I need some help

[baitedstorm]

Hey everyone, I was hoping ya'll might be able to help me with finding an affordable way to get a group of kids certified.

The group is the St Lucie County Sheriff Explorer Post 400 (affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America). They deal with mostly law enforcement related training and events, and are a HUGE assets to our community. During the hurricanes that hit us directly last year, these kids gave of themselves in ways that most adults wouldn't. I saw them out in the hot sun handing out ice, water, and food without complaints. Very few people understood that those kids were out there working their little butts off for free, like most of the events they volunteer for. These are the teenagers out there DOING something for others, instead of being so self absorbed like many I see. They go above and beyond what is expected of them. These are the kids of our future, and it brings a smile to my face.

Because these kids come from all walks of life, I know that for some, scuba diving will only ever be a dream because of the cost (it's an economically split, from one extreme to the next within the group). I really would like to make their dream a reality by donating my services to them. I know I can get their books at a very low cost to them, but I keep running into the equipment issue and boat rides.

How should I approach the situation? I know our local dive shop won't offer any special discounts (I asked them last year and was turned down and now use them only when I absolutely have to), would it be wrong for me to just ask for help with prices?

I'm pretty sure I have the pool issue handled, but I need to find a boat charter that might want to help out these kids (there will certainly be media coverage for them), and also a dive shop that will work with me with rental gear and make a package up for the kids (mask, snorkel, and fins). I know for a fact that some of the parents are chatting around about wanting to learn to dive also, so there is a potential for a shop to exposed to new customers not normally in their client base.

So I'm sitting here at 1am racking my brains trying to come up with a solution (Scubaboard keeps coming to mind ). I really need some help, I'm open to any and all suggestions. I want to make this work so bad for these kids.




Thanks guys!

*I understand that we all need to make a living, I just think there's got to be away out there to make this happen..

 

[Snowbear]

I don't knowhow far away from you he lives, but you should ask NetDoc about this. I recall reading several times about him teaching the scouts to dive...

 

[GrierHPharmD]

What a great idea! I'll talk to my local LDS guy (His name's Rob, and he's on here as EANDiver.) and see what sort of bare bones mask/fin/snorkel package we can come up with.

As far as other resources go, I'll be glad to donate class/pool/OW time if that would help. I'd love to do something like this, as I think it sounds like a really good cause and promotes our sport to young folks that might not otherwise get a chance to experience it.

Contacting NetDoc seems like a great idea. He's full of creative approaches to this sort of situation, and I seem to remember that he does something similar with his ScubaDucks group.

One thought regarding the boat charters - have you thought about road tripping the group to the Springs? I'm sure that we could find a place to do certs that would be much cheaper per person than a dive boat. Let everybody chip in for a van rental, which they could probably afford.

Anyway, I'll keep an eye on this thread, and be sure to let me know if I can offer any of my services to this project.

All the best,
Grier

 

[murphdivers286]

What a great idea. These kids deserve something like this. It is great to give kids something they can be proud of. When a kid holds their OW certification card in their hands, they will know what it feels like to have accomplished something. When you look at the kids, you will know what it is like to help them accomplish something.

I have worked with these kids several different times. They always give their best without a complaint. I have watched these kids work in the hot sun, and never heard a complaint. They are always willing and available to give what ever is asked of them. A lot of the kids will not be able to accomplish this with out some help. I really hope Vickie can find the resources she needs to make this possible. I'm willing to help as much as she needs me to help.

 

[Tom Winters]

To do this right, and I'm sure you'll probably roll your eyes at this, but setting up a small non-profit organization up there in exit 129-land would be one avenue of approach. There are a HUGE number of heavily-endowed foundations in southern Florida that would be open to funding something like this, but they just won't hand money over to individuals, no matter how well-meaning.
A 503(c) is not that complicated - for my kid's school last year, I raised $100,000 for the chorus group so the first thing we did was get 503(c) status from the IRS.
This way, any money you get will never be considered income on your part. The Huizenga family has also funded situations like this as well.
A google search for "southern florida charitable foundations" turned up 2,640,000 hits.
http://www.form-a-corp.com/non-profits_QA.php (background questions)
http://www.jimmoranfoundation.org/

 

[Dive In Adventures]

I love this kind of thing! Baitedstorm I agree with Greir... Think about doing some spring dives to get the requirements out of the way. I am sure you remember my deaf kids and the problems I had with the weather and all the other stuff. If you will get them completed at the springs it will save them money. I talked to Chad and if you can get me numbers and dates we will help you out on equipment and air and such.


Shoot got to run for now, I will post more on this later

Shane

 

[baitedstorm]

Great ideas guys... I spoke with Coby at ScubaWorks and it sounds like him and Paul, from the Temptation, want to help out. I'll post the outcomes when everything is decided.

Thanks Tom for the heads up, already taken care of.


I wasn't going to say anything, but I just can't help it. I got a pm from someone who said this sounded like a great idea but wanted to know why I was bothering with it all, after all, it's not like these kids can afford to dive or buy their own gear later on.

Sooo, I was annoyed at first, but after cooling off my reply was is simple as this.
These children are our future. They will be the voices when we're gone. If we can make even one of those children love the ocean as much as we do, they will fight to protect when we’re no longer able to.
If you want someone to protect our reefs, or our sharks and turtles, we have to wine and dine them and make them fall in love with all of it, scuba diving is the best way to do both.

So my friends, although this kids are well deserving of this, it also is a way to give back to our community too. Please don't get the idea of these kids being little wild deviants running around the boat and standing on the reefs, that isn’t a option. These kids are very well disciplined young adults. They are constantly around members of the community that require their best behavior

 

[mike_s]

I think the springs are a good idea first the first days dives and then it'd be great to be able to follow up with a boat dive....

however, I thought you (Baitedstorm) worked as a divemaster on a boat? will the boat you work on not do anything to help?

 

[Bobbert]

Why not see how many people would give to help, then set up an account at the local bank that people could make donations even if only a couple of dollars. That would help cut the cost.

 

[baitedstorm]

I think the springs are a good idea first the first days dives and then it'd be great to be able to follow up with a boat dive....

however, I thought you (Baitedstorm) worked as a divemaster on a boat? will the boat you work on not do anything to help?

Actually, I was working on a boat in WPB for about a year. The Captain and I had a small issue with safety and I stopped working with him. I then started DM'ing for Blue Tang every once and a while, but nothing really steady.

It's a little premature to announce, but some huge thigs are in the works with this.

Next thing I need to do is figure out how to group the youngins' up. I need to put together a letter to the parents and get a better idea of who is going to be allowed. 23 want to do it, but who knows how there parents feel. Maybe I should invite the parents down to one of the Explorer meetings (held weekly) to talk it all over.
Suggestions?