DSC Calendar
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Access-Ability Sailing -- September 10
Ya' Gotta Regatta Practice -- Sept. 14
Ya' Gotta Regatta Practice -- Sept. 21
Ya' Gotta Regatta -- September 24 |
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Access-Ability Volunteers
This Saturday is the last Accessible Saturday of the season and we are still in need of a few more volunteers. We specifically need some people willing to be sailing buddies and help with the de-rigging process. Please register online if you are available and interested. |
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A Special Thank You
If you haven't volunteered before you may not have had the opportunity to meet Jeremy, one of our favorite sailors that attends every accessible Saturday. His mom recently sent us an email describing how important sailing is to Jeremy. Check out her incredibly moving letter:
I hope you folks at the DSC realize the powerful impact of your accessible sailing effort. And I do mean effort. I have some idea of what it takes to physically handle people who are severely disabled such as my son, Jeremy. He is 190 pounds with almost no control over his legs and arms, yet you are able to adeptly lower him into the boat, sit him up and make it possible for Jeremy to sail. That's the powerful impact, you make it possible for Jeremy to sail.
Sailing, I have learned has become a passion for Jeremy. He can't articulate what it is he likes about it but I can see it in his face, hear it in his voice. On the days he sails, Jeremy keeps a running tab of how much time we have left before we leave the house. I'm in big trouble if I make us late.
I may have mentioned to you before, Jeremy's physical world is a very restricted world. He has never been able to walk or run with kids in the neighborhood. He is confined to his power chair. So his sense of movement is limited. He doesn't experience the vastness of open space. Sailing expands his world, gives him another way to feel movement. Sailing, I believe, gives him a sense of freedom he has never been able to experience.
There's something else I have learned about Jeremy since he started sailing. He prefers the windy days, I learned he likes speed.
Words do not adequately express how thankful I am for what you all do. |
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Call For Skippers
Ya Gotta Regatta is quickly approaching and we need all the help that is available. We are planning on having at least 10 daysailors out on the water in the morning and afternoon during the event.
If you are interested in being a skipper for some or all of the event we would love to have you. Please register online and email Lynn Handy for more information.
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Ya' Gotta Practice!
To best prepare our regatta participants we are going to have two more race practices on Wednesday,September 14th from 4:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. and Wednesday, September 21st from 4:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.
It will be a great opportunity for our accessible sailors to practice and get out on the water a few more times before the season is over. The chalk talk will be led by Executive Director and racing guru Kristen Berry and will be a great opportunity to learn some great racing techniques. We will need volunteers to help set the course, help rig and de-rig and a few to step in as sailing buddies. Please register online if you are interested in helping out. |
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Summer Staff
As mentioned during th.e Sail for Kids Regatta, our summer staff is some of the most important outreach we do at the Downtown Sailing Center. Our season is winding down and many of our staff do not have jobs lined up for the fall. A few of them have reached out to us for help with applications and applying for positions. We are now reaching out to you to see if you knew of any entry level positions that would be available to our summer staff.
These staff members are highly motivated but come from tough backgrounds that lack career and education guidance. Most of them are currently not in college but are hoping to pursue higher education in the next few years. It would be great to provide them a position where they can grow professionally and gain motivation to continue pursuing their goals.
I just wanted to give you one example of a staff member who truly needs our help. This staff member has recently been kicked out of her uncle's home because she was short rent by a few dollars. Now she is living in a tense situation somewhere else and is worried about losing that as well. She is a very talented person who loves working with kids. If there was a way to find her a steady job that would help her get out of her tough home situation we could truly be making a difference in her life.
If you know a position available or someone we could reach out to for more resources we would greatly appreciate it. Please contact Lynn Handy to help.
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