructors of open water rescuer courses must have

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demonstrated skills and experience to be able to adequately train others, but instructor qualifications are not presently part of the proposal.

3. Course Length: The proposed course is 24 hours in length. As previously noted our minimum accepted course length is 40 hours and includes very specific curriculum topics. Those completing courses conducted by USLA certified agencies are considered raw rookies in need of direct supervision from more experienced rescuers. The 24 hours of training which is proposed is not adequate for professional open water rescuers.

4. Environment Specific Training: The open water environment takes many forms and has a variety of hazards. Recognizing the cost and impracticality in training every rescuer in every aquatic environment, our approach allows agencies to train in aquatic hazards specific to the area of assignment, but to avoid training in other environments. Thus, for example, an inland agency need not train in surf rescue. However, a rescuer is not considered qualified for all environments. Trainees should be provided training that is appropriate to their assignment area, but their training should make clear that being an open water rescuer does not qualify one to perform rescues in environments in which they have not been trained. This is not currently addressed in the proposal.

5. Swiftwater and Flood Rescue: The USLA recognizes that swiftwater and flood rescue is a specialized discipline that can be extraordinarily dangerous and that requires intensive training above and beyond the minimums. Many firefighters nationwide have died in swiftwater and flood rescue efforts. We did not find any limitations in the training proposal that would confine the qualifications of trained individuals. For the safety of rescuers, it should be made clear that this course is not intended for nor does it qualify the trained person for swiftwater or flood rescue. Moreover, considering the potential deployment of these individuals in flooding, the course should include information on the hazards of swiftwater and flooding so that those trained understand these are no-go situations absent specialized training.

6. Team Deployment: Like firefighters, open water rescuers work in teams for obvious reasons of safety. The training proposal does not include standards under which those trained should be deployed. It seems possible that a fire agency might keep one open water rescuer on one apparatus and consider that adequate to respond to aquatic emergencies involving in-water rescue. We view in-water rescue as having hazards similar to burning buildings, such that if one member of the team needs assistance, it can be immediately provided by others. The proposal, as reviewed, seems aimed at training individuals, not addressing safe deployment. Standards for safe deployment are essential to avoid having single rescuers assigned to circumstances where they may have no backup from similarly trained rescuers.

7. Incident Command Training: The course, as presented, includes incident command training. This training would seem particularly valuable for supervisory personnel who are likely to be involved in oversight of aquatic rescues. We would not wish to discourage this training for all aquatic rescuers; however, incident command training

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would seem to detract from the basic training time needed to learn aquatic rescue. It would seem appropriate as a training adjunct.

8. Multiple Victim Rescue: The course does not reference multiple victim rescue. This is a common scenario for open water rescuers. The course should include training in multiple victim rescue.

9. Regular Training and Drills: Open water lifeguards are regularly involved in aquatic rescue, just as firefighters are regularly involved in fire, rescue and medical responses. Nevertheless, the USLA program requires that personnel be provided daily opportunities, conditions permitting, for activities such as swimming, aquatic rescue drills and running. The aquatic aspect of this would seem particularly important in your application, since aquatic rescue is likely to be very infrequent for firefighters. We also require drills, at least once a month, in likely rescue evolutions. Regular training and drills in aquatic rescue are necessary to maintain adequate skills to perform safely in aquatic emergencies and should be a part of required ongoing training. No regular training is included as part of the proposal.

10. Annual Rescue Skills Training: The USLA does not consider a one-time course to

be adequate to maintain necessary aquatic rescue skills indefinitely, even for those regularly involved in aquatic rescue. We require that a minimum of minimum of sixteen (16) hours per year in formal training directly related to aquatic rescue be provided to maintain status as an aquatic rescuer. The course, as proposed, makes no provision for ongoing training.

In summary, we laud the desire to ensure adequate standards for the training of firefighters in water rescue and have offered such standards nationwide for many years. Over 120 lifeguard and fire agencies are certified. We believe the proposal has promise, but have identified areas that need further attention. The simplest solution would be to use existing standards and curricula already successfully employed throughout California and nationwide. In any case, we would be pleased to work with your office to find a solution that would ensure appropriate levels of safety and professionalism. Sincerely,

B. Chris Brewster President ([email protected]) Encl: Open Water Rescuer Course Proposal USLA Aquatic Rescue Response Team Guidelines

July 25, 2013 Tim Flynn, Mayor, Carmen Ramírez, Esq., Mayor Pro Tem, Bryan A. MacDonald, Councilman, Dorina Padilla, Councilmember, Bert Perello, Councilmember 305 West 3rd Street Oxnard, CA 93030-5790 Honorable Mayor and City Council, The United States Lifesaving Association is America's nonprofit, professional association of beach lifeguards and open water rescuers. We work to reduce the incidence of death and injury in the aquatic environment through public education, national lifeguard standards, training programs, promotion of high levels of lifeguard readiness, and other means. I am writing to express our appreciation for the recent progress you have made in developing a road map to improve ocean safety in your community and to encourage urgent implementation of your plans. The USLA has been carefully monitoring safety issues affecting Oxnard Shores as part of our ongoing mission to promote ocean safety awareness and public safety. We are pleased to hear that a lifeguard plan has been presented and has received your support. In fact, we understand this plan has the support of the Oxnard Fire Department (an agency that is nationally certified to USLA Aquatic Rescue Response Team standards). It takes time and experience to develop a fully functioning, prevention-based lifeguard program. Our organization is replete with people who have managed successful public lifeguard programs, both large and small. I am thus pleased to offer you our assistance and to encourage that your efforts begin now to ensure that the program is ready to go in the summer of 2014. Sincerely,

B. Chris Brewster President cc: City Manager Karen Burnham

Fire Chief James A. Williams II




July 10, 2013 Ember Lee Shinn Managing Director City and County of Honolulu 620 S. King Street Honolulu, HI 96813 RE: HONOLULU LIFEGUARD STAFFING AND BEST PRACTICE Ralph Goto advised me of a desire for information related to Honolulu’s lifeguard staffing in the context of staffing levels and best practice. Allow me to being by saying that as a former lifeguard chief for the City of San Diego, current president of the United States Lifesaving Association, the editor of the manual used to train surf lifeguards nationwide, and a long-time vice-president of the International Life Saving Federation, I can advise that Mr. Goto is himself an internationally recognized expert on lifesaving and water safety. As such, his thoughts on these issues would have substantial weight in any forum related to our profession. Nevertheless, I understand the need for independent review. I am often asked for a formula that might be used to determine appropriate levels of lifeguard staffing on the oceanfront. Unfortunately, no such formula exists to my knowledge, with the exception of locally devised formulas. The reason is that the ocean environment and related hazards vary dramatically from place to place. As an example, the North Shore of Oahu is legendary for its winter surf size and Hawaiian rip currents can be extraordinarily strong due to underwater reefs. But the volume of beach use in Southern California combined with ocean conditions in that area results in the largest concentration of rescues each year by a significant margin. And jetties along the Jersey Shore result in unusual problems related to rip current formation and potential injuries. Each of these environments has unique aspects related to clientele, volume of use, type of hazard, magnitude of hazard, frequency of hazardous conditions, etc. As a result, unlike swimming pools, which are essentially homogeneous, the ocean environment defies simple quantification when it comes to reasonable and appropriate staffing levels.




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A parallel may be available in another area of public safety: policing. New York City is reported to have a ratio of four police officers for every 1,000 population. San Diego is reported to have a ratio of two police officers for every 1,000 population. Yet their crime rates are quite similar such that both are considered reasonably safety cities. Presumably, aspects of the environment and other factors require more police officers in New York City than in San Diego to achieve a similar result. Most lifeguard agencies of which I am aware have evolved primarily as a result of historic drowning deaths and accident, with lifeguards staffed and positioned in areas with the highest levels of attendance and/or injuries. This tends to reflect local expectations and views about the importance of water safety, as well as issues related to the tourism economy. With respect to the latter, it is widely considered desirable for an area that is substantially dependent upon beach related tourism to be able to demonstrate that the beaches are safe, with “safe” being a relative term that is in the eye of the beholder, the media, the community, etc. In water safety, as in other areas under public scrutiny, it is generally much harder to live down a bad reputation (i.e. reverse a stigma) than to maintain a good one. In your case, the quality and professionalism of your lifeguards is generally viewed quite highly in the lifesaving world, but the volume of drowning deaths in the Hawaiian Islands is considered to be elevated over other areas. Kauai, for example, has an ongoing reputational problem related to the scarceness of lifeguards and lifeguard protected beaches, which has resulted in high number of drowning deaths. If one looks at best practice in the broadest sense in ocean lifesaving, the following are some things to consider. Best practice from a beach staffing perspective in areas such as yours, with a variety of well attended beaches and other less well attended beaches with significant hazards, is to staff lifeguards at beaches with high attendance or with hazards that have resulted in a history of injury or death. The goal, of course, is to minimize injury and death. Nationally, we have found that the chance of drowning death at beaches with properly trained and equipped lifeguards is one in 18 million visits. Unfortunately, this figure relates only to beaches that are staffed. The bigger question is what a tolerable level of injury and drowning death is for other areas. In areas with year-round beach attendance, some best practices are these: Los Angeles County and the City of San Diego provide a 24-hour on-duty lifeguard response year round. Both accept and dispatch personnel through the 9-1-1 system as secondary public safety answering points. The norm for advanced, full-time lifeguard agencies is that full-time personnel are EMTs. Some are paramedics. Others are trained as first responders. Motive equipment support is a significant aspect of efficient lifeguard protection, since vehicles and vessels can ensure rapid response and rescue of persons in distress that would be handled less efficiently without. The City and County of Honolulu pioneered the use of personal watercraft in rescue and remains at the forefront in this skill area.

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Los Angeles County maintains a fleet of 13 thirty-two foot rescue boats that handle open ocean and nearshore rescue, as well as firefighting. Many other lifeguard agencies in California have similar craft in varying quantities, along with personal watercraft and other vessels. It may seem that I am unable to provide you with a simple answer to what I understand to be your questions. Indeed that is so. That said, I hope I’ve explained some of the reasons and provided some useful background. The United States Lifesaving Association does have a national Lifeguard Agency Certification Program. This is essentially an accreditation program. Agencies may achieve certification at the regular or advanced level and over 100 are currently certified. The City and County of Honolulu’s lifeguard program has been certified since 1994 at the regular level. We encourage all agencies to take steps necessary (primarily involving training) to achieve advanced level certification. The United States Lifesaving Association does not have a recommended formula for beach lifeguard staffing, for reasons noted in this letter, other than some basic recommendations that lifeguards never be assigned to work alone and that lifeguards be staffed in the areas where they are demonstrated to be needed and in a number that ensures a degree of safety which is at or above national norms for beach lifesaving. If I can assist further, please feel free to contact me. Sincerely,

B. Chris Brewster President

August 26, 2013 Joan Cardellino, South Coast Program Manager California State Coastal Conservancy Climate Ready Grant 1330 Broadway, 13th Floor Oakland, CA 94612 RE: CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE GRANT REQUEST I am informed that the City of San Clemente will be pursuing a grant opportunity through the California Coastal Conservancy. This letter is intended to address the project and in particular that aspect of the proposal that involves the Marine Safety Division and their lifeguard headquarters building. The United States Lifesaving Association annually solicits data from beach lifeguard operations nationwide. These statistics consistently demonstrate that a majority of all rescues from drowning by ocean lifeguards in the USA occur in the three Southern California counties of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego. The reasons include high attendance and substantial risk posed by surf conditions and rip currents. These beaches could not be safely enjoyed by the public without oversight of properly trained, equipped and positioned lifeguards. The San Clemente Marine Safety Headquarters, which is currently failing and at risk of complete loss due to coastal erosion, is a vital component in providing a safe and enjoyable beach experience for over two million beachgoers annually. The Marine Safety Division provides lifeguard services and prevention education including a Junior Lifeguard program serving over 600 students annually, a school beach safety program, and public beach safety and environmental awareness programs. I respectfully encourage any assistance by the Coastal Conservancy that would result in maintaining the current level of public safety on the beach and stewardship of the coastal environment and ecology in the community provided by the San Clemente Marine Safety Division. Sincerely,

B. Chris Brewster President




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Vice President

Activity Report

Date: November 2013

Officer: Peter Davis

Introduction

It has been a pleasure to serve you as Vice President during the past election cycle and to be part of the USLA team. In my opinion USLA has made significant progress over the past few years in expanding and deepening our relationships with collaborative partners such as NOAA, the YMCA, and the Red Cross. We have also made important internal strides, such as the hiring of an Executive Director and increasing the productivity and accountability of the work done in committees. It has been an exciting time to have the privilege of playing a part.

Activities and Accomplishments (Since Prior Board of Directors Meeting)

1. USLA/NOAA (NWS) Rip Partnership- Attended, along with President Brewster, NOAA/USLA meeting in Washington DC on related to partnering on a project to create a framework that would enhance and standardize communication between local National Weather Service offices and Lifeguard Agencies. The goal is that lifeguard agencies would provide NWS offices with standardized feedback related to rip currents and other hazards to enhance reporting, public information, and predictive models related to rip currents. We mainly focused on what specific information could reasonably be provided by lifeguard agencies without detracting from their duties. A minimum was set although the NWS offices and lifeguard agencies could add more variables that would be reported if they both desired. The NWS is currently working out details of how this information would best be collected, stored, and accessed- perhaps in a national data base that could be used by researchers and lifeguard agencies.

2. USLA/NOAA Working Agreement- While in DC, President Brewster and I also met with NOAA on the ongoing process to formalize our mutual desire to collaborate on various issues- instead of being an agreement for a specific time frame on a specific issue like the rip current project, this agreement would open ended and less formal.

3. USLA/Red Cross/YMCA Partnership- ongoing communication and a planned meeting for early spring.

4. World Water Safety 2013- Attended the ILS World Water Safety Conference on Drowning in Potsdam, Germany in October. USLA was also represented by President Chris Brewster and Medical Advisor Peter Wernicke. Primarily attended the sections on rip current research, which will hopefully help with our NOAA project.

5. ILS Board of Directors Meeting- Attended ILS BOD meetings while in Potsdam, Germany in the role of the Secretary General of the ILS- Americas Region and on behalf of USLA.

6. ILS Americas Region- Participated in a meeting of the Americas Region of ILS, along with President Brewster. Topics included general state of the region, communication strategies, ongoing public education projects (such as a completed project on water safety for children and an ongoing one on floods/river safety), and member development (Uruguay and Chile submitted Full Member applications which were subsequently approved). More information on the region can be found in the attached Americas Region report to the ILS BOD.

Attachments

1. International Lifesaving Federation- Americas Region report to ILS Board of Directors

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Secretary

Activity Report

Date: November 7, 2013

Officer: Nikki Bowie

Introduction

Thanks to the Mid-Atlantic Region for bringing us to a new and exciting site for this meeting. Also, kudos to the organizers and officials of the 2013 National Lifeguard Championships in Manhattan Beach. The event ran smoothly and the competitors were very visible. We look forward to hosting the competition in the South Atlantic Region in 2014. It has been a privilege serving as the secretary for the past eight years. I have learned a great deal and have enjoyed working with everyone involved in this great organization (My hair dresser also thanks you for the monthly trips to cover the grey). I look forward to continue serving is that is the wish of the Board of Directors.


1. Conducted three Evotes.

2. Updated the Policies and Procedures in the following sections: III-A – Membership Rolls and Forms; III-D – Life Member Selection and Approval Criteria; III-E – Awards – Recognition Criteria and Approval Procedure; IV-B – Dues. The updated version is posted on the USLA website.

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Treasurer’s Report

Activity Report


Officer: Rob Williams

Introduction

It is exciting times to be in the New England Region for a National Board of Directors Meeting. It is also great to know that the economy is rebounding and the USLA is doing well economically. Membership is thriving and there are inflows from multiple sources.


1. Continue to act on behalf of the USLA on financial matters.

2. Budget Notes – The USLA are performing well. We are well above our expected income for the year. However, there are some outstanding expenses that will need to be paid in the coming months.

2.1. Income Notes

2.1.1. ALM Revenue – A 2012 issue was delayed and printed in January 2013, thus there will be some additional income in this fiscal year from the extra issue.

2.1.2. Competition Income – 2013 National Games performed very well. The registration fees were a little above expectations, and we received $35,000 in Nautica sponsorship.

2.1.2.1. This also included almost $5,000 in registrations for the Southwest Regional Competition. The CSLSA utilized the YM system for their registration.

2.1.3. Event Host – The Pacific Northwest (Spring 2013) and the Mid Atlantic (Fall 2013) Regions have utilized the YM system for their registration to the National Board of Directors Meetings.

2.1.4. Membership Dues – Membership Dues are up for the year. However, the 2012 LA County Juniors check (over $33,000) was received in January 2013.

2.2. Expense Notes

2.2.1. Administration – Should be below expectations since the Executive Director contract was not finalized until mid year.

2.2.2. American Lifeguard Magazine – The last issue in 2012 was printed in January 2013, causing expenses for four issues in the current fiscal year. One more issue of expenses will be coming in the coming month.

2.2.3. Competition – The 2013 National Games budget hosted by LACOLA has not been finalized. Finalized budget and additional monies owed to LACOLA should be paid at the Fall BOD Meeting.

2.2.4. Event Registration – Monies paid to the Northwest Region for online registration to the Spring BOD Meeting. Fall BOD meeting monies still need to be transferred to the Mid Atlantic.

2.2.5. Insurance and Bonds – Invoices are due in December annually.

2.2.6. Membership Kits – The budget is above expectations. However, the kit sharing costs were above the original budgeted amount and the monies have been recouped through Member Dues income.

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2.2.7. Office Expenses – A FedEx account was set up to allow necessary members and directors utilize mailing services.

2.2.8. Professional Fees – Our accountant did not invoice the USLA for 2012 services, and that invoice came this fiscal year.

2.2.9. Regions % of Member Dues – This budget is above expectations, but it is relative to the member dues income.

Attachments

1. Balance Sheet – As of October 13, 2013

2. 2013 Profit & Loss Budget – As of October 13, 2013

3. Competition – National Team Account – 2013 Account Detail


Balance Sheet Standard As of October 13, 2013

ASSETS

Current Assets

Checking/Savings

Bank of America

Bank of America Checking 34,094.47

Bank of America Maximizer 290,841.34

Total Bank of America 324,935.81

Fidelity Investments 30,396.45

Paypal 5.11

Total Checking/Savings 355,337.37

TOTAL ASSETS 355,337.37

LIABILITIES & EQUITY

Liabilities

Long Term Liabilities

Competition - National Team 906.91

Mexican Lifesaving Fund 26,150.99

Total Liabilities 27,057.90

Equity

Unrestricted Net Assets 240,150.51

Net Income 88,128.96

Total Equity 355,337.37

TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY 355,337.37

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Profit and Loss Budget vs. Actual January through December 2013

10/13/13

Jan - Dec '13 Budget $ Over Budget

Income

ALM Revenue 17,424.00 18,000.00 (576.00)

Awards/Presentations Income 50.00

Certification Fees 8,600.00 10,500.00 (1,900.00)

Competition Income 88,125.00 52,500.00 35,625.00

Donations 1,946.76 1,000.00 946.76

Event Host 6,340.00

Interest 128.41 500.00 (371.59)

Membership Dues 196,593.00 180,000.00 16,593.00

Miscellaneous Income 250.00

Public Education Income 0.00 2,500.00 (2,500.00)

Royalties 2,558.42 3,000.00 (441.58)

Sponsorship 28,541.60 30,000.00 (1,458.40)

Total Income 350,557.19 298,000.00 52,557.19

Expense

Administration 13,732.61 40,000.00 (26,267.39)

American Lifeguard Magazine 39,874.36 42,000.00 (2,125.64)

Awards & Special Presentations 205.06 1,000.00 (794.94)

Certification Administration 2,507.09 4,000.00 (1,492.91)

Competition 49,915.28 50,500.00 (584.72)

Credit Card Charges 2,786.61 3,000.00 (213.39)

Donation 420.00 500.00 (80.00)

Event Registration 1,500.00

Insurance & Bonds 0.00 7,500.00 (7,500.00)

International Relations 4,275.34 7,000.00 (2,724.66)

Junior Lifeguards 0.00 1,000.00 (1,000.00)

Membership Kits 79,362.02 70,000.00 9,362.02

Office Expenses 523.59 500.00 23.59

Presidential Discretionary Fund 0.00 1,000.00 (1,000.00)

Professional Fees 3,580.00 2,500.00 1,080.00

Public Education 8,618.94 15,000.00 (6,381.06)

Public Relations 0.00 300.00 (300.00)

Regions % of Member Dues 43,111.00 34,000.00 9,111.00

Telephone/Internet 380.37 480.00 (99.63)

USLA Travel and Meetings 4,856.96 10,500.00 (5,643.04)

Website 6,689.00 7,000.00 (311.00)

Total Expense 262,338.23 297,780.00 (35,441.77)

Net Income 88,218.96 220.00 87,998.96

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Competition – National Team Account As of October 13, 2013

Date Name Memo Paid Amount Balance

Competition - National Team

0.00

01/01/13

Deposit Annual Allocation $14,000 minus $4646.52 for Rescue 2012 9,353.48 9,353.48

03/05/13 Jay Butki Rescue 2012 (2,067.18) 7,286.30

03/05/13 Micah Carlson Rescue 2012 Rental Van (833.91) 6,452.39

09/04/13

Deposit 448 Competitors $5 per - expenses 496.62 6,949.01

09/10/13 Seibu Travel Tsuhn Japan Competition (5,489.10) 1,459.91

10/02/13 Wave One Uniforms (553.00) 906.91

Total Competition - National Team 906.91 906.91

TOTAL

906.91 906.91

United States Lifesaving Association Executive Delegate

Activity Report Date: November 7, 2013 Officer: Charlie Hartl Introduction Any regional Executive Delegate wishing to meet should notify me Thursday morning so a time and place can be scheduled. This policy also helps with the conflict of trying to be at 2 or 3 places at once. Activities and Accomplishments (Since Prior Board of Directors Meeting) I have been helping the membership committee with continuing support to Charlotte handling membership issues and helping with our fulfillment company, Uniserv. This year appeared to be better during the period just prior to Nationals, and good progress has been made. As support to Charlotte, I was able to help prevent a log jam before Nationals with help to both her and Uniserv. Again this year I handled the registration and scoring for Nationals in LA. I wish to thank all those who helped with the registration process, which included Chris Brewster, Charlotte Graham, Roie Daly, Renee Locarnini, Mike Silvestri, our new Executive Director, Kay Smiley, and many others. The scoring was handled by a great staff including Robin Szvitich, Roie Daly, Kay Smiley, and Connie Hartl. Next year, I will be handing over the registration and scoring to Skip Prosser from the Long Beach, CA chapter. He has handled the SW Region championships for a number of years and has volunteered to continue handling our championships. He is presently writing a program that will handle both the registration through YM and scoring. Connie and I will work closely with him during this transition. We wish to thank all who have worked with us at each Championship since 2005. I hope to see all back out on the beach.

