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Aqsurfer
Junior Nomad
Posts: 78
Registered: 7-6-2004
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Lifeguard Program for Bahia Asuncion Needs Your Help
Hola Nomads,
The lifeguards heading to Bahia Asuncion this year need your help. Each year, I try to raise funds to cover costs - transportation, food and
lodging for our annual trip to Baja. Our fundraising target is between $1,500-2,000 USD.
Our group this year will consist of 25 lifeguards and lots of vehicles to get everyone and our gear to Bahia Asuncion. Additionally, we are usually
loaded up with lots of donated rescue equipment and surf gear/apparel to give away.
Last year was our first year working with this community and we were really impressed with everyone, participants and town folk as well. I would
especially like to thank Jaime, Ed and Jean, Diana, and (mi amigo de IB) Stan RIP, for all their help and not losing hope that we would start a
program there.
Last year's program was a great success and this year we hope to build on that great start. We worked with 25 people in the senior group and
approximately 65 kids - fantastic turnout and great enthusiasm. This year, the senior group is going to be facing a tougher program as the program
progresses in its evolution. If they thought they were tired last year, wait till early October. The junior lifeguard program will continue to work
with kids in beach safety awareness and beach/ocean stewardship. For a nomad perspective about last year's program please check out:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=63002#pid7615...
Last year I began collaborating with the International Surf Lifesaving Association (ISLA). ISLA is made up of a great group of 100% volunteer
lifeguards, no salaries here - we just want to help save lives around the world - we currently have programs in Baja/Mexico, Chile, Dominican
Republic, Nicaragua, Macedonia, and the US. Many more global sites are in the works.
ISLA is registered 501-c-3 non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible in the US. If you would like to donate to the Bahia Asuncion
effort, you can do so via the ISLA website (link below), donation information is on the lower/right side of the homepage. Please make sure and
note/state that your donation is for the Baja program. Funds raised will only be used to cover transportation, food, lodging, lifeguard, and first
aid equipment for the 2013 Asuncion trip. I will post an accounting here after the trip for complete transparency.
www.islasurf.org
Please share this post with Baja friends and family.
If anyone has questions or comments or would like to make in-kind donations, please post here. Gracias Nomads
Peace,
Aaron
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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Aaron,
It was just so great to see it all come together. There was a time I was not sure it would ever happen! --- wish we still had our home available
for your use, but also know that money is important. 
Just a suggestion. Especially after the tragic drowning, I know how important this program was to your friend, Stan. Since he was so involved in
Bloodydecks, perhaps you might see about posting there and suggesting that maybe some of his friends donate in his memory. It would be a great
memorial that would help his adopted community with something so very important.
Good Luck and wear them all out again!
Diana
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Aqsurfer
Junior Nomad
Posts: 78
Registered: 7-6-2004
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Hola Diana,
Lots of guards looking forward to returning to Asuncion. Great program and I am sorry that you will not be able to be there.
Thanks for the good suggestion to post on bloody decks. Also if anyone here is also a Bloodydecker - please copy this and post there.
Gracias Nomads
Peace.
Aaron
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Aqsurfer
Hola Diana,
Lots of guards looking forward to returning to Asuncion. Great program and I am sorry that you will not be able to be there.
Thanks for the good suggestion to post on bloody decks. Also if anyone here is also a Bloodydecker - please copy this and post there.
Gracias Nomads
Peace.
Aaron |
I hope a bloodydecker responds.
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Bajagypsy
Super Nomad
Posts: 1416
Registered: 8-31-2006
Location: BahÃa Asuncion BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Living the dream
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When will you be in Asuncion?
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Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1655
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
Member Is Offline
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For a request like this, it should come from the requester, not just a member.
Bloody decks is easy to sign on to and join:
http://www.bdoutdoors.com/forums/index.php
Then go to the Baja Forum:
http://www.bdoutdoors.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/22-Baja-Me...
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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You may be correct. However, on the other hand, maybe it would be good if it came from one of Stan's good friends who also is an active member of
Bloodydecks, and then again, maybe not.
It was just a thought; maybe a good one, and maybe not. I do know that he really wanted the lifeguard program to continue.
Meantime, hopefully there will be some donations. Asking for donations is always difficult as everyone, and rightfully so, is involved in their own
causes and communities in Baja. It all becomes very personal. I know I hope this program will become as strong and as long term as the one in
Abreojos, but that is because of my ties to Bahia Asuncion.
