69 participants get Red Cross cards

Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan concluded its American Red Cross swimming lessons last Saturday with the 69 participants receiving their “certifications.”

Club president Stan Good said the swim lessons were an important step in improving the water safety awareness of the people on Saipan.

“Being that we all live on an island, water safety is very important for Saipan. Every weekend residents flock to the beaches to enjoy the water, go fishing, and participate in other water activities. Several parents and grandparents stated they are taking the lessons to be able to enjoy the water with their children and grandchildren and in case a problem arises, rescue the children from water-related accidents. Each year unnecessary drownings occur that could be avoided if the person had a knowledge of swimming basics,” he said in an email to the Saipan Tribune.

Good said the 60-plus participants were “great” and the community response was overwhelming, “as we have 50 people on a standby list for the next session.”

He said each of the participants received a Red Cross card indicating their level of swimming expertise. Good said the cards ranged from one to seven—one being a beginner and seven being very proficient in all four strokes.

“Tsunami Saipan would like to thank the community for their support for the lessons, a special thanks also go out to Fiesta Resort and Spa Saipan management for allowing the use of their pool for an hour each Saturday. And none of the lessons would have been possible without the support of the American Red Cross, CNMI Chapter,” he added.

Tsunami Saipan’s April swimming lessons started last April 12 and were held the next two Saturdays after that, April 19 and 26. The next series of swim session offered by the one-year-old club will start in June 2008.

Aside from Good, Tsunami Saipan head coach Hiro Kimura, Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Federation president Bobby Winkfield, and NMASA Fall of Fame Mike Villagomez also served as coaches of the three-Saturday swim lessons.

Tsunami Saipan assistant coach Val Welch, Mina Minami, Tami Winkfield, Daniel Villegas, Rezne Wong, Arthur Welch, James Sakamoto, Shin Kimura, Marystar Welch, Kensuke Kimura, Quincy Johnson, Amanda Johnson, Kaise Toda, Ashley Welch, and Kiana Villagomez also served as coaches.