Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation September 2017 Russian River Water Safety Patrol Report to Donors Sunset Beach Rescue 7/02/17: Young male, nine years old, struggling to get back to shore off main beach. River Patrol Unit entered the water with rescue tube and fins and brought the young boy back to shore and fitted him in a life jacket. -- Lifeguard report of one of eight Water Safety Patrol active rescues in 2017 As a generous supporter of the Water Safety Patrol, you already recognize the importance of Regional Parks unique lifesaving program. We have just received Supervising Lifeguard Sabrina Spear s 2017 summer season report, and we re proud to share this summary with you. We hope you are proud to know that your gift truly saved lives along the Russian River. Staff Training and Preparation Sabrina s report details the extensive Russian River-specific training her teams undergo prior to patrolling the shores of the river from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. This training demonstrates the key outreach and safety functions the patrol provides, including: Advanced scouting and documentation of river hazards, which are different every year Identification of critical staging areas for rescue access Intensive equipment training Focused training on life jacket fittings, water safety talks and much more. Dangerous Conditions due to Winter Rains River hazards were significant this year. According to Sabrina, Due to late winter storms, the Russian River had unusually high, swift moving water on Memorial Day weekend. Lifeguard staff needed to wait until mid-june when the water receded and slowed to safely dive the river. The depths and hazards were charted on maps that River Patrol carried throughout the summer. Reports of Active Rescues Water Safety Patrol teams actively rescued eight people in danger of drowning, with all rescues occurring during the first two weekends of the summer when the river was running swiftly. The rescues involved five females and three males, ranging in ages from 9 to 29. Three people were rescued after their kayaks overturned. The other five were vulnerable swimmers who were clinging to branches or unable to return to shore from deep water. They were safely removed from the water and fitted with loaner life jackets by our teams.
Safety Education Contacts The Water Safety Patrol s highly effective, one-on-one water safety talks take place in the water, at river s edge, and at loaner life jacket distribution boxes. Your support helped Regional Parks train and dispatch 21 total staff for this mission, including three rangers, eight senior lifeguards, and 10 aquatics program aides. Regional Parks teams recorded an impressive 17,677 safety contacts in 2017, with 6,024 of these contacts in Spanish. These figures demonstrate an intense commitment to reaching as many visitors as possible during the Water Safety Patrol s presence, Fridays through Mondays throughout the summer. Loaner life jacket activity The loaner life jacket program is the most consistently visible aspect of the Water Safety Patrol s work. Between the Truck Patrol Unit and loaner life jacket distribution boxes at heavily used Steelhead Beach, Sunset Beach, and Forestville River Access, your donation helped our teams fit 3,027 vulnerable swimmers with loaner life jackets! These life jackets avert tragedy and provide comfort and security to people of all ages and ethnicities. With your help, we are able to continue to replenish this essential equipment. Response from the public Hollywood is full of fictional superheroes, but judging from the public response to our Water Safety Patrol teams, it seems we ve got real-life superheroes here in Sonoma County! Sabrina s report shares dozens of people s compliments and expressions of gratitude for the patrol s service. This is a great program, quite a community service. Thank you for these great life jackets. Thank you Sonoma County! You guys are life savers. Thank you for teaching my son and me about water safety.... This is an amazing service! These sincere thanks reach the Water Patrol staff on duty, but we want to make sure these thanks also reach YOU, because your support makes this activity possible. Please don t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the Water Safety Patrol or any other project of the Parks Foundation. We re so grateful for your support! Best wishes, Melissa Kelley Executive Director (707) 565-1830 Melissa.Kelley@sonoma-county.org