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ADVISOR

Activity Report

Date: NOVEMBER 7, 2013

Officer: TIMOTHY GALLAGHER

Introduction

I support Chris for election as I have in the past. That said, it may be time for me to resume my position in the back of the room and let someone else assume the “Advisor” position.


1. NA

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Liaison Officer

Activity Report

Date: October 28, 2013

Officer: Bert Whitaker


1. Continued discussions with Jay Butki and Gus Avila regarding a potential re-application to the United States Olympic Committee for recognition as the national governing body for lifesaving sport.

2. Since the last meeting, most liaison work with other organizations has been handled by Mr. Brewster and Mr. Davis due to longstanding relationships and their positions within the ILS. I am ready to assist as needed and happy to provide support whenever asked.

Recommendations for Committee and/or Board Consideration

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Medical Advisor’s

Activity Report

Date: November 7th, 2013

Officer: Peter G. Wernicki, M.D.

Introduction

It is an honor to participate in this USLA board meeting at the historic location of our first lifesavers.


1. I recently moderated sessions at the World Conference on Drowning Prevention last month in Potsdam, Germany. Also in attendance from the USLA were B. Chris Brewster, Peter Davis, and Carl Martinez. The conference had representatives from almost sixty countries. Hundreds of topics were covered including – Sudden death while swimming, Hyperventilation in drowning, Use of supraglottic airways by lifesavers, A universal drowning chain of survival, Brain damage after drowning, and many more. The program and abstracts are available for anyone interested. In conjunction with the conference, the DLRG (German Lifesaving Association) celebrated their 100th anniversary in grand style with boat parades, presidential ceremonies, and a lavish gala. I know the USLA will do even better for our 50th!

2. The ILS Board of Directors also met in Germany. I sat on the Rescue Commission as a USLA representative. I also chaired the Medical Committee meeting. The committee meeting was very well attended. We reviewed all of the 17 current ILS Medical Position Statements and made recommendations for updates and modifications. We also have agreed to create at least three new statements in the next year.

3. I continue to provide guidance on the ILS Anti-doping committee including recent recommendations on possible positive tests.

4. I am active with the American Red Cross as the Aquatic Chair of their Scientific Advisory Committee. Through this affiliation I assist the USLA and ARC to work together to achieve their mutual goals.

5. This summer I made several live and taped appearances on The Weather Channel speaking on rip currents and general water safety.

6. I am in contact with a physician and his staff from Vizual Edge LLC. They offer low cost self visual screening programs as well as training programs to try and increase visual performance. Please let me know if you would like further information on these programs.

7. I had the great pleasure of attending the 2013 Awards Ceremonies at the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Our own Robert Dillon received the prestigious Volunteer Service Award. Congratulations Bob on your well-deserved recognition. It appears that as of this report, the ISHOF will be moving from Ft. Lauderdale in the next year – possibly to the West coast.

8. The Handbook on Drowning will be slightly delayed in its publication. It should be available early in 2014.

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Great Lakes Region

Activity Report


President: Joe Pecoraro

Introduction

Things are looking up in the region. The north shore region held their life guard games this

summer and they were very well attended. We also have heard from a lifeguarding

group in Michigan and they may be interested in starting a chapter.

We also have made in roads with the junior guard program in Chicago and maybe

the parents may force the group to join the USLA so the kids can compete.

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Gulf Coast

Activity Report

Date: 11/7/13

President: Tony Pryor

Introduction

Howdy New England

Activities, Accomplishments and Information (Since prior Board of Directors Meeting)

1. South Padre Island became a USLA certified agency.

2. Cameron County is in the works to soon be a certified USLA agency.

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New England Region (NER)

Activity Report

Date: 11/06/2013

Representative: Robert Bertrand, NER


1. Hampton Beach Lifeguards applying for Certification.

2. Cape Cod National Seashore working on Certification.

3. November 9th, New England Region voting on adoption of Regional Bylaws followed by election of officers.

4. Scott Hansson and Gordon Miller from the Cape Cod National Seashore conducted a two day refresher training for 3 Waterfront Beaches on the Nantucket Sound.

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Northwest Region

Fall 2013 Activity Report


President: Cathy VonWald

Introduction

Thank you to the Mid-Atlantic Region for hosting the Fall Board of Directors Meeting. Although I am not in attendance, I will be there in spirit. The Northwest Region is very well represented by our delegates present.

Activities, Accomplishments and Information

1. The Northwest Region held its Fall Regional Board of Director’s Meeting in Santa Rosa, California on Friday, October 4, 2013.

2. Lifeguard agencies in the Northwest Region had a great 2013 season. It was a warm and dry summer overall with above average attendance at all region beaches. The Region continues to boast no lifeguarded drownings.

3. Regional Competition will be held in either Aquatic Park, Doran Beach, East Bay, Tahoe or Santa Cruz on July 23, 2014. Exact location TBD.

4. Next Regional Board of Directors meeting will be held in Lake Tahoe (TBD) on Friday, February 7, 2014.

5. The East Bay Jr. Lifeguard program enrolled over 1,000 students this summer which was an increase of over 200 from 2012.

6. The East Bay lifejacket loaner program loaned lifejackets to almost 38,000 people this summer.

7. The East Bay Regional Park Foundation continues to provide great support of water safety programs to low income individuals.

8. Sonoma County Regional Parks continued providing water safety education to children and parents in the Swim Safe program. The Vamos a Nadar programs was delivered to 350 children and 500 parents this summer.

9. The Sonoma County Junior Lifeguard Program was again a huge success. It was expanded to include the new surf camp and had a great following out in the ocean.

10. Redwood Coast Chapter hosted the Spring Lake fundraiser swim. Lifeguards volunteered their time in exchange for USLA membership.

11. Sonoma County Regional Parks started a new program called the Russian River Water Safety River Patrol. In the program a Ranger was trained in open water lifeguarding and 2 lifeguards provided water safety outreach, loaner lifejackets and education along the Russian River. The program was a huge success with 17 rescues and 0 drowning deaths in the 4 Regional Parks served during the pilot season.

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Pacific Islands Region

Activity Report


President: Ralph S. Goto

Activities, Accomplishments and Information

1. A new collective bargaining unit within the Hawaii Government Employees Association was created by the Hawaii State Legislature to include state law enforcement officers and county ocean and water safety officers. This significant piece of legislation was the result of years of work by Pacific Islands Region members and officers throughout the State of Hawaii, and marks of beginning of realistic salary and benefits negotiations for first responders.

2. The 2013 Ocean Safety and Drowning Prevention Conference was conducted at the Hawaii Convention Center, October 17-18, and co-sponsored by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Key members of the visitor industry participated in the conference, and positive discussion was initiated between tourism officials and ocean safety professionals.

3. Kauai Chapter

a. A team of 21 Junior Lifeguards from Kauai competed in their first USLA National Championships in Manhattan Beach CA and won 16 medals, including 6 gold, 5 silver, and 5 bronze. The team intends to travel to Virginia Beach next year to participate in the 2014 National Championships. Imua.

b. An ocean safety video is currently being shown at the Lihue Airport in the baggage claim area so that visitors can view ocean safety information while waiting for their luggage.

c. The Kauai Ocean Safety Bureau spearheaded and participated in USLA National Beach Safety Week in May highlighted by a proclamation from Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho.

4. Maui Chapter

a. Maui County Ocean Safety Division will be transferred from Department of Parks and

Recreation to the Maui Fire Department, effective July 1, 2014.

Attachments

Kauai Junior Lifeguards at USLA National Championships, Manhattan Beach, California, August 2013

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South Atlantic

Activity Report


President: Tom Gill

Introduction

The South Atlantic Region (SAR) appreciates the efforts of the Mid Atlantic in conjunction with the Northeast to bring us to this beautiful part of the country.

The SAR has worked diligently to maintain its membership numbers and once again has reached the 800+ mark. The towels supplied by the USLA and regions helped our numbers as did the efforts of every one of our chapters to promote membership.

The South Atlantic’s summer was milder and wetter than recent years. The northern half of the region faced cold and wet conditions through most of June. The 4th of July weekend was good in terms of sun but also brought dangerous conditions and deadly results to remote areas of the region without lifeguard presence. The media brought light to the situation and the SAR reached out to the local towns to offer our assistance. Simon Sanders of Carolina Beach met with some officials from the area and plans to go back to discuss lifeguard staffing options.

Vice President Ralph Wagner and Treasurer Michael Bradley worked diligently with membership Chair Charlotte Graham to streamline the registration of our members into the national database. In addition the two officers continuously take on multiple administrative duties and we thank them for their efforts.

The SAR decided to hold its fall meeting in conjunction with the Regional Competition to encourage more participation from members. The meeting was held in Nags Head at the end of the first day of competition. Turnout was much stronger than a typical fall meeting and gave members often away at school in the fall the opportunity to see the region act beyond competition.

The competition held in Nags Head, NC, was a first class event with all of the hospitality we have come to expect each time we visit the Outer Banks. The newly replenished beach was an excellent location for the games with Jennette’s Pier as the perfect backdrop and host for the awards party.

The SAR will be heading back to North Myrtle Beach for the 2014 Regional Championships and then north to Virginia Beach for the 2014 Nautica USLA National Championships.


1. Held the SALA Championships in Nags Head, NC.

2. Held a regional meeting in Nags Head, NC.

3. Worked with town officials in southeastern North Carolina to discuss implementation of lifeguard services in currently non-guarded areas.

4. Winter meeting will be held in Charleston, SC, in January.

5. The SAR proudly nominates Nikki Bowie to continue her role as National Secretary.


1. The SAR membership will not vote for a change to the National Team Scoring system this summer and would like to see the vote tabled until the fall meeting in 2014.

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Southeast Region

Officer Activity Report

Date: 10.21.2013

Name / Office: Gerry Falconer, President, Southeast Region

Activities, Accomplishments, and Information:

On behalf of the Southeast Region (SER), I would like to thank the New England Region for hosting the USLA 2013 Fall National Board of Directors meeting in beautiful Cape Cod. Also, I would like to acknowledge the Mid-Atlantic Region for their support in helping with the meeting.

The SER held their regional BOD meeting in Daytona Beach on October 12, 2013. The Volusia Surf Lifesaving Association hosted the meeting and I would like to thank Kathy Shulzinsky and her crew for a warm welcome. Also in attendance was new Volusia County Director Mark Swanson. VSLA has seen resurgence in USLA participation thanks to Division Director Swanson.

Members from across the region met to exchange information and discuss issues of importance for the SER. Elections for the upcoming 2 year term were held. The following are the SER Executive Board elect:

SER Officers 2014-16:

Gerry Falconer, President, Miami Beach

Jim McCrady, Vice President, Ft. Lauderdale

Jeremy Watkins, Secretary, St Johns County*

Jo Wagenhals, Treasurer, Pompano Beach*

Joe McManus, Advisor, Indian River County

Karissa Ickes, 1st Delegate, St Johns County

Sasha Medina, 2nd Delegate, Volusia County*

Eisen Witcher, 3rd Delegate, Brevard County*

Alan Holt, 4th Delegate, Volusia County*

*The newly elected board will assume their positions January 1, 2014

Committee Coordinators:

Junior Lifeguard – Chris Hoch & Chris Nowviskie

Membership – Jo Wagenhals & Karissa Ickes

Competition – Jim McCrady & Erik Schwarz

Regional Surf Lifesaving Academies Director – Jim McCrady

Public Education – Joe McManus

Puerto Rico Development – Tony Landrua

The SER is looking for great accomplishment over the next 2 years with this fine slate of Officers and Coordinators!

The SER continues to grow, not only with the realignment of St Johns & Flagler counties into the SER, but with the development of new chapters (Hallandale Beach) and the expansion in Puerto Rico.

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The USLA Southeast Regional Surf Lifesaving Training Officer Academy held every December in beautiful Palm Beach continues to bring USLA members from across all regions into the SER for a weeklong USLA training curriculum. The USLA SER PWC Surf Lifesaving Academy courses are an ongoing opportunity to bring USLA National standards to all who attend and also bring participants from other regions to the SER.

With this growth and leadership in the USLA-SER it is unfortunate that there is no representation of a SER representative on the National Executive Board.

The SER welcomes the addition of Executive Director Kay Smiley to our Association. From all indications over the past several months, Kay is already as asset to the USLA!

An outstanding James P. “MAC” McCarthy SER Regional Surf Lifesaving Championships was held in July and hosted by Pompano Beach Ocean Rescue. Thanks to Captain Jo Wagenhals and her crew for a well organized three day event.

Goals and Objectives:

The development of lifesaving and a USLA Chapter in Puerto Rico is a priority for the SER. Tony Landrua has been assigned to coordinate this effort. So far results have been positive.

Recommendations for Board Consideration:

Changing the voting process for applications for LIFE MEMBERSHIP.(Attachment #1)

USLA Training Officer Academy flyer (Attachment #2)

Review of membership sign up with possible creation of online with verification method.

Proposed change to the medical requirement for USLA Agency certification. To be discussed in the Certification Committee.

Attachments:

Two (2)

2013 Puerto Rico Lifeguard Symposium Report

From October 21st through October 26

th we hosted the second lifeguard symposium

in Anasco, Puerto Rico. We had one of the biggest showings of participation and

demonstration of physical conditioning in the history of the lifeguard profession on the

island.

We had the participation of 35 participants from different agencies, such as National

Parks of Puerto Rico, Municipality of San Juan, Municipality of Culebra (small island

located in the east part of P.R.)

Topics of discussion included but not limited to:

- Prevention

- Use of equipment

- BLS tournament

- Competition events

- Beach certification

- USLAPR chapter

- Junior Lifeguards programs

- Fitness and personal safety

- Future of the lifeguard profession

- Public education

- Water Safety (rip currents)

- Jet ski course

Southeast Region

Surf Lifesaving Training Officer Academy Invoice

The Breakers Resort, Palm Beach, Florida

December 9th

– December 13th

, 2013

Prerequisites:

1. Swim Test – 500 Meter swim in 10 minutes or less.

2. Work Experience – Must have worked a minimum cumulative total of 1,000 hours of

employment compiled in no fewer than three seasons as a seasonal open-water lifeguard or a

full-time open-water lifeguard at a lifeguard agency that meets the standards of USLA.

(Agencies applying for initial certification may need to request a waiver from this

requirement.)

3. Training Experience – At least two seasons experience as an instructor or assistant

instructor of a program that meets (or intends to meet) the minimum standards for USLA

agency certification program.

4. Education – Must possess a high school diploma or equivalency certificate.

5. Instructor Certification – Must be currently certified by an agency recognized by the

Federal Government or the state government in the state of employment to instruct any first

aid, or CPR course provided to trainees by the employing agency or must ensure that a

person so certified is responsible for providing such training.

6. Medical Certification - Must be a state or national certified EMT or Paramedic.

7. Professional Resume - Include all lifeguarding experience, and a letter of reference from a

current or former lifeguard supervisor.

Course Description:

The United States Lifesaving Association Southeast Region will be conducting this 40-hour surf lifesaving

training officer academy in accordance with the minimum training standards for lifeguards at open water beaches

set forth by the USLA Lifeguard Agency Certification Program. The curriculum has been developed by and for

training officers of the USLA SER to be consistent with and compatible to materials found in “Open Water

Lifesaving: The United States Life Saving Association Manual.”

This training represents only the minimum threshold all open-water beach lifeguard trainers should meet, and is

only one component of the USLA Lifeguard Agency Certification Program. To see the complete training and

equipment requirements for the certification program, please go to: http://www.usla.org/Train+Cert/equip.asp.

Agencies are always encouraged to meet higher standards, particularly in cases where lifeguards are assigned to

broader responsibilities.

Costs: Required text: USLA Manual for Open Water Lifesaving (If needed we will supply for the class

at a cost of $35.00, but R.S.V.P. required a week in advance).

$250.00 for members, $280.00 non-USLA members (includes $30.00 membership fee)

Check or money order should be made out to: USLA Southeast Region, P.O. Box 2456, Hallandale Beach,

FL 33008.

$199.00 Room rates for academy participants: The Breakers, One South County Road, Palm Beach, FL

33480. Phone: (561) 659-8466 ext 7327 or (561) 659-8404.

Please mention: US Life Saving Association.

http://www.usla.org/Train+Cert/agenciescert.asp

http://www.usla.org/Train+Cert/agenciescert.asp

http://www.usla.org/Train+Cert/equip.asp

ATTACHMENT #2

Policies and Operational Procedures III-D 5. The Regional President or Region’s designee shall be afforded an opportunity to address the committee in support of application. After review of the application(s) and any discussion, ballots shall be distributed by the chairperson and a secret ballot vote shall be taken. The votes will be counted by the chairperson. 6. A super majority vote (representing no more than one (1) dissent) of the members present shall be required to confirm each Life Membership application. * Unanimous vote has been changed to super majority.


Southeast Region PO Box 2456 Hallandale Beach, Florida 33008 Tel: 866-FOR-USLA (866-367-8752)

www.uslaser.org

SOUTHEAST

REGION

EXECUTIVE BOARD Gerry Falconer Miami Beach

President

Jo Wagenhals Pompano Beach

Vice President

Erik Schwarz Pompano Beach

Secretary

Bob Maler Miami-Dade County

Treasurer

Joe McManus Miami-Dade County

Advisor

Jim McCrady Ft. Lauderdale

Delegate

Joe D’Agostino Destin

Delegate

Gary Wise South Walton

Delegate

Chris Nowviskie Pompano Beach

Delegate

http://www.uslaser.org/

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Southwest Region

Activity Report


President: Michael A. Beuerlein

Introduction

The Southwest Region Executive Board would like to thank the Mid-Atlantic Region for hosting the Fall 2013 USLA Board of Directors Meeting in Hyannis. We are excited to enjoy Cape Cod and look forward to a productive meeting.

Activities, Accomplishments, and Information (Since Prior Board of Directors Meeting)

1. Mike Silvestri continues to serve as the Southwest Region liaison to assist the Oxnard Firefighter’s Association (OFA) in establishing a Lifeguard Service to prevent drownings that have been occurring at beaches in their city. After receiving initial support from the City to start a lifeguard service, there has been an alarming lack of progress. The goal of establishing lifeguard service for the 2014 season appears unrealistic and now the hope is to have an operation in place for the 2015 season.

2. Bob Moore, a former Southwest Region President for 12 years, received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Surf Festival Medal of Valor Dinner in Redondo Beach on August 1st. Based on his contributions to surf lifesaving at the local, state and national level, Bob was very deserving of this award and we congratulate him.

3. Project Wipeout remains as the Southwest Region’s signature public education project. Ian Burton (CSLSA’s Project Wipeout Coordinator) and Mike Silvestri (CSLSA Public Education Chairman) continue to do a great job working with Linda Reuter (Hoag Hospital’s Project Wipeout Director) on the Project Wipeout Committee. This year, the Lifeguard Conference was once again a huge success. The agenda featured Surfline forecasting tools, Sand Entrapment Rescue (Newport Beach Fire Department and Marine Operations) and Life Rolls On (Jesse Billauer).

4. The City of Newport Beach once again hosted the 2013 CSLSA Lifeguard and Junior Lifeguard Championships on July 26th and 27th. Rob Williams and staff did an outstanding job for the second year in a row at an excellent venue. Two adult courses were set up this year to help speed up the event. The 2014 & 2015 CSLSA Lifeguard and Junior Lifeguard Championships will be hosted at Huntington State Beach.

5. The 2013 National competition was hosted by LACOLA at Manhattan Beach, August 7-10. This was the first Nationals held under the new format that shifts various financial responsibilities to USLA. In this vein, USLA retained insurance, reserved hotel space for officials, handled ordering and expenses for official’s uniforms, awards and stipends for officials. Thanks to the leadership of Chris Linkletter and Charlotte Graham, and the tireless work of Jay Butki and all of the volunteer officials, the event was extremely successful.

6. 2014 marks USLA’s 50th Anniversary. Since the organization was founded in Huntington Beach in 1964, the Southwest Region has arranged to host the Spring 2014 USLA

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Meeting at the Shorebreak Hotel in Huntington Beach. Rob Williams has agreed to serve as Chairman of the Organizing Committee and is coordinating with Rob McGowan (CSLSA Original Founder’s Committee Chairman) and USLA’s 50th Anniversary Committee. Plans are underway to include an alumni component and make this three-day event a celebration of Lifesaving in the United States.

7. As Chairman of Southwest Region’s Original Founder’s Committee, Rob McGowan has been working with Andy Healy to organize memorabilia for the USLA 50th anniversary meeting. Some ideas in the works: Hobie Polarized will be creating USLA 50th anniversary edition sunglasses; challenge coin key chains and 50th anniversary towels.

8. The Encinitas Lifeguard Association hosted the Fall 2013 Southwest Region Board of Directors Meeting on October 10th & 11th.

9. Alex Peabody has tendered his resignation as Chairman of the Southwest Region Legislation & Statistics Committees to focus on personal priorities. We salute Alex for his years of dedicated service as a former USLA delegate, member of the Southwest Region Executive Board, and CSLSA committee chairman.


1. For the 50th Anniversary, the Southwest Region has proposed to modify the regular USLA Board of Directors Meeting schedule to have committee meetings on Friday morning, an optional excursion on Friday afternoon, with the Board of Directors Meeting concluding on Saturday morning, followed by an Educational Conference on Saturday afternoon. The Educational Conference will focus on USLA’s 50 years, featuring Past Presidents and the current President. A gala anniversary banquet will be held on Saturday night. The gala will be a fun event open to all current and past USLA members. Under this concept, we will hire a top-notch band and include dancing. Obviously, we can use all the help we can get to make this an anniversary to remember!

2. The Southwest Region applied for a trademark, but the U.S. Trademark office determined that the CSLSA logo is too similar to grant a trademark without approval from the USLA (refer to attached letter). I have requested that this issue be placed on the USLA Executive Committee Agenda, since many regions, chapters, and agencies use some type of buoy & crossed oars logo. The Southwest Region believes that the buoy & crossed oars logo represents all open water lifeguards from USLA regions, chapters and certified agencies. Regions, chapters and USLA certified agencies should be able to personalize the buoy and crossed oars logo with their own unique features, creating a recognizable symbol for lifeguards (buoy & crossed oars) with unique identifiers; thus, creating a common thread for all lifesavers that uniquely identifies their particular region, chapter or agency.