[Edited on 8-29-2013 by DianaT]
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13200
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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Aaron! How wonderful is this!
Is there any way to open a paypal account to. Make it easy to contribute?
Is there an address where funds could be sent?
Once the program is up and running there in Asuncion, please consider sending another group to
La Bocana. I can offer a place to stay ... And if you all pay for the food shopping, I am more than happy to do all the cooking. So many kids here
don't swim, it is absurd when you think that we live on the ocean.
Wishing you all the best with Stan's dream project.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6699
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaBlanca
Aaron! How wonderful is this!
Is there any way to open a paypal account to. Make it easy to contribute?
Is there an address where funds could be sent?
Once the program is up and running there in Asuncion, please consider sending another group to
La Bocana. I can offer a place to stay ... And if you all pay for the food shopping, I am more than happy to do all the cooking. So many kids here
don't swim, it is absurd when you think that we live on the ocean.
Wishing you all the best with Stan's dream project. |
Blanca, They have been coming to Abreojos for years, where they have worked with some of the people from La Bocana and where I am sure they would be
glad to continue to work with everyone involved.
PS ask when they will be here next so you can come help and make a little donation.
[Edited on 8-29-2013 by rts551]
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaBlanca
Aaron! How wonderful is this!
Is there any way to open a paypal account to. Make it easy to contribute?
Is there an address where funds could be sent?
Once the program is up and running there in Asuncion, please consider sending another group to
La Bocana. I can offer a place to stay ... And if you all pay for the food shopping, I am more than happy to do all the cooking. So many kids here
don't swim, it is absurd when you think that we live on the ocean.
Wishing you all the best with Stan's dream project. |
Blanca, if you go to www.islasurf.org they have pay-pal and before you click the final send button, you will have a chance to send a message and just indicate that it
is for the Bahia Asuncion Trip.
I would be surprised if some of the La Bocana people have not participated in the long standing program at Abreojos since you are so close together.
For more information as to how food and housing were provided last year, check with Jamie, and with Ed and Jean. I am sure your co-op would help out.
Also, a few years before they came to Bahia Asuncion, a group from Asuncion went to Abreojos for some of the training and to demonstrate real interest
in having the program. Time, money and many other things stalled the program from coming to Asuncion for a few years, but now they will return!
It only seems to make sense for you to join up with Abreojos as there is only so much time available and you are so close and could help out!
It is a great program.
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by rts551
Blanca, They have been coming to Abreojos for years, where they have worked with some of the people from La Bocana and where I am sure they would be
glad to continue to work with everyone involved.
PS ask when they will be here next so you can come help and make a little donation.
[Edited on 8-29-2013 by rts551] |
Typing at the same time you were.
Blanca, they can always use more help and you might talk with Chelo who knows them. They have also participated in helping with the Woman's club and
their environmental work; something that I know you are very interested in.
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Aqsurfer
Junior Nomad
Posts: 78
Registered: 7-6-2004
Member Is Offline
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Hola Nomads,
Asuncion Lifeguard Update
We will be arriving in Bahia Asuncion late in the evening on Oct 8. We caravan in one day from San Diego. We drive slowly and our caravan transports
20-25 guards. The training will take place on Oct. 9-11 (afternoons) and Oct. 12 morning. This year we will be building on last year's program by
introducing more advanced skills and tougher physical challenges (lots of swims and runs). The goal is to get the group to reach a Basic
International Standard this year. Long term, the goal is to establish a fully certified and funded seasonal lifeguard service for the community.
Abreojos is very close to achieving this.
Thank you Diana for recommending that a member of Bloody Decks copy and post. It was my hope that a current member would do this.
Baja Blanca: In Abreojos we did have folks from La Bocana and Asuncion attend but the timing and costs are tough on everyone. ISLA and the Baja
program is really growing in strength among lifeguards. This trip is extremely popular and I plan to begin scheduling multiple trips to Baja. This
program builds on the years of work I did in helping establish lifeguard programs in Tijuana, Ensenada, Abreojos, and Todos Santos. Great groups of
people working hard to establish an important community safety service - that motivates kids to work out, become ocean stewards, and good community
members.
Donations can be made on the ISLA website at:
http://www.islasurf.org
Click on the donate banner at lower right side of the homepage. Make sure and note that your donation is for the Baja Program-Bahia Asuncion. I will
provide a full accounting here after the trip for complete transparency.