2018 RUSSIAN RIVER WATER SAFETY PATROL SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Bald Eagle: $10,000 Investment Package Your logo on the Regional Parks Foundation website Inclusion in the Water Safety Patrol article in the Regional Parks e-news newsletter Booth space at two Regional Parks events such as the Tolay Fall Festival Use of Regional Parks picnic grounds accommodating up to 200 guests for a company function (must be reserved in advance), two times per year. For example, your company could invite employees and spouses to enjoy a wonderful cookout at the group picnic area at Riverfront Regional Park. Eight Sonoma County Parks Memberships (valued at $69 each). Each membership provides free day-use parking for a year at more than 50 county parks, one free night of camping, and discounts on parks programs and outings. Eight passes to the Tolay Fall Festival, including parking. For two weekends in October, this wonderful, family-friendly festival celebrates the agricultural heritage of Tolay Lake Regional Park in Petaluma. Eight passes to the popular Spring Lake Water Bark event for dogs. Eight single show tickets to Funky Fridays @ the Hood Osprey: $5,000 Investment Package Your logo on the Regional Parks Foundation website Inclusion in the Water Safety Patrol article in the Regional Parks e-news newsletter Booth space at two Regional Parks events such as the Tolay Fall Festival Use of Regional Parks picnic grounds once per year for a company function accommodating up to 200 guests (must be reserved in advance) Six Sonoma County Parks Memberships (valued at $69 each) Six passes to the Tolay Fall Festival, including parking. Six passes to the popular Spring Lake Water Bark event for dogs. Six single show tickets to Funky Fridays @ the Hood Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation (707) 565-1830
PAGE 2 2017 RUSSIAN RIVER WATER SAFETY PATROL SPONSORSHIPS River Otter: $2,500 Investment Package Your name on the Regional Parks Foundation website Inclusion in the Water Safety Patrol article in the Regional Parks e-news newsletter Four Sonoma County Parks Memberships (valued at $69 each) Four passes to the Tolay Fall Festival, including parking Four passes to the popular Water Bark event for dogs Four single show tickets to Funky Fridays @ the Hood Steelhead: $1,500 Investment Package Your name on the Regional Parks Foundation website Inclusion in Water Safety Patrol article in the Regional Parks e-news newsletter Two Sonoma County Parks Memberships (valued at $69 each) Two passes to the Tolay Fall Festival, including parking Two passes to the popular Water Bark event for dogs Two single show tickets to Funky Fridays @ the Hood Dragonfly: $750 Investment Package Your name on the Regional Parks Foundation website Inclusion in Water Safety Patrol article in the Regional Parks e-news newsletter One Sonoma County Parks Membership Two passes to the Spring Lake Water Bark event for dogs Two single show tickets to Funky Fridays @ the Hood For more information about sponsorship of the Russian River Water Safety Patrol, please contact Melissa Kelley, executive director of the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation, at (707) 565-1830 or Melissa.Kelley@sonoma-county.org. Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation (707) 565-1830
RUSSIAN RIVER WATER SAFETY PATROL 2018 SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS TABLE Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation (707) 565-1830 SPONSOR BENEFITS Bald Eagle $10,000 Osprey $5,000 River Otter $2,500 Steelhead $1,500 Dragonfly $750 Your name on Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation website Your logo on Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation website NA NA Inclusion in Water Safety Patrol article in Parks Foundation e-news Foundation Flash Recognition on Parks Foundation social media sites such as Facebook 4 posts 2 posts 2 posts 1 post 1 post Booth space at Regional Parks events 2 events 1 event NA NA NA Use of Regional Parks picnic grounds for up to 200 guests (advance reservations required) twice a year once a year NA NA NA Sonoma County Regional Parks memberships (Full memberships with all associated benefits) 8 6 4 2 1 VIP passes to popular Spring Lake Water Bark (Dogs romp off leash at Spring Lake swimming lagoon) 8 6 4 2 2 VIP passes to Tolay Fall Festival 8 6 4 2 2 Single show tickets to Funky Fridays @ the Hood 8 6 4 2 2
Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation Raising funds, fostering partnerships and advocating for County Parks Tax ID: 68-0421813 Water Safety Patrol Sponsor Confirmation Form Yes! I would like to promote my business and keep visitors to the Russian River safe by sponsoring the Russian River Water Safety Patrol. All sponsors receive Sonoma County Regional Parks annual memberships, as well as additional benefits, depending on the sponsorship level. Please see the enclosed Sponsorship Opportunities document for details. Please indicate your sponsorship level: $10,000 $2,500 $7,500 $1,500 $5,000 $750 Other $ I have enclosed my check made out to Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation. Please bill my Visa/Master Card in the amount of $. Account # Security Code Signature Exp. Date Contact Name Street Address City, State, Zip Phone Email Sponsors: How would you like your business name to appear? Payment Options: Mail: SCRPF, 2300 County Center Dr., #120A, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 Fax: (707) 579-8247 Questions? Contact Melissa Kelley, executive director of the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation, at Melissa.Kelley@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-1830. Thank you for your support!