|
USPS
|
||
|
|
Tulsa Power Squadron Life Jacket for Kids Loaner Program Our squadron heard about this program by the Boat US Boating Safety Foundation just prior to their deadline for applications about three years ago. They had no program in Oklahoma and extended their deadline so we could apply. Tulsa Power Squadron had the first program in the state.
The program is a partnership. Boat US provides the children’s life jackets, a business or organization located near the lake or body of water and the Power Squadron completes the partnership.
The squadron finds the site – a business or organization that must be open on weekends and that will loan out the jackets and store them during the off-season. The squadron inspects and replaces the jackets as needed, re-supplies the site with forms and recovers any that are not returned. The initial package from BoatUS includes 15 children’s life jackets in all three sizes, a plastic storage box, forms and signage. When approved, Boat US sends the jackets and other material to the site. The squadron helps the site get the program kicked off and does publicity in the local media.
There can be no charge for the jackets and they cannot be part of a package such as having to rent a boat to get them. Jackets are loaned upon completing a form with the borrower’s name, address, phone number and driver’s license number. Jackets are returned to the site when they leave the lake area. Information on the proper fit of jackets and on Boat Smart courses by the squadron is also included.
The first site was a state-operated convenience store at the entrance to a state park near the dam on Keystone Lake just outside Tulsa. Extremely high water reduced the boating activity on the lake that first summer. The lake level didn’t return to normal until after July 4 but the site loaned out life jackets on 300 occasions that first season.
The next year we applied to BoatUS for two more sites but did not hear anything and thought our application had not been approved. We decided to get funding from other sources for these additional programs. Our local West Marine store agreed to sell us the jackets at their cost and we purchased large plastic storage tubs with covers at Wal-Mart.
We made a proposal for funding four sites, $450 each, to the Tulsa Regional Office, State Farm Insurance. They approved our proposal and we bought the jackets from West Marine and the plastic containers from Wal-Mart. We bought loose-leaf notebooks and created forms for checking out the jackets.
In the process of setting up these four sites, the Corps of Engineers called. They were familiar with our first program at the state store on Keystone Lake and offered to fund a site at one of their recreational areas on Lake Keystone.
Then we heard that Boat US had approved the two sites we had requested the previous year so we added these seven new programs last year to the original one we had for a total of eight. We now have two sites on Lake Keystone and Grand Lake and one each on Oologah Lake, Ft. Gibson Lake, Tenkiller Lake and Lake Eufaula.
One site on Grand Lake is a convenience store. The jackets had been placed in storage for the off-season prior to a fishing tournament in early December. A fisherman brought along his son but had forgot his life jacket. The store owner got a jacket out of storage. The store owner is opening another store on the other side of the lake and asks if we would put a program at this new location.
Another site is at a state park on Ft. Gibson Lake. They called and ask if we would provide programs this year at two other recreational areas on the lake.
The program for Lake Eufaula did not open because the marina owner decided to sell life jackets and didn’t want to loan them. We’ve since made contact with the Eufaula Lake Association and they are helping us find another site.
Our experience with the eight programs is excellent. We lose very few jackets and find we have to replace more because of wear then from losses.
We are approaching other sources for funding three or four more new programs this season.
The program is great for member involvement. A squadron member is assigned to each site. They keep in contact with the site, inspect jackets for wear, try to recover any that are not returned, generally monitor the program and make a yearly report to the squadron.
Publicity about the programs has appeared in the local media and we plan more this year. The squadron benefits from the publicity and networking with other organizations and businesses and Boat Smart flyers and material is distributed at the sites so it’s a win-win situation. This program has helped us increase the public’s awareness of USPS and of our squadron throughout our communities.
Marilyn and Earl Rose March 2002
|
|