The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-05-16
Tests and Instruction
Will Be Given By d. J.
Gates, Swimming and
Life-Saving Instructor
of the National Red
Cross-Local Judges

At a meeting of the executive com
mittee of the Welfare League held at
the headquarters in the Chamber of
Commerce building this morning, def
mite plans were adopted for the pro-
gram of water sports and life saving
corps contests and examinations pro
posed for the summer season as a wa
ter carnival.
The work is made possible through
the cooperation of the National Red
Cross, which organization is lending
the services Of the instructor, D. J..
Gates, free of charge. Mr.. Gates is an
expert swimming instructor and direc-
tor in Life Saving for the National
Red Cross.
The first contests will be held May
% to 26, and other contests will be
held the last week of the months of
June, July, August and September
A local board of examiners will pass
on the events, but must themselves
have passed certain tests. All who
wish to enter must send in their
names to the Welfare League, phone
1913.
The contests as outlined fall into
four main divisions as follows: (a)
Junior Division, embracing first grade
beginners, second grade swimmers,
honor grade life savers; OBJ Auxiliary
Corps division, consisting of boys who
will have passed their sixteenth birth
day, but not their eighteenth on July
1 (c) Mems Life Saving Corps, con-
sisting of men and boys who on July
l will have passed their eighteenth
nf 0nnH r.
and able to meet the physical and eff
ficlency requirements; I'D Woman's
Life Saving Corps, consisting of won.
en- and girls, who on July 1 will have
passed their sixteenth birthday, are
of good character and able to meet
the physical and efficiency require
ments.
Badges and emblems will be award
ed each winter to those who qualify
for the honor roll in each division and
at the end of the season silver cups
will be awarded the winners.
The objects of the Welfare League
in instituting this program Of water
sports and contests are outlined as
follows: To provide healthy recrea.
ton for our boys and girls under the
stimulus of clean competition; to de-
velop sentiment and facilities for safe.
guarding human life from drowning;
to teach precautions that should be
observed on water and preventative
measures necessary to avoid acct
dents; to prevent drowning by the in
structions given; to rescue those in
peril of drowning; to resuscitate per-
sons apparently drowned; to teach
first aid to the injured.
1t is felt that in Lakeland, where
the lakes furnish a convenient, all
year-round means of enjoying water
sports and where the nearness of the
salt water is an additional incentive
for acquiring a knowledge of water
sports and of life saving methods, too
much attention can hardy be given to
teaching the young people how to take
advantage of their opportunities in
this line.
Besides, the series of contests is
sure to be not only of practical value
but also the nature of recreation for
both onlookers' and contestants.
Appoints Committees.
In addition to the adoption of the
Water Carnival program, the execu.
tive committee at it's meeting today
appointed the following committees:
Special committee to go over the con-
stition and. bylaws and report on the
same-E. N. Good, A. C. Shaffer and
Mrs. Harry L. Brown; PUBLICITY.
n. Phillips. Mrs. Harry L. Brown; Re.
lief-Mrs. Nell Swindell, w. L. King.
E. N. Good and Mrs. A. H. Darra-
colt.