3. The Southwest Region is nominating Rob Williams for re-election to continue his outstanding service as USLA Treasurer for the 2014-15 term.

October 31, 2013

United States Lifesaving Association Board of Directors P.O. Box 366 Huntington Beach, CA 92648 Dear USLA Board of Directors: The California Surf Lifesaving Association (CSLSA), which is the Southwest Region of the United States Lifesaving Association, recently filed a service mark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to register its long used logo (hereinafter, “CSLSA logo”). A representation of the “CSLSA logo” is included below. The USPTO has tentatively denied our service mark application (see enclosure) due to the “Buoy & Crossed Oars” portion of the “CSLSA logo” purportedly being too similar in nature to the service mark registration for the USLA logo (see enclosure).

However, the USPTO has provided a six-month period of time for filing a response, or for the parties to reach an agreement permitting the registration of the “CSLSA logo”.

California Surf Lifesaving Association

Southwest Region - United States Lifesaving Association

PO Box 366 - Huntington Beach, California 92648

World Wide Web: www.cslsa.org

Michael A. Beuerlein President Charlotte M. Graham Vice President William J. Humphreys, Jr. Secretary Robert E. Williams Treasurer Robert C. McGowan Past President/Advisor Mareen T. Boyer First Executive Delegate Gustavo S. Avila Second Executive Delegate Jay M. Butki Third Executive Delegate Michael G. Silvestri Fourth Executive Delegate

2

At this time, we respectfully request that the USLA Board of Directors grant the CSLSA permission to register the “Buoy & Crossed Oars” as part of the “CSLSA logo” and that a consent agreement be executed by the USLA and CSLSA for filing with the USPTO. It is not, and has never been, the intent of the CSLSA/Southwest Region to infringe on the rights of the USLA. However, as a recognized region of the USLA, we are trying to provide additional protection of our own intellectual property. As you are aware, there are currently many different uses of the “Buoy & Crossed Oars”, including but not limited to, certified agencies, USLA chapters, USLA Regions (see enclosure), as well as by entitles that have no association or recognition from the USLA. Of particular concern now and in the future are the private event management companies that have recently proliferated, especially in California, and which provide open water safety services. In this regard, we are merely attempting to protect the use of the “Buoy & Crossed Oars” in the Southwest Region, where there are a large number of both official and non- official lifeguard/lifesaving groups that are using logos that are largely based on the “Buoy & Crossed Oars”. A comparison of the USLA and CSLSA logos clearly identifies both the similarities and differences of the respective logos. There is no question that the “Buoy & Crossed Oars” are fundamentally associated with both the USLA and CSLSA. It is precisely this association that this is a recognizable and identifiable symbol of Lifesaving in the United States that makes its use so attractive and necessary in continuing to identify the CSLSA. However, it is the differences that make each logo unique. The use of a figurative and fanciful lifeguard tower in place of the USA shield in the center, plus the words, “SURF LIFE SAVING ASSN.” in the ring, as well as the distinctive geographically defined term, “CALIFORNIA”, below the buoy, that clearly indicate that this logo is used to identify the CSLSA. This was done, of course, as an attempt to indicate the CSLSA’s close association to the USLA, while at the same time, identifying the CSLSA as a unique entity. We believe that there is room for allowing the registration of the “CSLSA logo” that incorporates the “Buoy & Crossed Oars” in order to facilitate and enhance the ability of the CSLSA to enforce its rights in its service mark, especially vis-à-vis entities with no association or recognition from the USLA and/or CSLSA. The use of the “Buoy & Crossed Oars” by sub-chapters and affiliates seems to be long standing in nature (see enclosure of regional lifesaving association logos). The CSLSA in no way is attempting to undermine the USLA, or to cause the USLA to lose any income or profits that may be associated with it’s intellectual property. As previously mentioned, we believe that authorization by the USLA for the use and registration of the “CSLSA logo” that incorporates the “Buoy & Crossed Oars” will ultimately enhance both entities. Such a united front would also dispel and serve as a strong counterweight against any unaffiliated third parties that could possibly seek to undermine the rights of the USLA and

3

CSLSA to the “Buoy & Crossed Oars” based on the use of similar designs by other entities. Furthermore, on the USLA website, it states: “The primary goal of the USLA is to ‘Establish and maintain high standards of professional surf and open water lifesaving for maximizing of public safety.’ As such, USLA leaders have long worked to standardize training and lifesaving practices throughout the United States through various means.” It is our belief that this standardization and professionalism and high standards should include the “Buoy & Crossed Oars” that both the USLA and CSLSA have used for many years and without confusion. Permitting the CSLSA to register its service mark would also promote the common goals of the USLA and CSLSA and would underscore our shared commitment with respect to the standardization of training and lifesaving practices. Based on the information provided, the California Surf Lifesaving Association respectfully requests that the United States Lifesaving Association Board of Directors approve and consent to the registration of the “CSLSA logo” so that the pending CSLSA service mark application can proceed to registration without further delay. Respectfully submitted,

Michael A. Beuerlein Michael A. Beuerlein President USLA Southwest Region

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Contracted Staff Liaison

Activity Report


Officer: Ed Zebrowski


1. Working with Nautica on 2014 Virginia Beach Nationals

2. Working with Tom Gill and Virginia Beach on possible sponsorships for 2014.

3. Carried on discussions and negotiations with potential sponsors. Presently working with a clothing company and a wet suit manufacturer.

4. Negotiated a contract extension with Eyeking that will hopefully be finalized at this meeting.


1. As a result of my work and feedback received I feel it best to withhold the names of potential sponsors we are negotiating with until they come to fruition or break down.

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Executive Director

Activity Report

Date: 11/07/2013

Officer: Kay Smiley

Introduction

As I complete my first few months as Executive Director, I feel a sense of deep respect for the work of USLA. USLA has a proud history making an impact on drowning prevention. I am thankful for the opportunity to work with USLA members and volunteers.

I appreciate the warm welcome from everyone. I would like to thank Chris Brewster for sharing his expertise with me. Special thanks to the officers, key volunteers doing special assignments and volunteers at the National Championship. Everyone has been fantastic to work with – thanks for sharing your wisdom and showing me the ropes.

Activities and Accomplishments

1. Assisted in contacting agencies that were delinquent in reporting their 2012 statistics. Rick Gould and I began our quest with 102 statistic reports submitted; to date we have 123 submitted reports. This is the highest number of reports in the last five years.

2. Assisted with the management of 41 Lifeguard Agency Certification applications, 36 agencies seeking to renew their certifications, and five applications for new certification agencies. This was a great team effort, with help from Tony Pryor, Brenda Rollins, and the Certification Officers.

3. Developed an electronic form for the Lifeguard Agency Certification Program Application and Curriculum Checklist. We are currently testing this new electronic form that will allow agencies to complete the application, upload their support materials, and pay by credit card or request an invoice – all completely online. All required fields must be answered and affidavit signed or the form cannot be submitted. This will save countless hours for the Certification Officers.

4. Created a Master List database of agencies. I worked with Brenda Rollins and Tony Pryor to organize the records and files. In June, our records showed USLA had 118 agencies. We now have 127 agencies on the master list with five new applications waiting for approval.

5. Assigned a four-digit ID number to each agency for tracking purposes. Agency names may change if their department moves within the city or county. The agency number will stay the same. This will be an additional method to organize and track agencies.

6. Developed a sponsorship database that lists all USLA contracts, USLA’s responsibilities to the sponsor, payment schedules, and contract renewal dates.

7. Held a preliminary meeting with Yoshki – the first proactive brand protection and assets management tool. Yoshki is interested in having USLA pilot their product in the United States. After the initial meeting, the product does not appear to be beneficial to the USLA brand.

8. Attended the National Championships in Manhattan Beach in August. I loved meeting the volunteers and working at the event. I enjoyed watching both the Junior Lifeguards and Lifeguards compete.

Page 2 of 2

9. Exploring an opportunity to work with American Health and Safety Institute (ASHI) - Health and Safety Institute as a possible revenue stream for USLA. Agencies would have an alterative provider for CPR, First Aid, and First Responder courses with discounted prices for USLA agencies.

10. Researching grants and outside funding to support our mission.


1. Approval of the electronic application for the Lifeguard Agency Certification Program.

2. Adoption of the four-digit agency ID number for each agency.

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Certification Committee

Activity Report

Date: 11/7/13

Officer: Tony Pryor

Introduction

Hello New England.


1. Brenda found another job and Kay is taking over her role. More at the meeting.


Approve updates to USLA RECOMMENDED MINIMUM GUIDELINES FOR OPEN WATER SWIMMING

EVENT SAFETY

1. Approve a “National Certificate/Card”

2. Discuss a certification change in the swim time

3. Renewing Agencies Fall 2013:

Aloha Surf Lifesaving - extend

Atlantic Beach Patrol Division, FL - advanced

Brick, NJ - extend

California State Parks, CA - regular

Corolla Ocean Rescue, NC - advanced

Deerfield Beach Ocean Rescue, FL - extend

Delaware State Parks, DE - extend

East Bay Regional Park Dist., CA - regular

Hollywood, FL - extend Honolulu Ocean Safety (City & County of), HI-regular Huntington Beach Marine Safety Division, CA - advanced Lake Mission Viejo Patrol & Rescue Dept., CA - regular

Lantana Marine Safety, FL - advanced Los Angeles County Lifeguard Operations - advanced

Martin County (Emergency Services), FL - extend

Monterey Beach, NJ - extend

Newport Beach Fire Department, CA - advanced

Oceanside, CA - advanced

Okaloosa, FL - regular

Ponte Vedra Inn and Club - regular

Santa Barbara (County of), CA - regular

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St. Johns County - Division of Beach Safety, FL - advanced

Sarasota County Lifeguards, FL - extend

Surf City, NJ - extend

Ventura County Harbor Department, CA - regular 4. On extension since Spring 2013

Gulf Islands National Seashore, FL - lapse Kannalu Water Safety, HI – extend?

City of Hallandale Beaches, FL - extend

Miami Dade Fire Ocean Rescue - regular

Nassau County Ocean Rescue, FL -

Panama City Beach - regular Sonoma County Parks and Recreation, CA - regular

5. On extension Fall 2012

Coeur d'Alene, ID (City of) -advanced 6. On extension since Spring 2012

Kure Beach (Town of) Los Angeles City, Dept of Parks & Rec., CA - advanced

Mauna Kea Beach Resort, HI - regular 7. New Applicants

Santa Monica Harbor Patrol -pending

Emerald Coast Lifesaving Association -ARRT

Hampton Beach - regular

Normandy Beach - pending

Alliance Beach Patrol - regular

Mt. Gilead - regular

8.

9.

Attachments

1. Course Completion Card Memo

2. Course Completion Card Sample

3. Open Water Swim Event Guideline Update

Draft Update as of April 2,October 31, 2013


RECOMMENDED MINIMUM GUIDELINES FOR OPEN WATER

SWIMMING EVENT SAFETY

Approved by the Board of Directors: May 7, 2005, Revised _________

The United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) recognizes the many benefits to human health and

safety derived from events, contests, and races held in the open water environment. In the interests of

safety of all participants in such events, after soliciting broad input, USLA has developed these minimum

recommended guidelines to assist permitting authorities, aquatic safety providers, sanctioning bodies,

and race/event promoters overseeing events open to the general public in bodies of water other than

pools. USLA stresses that these are recommended minimum guidelines which should be exceeded in

accordance with local conditions and past experience. Broad national guidelines cannot fully address

the circumstances in every locale.

Although USLA is the recognized provider of standards for aquatic safety in the surf environment, USLA

acknowledges that other bodies, primarily the American Red Cross and YMCA of the USA, as does USLA,

issue standards for aquatic safety in the inland, non-surf environment (stillwater). While USLA’s

standards are generally the most stringent, there may be a desire to employ standards provided by

other nationally recognized organizations in the stillwater environment. This statement guideline should

be utilized only in conjunction with the training and standards of the aquatic safety providers used at an

event and within the scope of the provider’s abilities to proficiently rescue the participants. These are

minimum recommended guidelines for promoting reasonable levels of event safety. They do not ensure

absolute safety. USLA recognizes that variances in local conditions, environment, and organization may

require that these minimum recommendations be exceeded and encourages additionalhigher safety

levels.

1. Definitions

1.1. Recognized Lifeguard Training Organization: A nationally recognized body which sets standards for

the training of lifeguards and aquatic rescuers, such as the United States Lifesaving Association,

American Red Cross, or YMCA of the USA.

1.2. Trained Lifeguard: A lifeguard currently trained and certified to provide aquatic safety in water

conditions consistent with those where the event will take place by a recognized lifeguard training

organization. In the case of USLA, the lifeguard must be currently employed by a USLA certified

lifeguard agency. In cases that a lifeguard agency has jurisdiction over the area where the event will take

Comment [BCB1]: higher?

Comment [BCB2]: In the prior paragraph, we use the term stillwater. It should probably be defined here.

place, that agency should take the lead in providing trained lifeguard personnel for the event and should

be reimbursed in accordance with local practice and prior agreement with the race director.

1.3. Swim Safety Coordinator: The person directly responsible for aquatic safety at the event. This

person will must be a trained lifeguard with supervisory experience or a person with management level

experience overseeing aquatic safety services involving trained lifeguards, either of which in the

environment where the event will take place (e.g. surf beach or stillwater). (Note: A title other than

Swim Safety Coordinator may be preferred and substituted. We use this term as an example.)

1.4. Personal Escort: An individual with a boat or other similar conveyance with the competence to

easily shadow a single competitor and provide immediate aid until a trained lifeguard can assist.

Personal escorts (as known aska swim angels) must recognize the authority of the lifeguard and be

instructed that their participation is subordinate to the lifeguard, agency and sanctioning organizations).

1.5 National Race Sanctioning Organization. Organization such as United States Swimming (USAS),

United States Masters Swimming (USMS) or United States Triathalon Association (USTA)

1.6 Personal Safety Device. Devices developed and attached to individual competitors with the intent of

providing immediate swim or floatation aid.

1.7 Stillwater. Open water environments such as lakes, rivers, resevoirs or other bodies of water where

a competition ight occur but does not have surf conditions.

2. Management

2.1. Swim Safety Coordinator: A ‘Swim Safety Coordinator’ independent of the Race Director,

shouldmust

be appointed. All aquatic safety issues should be assigned to the Swim Safety Coordinator, who should

have authority to ensure that aquatic safety directives are observed. In cases where there is an overall

event Safety Coordinator, the Swim Safety Coordinator should coordinate with the event Safety

Coordinator. The Swim Safety Coordinator will be responsible for reporting any issues that compromise

safety to the Race Director and/or event Safety Coordinator and taking necessary, mitigating actions to

ensure adequate levels of safety. The Swim Safety Coordinator must be present at the swim event and

must be acting solely as the swim safety coordinator (i.e. not as a swimmer or lifeguard). The Swim

Safety Coordinator must have sufficient authority to cancel or change an event based on swim safety

issues.

2.2. Water Safety Plan: The Race Director and the Swim Safety Coordinator should meet with all

providers of public safety for the event to develop a pre-event safety plan and an emergency action plan

for worst case scenarios.

2.2.1 Pre-event swim cancellation criteria and plans should be developed with clear lines of authority

that prioritize safety.

Comment [BCB3]: Should write this out as also known as.

Comment [BCB4]: be instructed that their participation is always subordinate to

Comment [BCB5]: , as well as

Formatted: No underline

Comment [BCB6]: Must?

2.2.2 The emergency action plan should must include rules under which the swim will be terminated

upon any credible account of a missing swimmer and that a search will be conducted consistent with

USLA protocols (see Open Water Lifesaving – The United States Lifesaving Association Manual, Chapters

16 and 17). In case of a water evacuation or cancellation, or the removal of a swimmer, the situation

should be coordinated with the communications center. The plan should consider the location, access

by rescue craft and the difficulty of removing active competitors.

2.2.3 A warning/waiver, with appropriate personal emergency information, should be developed jointly,

well in advance of the event, and include notification of local hazards and conditions.

2.2.4 Pre-race instructions for safety issues should be developed as part of the Water Safety Plan

(including water testing).

2.2.5 The Water Safety Plan should include safety at both the start and finish of the race, as well as

along the entire course.

2.2.6 A swim cut-off time should be determined in advance and published in event promotion

materials.

2.2.7 Rules, Regulations and Safety guidelines of the National national or regional sanctioning

organization must be included as part of the water safety plan.

2.3. Every agency involved and the event organizer should meet immediately following the event to

conduct an operational debriefing of the event. Lessons learned should be drafted to improve the safety

of future events.

3. Lifeguards

3.1. All lifeguard personnel should be trained lifeguards whose training is specific and appropriate to the

location of the event. When staffing permits, lifeguards should be employed by the agency with

jurisdiction over the event. Rescue boat operators should be appropriately trained and equipped in

accordance with standards promulgated by the lifeguard agency with jurisdiction or, if there is no

lifeguard agency with jurisdiction, then in accordance with pertinent local, state, and national standards.

3.2. Staffing Levels

3.2.1. Determining appropriate lifeguard staffing levels is critical to event safety. There are many

variables that should be considered in this determination and no single benchmark will be appropriate in

every case. The appropriate level for each event can and should be adjusted in accordance with a variety

of factors. These include, but are not limited to:

• Past experience for the same or similar events

• Number of participants

• Length of swim course


• Design of swim course

• Proximity of the swim course to shore

Shore lineShoreline conditions such as rocks, walls or vegetation

• Anticipated surf size

• Swimming ability of the participants

• Presence or absence of a pre-qualifying swim

• Beach conditions

• Surf and surface conditions

• Water temperature

• Currents

• Weather conditions, including wind and fog

Editors Comment: This is likely the most controversial portion of the standard. A number of the

responses received from the open call for comments request some kind of numerical standard. While I

continue to support a minimum for my race of 1 to 25, the conditions at our race dictate this number

and not all locations are the same. I think the local agency must set the standard. There may be room

for a statement that suggests:

Length, water temperature, surface conditions, competitor ability, etc. must be evaluated as part of the

Water Safety Plan and staff ratios determined in the favor of the safety of the competitor, providing

more, not less lifeguards. USLA supports at least a ration of 1 lifeguard to 25 competitors. However,

USLA encourages higher ratio levels when practical. These higher rations must be implemented when

conditions such as higher than normal surf, rip currents, wind, fog, water temperature or other similar

issues are present and in the professional view of the lifeguard agency are warranted.

Inclusion of examples of other races may be a way to establish some level for others looking at the

standard from outside the USLA. For example put in a San Diego, Los Angeles Hawaii, Northern Cal,

Texas, Florida, Chicago and Mid-Atlantic Race with a ratio accepted by that agency in an appendix. This

could be copies of sample agency safety plans or operational orders that give others a model to follow.

We could also add a link to the Lifeguard Library and recommend they view the video I sent from LA

County.

3.2.2. For races or events that extend away from the shoreline and exceed two and one/half miles

personal escorts should be required for each swimmer.

3.2.3. On the day of the event, the Swim Safety Coordinator should must make an evaluation as to

whether the preplanned number of lifeguards is still appropriate for existing conditions. Weather,

Comment [BCB8]: I know this was a huge issue when we started, but I would suggest we take another run at this and state a minimum, with caveats for much higher levels based on conditions, past experience, surf size, water temperature, and so on.


currents, surf, and water temperature, for example, may cause a need for an increase in the number of

lifeguards needed relative to the number of competitors in the water at any one time.

3.3. Staff should be strategically placed along the course to ensure continual observation of all

competitors and immediate response to the need for assistance. Methods of observation may vary

from fixed posts to mobile guards and should ensure continuity in observationthat all portions of the

course can be directly observed.

3.4. It is strongly advised to arrange the water-based patrol of law enforcement officials to keep the

course clear and safe from boaters or other intrusions.

4. Medical Services

4.1. An event Medical Director should be assigned to oversee planning and on-site oversight of the

event. This person should, at minimum, be a paramedic, but should ideally be a physician with training

and experience in emergency medical care at multi-sport events or for events exceeding 500 swimmers.

4.2. All lifeguards assigned to the event should be currently trained in CPR and first aid and meet current

standards in the state of employment as a lifeguard in the open water/surf environment.

4.3. No less than one Emergency Medical Technician (or above a person with higher emergency

response expertise) should be available for every 150 swim event participants. Each EMT should have

access to all appropriate emergency medical equipment.

4.4. Medical evacuation from the water to land based emergency medical services assigned to the event

should be able to be conducted in 10 minutes or less.

4.5. At least one advanced life support ambulance/paramedic unit emergency response unit must be

made available on-site or within a five-minute response time for the purposes of evacuating patient(s)

to a hospital. Additionally, at least one ambulance/paramedic unit for each group of 250 competitors

should be made available. These additional ambulances can be certified as either advanced life support

(ALS) or basic life support (BLS). Where a hospital emergency room is more than ½ hour away, air

evacuation procedures should be planned or an on-site physician should be staffed at a location

proximal to the race to manage medical issues.

4.6. Radio communication between the medical group and the Aquatic Water Safety Coordinator

should be maintained throughout the event.

4.7. A designated medical area should be established with a tent or other means to shelter patients from

the environment and to maintain patient privacy. In races where temperature from the air or water

environment could be a significant factor in medical issues, provision should be made to provide medical

assistance to such cases such as warming showers or warming equipment in races water temperatures

or race lentgth may indicate hypothermia as a risk factor for competitors. .

5. Equipment

Comment [BCB10]: Current standards for what?

Comment [BCB11]: I am not sure of the issue here. I think all states regulate what an ambulance must include, but do we want to say EMT or paramedic ambulance?

Comment [BCB12]: Does a physician really substitute for air evacuation to a fully functioning ER?

Comment [BCB13]: I think this is too vague. What additional provisions are you talking about?

5.1. Lifeguards: Each lifeguard along the swim course should be equipped with an observation platform

which the lifeguard is trained and competent to use, such as a lifeguard tower, rescue board, or shared

use of a rescue boat, as well as a rescue floatation device (rescue tube or rescue buoy).

5.2. Rescue Boats: For swim events that will extend more than 50 meters from shore, particularly where

surf or currents are present, motorized rescue boats which include or personal rescue watercraft should

be available and staffed by trained operators. The water safety plan should include provisions for

summoning additional rescue craft, such as the Coast Guard or harbor patrol, as needed in major

emergencies. (Note: Some National Sanctioning organizations place additional restrictions on private

motorized rescue craft and should be consulted. For example, USMS now requires private craft may be

required to install a prop-guard propeller guard and does not allow any or prohibit motorized craft to

cross from crossing a race course).

