Since 1912 members of the Volunteer Life Saving Corps(VLSC) have volunteered their time to keep the bathers of Jacksonville Beach safe on Sundays and holidays.

Currently our mission is under threat due to a department of labor issue.  The DOL has decided that it is not allowed for City of Jacksonville Beach(COJB) lifeguards who work for the city Monday-Saturday to also volunteer their time on Sundays and holidays.  Rather than work with us on continuing our mission of saving lives, the COJB has decided to take over operations seven days a week and not allow the Volunteer Life Saving Corps to lifeguard anymore.  This wastes tax payer money and puts unnecessary stress on the city lifeguards who are already going to be stretched thin.  The VLSC is willing and able to staff Sundays and holidays at ZERO expense to the taxpayers.

UPDATE-4/5/22: The city of Jacksonville Beach has changed the locks on the lifeguard station owned by the Red Cross, and barred any VLSC member from access.  This was the result of completely false allegations that members of the VLSC were harassing city employees and disrupting ocean rescue operations.  When in reality, our members were at the lifeguard station to celebrate the graduation of our newest recruits as well as host orientation for our next recruit class.  Now more than ever, we need the community to voice their disapproval of the extreme overreach of the city manager.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

-Please sign this petition to encourage the city to reconsider their decision and not end 110 years of lifesaving and molding men and women of good character.  Show the city that their constituents, whether they live in Jax Beach or just visit, still support volunteer lifeguarding.

-Visit our facebook page to stay up to date with our current situation.  We want to work with the city as much as possible, so please keep comments respectful.  The link is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/167285066650342

-Reach out to your city officials to voice your support of the Volunteer Life Saving Corps.  Again, we are doing our best to work with the city, so please keep any correspondence with city officials respectful and productive.  This is intended to show them the many benefits they are losing by not working with the Corps, this is not for venting frustrations and insulting.

Mayor, Christine Hoffman: choffman@jaxbchfl.net
City Manager, Mike Staffopoulos: mstaffopoulos@jaxbch.net
Council Member, Fernando Meza, At-Large, Seat 1: fmeza@jaxbchfl.net
Council Member, Dan Janson, At-Large, Seat 2: djanson@jaxbchfl.net
Council Member, Chet Stokes, At-Large, Seat 3: cstokes@jaxbchfl.net
Council Member, Cory Nichols, District 1, Seat 4: cnichols@jaxbchfl.net
Council Member, Georgette E. Dumont, District 2, Seat 5: gdumont@jaxbchfl.net
Council Member, Sandy Golding, District 3, Seat 6: sgolding@jaxbchfl.net