Per the USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 9-3, all Boat Safety classes are cancelled until further notice.  This is due to the Covid 19 stay at home mandate.  This includes the upcoming April 11 session.   

 Lake Gaston Water Safety Council 2019 Accomplishments

• Continued to update the LGWSC website and Facebook throughout the year to ensure timely and informative content was available to boaters. During the course of the year we had over 2,000 visitors from as far away as California inquiring about launch sites, where to borrow child life vests, etc.

• Due to the retirement of our webmaster, a new web platform is now used which permits real time updates by authorized users.

• LGWSC volunteers attended the Water Safety Information trailer at 6 events around the lake. Questions were answered about water safety for an estimated 570 folks. Of this number, 60 were middle school students in support of the LGA sponsored Lakeside Learning Days.

• We welcomed students at 6 sessions of the USCG Auxiliary Boat Safety class.

• Council members participated and distributed boat safety awareness information at the opening of National Safe Boating week.

• Provided at no charge 10 throwable and 10 fire extinguishers to the Coast Guard Auxiliary for distribution to the USCG when they conducted boat safety inspections during the holiday periods. In lieu of an expensive ticket, the USCG staff provided mandatory safety equipment donated by the Lake Gaston Water Safety Council.

• Distributed over 650 water safety packets to marinas and real estate offices located around the lake.

• Promoted awareness of the Children's Life Jacket Loaner Program at nine (9) locations around the Lake to ensure visitors had proper safety equipment available.

• We developed a new WSC awareness lawn sign and posted at over 40 strategic locations arounds the lake.

 • Authored 6 water safety related articles for inclusion in the LGA semi-monthly Bulletin.

• We cosponsored with the Lake Gaston Gazette Observer our first youth coloring book contest. Youth were given an opportunity to create a poster with a water safety theme. Firs, second and third place finishers along with honorable mention were awarded pries donated bu business members.

• Identified focal points for reporting missing, off station and malfunctioning danger and navigation buoys:

◦ Mile Markers - (252) 535-6161 Ext. 4

◦ Danger and Navigation Buoys - (919) 707-0150 (NC) /

(434) 848-3107 (VA - Brunswick County) / (434)

738-6191 (VA - Mecklenburg County)

• Made available signs for personal watercraft responsibility

awareness and to promote use of life vests.

• Provided contact numbers to report unsafe boating incidents in

the form of laminated cards and signs.

On February 13 your Board of Directors had our first meeting of the new year.   Thought you might be interested in the highlights.  

We already have 3 scheduled deployments for April;  two Lakeside Learning Days for middle school kids in partnership with the LGA and on April 2, something different in that we will be participating in a Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours along with the LGA.  This is an effort to reach a different audience to talk about water safety.  

But first, over the next 6 weeks the trailer must be inspected, restocked with brochures and then moved from winter storage   

The new web site is working well   Tell us what you think   

We will be running 2 1/4 page ads in the spring and summer issues of the Lake Life magazine.

Dominion advises the 36 new mile markers are in and will be deployed soon.

We have been notified the USCG will visit the lake this summer.  Make sure you have your boat registration on board and all required safety equipment.  Better yet, invite Flotilla 9-3 to do a free safety inspection and if passed, receive the coveted safety inspection decal.  Having been boarded last summer, I will be requesting the inspection once the weather breaks.

Lastly, happy to report we have a speaker lined up for our first meeting at the Kennon House on March 25    More details to follow   

A long time member and previous Board Member Jean McCarter passed away on Wednesday after an extended illness.

There will be a graveside service on January 16th at 11 am. at Caanan Cemetary in Broadnax VA. It is located at the intersection of Blackridge Rd., Airport Rd., and Caanan Church Rd. in Mecklenberg County. Cards may be sent to her family - Ms. Pat Teske, 132 Waters Rd., Valentines, VA 23887.