Where an event occurs in a body of water with restricted access to shore or a safe extrication point, an

appropriate plan should be designed to ensure that athletes in need of emergency attention are can be

extricated appropriately and quickly. This Obstacles to extrication may include: limited access for

emergency vehicles preventing the lifeguard’s ability to get the victim to advanced life support, or the

shoreline does not allow extrication of the victim due to vegetation, walls, or rocks. If local regulations

prohibit certain types of equipment (ie. environmental restrictions on power craft) other effective safety

rescue tools must be considered.

5.3. Communications: A dedicated race control communications system should be employed and should

be available for all race functions. A public address system capable of reaching the majority of the

beach or staging area with sufficient amplified strength should be available.

5.4. Command Center: A command center should be established that functions as a central

communications point center and a central observation location for the event.

5.5. Swimmer Identification: Swimmers should be required to wear fluorescent or other bright colored

swim caps and all competitors should be individually numbered, with numbers marked on the

swimmers’ bodies in a manner that can be easily observed (duplicate numbering in more than one area

may be useful).

5.6. Map: A large course map should be provided to swimmers prior to the event.

5.7. Wetsuits: Participants should be advised of anticipated water temperature in advance and

encouraged to wear wetsuits if they are not acclimatized to local water temperatures. If the water

temperature is below 60 degrees, consideration should be given to encouraging or requiring that

contestants wear wetsuits, depending on conditioning and expectations of contestants. However, local

conditions should be considered when requiring wetsuits. For example, warm water and heat injury

issues may be exacerbated by wetsuits.

Comment [BCB14]: I don’t know what this said before, but personal watercraft are, by definition, motorized rescue boats. You might say, “which may include personal watercraft” if you really feel a need to mention them.

Comment [BCB15]: Saying that USMS now requires this will date the guideline and if USMS makes changes, will be problematic. Referencing anonymous examples will avoid that.

5.8 Non-Motorized Rescue craft: These craft must be consistent with current USLA lifeguard practice,

such as rescue boards, dories or surfski.ocean kayak. For example, river kayaks, which are prone to

capsize, would be unacceptable.

5.9 Personal Safety Devices (PSD). Event directors, in conjunction with the Water Safety Coordinator

should evaluate and consider the efficacy of commercially available PSD’s for the event. PSD’s should

not be considered a substitute for lifeguards or reduce the number of lifeguards required oversee the

event. They may enhance safety by providing participants immediate access to flotation and, in case of

sudden cardiac arrest, for example, may provide a marker to expedite search and rescue.

6. Safety Procedures

6.1. A safety briefing should be given to all swimmers. Swimmers should be briefed on potential hazards

and instructed on hand signals to lifeguards, should they need rescue, and discouraged from jokingly

calling for help. Swimmers should be instructed that if they don’t start the event or if they drop out

prior to completing the swim, it is essential that they notify event staff to avoid unnecessary emergency

procedures and the possibility of event cancellation.

6.2. Lifeguards should be trained in pre-agreed hand signals to summon assistance from rescue boats

and other rescuers as dictated by USLA protocol (see Open Water Lifesaving – The United States

Lifesaving Association Manual – Appendix A).

6.3. Rescue boat operators should be counseled to operate in close, but safe proximity to the

participants, while making every reasonable effort to avoid allowing fumes or expended petroleum from

affecting participants. For example, staying down-current and/or downwind from competitors may help

avoid competitor concerns.

6.4. In order to quickly identify a missing swimmer, an accountability system should be rigidly arranged

and coordinated by the Race Director to tabulate the number of swimmers entering and exiting the

water, to ensure that all persons are safely ashore. The ideal system will include identification of each

race participant by number and name. Identifying the exact person missing is extremely helpful in

conducting an efficient search, which includes contacting the person’s residence to make missing person

notification and to ascertain whether they may have simply departed unannounced.

6.5. The course should be inspected for hazards, obstacles and other problems immediately before the

race. A bottom survey should be conducted at entry and exit points and the results should be part of the

safety briefing for competitions. Water temperature, water conditions, and weather forecasts should be

evaluated to ensure they are within the water safety plan guidelines.

6.6. The course should be appropriately marked, with adequate buoys or markers and anchor systems to

ensure clarity of course for the swimmers, to avoid swimmer misdirection, and ensure the lifeguards can

remain focused on swimmer safety. The first turn of the swim event should be located an adequate

distance from the start to ensure that swimmers are spread out enough prior to the turn to reduce the

Comment [BCB16]: Surfskis are not rescue craft in any iteration of which I am aware. Also, the term dory is a bit of a sticky wicket. How about rowed rescue craft?

Comment [BCB17]: Just like surfskis!

chance of collisions. 90 Degree Ninety degree turns should be minimized in favor or rounded turns to

avoid or minimize bunching and collisions.

6.7. Participants should be advised in all safety literature and announcements that diving into shallow

water is dangerous and strongly discouraged. The start should ideally be in water deep enough to

prevent shallow water diving if conditions allow.

6.8. Wave starts are strongly recommended to reduce congestion, collisions and other body on body

contact. This should be discussed and decided prior to the event. Provisions for adequate lifeguard

coverage of each wave should be planned.

7. Water Quality: The water body should be tested as appropriate for recreational water contact based

on federal standards or, if they are more stringent, local protocols, as close to the start of the event as

possible so long as results will be available prior to the event. The state or local board of health is the

best options in this regard. Results of water testing should be made available to all requesting

participants and cancellation or relocation should occur if water quality is unacceptable, or competitors

should have the option of refraining from swimming. Rain or other environmental changes may cause

the need for immediate retesting or cancellation of the swim.

UNITED STATES LIFESAVING ASSOCIATION

Certificate of Completion

Be it hereby known that

___________________________________

has successfully completed an Open Water Lifeguard training course

provided by the _________________________, which is currently certified

as an Open Water Lifeguard Agency of the United States Lifesaving

Association (USLA). This course was provided in accordance with the

recommended course curriculum of USLA.

I hereby attest to the above

_______________________ ______________________

Chief Training Officer

_______________

Date

M E M O R A N D U M DATE: October 20, 2008 TO: USLA Certification Chair Eric Bauer COPY: USLA Vice-President Kevin Sweat, USLA Treasurer Rob Williams FROM: USLA President B. Chris Brewster SUBJ: Course Completion Card Proposal BACKGROUND The United States Lifesaving Association has for many years offered a wide variety of programs at little or no cost. For example, our website is available at no cost and the curriculum of our National Certification Program is available at no cost. Our National Certification Program itself presently costs lifeguard agencies just $100 per year. Some of these agencies have annual budgets that easily exceed $1 million. In that context, the cost of national certification is quite low. Virtually all USLA programs are run by volunteers, such as you, our Certification Officers, and members of the National Certification Committee. We have identified a pressing need for a professional staff to run the day to day business of the USLA, but we have not yet been able to generate adequate income to do so. Such a staff could, for example, handle the administration of the National Certification Program and could help the USLA identify fundraising opportunities, such as grants. Our inability to generate the necessary income to compensate a professional staff prompts a need to identify reliable sources of income that could be sustainable over time. The agenda for the November 2008 Board of Directors meeting indicates that USLA membership is presently around 4,000 lifeguards. I would estimate that potential membership, including all beach lifeguards in the US, exceeds 100,000. Clearly, for reasons that we have yet to fully identify, a substantial percentage of beach lifeguards, who benefit by the work of the USLA, are not presently willing to pay the $30 membership fee we charge. While some lifeguard agencies support the USLA, for example by enrolling junior lifeguard members or helping to fund the cost of travel to Board meetings, it would appear that many provide limited or no financial support to the USLA. This is unfortunate in that lifeguard agencies are perhaps the greatest beneficiaries of USLA programs and standards, like the National Certification Program. Since the initiation of the National Certification Program, in its current form, and indeed beforehand, there has been a desire of beach lifeguards trained under USLA standards to receive course completion cards, similar to those issued by the American Red Cross. These ARC course completion cards are issued at the successful conclusion of each

Page 1 of 3

course and refresher course. Typical fees paid to the ARC for lifeguard courses appear to exceed $150 per student, with refresher courses exceeding $100. In this context, the USLA is charging entire lifeguard agencies less for certification than the ARC charges each student in their certified courses. Clearly, the course delivery methods of the two organizations vary, but not as substantially as the income generated to the organizations. It seems evident that the USLA is providing a substantial service through the National Certification Program at a tremendous discount to that of the ARC (and other similar providers). It seems equally evident that the USLA will be restricted in achieving our long-term goals if we continue to offer our valuable programs at little or no cost. The question is how to add value for which we can charge fees that reflect that value. PROPOSAL I would like to propose that the USLA create a program whereby lifeguards who complete USLA certified lifeguard training courses would be able to receive course completion cards from the USLA. These cards would be of high quality, similar to a NAUI or PADI scuba course completion card (our current membership cards), including student name, date of course completion, and the name of the certified agency where the course took place. The cards would nevertheless be optional, both to the agencies and the lifeguards themselves. If agencies wish to issue them, they would be able to do so by ordering them from the USLA. However, in cases that agencies do not wish to order them, individual lifeguards could do so on their own. This would therefore be an optional program that adds no obligatory cost to the current cost of agency certification. The card itself would need to include information indicating that the training is location specific (i.e. only intended for the location where the course was provided and only good so long as the lifeguard is employed by the agency that provided the training). This would ensure clarity that, as our rules indicate, training in Oahu is not transferable to San Diego and vice-versa. A USLA database program would need to be developed and made accessible to designated representatives of USLA certified lifeguard agencies. These representatives would be responsible for entering the names and key identifying data of students who have completed courses. A contractor would also need to be chosen to receive requests for cards, accept funds on our behalf, generate the cards, and mail them out. Once the names are entered in the USLA database, any agency or individual would be eligible to order course completion cards. At some point, once the system is in place and functional, we could allow certified agencies to enter the names of students in courses that took place in past years, during the period the agency was certified, and allow students of these courses to order cards as well. It is proposed that these cards should be priced at a level that the market will bear and that will help fund the important work of the USLA. An example would be our cost plus $20 per card. It is further proposed that the cards be available only to current members

Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of 3

of the USLA. This would ensure that, at least in the first year of service, those who receive the card must be enrolled as a USLA member. There would seem to be two ways to accomplish this goal. One would be to include the cost of membership in the cost of the card. Another would be to cross-check for membership and to withhold the course completion card until the lifeguard enrolls as a member. Including the cost of membership in the cost of the card might avoid complaints by agencies that we were forcing them to enroll students as members, but would also increase the cost of the card by the current cost of membership (now $30). In any case, it is proposed that we would charge the same amount for a replacement card as for a new card, with the same requirement of membership. This approach involves a one-time card for original course completion. It does not involve recurring card issuance. An alternative concept to a one-time course completion card would be a similar model to that of the American Red Cross, as is the case for CPR classes, for example. Since the USLA requires that all lifeguards receive refresher training each year, a card could be issued annually, indicating that the lifeguard is currently trained in a USLA certified course. A potential advantage of this is greater income, depending upon cost. The potential disadvantage is resistance due to concerns over bureaucracy and cost. The USLA lacks administrative support likely needed to ensure that this could succeed. I respectfully request that the National Certification Committee review this proposal and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors. I would appreciate it if you could comment generally on this concept, without specifically endorsing a particular cost structure. I believe that cost will need to be considered in light of a number of factors that do not relate solely to the National Certification Program. Nevertheless, I would appreciate you taking the lead on evaluating and commenting upon this proposal.

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Competition Committee

Activity Report


Officer: Ed Zebrowski


1. 2013 Nationals were successfully held in Manhattan Beach, CA. LA County won the “A” Championship and Smith Point, NY captured the “B” Championship. Lotte Graham, Chris Linkletter, Jay Butki and the rest of the LACOLA staff are to be congratulated on a job well done.

2. National Team was selected and competed at the International Surf Rescue Challenge in Japan during September. Team was once again led by Jay Butki

3. Manager Jay Butki has begun the process of soliciting the team for Rescue 2014. That competition will be held in France in late September. Final selections should be completed by the end of Nationals.

4. Contacted all officials and we are set with a full compliment for Virginia Beach.

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United States Lifesaving Association Heroic Acts, Awards, Recognition, and Presentations

Activity Report


Officer: Adrienne Groh

Introduction:

We are looking forward to a productive, busy meeting in Cape Cod, and thank you to the Mid-Atlantic region for hosting. The 50th anniversary of the USLA is forthcoming, and this will be a great opportunity to showcase some amazing lifesavers who risked their lives to help others.


1. Working with the webmaster to add a log-in on the USLA website for submissions. This will validate the submissions and ensure that research and documentation is in order.

2. With the help of former chairperson Bill Richardson, we are compiling an accurate list of Medal of Valor recipients to invite to the 50th anniversary celebrations in 2014.

3. Submitting to Policies and Procedures the change in wording for the National Lifesaving Award to say ”lifeguard agency or group of lifeguards”

4. Beginning a daunting new project to link MOV stories linked to the recipient on the website

5. Reviewing MOV past submissions to submit to an outside group who are interested in a possible documentary which will recognize some of the extraordinary rescues that have occurred

6. Created the awards for the approved submissions from Santa Rosa including two National Agency Recognition awards


1. Work on complete list of MOV recipients and a plan to contact agencies and individuals

2. Review submissions

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Junior Lifeguards

Activity Report


Officer: Reenie Boyer

Introduction

It has been a busy few months for Junior Lifeguard questions and correspondence. I look forward to your attendance and participation at our Junior Lifeguard Committee Meeting


1. 2013 USLA JG Essay Contest.

2. 2013 JG of the Year.

3. 2013 JG USLA Membership.

Thanks to the Membership Chair for Regional Participation Numbers.

Answered questions about reasons for no online USLA JG registration

Thanks to regional membership representatives.

4. 2013 Goals Seal JG Programs.

5. Correspondence about developing USLA JG Standards (similar to Australia and NZ).

6. American Lifeguard Magazine Articles.

7. 2013 USLA JG Nationals


1. Vote and Award the 2013 JG of the Year.

2. Judge and Award 2013 essay contest winner.

3. Distribute USLA Membership Certificated and recognize the Gold Seal Programs for 100% participation.

4. Discussion about developing USLA JG Standards.

5. Review JG USLA Membership.

6. American Lifeguard Magazine.

7. Round Table.

Attachments

1. USLA JG Essay Contest

2. USLA JG of the Year


Junior Lifeguard of the Year Application

Applications are due by November 1, 2013 for the Fall USLA Board of Directors Meeting.

E-mail Application to [email protected]

Include a photo of candidate.

USLA JG Membership required.

Please complete this application by computer or type (no hand printing).

Candidate Name: Age: DOB: / / (Month Day Year) Address: City: State: Zip: Phone Number: ( ) E mail: Years in a Junior Guard Program: Agency: CSLSA Chapter: Submitted by: Jr. Lifeguard Coordinator: Date submitted:

mailto:[email protected]

1. Qualities this candidate possesses that qualifies them for this award (example: leadership, citizenship, sportsmanship, etc.) 2. Give a specific example where the candidate displayed the above qualities in an exemplary manner.

3. How has this candidate impacted or contributed to your Junior Lifeguard Program?

2013 USLA JUNIOR LIFEGUARD ESSAY CONTEST This year we are having a JUNIOR LIFEGUARD ESSAY CONTEST for USLA Junior Lifeguard members. There will be a $ 100 SCHOLARSHIP awarded at the 2013 Fall USLA meeting to the TOP “AA”, "A", "B" AND "C" DIVISION contest winners. JUNIOR LIFEGUARD COORDINATORS need to submit (in person or by e mail to [email protected] ) their original top 5 entries to the JG COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON by November 1, 2013. All ESSAYS become the property of the USLA. Please include a photo of the Junior Lifeguard with their entry essay. THE ENTRY MUST INCLUDE: • JG'S FIRST AND LAST NAME • DIVISION “AA”, "A", "B" OR "C" • HOME PHONE NUMBER • HOME ADDRESS • JG PROGRAM • JG COORDINATOR'S NAME • JG COORDINATORS PHONE NUMBER ESSAY entries must be ORIGINAL WORK written by the individual Junior Lifeguard. The Essay must be typed or computer generated (NO handwriting accepted.) Essays must be less than 250 words. All ESSAYS should be about a Junior Lifeguard experience. JUNIOR LIFEGUARDS are encouraged to use the USLA BEACH SAFETY TIPS: 1. Swim Near A Lifeguard 2. Learn To Swim 3. Never Swim Alone 4. Don't Fight The Current 5. Swim Sober 6. Leash Your Board 7. Don't Float Where You Can't Swim 8. Life Jackets = Boating Safety 9. Don't Dive Headfirst, Protect Your Neck 10. At Home, You're The Lifeguard



MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

Activity Report


Officer: Charlotte Graham Co-Chair: Charlie Hartl

Committee Members: Gerry Falconer, SE; Michael Bradley, SA; Bart Mattaliano, MA; Robert Bertrand, NE; Joe Pecoraro, GL; Peter Davis, GC; Gus Avila, SW; Dave Robinson, NW; Kalani Vierra, PI

Introduction

2013 has been a good year for membership with several regions having significant increases in their totals. I want to thank Charlie Hartl for his continued dedication to this Committee and our Webmaster Karissa Ickes for her prompt response to hundreds of membership inquiries as well as numerous assists with database problems. Kudos also go to our fulfillment company, Uniserv. Not only did they provide the outstanding towel for our 2013 membership kits, but they worked tirelessly to get member kits out in a timely fashion despite new database issues faced this past summer. As we head into our 50th Anniversary year, our Committee has several items to consider and discuss and I look forward to a productive committee meeting later today.


1. Fielded innumerable emails regarding a variety of membership issues

2. Edited and uploaded numerous Professional and Junior Membership rosters from chapters and Regions into the database

3. Handled various database issues and concerns

4. Assisted with adult and junior competitor membership verifications, signups and registrations at the 2013 National Championships

5. Generated the first ALM mailing list for 2013-14

6. Pleased to report that we have another new Perpetual member from the Southwest region

Issues for Discussion and/or Resolution (at this meeting)

1. Discuss various possible 2014 Membership Kit items and confirm continued Regional cost-share for kits.

2. Discuss how to integrate 50th Anniversary into Membership items and other areas.

3. Review membership kit costs in relation to member dues and get Regional feedback on possibility of increase to member dues.

4. Review new ALM mailing dates and discuss firm deadlines for receipt of bulk Membership Rosters in order for chapter members to receive all 3 issues of ALM for that membership year.

5. Continue work on clarification of the Supporting and Honorary membership categories and on addition of “Distinguished Member” category.

6. Amendment to Article V, Section2, Item C- Alumnus membership and its definition and qualifications. Wording added so that Item C would match other Item A in content; additional wording to alleviate issues that some Alumnus members were having due to geographical or logistical considerations (ie Affiliate Alumnus membership). To be voted on by Board of Directors.

Attachments: Final 2013-14 USLA Membership (as of November 2, 2013)

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Public Education Committee

Activity Report

Date: Thursday, November 7, 2013

Officer: Denise Blair

Introduction


1. Policy/Guideline: At the Public Education Committee meeting in the spring the committee had a

lengthy discussion about guidelines for Public Education materials. Mike Beuerlein proposed a guideline to be submitted with the Public Education Committee Action Report.

Guideline: It is the goal of the USLA that public education materials be consistent, so as to avoid public confusion. In areas where the USLA has developed public education initiatives or materials, USLA Regions and Chapters should not engage in separate initiatives or publish materials that are inconsistent with the USLA Public Education Message. In other cases where the USLA has not developed initiatives or materials, USLA Regions and Chapters are strongly encouraged to advise the USLA in advance so that any potential conflicts can be identified and addressed, and so that the possibility of a national effort can first be considered.

The Action Report from the spring meeting did not reflect that the committee voted unanimously to accept this Guideline. The Action Report has been revised and the secretary has corrected the meeting minutes to reflect the change.

2. Lesson Plans: The lesson plans for grades 9-12 have been completed. The committee will review the lesson plans for the younger grades during the committee meeting and make any necessary revisions.

3. Website: The website has been updated with the revised safety tips and descriptions. There is a link on the website for Project Wipeout.

4. Beach Safety Challenge: There were three submissions for the Beach Safety Challenge: Charleston County Parks and Recreation, Monmouth County, and Okaloosa, Florida. The awards will be presented at the Spring National Board of Directors Meeting.

5. Grants: During the spring meeting, there was a proposal to develop a contest for a grant to develop public education materials. Dan McCormick developed criteria and a submission form for the contest. The committee will review the proposal during the committee meeting.

6. Evaluation: In the spring the topic of evaluating which of our materials are most effective was discussed. Ralph Goto found some tools for evaluation. The committee will discuss creating some sort of an evaluation tool during the meeting.

Attachments

1. Public Education Committee Agenda

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Ways and Means Committee

Activity Report


Chair: Rob Williams

Introduction

I look forward to another productive meeting in a great location. I appreciated the Regional Treasurers and their ability to manage their treasuries. As well as their patience on their percentage of the memberships monies along with names attached to those monies (Cause they really don’t come).


1. Continue to act on behalf of the USLA on financial matters.

2. Worked with Ms. Graham and membership to ensure monies are allocated to proper line items. Ms. Graham works countless hours on membership and working for regions to ensure their members are current in the USLA database. She continues to work through problematic issues of the YM system

3. Worked with Ms. Ickes and the website to make sure payments are correctly cleared in the YM system. Ms. Ickes is very valuable in keeping the website and database working so other committees/individuals can effectively work within YM.

4. Working with Competition Committee to handle monies for 2013 National Games hosted by LACOLA. Final budget and payouts to be worked on at this BOD meeting.

