Get your lanyard
| Today’s message is short and you’ll find that I will ask you to do something VERY important as I wrap up my comments. I’ve been writing quite a bit lately about the wonders of summer camp. We’re now 10 weeks into our day camp programming with one final week to go. It’s been a long, HOT summer with lots of wonderful memories and thousands of kiddos served and despite how we might be looking forward to wrapping up a successful 2024 season, our focus remains very clear – SAFETY. Safety in all of its forms is critical, but today I need to engage you in the importance of safety around water. We’ve all seen the statistics and watched the news stories. The number of drowning-related deaths in our community and in our state demands all of our attention. Over the last several decades, the Y has earned the nickname of America’s Swim Instructor, but we cannot be everywhere and we cannot watch every child in and around the water. To that end, the Y launched an initiative called “Water Watchers” to bring awareness to the death rate related to drowning and to identify adults who will pledge to give their FULL attention to kids when near the water. They wear a lanyard while they are on watch duty and can take turns passing the lanyard to another adult, but whoever wears it has the specific responsibility to protect our most valuable assets…our children. While you are home, at the beach, at the local community pool, or wherever, please join us in protecting our kids. We’d love to give everyone a fancy lanyard, but it doesn’t take that. It just takes a commitment to being attentive. Share the responsibility with other adults that you’re travelling with or others who may be at the local pool party. Together, we can create an army of Water Watchers for our kids. Let’s help them enjoy their time in our pools and the beaches. Let’s ensure that this is the best and safest summer yet. Until next time… |
Kevin Bolding, President & CEO
YMCA of Central Florida
The Y. For a better us.®
First Friday messages offer a monthly peak behind the veil of leading through change from the Y’s President & CEO.
#WaterWatchers
#SafetyAroundWater