Lake Gaston Water Safety Council 2021 Accomplishments

(The Council did not meet in 2020 due to the pandemic)

Despite that restriction, the Board of Directors met via Zoom to conduct business consistent with our mission.  Brochures were ordered and distributed to realtors and participating marinas.  The Facebook page and the website were updated as necessary.

2021

Ordered 40 new lawn signs to replace those that were damaged in 2020.  Some locations visited and signs posted include:  Salmon Landing, Eaton Ferry Motel, 903 at the turn to Littleton, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Eaton Ferry Marina, Subway, Overby Marine, WWP River ramp, WWP N Oak ramp, Ace Hardware, Woodhaven Subdivision, Poplar Point boat ramp, ABC store, 903 at turn to Littleton, RWVFD, Quail Ridge and Lizard Creek.

The Board continued meeting via Zoom at the start of the year.

A brochure stuffing party as part of our Outreach program was held in April to get 600 realtor and marina packets ready for the start of the boating season.  Brochures were delivered to the following business members:  AF Wake, Bill’s Marine, Eaton Ferry Marina. Fred’s Marine, Holly Grove Marina, Northampton Marine, Overby Marine, Poplar Pointe Marine, South Point Marina, Stonehouse Timber Lodge, Exit Realty, ReMax Realty, Story Realty, LKG Chamber of Commerce, The Club, Sherwood Forest Campground, Washburn’s Marina and Outdoor World.

We held our first F2F membership meeting in May since the September 29, 2019 meeting.  VP John Dyckman USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 93, spoke about current and anticipated water safety issues on the lake.  We would hold monthly membership meetings through October.  Other speakers came from NC Wildlife, Virginia Department Wildlife Resources (two meetings), RWVFD debuted their new Fast Rescue Boat, Chamber of Commerce, LKG 911 Community Task Force and the member appreciation Pig Pick ’N in October.

The Safety Trailer was deployed 5 times at the John 3:16 Center summer camps to inform the campers about water safety and use of the personal flotation device.   91 campers and 8 counselors participated.

Began marketing of our new Water Safety Council tee shirts in multiple colors for sale to the membership.

The USCG visited the lake during the major holidays to conduct on water safety inspections.  Council provided throwable and fire extinguishers to boaters who were not in compliance with Coast Guard regulations.  

We abbreviated our web site domain name to LKGWSC.org which will make it easier for the public to remember.  Brochures ,will be updated in 2022.

The web site had over 3,500 visitors.  The highest month was July with over 880 clicks.

Ordered bright yellow wrist bands with LKGWSC.org and 'Life Jackets Float - People
Don’t' message to use as a giveaway promo.

Continued to support the free life jacket loaner program.   We currently have 61 life jackets of different sizes at 9 marinas/campgrounds.
Participated with the Safety Trailer in the all day Littleton Festival.  Brochures, wrist bands, maps and whistles were distributed.  We had good foot traffic and at least one new member joined who passed by the trailer.

Participated with the Lake Gaston Association in the Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours.  The was an outreach effort to speak to an audience who would not normally hear the water safety message.





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