5. Worked with new USLA accountant to ensure the tax documents were completed and filed on time.

Recommendations for Committee and/or Board Consideration (Agenda for Ways and Means Committee)

Old Business

1. Review year to date 2013 Balance Sheet (Attached on Treasurer’s Report)

2. Review year to date 2013 Profit and Loss Budget (Attached on Treasurer’s Report)

New Business

3. Act on financial matters brought to the committee

4. Work on draft 2014 budget for adoption by the Board of Directors

Attachments

1. 2014 Draft Profit and Loss Budget

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DRAFT




Income

ALM Revenue 0.00 18,000.00 (18,000.00)

Certification Fees 0.00 10,500.00 (10,500.00)

Competition Income 0.00 88,500.00 (88,500.00)

Donations 0.00 4,500.00 (4,500.00)

Event Host 0.00 15,000.00 (15,000.00)

Interest 0.00 200.00 (200.00)

Membership Dues 0.00 175,000.00 (175,000.00)

Royalties 0.00 2,750.00 (2,750.00)

Sponsorship 0.00 24,500.00 (24,500.00)

Total Income 0.00 338,950.00 (338,950.00)

Expense

Administration 0.00 40,000.00 (40,000.00)

American Lifeguard Magazine 0.00 42,000.00 (42,000.00)

Awards & Special Presentations 0.00 1,000.00 (1,000.00)

Certification Administration 0.00 1,500.00 (1,500.00)

Competition 0.00 62,750.00 (62,750.00)

Credit Card Charges 0.00 3,000.00 (3,000.00)

Donation 0.00 500.00 (500.00)

Event Registration 0.00 14,400.00 (14,400.00)

Insurance & Bonds 0.00 7,500.00 (7,500.00)

International Relations 0.00 6,000.00 (6,000.00)


Membership Kits 0.00 75,000.00 (75,000.00)

Office Expenses 0.00 800.00 (800.00)


Professional Fees 0.00 2,500.00 (2,500.00)

Public Education 0.00 15,000.00 (15,000.00)


Regions % of Member Dues 0.00 44,500.00 (44,500.00)

Telephone/Internet 0.00 480.00 (480.00)

USLA Travel and Meetings 0.00 10,500.00 (10,500.00)

Website 0.00 7,000.00 (7,000.00)

Total Expense 0.00 336,730.00 (336,730.00)

Net Income 0.00 2,220.00 (2,220.00)

DRAFT

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American Lifeguard Magazine

Activity Report

Date: Fall 2013

Committee Chair: Michael S. Bartlett, Editor

Committee Members:

ALM Liaison Officer: Michael A. Beuerlein

Staff Writers and Photographers: B. Chris Brewster, Rick Gould, Joe McManus, Bob Dillon, Andrew Healey, Jo Wagenhals, Peter Hartsock, Nan Kappler, and Peter Davis.


1. Due to work and family commitments I’m unable to attend the Fall Meeting but plan on attending the 50th Anniversary Meeting. At the request of Mr. Brewster, we have removed the assistant editor position and replaced it with one “Liaison Officer”. Mike Beuerlein will be the official ALM Liaison to handle related business when I’m unable to attend national meetings and will do so for this one. I want to give special recognition to Charlie Hartl who has loyally served as the other Assistant Editor for many years and has always provided sound advice and returned emails and phone calls in a timely manner. Thanks again Charlie for all your efforts over the years!

2. Since the Fall 2012 meeting, the ALM continues with our traditional, tri-annual (3 issues per year) publication format. The Winter Issue was delivered on the old deadline schedule, the Summer Issue was delivered within 9 days of the new June 1 deadline schedule, and the Fall Issue was mailed out on time by Nov. 1, however the mailing list is incomplete. We will mail out the second round when the list is finally completed in the coming weeks. I know Charlotte Graham has worked strenuously on the mailing list to meet the Fall Oct. 1 Print Deadline and I know it is beyond her control to complete it on time as there are too many variables within our membership reporting. I’m not sure what more we can do but I certainly don’t want to revise our deadlines again.

3. The Winter 2013 Issue featured a PWC rescue of passengers from a 45-foot capsized vessel at Hillsboro Inlet, FL, in which the $100 cover shot went to Pilar Barrera of Pompano Beach, FL. The Summer 2013 Issue featured a 29-foot Crystaliner lifeguard boat rescuing a fisherman who fell off the Huntington Beach Pier in large surf also featured on the Weather Channel’s Series called Lifeguard! An off-duty guard Anthony Morelli who was surfing when the man fell off the pier is credited for saving the man’s life. Anthony’s father was on the pier photographing his son when he captured the rescue sequence and received the $100 cover shot. The Fall Issue features a near drowning resuscitation of a swimmer who was literally underwater and unconscious when HB Lifeguard Jason Cloud rescued and saved his life. A tourist on the pier captured an amazing rescue sequence and received the $100 cover shot. Thank you to all those who contributed by writing articles and submitting photos.

4. Total gross ad revenue for each issue was $6480, $6660 and $5670 respectively, for a total of $18,810 in one year. This is a significant amount of advertising revenue and more importantly the ALM has consistently generated advertising revenue in the 18k per year range now for more than10 years since we’ve added color pages! Please note there is no charge for C4 Waterman due to contract and no charge for USLA Foundation promotional ad. The total cost per issue numbers were not available at the time of this report but estimated in the $0.50 range. Ad revenues continue to nearly cover our printing costs although ad revenues declined slightly on the most recent issue.

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5. The New ALM Deadlines are listed below in order of the issue number for the membership year:

COPY PRINT MAIL

FALL-1 Aug. 18 Oct. 1 Nov. 1

WINTER-2 Nov. 23 Jan. 4 Feb. 1

SUMMER-3 March 15 May 4 June 1

Issues for Discussion and/or Resolution (At This Meeting)

1. Ideas to address the incomplete membership mailing list for future Fall Issues.

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Original Founders

Activity Report

Date: 8 AM (?) Thursday November 7, 2013

Officer: Dave Shotwell

Introduction

Exact time and location (usually 8am in Resort Dining Room or USLA Meeting Room) – watch for announcement posted at Registration Table.


1. Jerry Gavin has continued video interviews of founding and veteran members/lifeguards.

2. Video interviews will continue during this meeting.

3. Activities related to East Coast recovery from Super Storm Sandy prevented any further activity.

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Public Information / Publicity

Activity Report


Officer: Tom Gill

Introduction

I appreciate all of the assistance from the many members that respond when requested for media related opportunities.


1. Redirected numerous requests for interviews to regional representatives to answer.

2. Interviewed with or supplied information to the following via email plus numerous others via the 800 contact number:

2.1. Coastal Living Magazine

2.2. Men’s Health Magazine

2.3. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

2.4. Executive Director Press Release

2.5. Bloomberg News

2.6. Washington Post

2.7. Wilmington Star News

2.8. LA Times


1. An increased effort should be made to publicize all activities related to the 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2014.

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Sign Standards Committee

Activity Report


Officer: Ralph Goto


1. No activity to report

UNITED STATES LIFESAVING ASSOCIATION

National Lifesaving Statistics Report 2012

Since it’s inception as the National Surf Life Saving Association in 1964, the chapters and agencies involved in lifesaving efforts in the United States have endeavored to record the activity performed by their lifeguards. These records have been compiled in a statistical format to record the various categories of activity performed by these agencies. The Association, now known as the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA), has published this information for many years for several purposes. The main function is to educate the public about the profession of lifesaving. The statistics also serve to highlight particular professional areas of interest, provide tools in agency budget development, and further the knowledge base about the open water environment. This report highlights the 2012 statistics of the USLA. Complete records of USLA statistics dating to 1960 may be downloaded from USLA's Website at www.usla.org.

The United States Lifesaving Association

The United States Lifesaving Association is a non-profit, professional organization of lifeguards who work at open water beaches (both surf and inland). Members are organized into chapters, which are generally formed by reason of a common employer of the member lifeguards. Since this is not a union, membership extends to all ranks of lifeguards and there is strong participation from management-level employees through line lifeguards. Open water lifeguard agencies, most of which are governmental bodies, participate in USLA through their employees and benefit through various means, such as promulgation of public safety material, collection and dissemination of statistics, development of lifeguard educational material, and the USLA Lifeguard Agency Certification Program.

Beaches, Collection and Categories

The USLA collects lifesaving statistics for all beaches, affiliated agencies, and also accepts reports from other ocean beaches indirectly associated with the USLA. The collection efforts date to 1960 and for much of the first twenty years, focused exclusively on California beaches, especially the greater Los Angeles area. In the late 1980's, collection efforts began in earnest for the entire United States. This reporting system reflects more than twenty years of active national statistics collection, with a gradual progression from a west coast based report to the more national look presented here. USLA now reports lifesaving statistics from nine geographical regions of its organization. Typically, approximately 100 or more agencies/beaches report each year. These include most of the major United States beach lifeguard agencies, such as Los Angeles County, State of California, Cities of San Diego and Huntington Beach, California, City and County of Honolulu, Volusia County and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Long Beach and Cape May, New Jersey.

USLA National Statistics Report 2012 as of 10/11/2013 2

2012 National Lifesaving Statistics

Beach Attendance 334,842,160

Rescues Total 70,731

Rip 35,935

Surf 7,939

Swift 322

Scuba 272

Cliff Rescue 78

Boat Rescues Rescues 3,478

Passengers 7,526

Value $ 69,195,775

Boat Assists Rescues 6,255

Passengers 7,669

Value $ 89,663,671

Preventive Actions 5,780,579

Medical Aids Total 320,074

Major 17,544

Minor 302,530

Drowning Deaths (Unguarded) Total 71

Rip 19

Surf 3

Scuba 5

Drop-Off 1

Alc/Drugs 3

Ability 9

Floatation 0

Other 13

Drowning Deaths (Guarded) Total 16

Rip 3

Surf 0

Scuba 0

Drop-Off 0

Alc/Drugs 4

Ability 0

Floatation 0

Other 12

Other Fatalities 46

Enforcements Warnings 1,527,858

Boat/PWC 110,857

Citations 6,528

Arrests 1,001

Lost/Found Persons 12,490

Public Education

Lectures 12,227

Students 276,998


Data Overview The 2012 statistics report shows general increases in many categories. While there is a slight increase in reporting agencies from last year, the data is within expectations as the agencies reporting remaining mostly consistent year to year. At the time of the writing of this report, 123 agencies are providing their statistics. USLA saw the largest number of reporting agencies in the history of the USLA statistics at 109 in 2007, and then reporting agencies rose to 117 in 2009. More intensive efforts to reach non-reporting agencies this year are part of the increase. Rescues have increased again this year as have Preventive Actions. Medical aids are slightly down from 2011 and 2010. Lost Persons are back in line again after a decrease in 2011. Beach activity levels show little change in such areas as Drowning Death, where percentages have remained stable over the last ten years. While the total number has decreased from 2010 and 2011, the ratio of guarded to unguarded remains relatively stable. Following a predictable pattern, the number of guarded drowning deaths remained small and the ratio between unguarded and guarded has remained relatively stable for over ten years. Again included in the reports this year is primary cause reporting for Drowning Death. Among the most frequent questions or requests USLA receives from media and academic sources are requests for such information. This report details the ninth year of reports. Caution should be taken in reviewing this information. First, it represents only data that the agency reports. In some cases, the agency has declined to offer a cause. Second, it will take at least ten years to establish data for potential analysis. The National Statistics Coordinator cautions that the 2012 statistics must be viewed carefully if any long term trend analysis or forecasting is contemplated. This report comprises the totals from beaches in each of the USLA's regional councils. In 1997, the USLA received reports from 105 beaches, and 92 in 1998. This year, the total number of reporting beaches has stabilized from 110 agencies to 123 this season, substantially up from 85 in 2006. Stronger accountability in relation to the USLA Lifeguard Agency Certification program, discussed below, accounts for the increase. As such, representative samples should be taken on an agency-to agency-comparative model, or on a long term model for national numbers for any forecasting or trend analysis.


Five Year Reporting Comparison

Category 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Beach Attendance 286,942,766 312,676,724 311,478,227 312,747,137 334,842,160

Rescues 78,208 83,471 56,799 63,013 70,731

Preventative Actions 4,792,017 6,457,403 5,598,708 5,664,473 5,780,579

Medical Aids 282,125 265,879 326,055 325,703 320,074

Boat Rescues 3,887 3,321 4,076 3,367 3,478

Passengers 8,890 7,425 10,160 6,722 7,526

Vessel Value $73,592,155 $82,396,415 $101,725,770 131,858,516 $69,195,775

Drowning Deaths 105 124 127 99 87

Drowning Deaths (Unguarded) 86 103 102 79 71

Drowning Deaths (Guarded) 19 21 25 20 16

Lost And Found Persons 11,374 15,222 12,937 11,306 12,490

Public Safety Lectures 9,652 10,760 14,073 7261 12,227

Students Attending 354,259 293,714 383,313 232,490 276,998

Reporting Agencies 111 117 116 114 123

Table 2

Primary Causes of Rescues

Using the data developed in 1994-2004 the USLA has identified the Primary Cause of Rescue

to be predominately from Rip Currents. The data developed has been analyzed in several ways. First, from the perspective of all reporting agencies, the data provided indicates rip currents account for roughly 45% of all rescues performed by the USLA. However, this analysis must be adjusted for environmental conditions. First, the data includes reports from agencies that operate open water/lake beaches without these conditions. Second, several of the reporting agencies were unable to redesign their reporting procedures to identify all of the causes. Thus, well over 20,000 rescues are not attributed to cause and thus classified in the analysis as 'other.' USLA is encouraging agencies to begin to carefully collect this data in the future. In order to compensate for these conditions, the data was evaluated to identify the agencies that should be included in the primary cause analysis, which would be those situated on surf beaches. This analysis finds the predominant cause of rescues again to be rip currents, exceeding 82% of all rescues. California beaches recorded a more significant percentage for rip currents and the percentage rose in 1998 to 90.12%. This hypothesis was tested again in 2010. A sample of agencies from the reporting database was selected based on consistent reporting history and known rip current conditions. The analysis generally substantiates the 80% figure and suggests and even higher number of rescues could be attributed to rip currents.


Agency Rip Surf Swiftwater Scuba Total

California State Parks 74326 6408 248 1391 89897

Corolla Ocean Rescue, SC 1319 119 0 0 1575

Galveston County, TX 757 277 0 0 1034

Volusia County, FL 21171 6483 0 0 28350

Fort Lauderdale, FL 2272 184 0 0 2476

Newport Beach, CA 33578 3751 0 0 37339

Rescue Cause Retrospective, 2000-2010Selected USLA Regional Agencies

90%

8%

0%

2%

Rip

Surf

Swiftwater

Scuba


Links to National Certification System

The USLA has linked the national statistics reporting system to the Lifeguard Agency Certification program. First, all agencies that are certified by USLA are required to submit their agency activity annually in order to maintain certification in good standing. Second, the Certification program distributes statistics notices to all identified agencies each winter to assist in statistics collection. This relationship has been highly beneficial, with over ten non-USLA chapter reports included in the 2012 statistics. This year’s reports identify 123 agencies to date, and it is not hard to speculate that full reporting by Chapters and certified agencies could result in recording over 100,000 rescues annually. For example, over 50 agencies along the Atlantic seaboard and Chicago, which generally recorded more than five thousand rescues annually, have reported in the past. USLA hopes to regain these reports in coming years.

New Demographic Data Collection Module In 2010, the USLA authorized and created a new data collection module, intended to capture information about the reporting lifeguard agencies in this report. The categories were intended to reflect agency operations and not change unless the jurisdiction, operations, or profile of an agency changed. The categories include: miles of beach guarded, number of part time and full time employees, and types of equipment used, among others. To date, about 40% of the reporting agencies have completed this new part of the database. Efforts will be undertaken to improve this section in the coming year. Of the approximately 40 agencies reporting, below is a sampling of the data:

USLA Beach Demographic Sample (for 40 agencies reporting) Miles of Beach Guarded 181.71 Miles of Beach Unguarded 745.98 Full Time Employees 536 Part Time Employee 2352 Patrol Vehicles 242

Table 3

Data Base Issues

This year, the database built to collect and manage the national statistics had significant periods of unreliability. Users were often unable to log-in, or when they were able, the data was submitted but not recorded. This left USLA in the un-enviable position of having to track down nearly 40 agencies individually, by e-mail, phone, and letter to attempt to obtain their annual statistics. In addition to the data that was missing, the frustration that users endured hurt the credibility of the system. In a short, after discussion with the database designer, the system is now ten years old, and given the evolution of computer technology every day, may need to be replaced in the near future if these problems persist.

Page 1 of 1

United States Lifesaving Association Website Committee

Activity Report


Officer: Website Committee Chair / Webmaster (Karissa Ickes)

Introduction

I am pleased to submit the following report on my website activity since the Spring 2013 Santa Rosa Meeting. As always, I would like to thank everyone who assists me on a regular basis with the management and continuous improvement of www.usla.org. I look forward to seeing and collaborating with everyone in historic Hyannis, Massachusetts.


1. Special Projects 1.1. Online Certification Submission Process: At the last BOD meeting, there was discussion about

the possibility of creating an online process for agency certification applications and renewals. Mr. Pryor and Ms. Smiley have taken the lead on this matter. Assisted as needed.

1.2. USLA Newsletter (E-Blasts): President Brewster and I have continued to collaborate on the dissemination of USLA E-Blasts to our general membership. Using the custom newsletter template that was showcased this spring, two additional newsletters were sent via email since the prior BOD Meeting. USLA Summer Kickoff Newsletter, 2013 #2 was sent to 7,523 active members (with 5,699 “Total Views” and 223 “Total Click-Backs”) on 6/5/13. United States Lifesaving Association Mid-Summer Newsletter 2013, #3 was sent to 11,136 members (with 735 “Total Click-Backs”) on 7/19/13.

1.3. Homepage Revision (Junior Guard): Per website committee discussion at the last BOD Meeting, the verbiage on the www.usla.org homepage was changed to the following: "Lifeguards, former* lifeguards, and open water rescuers can use this site to become a member, update or renew your membership, learn and exchange information with other lifeguards, find out about upcoming meetings and competitions, review the latest lifesaving standards, and more. Log in or sign up today to enjoy the special benefits available only to members." (*The word “junior” was replaced with the word “former”.)

1.4. National Structure Page Revision (Grant Solicitation): Per the decision at the Spring 2013 BOD Meeting, removed the assignment of “Grant Solicitation” from www.usla.org.

1.5. National Structure Page Revision (Executive Director): Added Ms. Kay Smiley to the website’s National Structure page as appropriate.

1.6. Primary Group Name Change: The website is now configured so that the chapters are affiliated with their region. To streamline the online registration process for new and returning members, all “Primary Group” (a.k.a. “Chapter”) names were revised. This was done in an effort to streamline the online registration process for members. Historically, there have been many instances of members choosing incorrect regions. To begin to resolve this issue, we eliminated the “Region” field (this was previously mandatory during the registration process) and incorporated the appropriate region in the new “Primary Group” (Chapter) name. Please reference the attachment, “Chapters&GroupCodes_Membership2.0_USLA2013.xls”. I would like to thank Mr. Brewster & Ms. Graham (and all others who clarified many things) for their dedication to this project.

Page 2 of 2

1.7. Beach Safety Challenge Online Submission Form: Created an online form for submissions of the annual Beach Safety Challenge. This can be found under the “Public Education” section of www.usla.org.

1.8. Membership Renewal Email: Collaborated with Chris Brewster and Charlotte Graham to draft and disseminate reminder emails to members about the 2013 USLA membership renewal process.

1.9. Sports Insurance / Event Insurance Page: Worked with Chris Brewster to create an “Event Insurance” page. Collaborated with YM, Sports Insurance Hawaii and Chris Brewster to create a “members only” area. Members can now access this page to receive discounted rates on event insurance. The new “Event Insurance” page is now available under “Competition” on our site.

1.10. ALM Archives: Configured the “ALM Archives” page so that all ALM archives are accessible to the public with the exception of the three most recent issues. The three most recent issues are now accessible to members only.

1.11. 2013 CSLSA Regional Lifeguard Championships: Collaborated with Rob Williams, Charlotte Graham and Skip Prosser to successfully execute the online registration (including a waiver) of 123 competitors in this year’s CSLSA regional lifeguard championships.

1.12. 2013 Nautica USLA National Lifeguard Championships: Collaborated with Charlie Hartl, Chris Brewster, Charlotte Graham and Rob Williams to successfully execute the online registration (including a waiver) of 629 competitors in this year’s national lifeguard championships.

1.13. “Administrative Task List” (Operation Cleanup): At the last meeting, the need for housekeeping on the “backend” of the USLA website was discussed. Collaborated with Ms. Graham, Mr. Hartl, Mr. Williams and Mr. Brewster (with the assistance of YM) to clean up the many pending items on the “Administrative Task List”. We will continue to do this on an ongoing basis.

1.14. “Batch Address Validation”: Executed the “Batch Address Validator” within the USLA Membership database on 10/14/13. The batch address validator is a function included in our contract with YourMembership that will validate the Primary addresses in our membership directory. Addresses are matched against a current USPS database to ensure guaranteed deliverability. This was done in an effort to increase accuracy when shipping membership kits, ALM Magazines, etc.

1.15. USLA Fall 2013 Board of Directors Meeting and Educational Conference Online Registration: At our Spring BOD Meeting in Santa Rosa, a decision was made to make the registration and payment process available exclusively online. Collaborated with Ed Zebrowski, Ed Zebrowski III, Rob Williams and Chris Brewster to implement this registration process. An informational email about the online registration process was sent to the Executive Committee to outline the process.

2. General Business 2.1. Website Committee Chair: Continued to work with President Brewster on a variety of issues

related to www.usla.org. Worked continuously to ensure formatting was consistent across all Internet browsers. Assisted President Brewster with giving our new Executive Director, Ms. Kay Smiley, an overview of our website; she has been instrumental in improving the content and functionality of www.usla.org. Ms. Smiley can now be reached at [email protected].

2.2. “Contact USLA”: Continued to manage the “contact forms” that are generated when an individual (member or non-member) contacts the USLA by navigating to the “Contact Us” area of the site. Most inquiries are general questions (password recoveries, parties interested in becoming lifeguards and general questions about the USLA). Addressed all inquiries as appropriate. Distributed inquiries to specific parties on a regular basis (inquiries pertaining to executive board and/or executive director matters, membership, competition, donations, treasury, junior guards, sponsorships, public education, certification, media, ALM, Heroic Acts, etc.). I would like to note that we have been receiving less inquiries about usernames and

Page 3 of 3

passwords than in the past. This may indicate that members are becoming more familiar with the site.

2.3. Website Content: Updated site content including, but not limited to, the following: • Homepage • Member Discounts • Fall 2012 USLA Meeting Minutes (Uploaded) • United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) National Structure • Names and associated contact information for USLA Officers (National and Regional) • USLA National Lifeguard Championships • ALM Archives (Uploaded) • USLA Policies & Procedures (Uploaded the revised edition) • Lifesaving Links • Job Bulletin Board • USLA Certified Lifeguard Agencies (Updated as appropriate) • Public Education (Including, but not limited to the “USLA's Top Ten Beach and Water Safety

Tips” and “Beach Safety Challenge” pages) • USLA Affiliated Junior Lifeguard Programs (Added Gold Seal Junior Lifeguard Programs) • USLA National Lifeguard Championships Host Application Overview • USLA National Lifeguard Championship Rules

2.4 “Event Submission Forms”: Managed the “event submission forms” that are generated when an individual submits an event with the intent of that event being included in the USLA calendar / upcoming events. Added events to website as appropriate and facilitated online registrations and payments upon request. Worked with Treasurer, Rob Williams, to process online payments when applicable.

