Arkansas River Coalition

March-APril 2021 Newsletter

3/8/2021

President’s Message Environmentalists Wanted
The ARC Board of Directors wishes to expand the BOD with individuals who are interested in monitoring and improving the Arkansas River and its watershed. The mission of the Arkansas River Coalition is to protect, restore and improve the entire watershed and enhance the well-being of all life it sustains. Expanding the BOD with environmentalists should al- low more progress in the mission. Please contact any board member if you are interested.

Kay Drennen Lecture
ARC member and Extension Master Gardener Kay Drennen will present a program titled “ Designing Draught Tolerant Landscapes “ via Zoom.. This program will share planning and maintenance tips as well as a list of draught tolerant plants for your water wise landscape. Wichita Public Library is the sponsor, and one may sign up for the virtual programs by call- ing the library or using the library website. There are also four other programs on the series.

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Coalition News Board Meeting
Monday March 8, 2021 Zoom .us virtual
Monday May 10, 2021 Zoom .us virtual

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS
Lynn and Kathryn Thurlow

ARC Mini-Float Schedule
To find the schedule for Mini-Floats go to our website at www.arkrivercoalition.org or call Wally Seibel at 316-684-0730 or email wallyseibel@aol.com to get on his float list to receive float schedule announcements.

CONTRIBUTIONS $100 and over level:
Under $100 level:
Nancy Anderson
April 20, 2021

ARKANSAS RIVER COALITION, INC. NEWSLETTER
Editor: Jane Icke
Email: 2fe2o3y@gmail.com
Website Administrator: Tom Kneil
Board Members: Kay Drennen, Curt Demuth, Hoyt Hillman, Russ Icke, Jon Marr, Tom Kneil, Nicole Olson, Wally Seibel
Address: PO Box 3056, Wichita, KS 67201 Website: www.arkrivercoalition.org Facebook: Ark River Coalition Group
Website
Our website is: http://www.arkrivercoalition.org
Watch for added information to the website in the future.

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New BOD Member
The ARC BOD is pleased to welcome a new board member. Jon Marr retired from a fire service career. He is now the Deputy Director of Emergency Management for Sedgwick County. He has experience with virtual meetings and has been instrumental in setting up the ARC BOD meetings, which have become virtual because of COVID 19, as many of the BOD members are in the age range that is most at risk. He also has experience with web design and is working with Tom to make changes on the website. He is active in Sea Scouts and Healthy Kids Running Series. The Healthy Kid Running Series sponsors a series of races of varying distances for ages K through 8th grade. He is working with ARC as ARC becomes a sponsor of a Sea Scout Ship. Sea Scouts are affiliated with BSA.

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Since we are nearing a time when we can plan more float trips, here is a reprint of Wally’s article about PFD fitting.
Selecting and Properly Fitting a PFD (Life Jacket)
Having a life jacket is not enough. Wearing a life jacket is not enough. Only a PFD that is worn properly can be counted on to keep you afloat in the event of an emergency. Fitting a life jacket is not like fitting a winter coat. If a coat is inadequate the wearer can return for a refit. With a failing PFD there may be no second chance! According to some reports, a PFD not properly fitted may have been a significant contributing factor in a recent tragedy on our river.
SIZING: The life jacket should fit snugly without being too tight. The term the Coast Guard uses is “comfortably snug.” If you can’t make the life jacket fit snugly, then it is too big. If you can’t comfortably put it on and fasten it, it is too small.
Life jackets may be categorized by size: Infant, Child, Youth and Adult. The first step toward finding the proper fit is to determine which category the person you are fitting falls into. The chart below breaks down these categories by chest size and by weight in the infant child, and youth models to be used as a general guide.
Size
Chest
Weight
MUST HAVE
INFANT
- - - - - - -
< 30 lbs.
CROTCH STRAP HEAD SUPPORT & GRAB LOOP
CHILD
22” - 25” 30 - 50 lbs.
CROTCH STRAP
YOUTH
24” - 29”
50 - 90 lbs. PROPER FIT
ADULT
- - - - - -
<275 lbs. limit
PROPER FIT
FITTING: Once you’ve selected a size, follow these fitting steps.

 Loosen all the straps, put the PFD on and, if it has a zipper, zip it up.
 Start at the waist and tighten all the straps. It should feel snug but not uncomfortable.
 Next pull up on the PFD shoulders. If it moves up past your nose, ears, or head,
tighten the straps. If it still moves up, the PFD is too large.

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WELCOME TO THE ARKANSAS RIVER COALITION!

St. Patty's Day Float a success
Saturday, March 18
(see report under Floats)

ARC Sea Scout Open House Recap

March-APril 2021 Newsletter

Is the River Open TOday?

Archives

WELCOME TO THE ARKANSAS RIVER COALITION!​

St. Patty's Day Float a success Saturday, March 18(see report under Floats)

ARC Sea Scout Open House Recap

March-APril 2021 Newsletter

Is the River Open TOday?

Archives

WELCOME TO THE ARKANSAS RIVER COALITION!

St. Patty's Day Float a success
Saturday, March 18
(see report under Floats)