Thanks Nomads
Peace,
Aaron
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Aqsurfer
Junior Nomad
Posts: 78
Registered: 7-6-2004
Member Is Offline
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Baja Blanca: The lifeguard programs work thanks to great community efforts. In Abreojos, Chelo and the Mujeres en Accion group would coordinate
locally and provide the group with simple dinners, the coop would donate fish and lobster, the teachers would let the kids out a bit early to
participate. Lodging/basecamp was provided by Kathy and her parents. We also camped at Burgers - after all we are a bunch of surfers.
For La Bocana, It would be best to coordinate with the Abreojos program in order to combine efforts. This would also make it easier for me in
organizing the lifeguard side. I am certainly open to making it work for La Bocana in the future.
Peace,
Aaron
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BajaLuna
Senior Nomad
Posts: 581
Registered: 12-5-2012
Location: Pacific Northwest/Bahia Asuncion
Member Is Offline
Mood: groovy
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Aqsurfer, I want to extend the offer of the use of our house (formally Diane's house) in Bahia Asuncion. We won't be there in Oct. but you are more
than welcome to use it if you and your fellow guards need a place to stay!
This program feels near and dear to my heart as a child who almost drown in our backyard swimming pool, it's so important to learn water safety!
So please use our house if you need to!!
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaLuna
Aqsurfer, I want to extend the offer of the use of our house (formally Diane's house) in Bahia Asuncion. We won't be there in Oct. but you are more
than welcome to use it if you and your fellow guards need a place to stay!
This program feels near and dear to my heart as a child who almost drown in our backyard swimming pool, it's so important to learn water safety!
So please use our house if you need to!! |
It is good to know the house is available again this year. 
[Edited on 8-31-2013 by DianaT]
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: thriving in Baja
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Has anyone thought of posting on this site; used by a lot of charities to raise funds on line.
www.gofundme.com
Bob Durrell
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Aqsurfer
Junior Nomad
Posts: 78
Registered: 7-6-2004
Member Is Offline
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BajaLuna: Thank you so much for the offer to use your house. Extending the use of your house to the lifeguards will play a big part in making this
year's program a success. Your kindness is a great example of a community coming together to make wonderful things happen - un abrazo.
You are absolutely correct in stating that water safety is vitally important. This is especially true in small coastal communites in Baja where the
beach is the main recreational area for kids. Last year we were amazed by how enthusiatic the junior guard kids were and how quickly they learned.
Fantastic group!
Bob: Thank you for the suggestion regarding gofundme. I will check out their website.
Peace,
Aaron
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Aqsurfer
Junior Nomad
Posts: 78
Registered: 7-6-2004
Member Is Offline
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Hola Nomads,
Lifeguard Trip Update:
We have had big number of guards signing up to go this year - both returners and first timers. I am always amazed at how many guys and gals answer
the call. They have just spent the summer on the beach saving lives and now ask for time off of work or from school to go on this trip.
Training: This year I plan on including a near drowning simulation. The Asuncion guards will activate local EMS (ambulancia/clinica) and rescue
(simulation) an unconscious/non-breathing victim from the water. They will begin CPR on the beach until the ambulancia arrives. The guards will
report victim status and transport victim to ambulance team. When victim is packaged for transport to clinica/hospital simulation ends. This is a
great exercise that will help the local guards save lives should this type of situation occur. Getting a near drowning victim to advanced medical aid
within one-hour is critical.
Fundraising: Nomads we need your help. The post has recieved alot of hits but only limited support. Thank you to the folks that have donated. We
can reach our target if we can get 65 Nomads to donate $20 or 130 Nomads donating $10. I hope that together we can make this project happen.
Thanks for your time.
Peace,
Aaron
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Aqsurfer
Junior Nomad
Posts: 78
Registered: 7-6-2004
Member Is Offline
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To donate, please visit the International Surf Lifesaving Association's website and click the donate banner on the lower right side of the ISLA
homepage. Please note that your donation is for the Baja Lifeguard Program, there is a space for entering comments/notes right before you
confirm/send your donation via paypal.
Peace,
Aaron
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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Hoping others will also put this information on their facebook page. It will save lives.
It seems like $10.00 from 130 people should not be impossible, and then again, everyone has their own pet projects that are also important.
[Edited on 9-8-2013 by DianaT]
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