2.5 Member Profile Updates: Continued to moderate member profile updates to ensure that content Is appropriate.

2.6 Region Group Assignments: Assigned all members to appropriate regions on a regular basis (see 1.6 for additional information).

2.7 Forums: Continued to moderate the “Guard-to-Guard” and “Used Equipment Exchange*” Forums to ensure that content is appropriate. *Moderator removes listings from the “Used Equipment Exchange Forum after 90 days.

2.8 Facebook: Continued to moderate the USLA “Facebook Page” to ensure that content is appropriate, answered inquiries and utilized this free media outlet to occasionally disseminate USLA news and information (examples range from sharing beach safety tips and announcing press releases to the creation of events that correlate with our website’s event calendar). FYI only – The “likes” of our Facebook Page have increased from 1,015 in April to 1,287.

2.9 Treasury: Worked continuously with Rob Williams to reconcile transactions originating from www.usla.org. Provided comprehensive lists of memberships generated from the website as needed.

2.10 Communications: Assisted with drafting, editing and disseminating press releases and general communication as needed.

2.11 Membership: Worked continuously with YM, President Brewster and Ms. Charlotte Graham to streamline the online membership registration process via conferences, email, training, etc. Revised content and directions pertaining to member account access. As a result, login directions are more concise and consistent. Occasionally assisted with bulk membership uploads as needed. Provided comprehensive membership lists to various regions upon request.

Page 4 of 4


1. At this time, I would like to recommend the following: 1.1. Revisit the idea of having a “Current News” section somewhere on the website. 1.2. At the last BOD meeting, there was discussion about creating a “Junior Guard of the Year”

online submission process. I would like to recommend to the website committee that we do not pursue that concept. Unfortunately, the award is only given to CSLSA Junior Guards and I suspect there is the potential of causing controversy and/or hurt feelings to those Junior Guards who are not eligible.

1.3. Revisit the concept of highlighting the option to “Donate Now”; the option already exists, but we have the ability to make it more appealing to the eye and/or add it to multiple places within the website.

1.4. Revisit configuring the site so that submissions for Heroic Acts require members to log in. 1.5. Continue to add to and improve the “Public Education” section of www.usla.org. 1.6. Revisit the concept of a “U.S. National Team” page under the Competition section of the

website. 1.7. Continue to review and update the “Heroic Acts” page and the “USLA Certified Agencies” page

to ensure that the information (award recipients, certified agencies, etc) is accurate. 1.8. “Freshen” up the overall look of the website. This may involve a budget increase for the

website; some basic quotes / pricing can confirm this potential need. 1.9. Expand the “Junior Guard” section of the site.

Attachments

1. NewGroupNames:GroupCodes_USLA050613.pdf

Page 1 of 1

United States Lifesaving Association Website Committee

Activity Report


Officer: Website Committee Chair / Webmaster (Karissa Ickes)

Introduction

I am pleased to submit the following report on my website activity since the Spring 2013 Santa Rosa Meeting. As always, I would like to thank everyone who assists me on a regular basis with the management and continuous improvement of www.usla.org. I look forward to seeing and collaborating with everyone in historic Hyannis, Massachusetts.


1. Special Projects 1.1. Online Certification Submission Process: At the last BOD meeting, there was discussion about

the possibility of creating an online process for agency certification applications and renewals. Mr. Pryor and Ms. Smiley have taken the lead on this matter. Assisted as needed.

1.2. USLA Newsletter (E-Blasts): President Brewster and I have continued to collaborate on the dissemination of USLA E-Blasts to our general membership. Using the custom newsletter template that was showcased this spring, two additional newsletters were sent via email since the prior BOD Meeting. USLA Summer Kickoff Newsletter, 2013 #2 was sent to 7,523 active members (with 5,699 “Total Views” and 223 “Total Click-Backs”) on 6/5/13. United States Lifesaving Association Mid-Summer Newsletter 2013, #3 was sent to 11,136 members (with 735 “Total Click-Backs”) on 7/19/13.

1.3. Homepage Revision (Junior Guard): Per website committee discussion at the last BOD Meeting, the verbiage on the www.usla.org homepage was changed to the following: "Lifeguards, former* lifeguards, and open water rescuers can use this site to become a member, update or renew your membership, learn and exchange information with other lifeguards, find out about upcoming meetings and competitions, review the latest lifesaving standards, and more. Log in or sign up today to enjoy the special benefits available only to members." (*The word “junior” was replaced with the word “former”.)

1.4. National Structure Page Revision (Grant Solicitation): Per the decision at the Spring 2013 BOD Meeting, removed the assignment of “Grant Solicitation” from www.usla.org.

1.5. National Structure Page Revision (Executive Director): Added Ms. Kay Smiley to the website’s National Structure page as appropriate.

1.6. Primary Group Name Change: The website is now configured so that the chapters are affiliated with their region. To streamline the online registration process for new and returning members, all “Primary Group” (a.k.a. “Chapter”) names were revised. This was done in an effort to streamline the online registration process for members. Historically, there have been many instances of members choosing incorrect regions. To begin to resolve this issue, we eliminated the “Region” field (this was previously mandatory during the registration process) and incorporated the appropriate region in the new “Primary Group” (Chapter) name. Please reference the attachment, “Chapters&GroupCodes_Membership2.0_USLA2013.xls”. I would like to thank Mr. Brewster & Ms. Graham (and all others who clarified many things) for their dedication to this project.

Page 2 of 2

1.7. Beach Safety Challenge Online Submission Form: Created an online form for submissions of the annual Beach Safety Challenge. This can be found under the “Public Education” section of www.usla.org.

1.8. Membership Renewal Email: Collaborated with Chris Brewster and Charlotte Graham to draft and disseminate reminder emails to members about the 2013 USLA membership renewal process.

1.9. Sports Insurance / Event Insurance Page: Worked with Chris Brewster to create an “Event Insurance” page. Collaborated with YM, Sports Insurance Hawaii and Chris Brewster to create a “members only” area. Members can now access this page to receive discounted rates on event insurance. The new “Event Insurance” page is now available under “Competition” on our site.

1.10. ALM Archives: Configured the “ALM Archives” page so that all ALM archives are accessible to the public with the exception of the three most recent issues. The three most recent issues are now accessible to members only.

1.11. 2013 CSLSA Regional Lifeguard Championships: Collaborated with Rob Williams, Charlotte Graham and Skip Prosser to successfully execute the online registration (including a waiver) of 123 competitors in this year’s CSLSA regional lifeguard championships.

1.12. 2013 Nautica USLA National Lifeguard Championships: Collaborated with Charlie Hartl, Chris Brewster, Charlotte Graham and Rob Williams to successfully execute the online registration (including a waiver) of 629 competitors in this year’s national lifeguard championships.

1.13. “Administrative Task List” (Operation Cleanup): At the last meeting, the need for housekeeping on the “backend” of the USLA website was discussed. Collaborated with Ms. Graham, Mr. Hartl, Mr. Williams and Mr. Brewster (with the assistance of YM) to clean up the many pending items on the “Administrative Task List”. We will continue to do this on an ongoing basis.

1.14. “Batch Address Validation”: Executed the “Batch Address Validator” within the USLA Membership database on 10/14/13. The batch address validator is a function included in our contract with YourMembership that will validate the Primary addresses in our membership directory. Addresses are matched against a current USPS database to ensure guaranteed deliverability. This was done in an effort to increase accuracy when shipping membership kits, ALM Magazines, etc.

1.15. USLA Fall 2013 Board of Directors Meeting and Educational Conference Online Registration: At our Spring BOD Meeting in Santa Rosa, a decision was made to make the registration and payment process available exclusively online. Collaborated with Ed Zebrowski, Ed Zebrowski III, Rob Williams and Chris Brewster to implement this registration process. An informational email about the online registration process was sent to the Executive Committee to outline the process.

2. General Business 2.1. Website Committee Chair: Continued to work with President Brewster on a variety of issues

related to www.usla.org. Worked continuously to ensure formatting was consistent across all Internet browsers. Assisted President Brewster with giving our new Executive Director, Ms. Kay Smiley, an overview of our website; she has been instrumental in improving the content and functionality of www.usla.org. Ms. Smiley can now be reached at [email protected].

2.2. “Contact USLA”: Continued to manage the “contact forms” that are generated when an individual (member or non-member) contacts the USLA by navigating to the “Contact Us” area of the site. Most inquiries are general questions (password recoveries, parties interested in becoming lifeguards and general questions about the USLA). Addressed all inquiries as appropriate. Distributed inquiries to specific parties on a regular basis (inquiries pertaining to executive board and/or executive director matters, membership, competition, donations, treasury, junior guards, sponsorships, public education, certification, media, ALM, Heroic Acts, etc.). I would like to note that we have been receiving less inquiries about usernames and

Page 3 of 3

passwords than in the past. This may indicate that members are becoming more familiar with the site.

2.3. Website Content: Updated site content including, but not limited to, the following: • Homepage • Member Discounts • Fall 2012 USLA Meeting Minutes (Uploaded) • United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) National Structure • Names and associated contact information for USLA Officers (National and Regional) • USLA National Lifeguard Championships • ALM Archives (Uploaded) • USLA Policies & Procedures (Uploaded the revised edition) • Lifesaving Links • Job Bulletin Board • USLA Certified Lifeguard Agencies (Updated as appropriate) • Public Education (Including, but not limited to the “USLA's Top Ten Beach and Water Safety

Tips” and “Beach Safety Challenge” pages) • USLA Affiliated Junior Lifeguard Programs (Added Gold Seal Junior Lifeguard Programs) • USLA National Lifeguard Championships Host Application Overview • USLA National Lifeguard Championship Rules

2.4 “Event Submission Forms”: Managed the “event submission forms” that are generated when an individual submits an event with the intent of that event being included in the USLA calendar / upcoming events. Added events to website as appropriate and facilitated online registrations and payments upon request. Worked with Treasurer, Rob Williams, to process online payments when applicable.

2.5 Member Profile Updates: Continued to moderate member profile updates to ensure that content Is appropriate.

2.6 Region Group Assignments: Assigned all members to appropriate regions on a regular basis (see 1.6 for additional information).

2.7 Forums: Continued to moderate the “Guard-to-Guard” and “Used Equipment Exchange*” Forums to ensure that content is appropriate. *Moderator removes listings from the “Used Equipment Exchange Forum after 90 days.

2.8 Facebook: Continued to moderate the USLA “Facebook Page” to ensure that content is appropriate, answered inquiries and utilized this free media outlet to occasionally disseminate USLA news and information (examples range from sharing beach safety tips and announcing press releases to the creation of events that correlate with our website’s event calendar). FYI only – The “likes” of our Facebook Page have increased from 1,015 in April to 1,287.

2.9 Treasury: Worked continuously with Rob Williams to reconcile transactions originating from www.usla.org. Provided comprehensive lists of memberships generated from the website as needed.

2.10 Communications: Assisted with drafting, editing and disseminating press releases and general communication as needed.

2.11 Membership: Worked continuously with YM, President Brewster and Ms. Charlotte Graham to streamline the online membership registration process via conferences, email, training, etc. Revised content and directions pertaining to member account access. As a result, login directions are more concise and consistent. Occasionally assisted with bulk membership uploads as needed. Provided comprehensive membership lists to various regions upon request.

Page 4 of 4


1. At this time, I would like to recommend the following: 1.1. Revisit the idea of having a “Current News” section somewhere on the website. 1.2. At the last BOD meeting, there was discussion about creating a “Junior Guard of the Year”

online submission process. I would like to recommend to the website committee that we do not pursue that concept. Unfortunately, the award is only given to CSLSA Junior Guards and I suspect there is the potential of causing controversy and/or hurt feelings to those Junior Guards who are not eligible.

1.3. Revisit the concept of highlighting the option to “Donate Now”; the option already exists, but we have the ability to make it more appealing to the eye and/or add it to multiple places within the website.

1.4. Revisit configuring the site so that submissions for Heroic Acts require members to log in. 1.5. Continue to add to and improve the “Public Education” section of www.usla.org. 1.6. Revisit the concept of a “U.S. National Team” page under the Competition section of the

website. 1.7. Continue to review and update the “Heroic Acts” page and the “USLA Certified Agencies” page

to ensure that the information (award recipients, certified agencies, etc) is accurate. 1.8. “Freshen” up the overall look of the website. This may involve a budget increase for the

website; some basic quotes / pricing can confirm this potential need. 1.9. Expand the “Junior Guard” section of the site.

Attachments

1. NewGroupNames:GroupCodes_USLA050613.pdf

Page 1 of 3


Executive Committee

Committee Action Report


Committee Chair: B. Chris Brewster

Committee Members:

B. Chris Brewster – President, Peter Davis – Vice President. Nikki Bowie – Secretary, Rob Williams – Treasurer, Charlie Hartl – Executive Delegate, Bert Whitaker – Liaison, Tony Pryor – President, Gulf Coast Region, Joe Pecoraro – President, Great Lakes Region, Ed Zebrowski – President – Mid-Atlantic Region, Kalani Vierra for Ralph Goto – President, Pacific Islands Region, Tom Gill – President, South Atlantic Region, Gerry Falconer – President, Southeast Region, Mike Beuerlein – President, Southwest Region, Chip More – Legal Advisor, Peter Wernicki – Medical Advisor

Information Items (The following information was provided in writing and/or verbally)

1. Budget – Mr. Williams was asked to highlight the budget and had nothing to add from his written activity report.

2. Sponsor Relations

2.1. C4 Waterman- The C4 Waterman contract was signed in March 2012 and ends March 15, 2015. Total income to date has been $11,750.

2.2. Ingram - The most current Ingram contract was signed in January 2012 and ends in January 2015. Total income has been in accordance with the contract. Income from Ingram since the original contract was signed in 2009 has totaled $25,000.

2.3. Eyeking - The most current Eyeking contract extends from January 1, 2011 and extends to December 31, 2013. Total income has been in accordance with the contract. Income from Eyeking since the original contract was signed in 2008 has totaled $29,453.63 ($15,453.63 in royalties and $14,000 in sponsorship fees).

2.4. Da Fin - The most current Da Fin contract extends from September 1, 2011 and extends until August 31, 2016. Total income has been in accordance with the contract. Income from Da Fin since the original contract was signed in 2006 has totaled $28,000, not including ALM ads.

2.5. Whistles for Life - The contract was signed in April 2011 and extends until the end of 2013. We received an initial sponsorship check of $2,500, but no subsequent payments due March 2012 and 2013. Mr. Brewster contacted the president of the company who agreed to pay all funds in arrears, which amounted to $6,500. The contract includes a final $1,000 minimum royalty. Mr. Williams will send an invoice on the normal due date.

3. Royalties

3.1. Amazon.com - Amazon provides us with incentives when people click through from USLA.ORG (textbook) to Amazon and buy a USLA text or any other items. This is an ongoing relationship. Due to some tax issues in California, the program had been suspended. Mr. Williams contacted the company and reapplied for the program. Total to date for 2013 is $19.13.

3.2. Pearson - We receive royalties for our textbook sales. Total received so far in 2013 is $1,011.51. 3.3. DVD Sales (via Uniserv) - We have received $9,013.18 in overall in sales proceeds since sales

began, with $1,457.28 in 2013. Our cost for DVDs has totaled $6,994.49. We have over 900 titles of each DVD in stock.

3.4. Uniserv Guard Gear - Catalog sales of clothing and related items via the Uniserv site has resulted in $77.02 in income in 2013.

Page 2 of 3

4. Nationals 2013 – The contract that was signed with LACOLA was the first under the new split of USLA taking over certain responsibilities. USLA was able to get insurance for approximately $2000 and will be able to re-up in future years. Mr. Brewster handled reservations for the officials along with Mr. Zebrowski and Mr. Williams. Payments due have been resolved and there was an amount of money left over in the official’s budget. Mr. Zebrowski was to determine the break-down on how this was distributed to officials.

5. Nationals 2014 - The host agreement, as approved by the Board of Directors in 2012, has been signed. Nautica will once again be the National sponsor. Mr. Gill was asked to provide an update. There will be a number of additions besides the competition. There will be a welcome parade and ceremony on Wednesday that will turn into a Junior Guard party; in addition a lifeguard alumni reunion will take place Friday night. Information will be posted on the website soon.

6. Nationals 2015 – There has been interest from the Gulf Shores Alabama Tourism Bureau, not the lifeguard operation, and from Volusia County (would prefer 2016). There is the possibility that LACOLA would be interested in hosting. The decision should be made at the Spring Board of Directors meeting based on what bids are submitted. Bids may be made for any year at any time.

7. Executive Director – Executive Director Kay Smiley began work on behalf of the USLA in June and reported on her progress in the Board of Directors meeting and in her written report.

8. American Red Cross Discount Program - Mr. Pecoraro inquired about discounts to help with the recruitment of lifeguards. There is an MOU with the Red Cross for individual discounts, but we continue to work with the Red Cross for agency discounts. It would be advantageous to contact local Red Cross representatives.

9. National Weather Service – Sea Grant – USLA Collaboration – A statement of ongoing intent to collaborate was signed with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Sea Grant College Program. Mr. Davis and Mr. Brewster attended two meetings at NOAA headquarters including a daylong conference with weather forecasting offices throughout the USA. Protocols are being developed to encourage lifeguard agencies to partner with the WFOs to report conditions and to assist the Weather Service in improving predictions. The Weather Service has agreed to encourage, as part of its standard daily warnings that people swim near a lifeguard.

10. American Lifeguard Magazine - Per the direction of the Executive Committee, the President negotiated and the Legal Advisor approved a one year consultant agreement with Mike Bartlett to act as the editor of ALM. The agreement has been signed. A copy has been shared with the Executive Committee. Mr. Bartlett would like help with content that is reflective of the entire US. If there is an agency in your area that you would like profiled, please submit information to Mr. Bartlett.

11. Brand Licensing, Inc. - Per the direction of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors, the USLA entered into an agreement with Brand Licensing, Inc. A copy of the contract has been circulated to the Executive Committee. Brand Licensing has been in regular contact with Mr. Brewster and Mr. Zebrowski. Several prospects have been identified and it is clear the Brand Licensing is working diligently to advance our mutual goals. At the present time there is no specific outcome to report.

12. National Leadership in Aquatic Safety – Mr. Davis and Mr. Brewster met with the American Red Cross and YMCA and came to a tentative agreement to create “Water Safety USA” with the goal of holding a water safety summit in January. USLA proposed to invite all major national organizations that are involved in drowning prevention and water safety to a round table to meet at least once a year. The theory is to get an idea of what other organizations are doing in the area of water safety and endeavor to help each other with initiatives .The outcome could help endorse messages in areas in which we are not the experts and vice versa. It is not intended to become a formal organization with specific rules, but meant to work with top level positions in other organizations.

13. USLA Logo – Mr. Brewster noted at the outset of the meeting that he was withdrawing a proposed action listed in the draft agenda on the advice of the Legal Advisor. This was, “Shall the Executive Committee take steps to encourage regions and chapters to ensure that their use of the USLA logo comes into conformance with the USLA policy on intellectual property in an effort to protect the logo?” Mr. Beuerlein requested the opportunity to discuss the item, which was afforded. Mr. More explained that his advice was based on the fact that the logo is protected by US trademark law and by USLA policy. Thus all parties are obligated to follow the law and the policy. Mr. Brewster stated

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that his initial intent was to address a letter from the USLA Pro Bono law firm that outlined measures the USLA should take to protect its intellectual property. Mr. Beuerlein stated that the Southwest Region had applied to have their logo approved as a trademark, but were rejected by the US Patent and Trademark Office based on its infringement on the USLA logo. He stated that the USPTO had sent a letter stating that if the USLA approved the Southwest logo, then the USPTO would approve it; but a copy of the letter was not available for review by the committee. Mr. More stated that he will be glad to sit down with any entity to take a look at their logo to see if there are any issues of trademark infringement and to advise how they can be corrected in the least intrusive way. He reiterated that all parties are obligated to follow the law and the policy.

Action Items

1. “Shall the Executive Committee recommend to the Board of Directors that the schedule of events at

the April 2014 Board of Directors meeting be adjusted to move all usual Saturday morning committee meetings to Friday from 9am – 12pm; the general meeting to Saturday 9am – 12pm; an Educational Conference Saturday afternoon focused on the history of the USLA; and social hours and banquet to follow with business attire required on the first two days and casual attire on Saturday?” Motion by Mr. Williams. MPU

2. “Shall the Executive Committee recommend to the Board of Directors that, as a general practice, individual donations of $250 or less made to USLA be redirected to the United States Lifesaving Foundation?” Motion by Mr. Williams. MPU

3. “Shall the Executive Committee recommend to the Board of Directors a one-time transfer of $20,000 from the USLA general fund to the United States Lifesaving Foundation?” Motion by Mr. Williams. MPU

4. “Shall the Executive Committee recommend to the Board of Directors that subject to incorporation of the New England Region and subject to opening a bank account that the USLA will convey to the region the last five years of the percent of dues that would otherwise have been attributable to the New England Region which is $1775.00?” Motion by Mr. Williams. MPU

5. “Shall the Executive Committee recommend to the Board of Directors that a new contract with Hobie/Eye King be approved upon the review and approval of the legal advisor with the duration of the contract January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016?” The points of the deal were detailed to the Executive Committee. MPU

6. The Executive Committee went into to Executive Session to discuss the contract status of the Executive Director and for the publication of American Lifeguard Magazine.

Adjournment

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Certification Committee


Date: 11/9/13

Committee Chair: Tony Pryor

Committee Members:

Great Lakes – Jerry Gavin, Southwest – Mike Beuerlein, Northwest – David Robinson, Pacific Islands – Kalani Vierra, Southeast – Gerry Falconer, New England – Scott Hansson, South Atlantic – Duke Brown, Mid-Atlantic – Dave Shotwell

Introduction

Thanks New England

Discussion Items (Not requiring Board of Directors approval)

1. To come up with a USLA card/certificate/completion of training.

2. Keep the annual physical for recurring lifeguards.

Committee Goals

1. Finish the USLA card/certificate/completion of training.

2. To have all agencies USLA certifications up to date.

Action Items (Requiring Board of Directors approval)

Note everything passed unanimously.

