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Bucket & Buoy

Summer 2013

The official newsletter of the Jones Beach Lifeguard Corps

Bucket & Buoy

Welcome Back!
If you worked at West End 2 or Field 1, thenit will be Were Back! As everyone is aware, Tropical Storm Sandy totaled our Parks and beaches. Roadways, boardwalks, lifeguard shacks, the Theatre, the sewer system, the electrical systems, the water, the bathrooms, etc., all were heavily damaged. NYS went to work contracting out most of the work to construction firms, and putting their employees to work 24/7. FEMA money was available, and spent. Sand was pumped from Fire Island Inlet and Captree Basin to Robert Moses and the Babylon beaches. The City of Long Beach, Gilgo and Tobay were also heavily damaged. NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo has allotted $90 million

Social Media
Do you tweet? Follow the Bucket Buoy on twitter @BucketBuoy #jblc #lifeguards4life #draft2013 #newhire Facebook Group: Jones Beach Lifeguards: Lifeguards for life. www.freejblc.net

Bucket & Buoy

Summer 2013

dollars for upgrades and repairs to NYS parks, with $10 million for reconstruction on LI. More Park Police as well as Park Rangers will be added to LI parks this summer. Most important to us, we are re-opening West End 2 and Field 1 as part-time beaches. Additionally, RM4 will open as a full-time beach and Zacks Bay will stay open until Labor Day. This brings the total lifeguard positions to over 500, the highest ever! This of course is great news. There will be many opportunities to change status and facilities at the draft, so if you have any inclination to move, then show up, or have a representative at the draft, which is this Saturday, June 8th, 6pm, at West End2. The work is still continuing. West Bath House Pool is being totally reconstructed and numerous lifeguard shacks are in the process of being rebuilt. We all know the temporary trailers are ugly, but hang in; new shacks will be here soon. With Sandy came other issues. The Department of Health and the DEC have become part of the reconstruction effort. Construction permits, electric and plumbing issues exist and where something might have been allowed in the past that may not be the case now. At the Captains meeting with Management in May, emphasis on not changing the electric or plumbing in each shack was emphasized. Many new Park Managers are now also working. They may have different interpretations than their predecessors on rules and policies. Your Captain is the best representative if issues do arise. This year our CPR training was modified. This is something that has been in the works for years. It was this year that these changes went into effect. These new certifications are now part of our In-House training requirements. Most professional jobs require some form of professional certifications. Everyone taking the new course provided by

LIFEGUARDS NEEDED
I am proud to announce that once again the Jones Beach Lifeguard Corp will be staffing lifeguards for 2 premier triathlon events this season. The NYC Olympic distance triathlon takes place on Sunday July 14th & the TOUGHMAN Half September 8th. The hours are early and the job is serious. If you are interested please email Cary Epstein at jonesbeachguard@gmail.com. Serious inquiries only.
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Bucket & Buoy

Summer 2013

Parks is being paid. Alternate courses are available, but you will not be paid for them. One issue that will affect us next year is that the Red Cross will no longer certify everyone on 7/11. That means that the day you certify, that is your new date. You must complete a class prior to that date next year. For those who have already taken classes, be aware that next year, you will need to certify prior to starting work. For those who have not taken classes yet, please make sure you complete one soon. We are Professionals! We should be recognized as such. This has been the main point of our negotiations with NYS. We all know the issues, and I will elaborate further on this in our next issue. Keep in mind that as professionals, we should act as such at all times. A new emphasis on strict abidance of all rules and regulations seems to be in effect, and this applies to on and off the clock. Everyone has been issued The Handbook for Seasonal Employees and

The Lifeguarding Manual for the 2013 Season. Everyone should take the time to read them as they apply to YOU. Remember: 1. Its a job. 2. Its a real good job. If you keep in mind those simple summations, then you should have a wonderful summer. When in doubt about something, just refer to those two simple statements. Remember we are professional lifeguards. Be safe and have a great summer.

Tom Donovan President Jones Beach Lifeguard Corps

Bucket & Buoy

Summer 2013

With NYS Senate Majority Coalition Leader Dean Skelos and Andy Healey, USLA, being presented with a Proclamation commemorating

Each year, as summer begins, the USLA sponsors National Beach Safety Week in an effort to remind beachgoers to use caution in the aquatic environment. The dates of National Beach Safety Week now coincide with Rip Current Awareness Week: Sunday, June 2nd through Saturday, June 8th. For additional information, visit the Public Education section of www.usla.org and select Beach Safety Week. Thank you for helping promote USLA's National Beach Safety Week and making America's beaches a safer place!

Lifeguard competitors: We're headed to the West Coast this year for USLA's Nautica National Lifeguard Championships. The setting is beautiful Manhattan Beach, California (just minutes from the LA airport) from August 7 - 10, 2013. Details can be found at www.uslanationals.org. Online registration will be available in July so be sure your membership is renewed and stay tuned for details. Information about accommodations is now available so make your reservations today.