Aloha Surf Lifesaving - extend

Atlantic Beach Patrol Division, FL - advanced

California State Parks, CA - regular

Corolla Ocean Rescue, NC - advanced

Deerfield Beach Ocean Rescue, FL - regular

Delaware State Parks, DE - regular

East Bay Regional Park Dist., CA - regular

Hollywood, FL - advanced Honolulu Ocean Safety (City & County of), HI-regular Huntington Beach Marine Safety Division, CA - advanced Lake Mission Viejo Patrol & Rescue Dept., CA - regular

Lantana Marine Safety, FL - advanced Los Angeles County Lifeguard Operations - advanced

Martin County (Emergency Services), FL - extend

Monterey Beach, NJ - extend

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Newport Beach Fire Department, CA - advanced

Oceanside, CA - advanced

Okaloosa, FL - regular

Ponte Vedra Inn and Club - regular

Santa Barbara (County of), CA - regular St. Johns County - Division of Beach Safety, FL - advanced

Sarasota County Lifeguards, FL - regular

Surf City, NJ - regular

Ventura County Harbor Department, CA - regular Gulf Islands National Seashore, FL - lapse Kannalu Water Safety, HI – lapse

City of Hallandale Beaches, FL - advanced

Miami Dade Fire Ocean Rescue - regular

Nassau County Ocean Rescue, FL - lapse

Panama City Beach - regular Sonoma County Parks and Recreation, CA - regular

Coeur d'Alene, ID (City of) -advanced Kure Beach (Town of) - extend

Los Angeles City, Dept of Parks & Rec., CA - advanced

Mauna Kea Beach Resort, HI - regular Santa Monica Harbor Patrol -pending

Emerald Coast Lifesaving Association -ARRT

Hampton Beach - regular

Alliance Beach Patrol - regular

Mt. Gilead - regular

1. Changed the language (in bold) of the certification guidelines and application in regards to the medical requirements to the following “I verify that a medical doctor or his/her designated physician’s assistant or ARNP ( advanced registered Nurse Practitioner) documents…”

2. Approved the recommended changes to the USLA Recommended Minimum Guidelines for Open Water Swimming Event Safety w/o the lifeguard to swimmer ratio.

3. Add the question of “how many Junior Guards does your agency have?” to the annual statistics report.

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Competition Committee



Committee Chair: Ed Zebrowski

Committee Members:

Tim Gallagher Mid-Atlantic

Jay Butki Southwest

Bert Whitaker Northwest

Peter Davis Gulf Coast

Kalani Viera Pacific Islands

Andy Broady Great Lakes

Tom Gill South Atlantic

Jim McCrady Southeast


1. 2013 Nationals: Lack of merchandise from Nautica for sale Nautica has advised next year will be much better; Rash Guards were a great idea and they will be utilized in 2014; Marshaling was much better discussion of how to improve going forward

2. 2014 Nationals: host motel Best Western 28th Street; discussion of 10AM start time for Juniors with no final determination; Junior Guard guidelines will be changed for B & C, course to be altered to 50 meter lines to allow better event control; Team event sign-ups MUST be done by captains before the event specific time for each event will be announced before hand. Schedule of events will be posted on USLA web site by host many events planned for 50th anniversary

3. 2015 Nationals: letter of interest received from Gulf Shores AL; Daytona Beach, FL may also be interested. Normal rotation would place the event on the West coast. Southwest region will discuss internally and update on any possible host at the spring meeting.

4. Rescue 2014 to be held in September in France. Applications and criteria for placement on the team are/will be posted on the web site.

5. 2015 Surf Rescue series will be held in Australia, discussion on possible sites and feasibility of the USLA hosting the event in 2017

Committee Goals

1. Work on selection process and funding for National Team

2. Update Junior Guidelines

3. Solicit hosts for 2015

4. Work on insuring that all past champions are included in the annual program and on line.

5. Compile lists of competitors to be reviewed for top 50 to be honored in Virginia Beach


Approval of Jay Butki as National Team Manager and Mike Barrows as National Team Coach

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Heroic Acts, Awards, Recognition and Presentations



Committee Chair: Adrienne Groh

Committee Members:

Gus Avila, SW, Gerry Falconer, SE, Kristen Allen, SA, Bart Mattaliano, MA, Bert Whitaker, NW, Jerry Gavin, GL, Peter Davis, GC

Introduction

Thank you to the Mid-Atlantic Region for a great meeting and congratulations to the new beginning of the New England Region. It was an honor to be present for such an historic event for the NE Region and the USLA.


1. Updating website submission access to allow USLA members to submit applicants for review with the option to link to regional representative if not a USLA member. This will provide validation and endorsement of each submission.

Committee Goals

1. Finalize list of MOV individuals for approval to be in a documentary showcasing some of the most heroic rescues ever recognized by the USLA

2. Contact MOV and Heroic Act recipients to participate in the 50th Anniversary bi-coastal celebration of the USLA.

3. Create a plan to maximize our efforts with publicity to get as much exposure to the heroic acts and showcase the USLA as possible in tv, print and social media

4. Work on linking MOV stories to the names on the website


Submissions

1. Bruce White, Christopher Matherly, Michael Sansone SE, Heroic Act

2. Erik Jones, Derek Droege, Joshua Clingerman, SE, Meritorius Act

3. Jeremy Watkins, Jeremy Haddix, Ryan Roberts, Taylor Keith, SA, Heroic Act

4. Patrick Watson, Danny Watson, Southwest, Meritorious Act

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Junior Lifeguards



Committee Chair: Reenie Boyer

Committee Members:

SA – Nikki Bowie

SE – Jo Wagenhalls

PI – Kalani Vierra

MA – Denise Blair

SW – Mike Silvestri

GC – Tony Prior

GL – Andrew Braudy

NW – David Robinson

Secretary – Denise Blair

ED – Kay Smiley

Introduction

Thanks for attending the Fall USLA JG Committee Meeting.


1. 2013 USLA JG Essay Contest: (SW) Emma Lineback, Laguna Beach, CA (attached)

2. 2013 JG of the Year: (NW) Kiran Andrews, Sonoma Coast, CA (attached)

3. 2013 JG USLA Membership: Certificates were awarded

4. 2013 Goals Seal JG Programs: 100% USLA Membership

4.1. Charleston

4.2. Boca Raton

4.3. Corolla

4.4. Galveston

4.5. Indian River

4.6. Long Beach NY

4.7. Pompano Beach

4.8. Volusia County

4.9. Cape May

4.10. Sonoma Coast

4.11. Avon Beach

4.12. Bradley Beach

4.13. Ocean Grove

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4.14. Sea Girt

4.15. Lake Mission Viejo

4.16. Newport Beach

4.17. Pendleton Coast

4.18. Pismo Beach

4.19. San Clemente

4.20. Santa Cruz

4.21. Seal Beach

5. Jay Butki will develop a checklist for Juniors to complete to be eligible to participate in International Competitions (attached).

6. American Lifeguard Magazine Articles: Two were submitted with pictures for publication.

7. 2013 USLA JG Nationals: Ed Zebrowski III asked to shorted the National C & B Rescue Race finish line by 30 meters for competitor safety. The committee agreed.

Committee Goals

1. Developing USLA JG Standards – Asked for assistance from Kay Smiley and David Robinson.

2. Online JG Membership – Develop with Membership chair.

3. 2014 JG Contest

4. 2014 JG of the Year

5. American Lifeguard Magazine articles.

Attachments

1. 2013 JG Essay

2. 2013 JG of the Year

3. Checklist for Juniors to compete internationally (submitted by Jay Butki)

Junior Lifeguard and Youth U-19 Lifeguard Learning Objectives

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JUNIOR AND YOUTH LIFEGUARD LEARNING OBJECTIVES OUTLINED

In accordance with the Mission, Goals, and Vision of the United States Lifesaving Association, the objective of this proposal is to establish progressive learning outcomes and skills evaluation standards for USLA Junior Lifeguard program participants, USLA Junior Lifeguard Program Aides, and USLA National Youth Team Competitors.

The learning outcomes and skills evaluation standards within each sector can be characterized by what the individual should be able to demonstrate after a reasonable learning period.

This program is designed to serve two purposes:

• Bridge the learning gap between Junior Lifeguard program participants and the standards set forth in the USLA Open Water Manual used for the hiring of Professional Lifeguards. The USLA Youth Surf Lifesaving Certification could also serve as a hiring prerequisite course for Junior Lifeguard Program Aides operating under the supervision of a Professional USLA Lifeguard.

• The USLA Youth Surf Lifesaving Certificate would serve as a prerequisite qualifying standard to potential USLA National Youth Under-19 Team candidates wishing to be considered for selection to the USLA National Youth Team to compete in International Competition.

• These are Non-Mandatory standards/guidelines are set out according to the USLA Junior Lifeguard age groups. Each set of Learning Outcomes and Skill Evaluations would progress in difficulty from the “C” age group, to the “B” age group and onto the “A” and “AA” age groups.

• The aim of these non-mandatory Learning Outcomes and Skill Evaluation standards is to provide Junior Lifeguard Program participants with an environment where they can develop their surf lifesaving and leadership skills with like-minded peers. This would also give USLA Lifeguard agencies the opportunity to be consistent in the knowledge that Junior Lifeguard programs are teaching their participants.

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"A" Division (14 – 15 year old age group) and “AA” (16 – 17 year old age group) Junior Lifeguard Learning Objectives

At the end of the Junior Lifeguard Program period, participants will be able to:

participant’s life in the future.

Describe Beach Safety Education and the public warning systems used in your local area.

components of an actual rescue situation.

Describe the components of a rescue situation (Recognize and respond, contact and control, signal and save).

Skills Evaluation:

Introduction to Surf Lifesaving Lesson: Understanding the importance of surf lifesaving.

Personal Safety Lesson: Understanding the beach environment, identifying a lifeguard’s responsibilities. Recognize and identify how staying fit and healthy is important to a surf lifesaver.

Sun Safety Lesson: Identify and demonstrate smart sun protection guidelines. Understand the consequences of skin damage caused by sunburn.

Surf Conditions and Hazards Lesson: Identify how a rip current forms, what they look like and the different types of rip currents. Understand how to escape a rip current, and what to do if you see someone caught in a rip current. Understand how weather can effect both the beach environment and the safety of beach patrons.

Resuscitation and First Aid Lesson: Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques. Recognize and manage patients suffering from cuts and abrasions, bleeding from the nose, and sunburn first aid. Recognize and manages patients suffering from cramping, fainting and shock.

Beach Safety Flags and Signs and Signals Lesson: What the beach flags and signs in your local area mean. Understand and demonstrate the importance of communicating with beach patrons.

Beach Safety Education and Prevention Lesson: Recognize unsafe behaviors at the beach and in the water. Identify how to manage rip currents in a


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beach environment and set up a safe swim zone.

Surf Swimming, Entering, Negotiating and Exiting the Surf Lesson: High knees, dolphining / porpoising, diving under a wave, donning fins, knowing your bearings, and technique improvement. Identify how to use rip currents to assist in surf swimming and rescues.

Board Paddling Lesson: Correct paddling technique and positioning on the board. Board Maintenance and care. Recognize how a board can be used to secure and support a conscious patient and unconscious patient. Demonstrate the skills required to secure and support a conscious patient and unconscious.

Swim: Rescue Tube Rescue Lesson: Understanding the difference between a rescue tube and rescue hard can. Maintenance and skill development for rescue tube rescue techniques.

Beach Activity Skills Lesson: Sand running, beach flags and physical agility drills

Physical Performance Expectations:

Run (250 yards) – Swim (250 yards) – Run: (250 yards) in 10 minutes or less

United States Lifesaving Association -Youth Surf Lifesaving Certificate

Prerequisites:

Be a minimum of 15 years of age on the date of examination.

Complete a 500 meter swim in 10 minutes or less, in a swimming pool of not less than 25 yard a measured open water course before any water training commences.

Complete 1.2 mile soft sand run in under 12 minutes.

Learning Outcomes:

Describe and demonstrate open water surf lifesaving skills.

Assessment:

Satisfy the majority of the Examiners in respect to their competence in all learning outcomes by:

/ oral examination

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Basic Skill Performance

Describe surf and environmental conditions and hazards:

rip currents, channels, and sand bars.

swimmer, poor swimmer.

Describe common physical and biological hazards on the coast specifically; marine stingers & jetties, head lands and piers etc.

lifesavers.

Identify basic patient management:

bystanders, specifically; preventative actions for communicable diseases.

Recognize and manage external bleeding injuries.

and manage patients suffering minor burns, specifically; sunburn.

Recognize and manage patients suffering soft tissue injuries, specifically; rest, ice, compression, elevation.

response, airway, breathing, circulation, defibrillation (by other trained operators).

List common sun disorders, specifically; sun stroke, skin cancer, and hyperthermia.

Perform basic resuscitation techniques:

tient.


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Open airway by attaining a backward head tilt.

Perform rescue breathing techniques. Perform resuscitation (CPR) techniques:

-skeletal, circulatory, respiratory, nervous.

Demonstrate knowledge of when to commence CPR, and flow chart procedures for CPR.

Demonstrate and describe patient management procedures after CPR.

Describe the purpose of Lifeguarding:

3 reasons for lifeguard patrol zones.

Describe the roles of lifeguards.

Describe beach user trends and activities at one local beach.

Demonstrate knowledge of Lifeguard patrol zones:

Demonstrate an ability to set up a patrol zone and check equipment.

principles.

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methods.

y knowledge of USLA Approved Standard signage commonly used at aquatic venues.

Identify persons in distress in a surfing or aquatic environ:

poor flotation, face down, arms waving.

t common rescues, and rescue sites/conditions, experienced by lifesavers.

Describe various conditions of persons who need assistance, specifically; anxious, panic, calm, shock.

Perform surf skills:

Complete a 100m run, 200m swim, 100m run within 6 minutes.

Demonstrate USLA hand signals: Signal the shore using recognized USLA signals. Display knowledge of USLA hand signals.

dertaken on receipt of signals.

Perform patient approaches, support and escapes aided by equipment on unconscious/conscious patients:

Perform a swim, negotiating the surf, using fins plus a rescue tube.

rescue board.

with a rescue tube and paddle a board to a person in distress and return to shore with the person.

Assess the patient’s distress level.

Secure and support the patient using the rescue equipment.

ear release and escape methods and perform leg and arm blocks.


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"B" Division (12 – 13 year old age group) Junior Lifeguard Learning Objectives


Describe the purpose of Junior Lifeguarding.

Identify Beach Safety considerations and potential risks to safety.

Describe Beach Safety Education and the public warning systems used in your local area.

Demonstrate lifeguard competition disciplines.

Describe the components of a rescue (Recognize and respond, contact and control, signal and save).

Skills Evaluation:

Introduction to Surf Lifesaving Lesson: Understanding the importance of surf lifesaving. Personal Safety Lesson: Understanding the beach environment, identifying a lifeguard.

Sun Safety Lesson: Identify and demonstrate smart sun protection guidelines. Understand the consequences of skin damage caused by sunburn.

Surf Conditions and Hazards Lesson: Identify how a rip current forms, what they look like and the different types of rip currents. Understand how to escape a rip current, and what to do if you see someone caught in a rip current. Understand how weather can effect both the beach environment and the safety of beach patrons.

Resuscitation and First Aid Lesson: Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques. Recognize and manage patients suffering from cuts and abrasions, bleeding from the nose, and sunburn first aid.

Beach Safety Flags and Signs and Signals Lesson: What the beach flags and signs in your local area mean.

Beach Safety Education and Prevention Lesson: Recognize unsafe behaviors at the beach and in the water.

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Surf Swimming, Entering, Negotiating and Exiting the Surf Lesson: High knees, dolphining / porpoising, diving under a wave, donning fins, knowing your bearings, and swim stroke technique improvement.

Board Paddling Lesson: Correct paddling technique and positioning on the board. Board Maintenance and care. Recognize how a board can be used to secure and support a conscious patient

Swim: Rescue Tube Rescue Lesson: Understanding the difference between a rescue tube and rescue hard can. Maintenance and demonstrate skill rescue tube rescue techniques.


Physical Performance Expectations: Run (200 yards) – Swim (200 yards) – Run: (200 yards) in 10 minutes or less.

"C" Division (9 – 11 year old age group) Junior Lifeguard Learning Objectives


used in your local area.

Demonstrate lifeguard competition disciplines and rescue techniques (including basic surf lifesaving signals).

Skills Evaluation:

Introduction to Surf Lifesaving Lesson: Understanding the importance of surf lifesaving.

Personal Safety Lesson: Understanding the beach environment, identifying a lifeguard.

Sun Safety Lesson:


9

Identify and demonstrate smart sun protection guidelines. Understand the consequences of skin damage caused by sunburn.

Surf Conditions and Hazards Lesson: Identify how a rip current forms and what they look like. Understand how to escape a rip current, and what to do if you see someone caught in a rip current.

Resuscitation and First Aid Lesson: Understanding the basic principles of CPR and first aid.

Beach Safety Flags and Signs and Signals Lesson: What the beach flags and signs in your local area mean.

Beach Safety Education and Prevention Lesson: Recognize unsafe behaviors at the beach and in the water.

Surf Swimming, Entering, Negotiating and Exiting the Surf Lesson: High knees, dolphining / porpoising, diving under a wave, donning fins, knowing your bearings, and swim stroke technique improvement.

Board Paddling Lesson: Correct paddling technique and positioning on the board. Board Maintenance and care. Recognize how a board can be used to secure and support a conscious patient.

Swim: Rescue Tube Rescue Lesson: Understanding the difference between a rescue tube and rescue hard can. Maintenance and skill development for rescue tube rescue techniques.


Physical Performance Expectations: Run (150 yards) – Swim (150 yards) – Run: (150 yards) in 10 minutes or less

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Supporting Documentation: The International Life Saving Federation Youth Position Statement below supports this endeavor.

ILS YOUTH STATEMENT

Purpose

The ILS Youth Statement sets a benchmark for best practice to assist the organization and its constituent members in fulfilling its commitment to involve young people in decision-making regarding the development of policy, programs and activities.

Values

The following value statements regarding young people and participation underpin the principles outlined in the statement and establish a positive context for young people’s participation in life saving processes.

Young People

ued members of the lifesaving communities.

Young people are entitled to the same human rights and protections as all other members of lifesaving communities.

Young people are entitled to respect and dignity.

Young people have unique and diverse gifts, knowledge and skills.

Young people make valuable and significant contributions to life saving.

Participation

ILS values young people’s participation in its own structures and in member federations. It also recognizes the power imbalance that can exist between young people and those who make decisions around the development of policy, programs and activities. ILS commits to engaging with young people for the well-being of its organization.

The International Life Saving Federation:


11

involved in all aspects of life saving.

processes.

effective for a diverse range of young people.

Demonstrates respect and dignity for young people by listening to young people and considering their ideas and views seriously.

their skills and knowledge.

people can play an active part in organizational decision-making.

young people and their local Federations which are based on respect, equality and accountability.

with ILS and their Federations.

Principles

The ILS is committed to negotiating principles which underpin young people’s engagement with the ILS Youth Statement and participation in its processes.

Implementation

The ILS Youth Statement provides guidance to ILS in its commitment to engaging with young people by itself or through member Federations, in the development of policy, programs and activities. In order to make this possible ILS will:

Develop and implement or encourage the implementation of youth policies and agenda at international and national levels.

participation, including creating organizational support for youth development.

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Allocate resources for achieving its vision of effective and efficient implementation of youth policy.

Create and sustain communication mechanisms that facilitate dialogue between all relevant stakeholders.

Ensure/encourage optimal participation and consultation of young people in life saving planning processes.

ultation with youth, for the advancement of youth development and activities.

and programs.

about ILS, its members and its programs.

Create and sustain humanitarian, recreational and sports activities.

Within the implementation of the Statement, ILS will consider the impact of it upon the existing legal framework within which ILS operates and will integrate the values and principles into that framework as appropriate.

ILS will consider how to involve young people in the development of principles within the Statement and how to encourage the participation of young people in its member Federations.

Position Statement approved by the ILS Board of Directors on 15/02/2006.

Junior Lifeguard of the Year

Submission by Ryan Branche, Supervising Lifeguard of the Sonoma County Regional Parks Junior

Lifeguard Program 2013

Being a lifeguard is physically and mentally demanding and being a Jr. Lifeguard is no exception.

As the supervisor of the Jr. Lifeguard program for Sonoma County’s Regional Parks, I make sure our

cadets train as hard as our mentors the open water lifeguards, maxing out our push-ups, sit-ups and

pull-ups. We run hard, swim hard, and practice our skills constantly and as realistically as we can. By

the time the Jr. Guards graduate their academy, they are not only certified by the Red Cross in first aid

and C.P.R , but are well versed in the open water rescue techniques of dive-lining, triple flips, and are

competent surf-skiers. The skills practiced throughout our academy make not only our county, but the

whole world a safer place.

Although all of Sonoma County Junior Lifeguards merit recognition for their commitment to

public safety, one young man stands out as a particularly exemplary role model in the Jr. Guard

community. Weighing in at less than one hundred and ten pounds, and at only twelve years old, Kieran

became a Jr. Guard the day we started our academy six years ago. Since then we’ve come to know that

Kieran is the ultimate adventurer and waterman. He is the first person in the water and the last person

to leave. He practiced so rigorously during our academy and during the off- season that we joked from

time to time that we could let Kieran teach the rest of the Jr. Guards.

This last summer he participated in five of our eight academies. He attended our first ever surf

camp, wilderness responders camp, river training, and our advanced academy. Kieran’s constant

participation has helped push us to create new activities and training sessions to ensure that we are

always providing new and useful education. His lifeguard skills and attitude are so stellar we wish he

was just a little older so we could hire him sooner.

There are two events that epitomize the lifeguard lifestyle embodied by Kieran. When I first saw

Kieran this past summer, he told me that his mother had had a ski accident when the two of them

decided to go off trail and explore the fresh powder. She lost control of her skis and slammed into a

tree and crumpled over in knee-deep snow face up complaining of intense pain. Kieran immediately

used his knowledge from Sonoma County’s Junior Lifeguard Camps and took control of the scene by

maintaining C-spine precautions, activating an improvised EAP by having a skier in their party notify ski

patrol. Kieran was able to monitor his mother’s condition, helping to keep her calm and maintain in-line

stabilization until ski patrol arrived. At that point he relayed all pertinent information to the EMT’s and

even offered to help with the back boarding. He was relieved by the more trained medical staff who

later informed his father how impressive it was that such a young man was so composed and on point

with his skills in such a traumatic moment. Luckily Kieran’s mother had only fractured her pelvis, and

there was no risk of paralysis from spinal cord damage; although if it had been a worse injury Kieran had

done everything in his power and training to minimize the risk of any more serious injury. The attention

Kieran paid to his trauma response skills surely made a difference in the moment he needed it and

hearing this story made me very proud to be associated with such an exemplary person.

Another example of Kieran’s superb ability to respond to emergencies happened while training

with our academy. Kieran was reviewing trauma response when a mountain biker went over his handle

bars and appeared badly injured. I was farther from the scene helping another group with aquatic

rescues when I saw Kieran and his co junior guards grab the training medical bags and sprint to the

cyclist. Kieran kept control of the scene, working to clean the cyclist’s wounds and control his minor

bleeding until the lifeguards arrived and relieved him.

Kieran is the kind of person you want on your team; he is smart and strong, a fun-loving natural

leader, dedicated, responsible, and supportive of his team. He never gave up in any aspect of our

trainings. In fact, when things became tough he got tougher. You could see the determination in his

eyes during our lifeguard competitions. He always encouraged his team to do their best and he was

always supportive and friendly, especially to new participants. Kieran has been an outstanding addition

to the Jr. Guard program and unquestionably deserves recognition as the USLA Junior Lifeguard of the

Year. It has been an honor to work with him.

2013 USLA JUNIOR LIFEGUARD ESSAY CONTEST

Hi,

My name is Emma Lineback. I live in Laguna Beach, California and will be 10 years old next week. I did

Junior Lifeguards this past summer thru the Laguna Beach JG program for the first time. I was kind of

nervous to do it, I thought I’d get rolled in big waves and have to jump into the blowhole. Turns out it

was a lot of fun! I also found out something very special too.

I told my dad one day that my instructors for my group C were Shannon, Bryce and Jordan. My dad was

a San Clemente State Lifeguard long ago and told me that Shannon McCormick was my third cousin. I

was so excited to know that I had another cousin that I didn’t know about and couldn’t wait to tell her.

So the next day I told Shannon what my dad had said and she was excited too and told me that her sister

Katie who also was doing JGs would be my cousin too. Turns out they have another sister who is a

lifeguard so I found out I had 3 new cousins I didn’t know about! We share the same great grandfather

so they are my third cousins. Shannon went home that night and told her dad. He called another

lifeguard friend Reenie Boyer to share the news. It was fun to know we all had a connection and made it

through JGs.

I had a really fun time at JGs, I learned a lot about the ocean and being safe and my favorite activity was

going in the giggle crack. Most of all I was happy to know that I had family watching over me while at

JGs. I look forward to hanging out with my cousins next summer at Laguna Beach Junior Lifeguards!

Emma Lineback

Laguna Beach Junior Lifeguards 2013

Division C JG Instructor Shannon McCormick

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MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE


Date: November 9, 2013 Cape Cod, MA

Committee Chair: Charlotte Graham Co-Chair: Charlie Hartl

Committee Members:

GC: Tony Pryor GL: Joe Pecoraro MA: Bart Mattaliano NE: none NW: Jim McCray PI: Kalani Vierra SA: Tom Gill SE: Jo Wagenhals SW: Rob McGowan

Introduction

The Membership Committee had very good attendance and great participation from all. The Chair thanks everyone who attended.


1) The Northwest Region is about to complete its comprehensive Chapter/Agency audit and we thank them for their effort. Still waiting for a few more audit lists.

2) Due to the busy summer the Chair had hosting the National Championships no additional work has been done to clarify benefits and eligibility of our Business and Supporting member types. This project will be ongoing until the Committee is ready to recommend specific language to revise the Bylaws and/or the Policies & Procedures for each category.

3) The primary 2014 membership kit item will again be a towel. The Committee decided to get a black towel with a gold colored imprint of the 50th Anniversary logo. We will slightly increase the total ordered to accommodate higher membership numbers and the towels will continue to be a cost-share with Regions paying $3.00 per towel for their allotment. The 2014 membership kits will also include a patch, window decal, and the Gold-colored membership card.

4) There was no JG artwork created this year so the Membership Chair will work with Uniserv to create bumper stickers for the JG member kits.

5) A suggestion was made that we place an informational insert in membership kits about the United States Lifesaving Foundation which would include instructions for how to donate. The Chair will work with Uniserv to create a flyer for the 2014 kits.

6) The Southeast Region submitted a proposed change to Policy & Procedure III-D (Life Member Selection and Approval) Section C-6. They would like to change “a unanimous vote of the members present” to “a super majority vote (representing no more than one (1) dissent) of the members present” for confirmation of Life Member submissions. The Committee discussed the topic but did not pass the proposal. Previously requested changes to Section C-5. were already submitted to the Bylaws committee, approved by the Board and changed in the Policies and Procedures and posted by the Secretary.

7) A request was made that a new LIFE MEMBER Application be drafted for Committee review with subsequent Board approval, placement in the Policies & Procedures, and posting on the USLA website. The Committee would also like to have a list of Life Members published in the ALM periodically.

8) At the Spring meeting Membership representatives were asked to seek input on a possible increase to membership dues. The consensus from reps is that the Regions do NOT want any increase in dues. However there continues to be a strong desire for specific chapter dues to be added to online registration for those chapters that charge an additional fee. There was considerable

Page 2 of 2

discussion on this topic. The Membership Committee was encouraged to continue to investigate if the dues breakdown should include set amounts to both Regions and Chapters instead of just a split with the national and the regions in order to eliminate the need for chapters to charge additional member dues.

9) The Membership Committee has had numerous requests to provide a breakdown of how the USLA uses membership dues. The Chair will work with the Treasurer to create a pie chart or other visual breakdown of dues use which we can publish in the ALM.

10) Regional Treasurers have requested reports of their Region’s online signups in a more timely fashion. Ms Ickes has agreed to work with Mr Williams on reporting names and chapters of online signups to match the financial batch reports sent out quarterly.

11) The newly established mailing dates of the American Lifeguard Magazine necessitate that chapter and regional membership representatives submit member rosters in a more timely fashion in order to meet the earlier deadlines set by the ALM editor. In order for members to receive all 3 issues of the ALM, rosters need to be submitted by Sept. 1st each year. Membership representatives are asked to get this information to their JG program coordinators as well.

12) Database update: American Express now accepted for dues payment; Auto-Renewal available for both Professional and Alumnus members (and is automatic for Associate members); the Junior Guard committee agreed to allow parents of Junior Guards who are renewing members to sign up online which will greatly ease some of the recent Nationals registration problems Juniors have faced; new Juniors must still be registered by their program coordinators.

13) The Chair will once again send out renewal templates to Regional representatives and/or Chapter reps for the upcoming membership year. The Chair stressed that the Regional & Chapter reps must make sure that Renewing members are attached to their YM database member ID number in order to avoid duplications.

14) Lastly, Ms Smiley and Ms Ickes have volunteered to work on a National Membership Recruitment Campaign. The Chair asks to be briefed on their efforts.

Committee Goals

1) Spread the word on the 50th Anniversary of the USLA and encourage membership sign-ups.

2) Continue work on clarification of benefits and requirements of the various Supporting Membership types and the Honorary Membership type.

3) Determine some guidelines for a “Distinguished Honor Roll” category as an award of the Heroic Acts and Awards Committee in conjunction with Membership.


NONE

Page 1 of 2


Public Education



Committee Chair: Denise Blair

Committee Members:

Great Lakes: Andy Braudy, Gulf Coast: Peter Davis, Mid Atlantic: Tom Perry,

Northeast: Bob Bertrand, Pacific Northwest: David Robinson, South Atlantic: Cole Thomas,

Southwest: Bill Humphreys

Introduction

I would like to thank everyone who attended the Public Education Committee meeting. We had a very productive meeting. A special thanks to Cole Thomas for serving as secretary.


1. Beach Safety Challenge: The committee will be holding the Beach Safety Challenge in 2014. Agencies or Chapters that host beach safety programs are asked to submit a brief written description and pictures of the event. Please submit any additional information such as newspaper articles, proclamations, program outlines, etc. This year we are asking that entries be submitted online. Regional representatives are asked to go back to their regions and encourage participation in the contest.

There are sample proclamations and sample letters available on the website. These resources need to be updated to reflect the revised safety tips.

2. Lesson Plans: The lesson plans will be emailed to the committee via Google Docs. The committee is asked to review the plans and make suggestions for any necessary revisions. Once the lesson plans are completed they will be uploaded on the website.

The Mid-Atlantic Region is working to have the lesson plans available in school systems statewide.

3. Website: The committee would like for the Public Education page on the website to be updated. The committee voted to spend up to $2000 to update the Public Education section of the website. Peter Davis, Bill Humphreys, Karissa Ickes, David Robinson, Kay Smiley and I will work on this project.

4. Grants: The committee reviewed the program grant submitted by Dan McCormick. There are some changes that need to be made as well as additional information that needs to be included. Bill Humphreys will spearhead a subcommittee with David Robinson, Dan McCormick, Kay Smiley and Jim McCray to develop the criteria and submission forms. They will share this with the committee at the spring meeting. The adopted guideline in regards to Public Education material needs to be included.

5. Regional Safety Tips: Regions are asked to submit safety tips that are specific to their region. These safety tips will be included in a section on the website named Regional Safety Tips.

6. Rip Current DVDs: Peter Davis will work with Bob Ball from TX Media to create a FTP site to upload all of our videos in high resolution. The committee voted to spend up to $500 to create the FTP site and upload all the videos.

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7. Tabletop Tents: The committee voted to print 100,000 tabletop tents with rip current model and safety tips. These tabletop tents will be shipped to the regional representatives for distribution. Mike Silvestre will contact the printing company that has the artwork. Some minor revisions do need to be made. The tabletop tents can be used at hotels, restaurants, resorts, and rental homes.

8. Evaluation: The committee discussed developing some way to evaluate which materials are most useful. We will develop two surveys on Survey Monkey. One survey will go out to the agencies asking what materials they find most useful. The other survey will target teachers. The committee will review the developed surveys before sending the surveys out.

We will also develop brief pre and post assessments to use with the lesson plans to help evaluate effectiveness.

Committee Goals

1. Develop Evaluation Tool

2. Refine the Grant Program

3. Update the website

4. Create FTP site and upload videos

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Ways & Means Committee



Committee Chair: Rob Williams

Committee Members:

Bart Mattaliano, Mid Atlantic; Kalani Vierra, Pacific Island; Jo Wagonhals, Southeast; Jerry Gavin, Great Lakes; Charlotte Graham, Southwest; David Robinson, Northwest; Michael Bradley, South Atlantic; Peter Davis, Gulf Coast

Introduction

It was another great committee meeting in light of always being pushed for time. Our committee stays focused to the task at hand to finish quickly and begin the general session of the board of directors meeting.


1. Discussion on getting proper information on members to the Treasurers. Regions expressed interest to have a list of members attached to the check that is sent out. Regions need this for various reasons that include reimbursement, competition, etc.

1.1. I will work with the Webmaster to ensure that we are providing accurate names and/or chapters that individual regions can utilize for their needs.

2. Discussed 2013 Balance Sheet and Budget. Answered questions that individuals had on the current financial status of the USLA.

3. Discussion on possibly setting up a fund similar to the Mexican Lifesaving Fund for use in Puerto Rico. Committee advised Southeast Region to look at potential donors and hosting it in the Southeast Region Treasury. USLA can help if needed.

4. Discussed National Team Travel fund and Rescue 2014. Committee was advised that the travel team might only have $15,000 - $16,000 for the trip.

Committee Goals

1. Work on behalf of the USLA to create an operating budget for committees to utilize.

2. Continue to find cost efficient models to do business

3. Recommend action items for financial matters to the Board of Directors.


1. Motion by the South Atlantic to set credit card expenses charged to regions or chapters that utilize registration through the USLA website at 3%. Motion passed at committee (2 regions opposing) and by the Board.

2. Motion by Northwest for 2014 proposed budget (Attached). Motion passed at committee and by the Board.

2.1. 2014 Budget notes

2.1.1. Income

2.1.1.1. Increase Certification Fees to $12,000

2.1.1.2. Increase Competition Income to $88,500

2.1.1.3. Increase Donations to $5,000

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2.1.1.4. Create Event Registrations line item for Chapters/Regions to utilize online registration through USLA Website.

2.1.1.5. Membership Dues, Royalties, and Sponsorship based on expected revenue dues to members and contracts.

2.1.2. Expenses

2.1.2.1. Move Certification Administration to “Administration” line item as a sub category and reduce to $1,000

2.1.2.2. Increase Competition to $62,750

2.1.2.3. Create Event Host line item for payments on event registrations

2.1.2.4. Increase International Travel line item by $2,000

2.1.2.5. Increase Membership Kit line item by $7,500 that is dedicated for the 50th Anniversary of the USLA. This is offset by $2,500 to be collected from the regions.

2.1.2.6. Move Telephone/Internet and Website into a new line item called “Information Technology.” This includes a 2014 Video Production expense of $2,000 to be used by the Heritage Committee.

Attachments

1. 2014 USLA Budget

Page 3 of 3




Income

ALM Revenue 0.00 18,000.00 (18,000.00)

Certification Fees 0.00 12,000.00 (12,000.00)

Competition Income 0.00 88,500.00 (88,500.00)

Donations 0.00 5,000.00 (5,000.00)

Event Registrations 0.00 15,000.00 (15,000.00)

Interest 0.00 200.00 (200.00)

Membership Dues 0.00 177,500.00 (177,500.00)

Royalties 0.00 2,750.00 (2,750.00)

Sponsorship 0.00 26,500.00 (26,500.00)

Total Income 0.00 345,450.00 (345,450.00)

Expense

Administration 0.00 41,000.00 (41,000.00)

American Lifeguard Magazine 0.00 42,000.00 (42,000.00)

Awards & Special Presentations 0.00 1,000.00 (1,000.00)

Competition 0.00 62,750.00 (62,750.00)

Credit Card Charges 0.00 3,000.00 (3,000.00)

Donation 0.00 500.00 (500.00)

Event Host 0.00 14,550.00 (14,550.00)

Information Technology 0.00 10,980.00 (10,980.00)

Insurance & Bonds 0.00 7,500.00 (7,500.00)

International Relations 0.00 7,500.00 (7,500.00)


Membership Kits 0.00 77,500.00 (77,500.00)

Office Expenses 0.00 800.00 (800.00)


Professional Fees 0.00 2,500.00 (2,500.00)

Public Education 0.00 15,000.00 (15,000.00)


Regions % of Member Dues 0.00 44,500.00 (44,500.00)

USLA Travel and Meetings 0.00 11,000.00 (11,000.00)

Total Expense 0.00 344,380.00 (344,380.00)

Net Income 0.00 1,070.00 (1,070.00)

Page 1 of 1


Bylaws



Committee Chair: Ed Zebrowski, III

Committee Members:

Ralph Wagoner, Chip More, Gus Avilia, Gerry Falconer, Tony Prior, Tom Perry, Rob McGowan, Nikki Bowie, Bert Whitaker, Joe Pecoraro

Committee Goals

1. Submit a proposal for future Meeting Sites. (Policy and Procedure III-B.


1. Bylaw XI- Sections 3 & 4 proposed amendments:

Section 3 – Standing Committees

The following shall be considered standing committees: Membership, Public Education, Certification and Ways and Means. Standing Committees shall include one voting member from each region, unless a region chooses not to be represented, and a non-voting chairperson or persons. Standing committees shall be listed in the Policies and Procedures. No Standing Committee shall be chaired by the USLA President, Vice President or Secretary.

Section 4 – Special Working Group Committees

The following shall be considered special committees: Competition, Heroic Acts, Junior Lifeguard, Magazine Publication and Website. Working Group Committees may be listed in the Policies and Procedures. Additional committees and professional advisory boards may be created by the President or Executive Committee with the approval of the Board of Directors. No Special Working Group Committee shall be chaired by the USLA President, Vice President or Secretary.

2. Delete P & P III-I

3. Proposed Amendment to P & P II-I

Adopted: 11/09/97 Amended: 11/9/13

Authority: BOARD RESOLUTION Bylaw Article XI

SUBJECT: STANDING AND WORKING GROUP COMMITTEES

Bylaws, Certification, Competition, Heroic Acts, Junior Guards, Membership, Public Education and Ways & Means shall be considered Standing Committees.

Standing committees identified by the USLA Bylaws shall:

A. Maintain a written purpose or mission statement.

B. Maintain and upgrade on a yearly basis written list of goals and objectives.

Page 1 of 2


Original Founders Committee



Committee Chair: Dave Shotwell, Sr.

Committee Members:

Dave Shotwell (MAR), Jerry Gavin, (GL), Tom Gill (SAR), Jim McCray (NW), Peter Davis (GL), Mike Beuerlein (SW).

Introduction

OFC strives to expand available documentation of the history of the USLA with emphasize on the activities of individuals and organizations that preceded the founding of the USLA as well as identifying significant lifeguarding activities developed independently of the founding agencies that have subsequently joined the USLA.


1) 1. Discussion centered on moving forward with adapting the existing 32 video interviews completed by Jerry Gavin for display on the USLA website. Plans were developed to three members experienced in video editing asking them to:

a. Reduce (if necessary) to a range of 15 – 20 minutes. Clean the audio as necessary. Eliminate awkward or irrelevant portions. Keep in mind that we want the emphasis on content pertinent to their lifeguarding career and /or the development of the USLA across the first fifty years.

b. Select one 15 - 20 second clip to be combined with similar clips from the other interviews into one recording to be used as a promo of the Heritage Project at the 50th Anniversary Celebratory events April 2014 in Huntington

2) Chairman Shotwell suggested changing the name of the committee to Heritage

Committee which is more in keeping with committee titles of similar groups in related organizations. Motion to approve and to forward request to the Board of Directors was approved unanimously.

3) Discussion of possible expenses to be incurred in developing interviews for internet display resulted in motion unanimously approved to request $2,000 be provided for this purpose in the 2014 budget.

Committee Goals

1. Continue to expand the library of videoed oral history and to make them available on the USLA website.

2. Review existing published USLA history for areas that would benefit from additional research and documentation.

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3. Develop strategies by which the OFC members can help the Membership Committee increase the number of active members of the USLA.


1. Committee renamed “Heritage Committee”

2. $2,000 be provided in budger for support of interview videos for internet display.

Page 1 of 2


Website



Committee Chair: Karissa Ickes

Committee Members:

Karissa Ickes (Southeast), Charlotte Graham (Southwest), Michael Bradley (South Atlantic), Charlie Hartl (Mid-Atlantic), Peter Davis (Gulf Coast), David Robinson (Northwest), Scott Hansson (New England), Kay Smiley (Executive Director)

Introduction

I would like to extend my gratitude to the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions for working together to host this historic meeting. The Website Committee did not officially meet at the Fall 2013 BOD Meeting. Instead, we would like to submit this report based on other committees’ needs that were discussed with the Website Committee Chair and its Committee Members.

Committee Goals

1. Update the Public Education section of the website including, but not limited to the following:

1.1. Beach Safety Week: Sample Proclamation Letter & Sample Letter to Political Leader

1.2. Lesson Plans: Upon completion, sample lesson plans will be added to the website for educators to access.

1.3. Major Website Updates: The committee would like the Public Education page on the website to be updated. The committee voted to spend up to $2,000 to update the Public Education section of the website. Peter Davis, Bill Humphreys, Karissa Ickes, David Robinson, Kay Smiley and Denise Blair will work on this project.

1.4. Regional Safety Tips: Upon receipt of regional safety tips from regions, a Regional Safety Tip section will be developed and added.

2. Update sections of the website pertaining to Membership including, but not limited to the following:

2.1. LIFE MEMBER Application: Upon completion and approval, a new LIFE MEMBER Application will be added to the website.

2.2. JG Online Registrations: Karissa Ickes and Charlotte Graham (with the approval of the Junior Guard Committee) will work together to establish a process for Junior Guards to renew their membership online.

3. Karissa Ickes and Rob Williams will generate reports of names and chapters of online membership registrations/renewals to match the financial batch reports sent out quarterly. Reports will be distributed to Regional Treasurers.

4. Update Competition section of the website including, but not limited to the following:

4.1. Rescue 2014 Submissions: Updated applications and criteria for placement on the team will be posted on the website.

5. Update the Heroic Acts section of the website including, but not limited to the following:

5.1. Heroic Acts Submissions: Update website submission page to allow only USLA members to submit Heroic Acts applicants for review with the option to link to regional representative if not a USLA member. This will provide validation and endorsement of each submission.

5.2. Begin linking “Medal of Valor” stories & publications to names of current and future “Medal of Valor” recipients on the website.

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6. Per the Original Founders Committee (Heritage Committee – See “Original Founders Committee” Action Report), create a section on the USLA website for the interviews captured on film by the committee.

7. Update the Junior Guard section of the website to include, but not limited to the following:

7.1. Add 2013 Gold Seal JG Programs to the website.

8. Karissa Ickes and Kay Smiley will work together to “redesign” www.usla.org.

9. Update the National Structure section of the website to include the newly elected officers of the New England region.

http://www.usla.org/

USLA 50th Anniversary Committee Report

Mission Statement: to have a successful 50th

Anniversary, we will be inclusive, so that all USLA Regions can

participate & enjoy the celebration of our unique common bond, “50 years of saving lives”. We welcome all

lifeguards, alumni lifeguards & vendors to participate in this extraordinary world class event, as we continue our

goal of Beach & Water Safety everywhere. “Lifeguards for Life!”

We met on Thursday (11/07/13)

12 people were in attendance

We approved ordering more ties/scarf’s for our next meeting in Huntington Beach, CA. This

order will be a different color. They will be available for all people who register for the Spring

meeting as well as any alumni who are interested in purchasing them.

Each Region has agreed to donate $300.00 to the USLA National treasury for the 50th USLA

Anniversary (to help off-set the cost of give- away items).

We are planning to have available a “challenge coin” (with key chain attachment). The coin

would have our logo on one side and the inscription “50 years of saving lives ** 1964-2014”

Proceeds from the sales of any USLA 50th Anniversary items will benefit the USLA Foundation.

Our 50th Anniversary logo, will use our present logo & we will add language around the logo,

so to keep the logo clean, e.g., “50 years of saving lives ** 1964-2014”.

Hobie will be supplying a special 50th USLA Anniversary Limited Edition commemorative pair of

sunglasses. (Woody type frame/logo imprint/gold reflective lens & carrying case).

Prescriptions will be available.

We are still exploring the possibility of having a Hawaiian type of shirt with the 50th

Anniversary logo at the National meetings.

We agree all Regions need to be actively involved. A follow up from this meeting will be

forwarded to each Regional President reminding them to submit all historical data ASAP. My

e-mail address is: [email protected]

Bob Burnside is also putting together a power point presentation and is requesting one great

photo from each agency. His e-mail address is: [email protected]

There are going to be two USLA Alumni Lifeguard Reunion opportunities, one on the West

Coast at the USLA Spring meeting (Huntington Beach, CA) and one on the East Coast at the Fall

USLA meeting (Virginia Beach, VA)

If you have a great USLA 50th Anniversary idea we want to hear from you.

Respectfully submitted & yours in Lifesaving,

_______________________________________

Andrew E. Healey, Chairman

USLA 50th Anniversary Committee



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