To Angie Carpenter and the Labor Relations Office of Town of Islip,

 

 

It has come to the attention of the FIOD staff that several Ocean Lifeguards have not yet been rehired by the Town of Islip for the 2024 season. Their names are:

 

Carter Baron, Lifeguard (9 years of service): Standout competitor of the Lifeguard competition team. Leads by example to junior staff by continuously developing and refining exceptional Ocean Lifeguard skills. 

  

Sam Lepore, Lifeguard (9 years of service): Respected and trusted by the community he serves to an uncommon degree. Has received special recognition from the Town of Islip for his efforts to successfully save a child who fell beneath a running Fire Island Ferry.

 

Hana Lepore, Lifeguard (9 years of service): Leader to junior staff, especially our junior female guards. Has also received special recognition from the Town of Islip for her efforts to successfully save a child who fell beneath a running Fire Island Ferry.

 

Anthony Oliveto, Chief Lifeguard (39 years of service): One of the most experienced Chiefs on our beach. Present at every optional training event. Present at every Junior lifeguarding day. Trainer to aspiring ocean lifeguards. Deeply respected amongst the Fair Harbor community he serves.

 

Craig Amarando, Chief Lifeguard (34 years of service): Defined by an unwavering work ethic and contagious “Can Do” attitude. Beloved coach of Junior lifeguards. Respected leader of the Lifeguard competition team. FIOD’s de facto motivator. 

 

Upon hearing this news our staff is disheartened, confused, and dejected. We are disheartened to learn that our coworkers who all have remained steadfastly committed to performing their duties for a combined total of 100 years have not yet joined us this summer. We are confused as to the reasoning behind this decision. We are dejected as we realize that decades of our service can be severed abruptly - without so much as a phone call or letter. 

 

Collectively, we urge your office to consider all of the effects of purging senior leadership from our beaches. Firstly, we urge your office to consider how this decision will impact the morale of the entire staff. By deciding to not rehire the aforementioned staff, a shadow of doubt looms over every one of us as we realize their fate may be our own. We will no longer be able to recommend taking a position as a Town of Islip Ocean Lifeguard in good conscious as we consider that at any moment, for any reason, our positions may be taken away from us - even after 39 years of dedicated service. Secondly, by removing senior leadership we lose valuable years of experience that would be passed on to new lifeguards. This would undoubtedly handicap their development as Lifesaving professionals and jeopardize their future success and in turn the entire organization's future welfare.

 

In over 60 years of service, our department has built a legacy of excellence. This legacy rests on the shoulders of every lifeguard’s extraordinary commitment to being excellent watermen and women, the lifeguards listed above included. Over our history, the FIOD has performed thousands of rescues in challenging ocean surf without losing a single victim. We have responded to thousands of medical emergencies with limited resources and limited support, all without losing a single soul. In a line of work where success is measured by how many lives are saved, we have been nothing but successful. The success of this kind does not arrive by luck or chance. It is only achieved by a team with adequate skill, experience, and trust in one another. The lifeguards whom you’ve deemed unfit to rehire have skill and experience in spades, they also have our trust, and they are valued contributors to our team. 

 

 

As your office reconsiders the decision not to rehire the lifeguard's Carter Baron, Sam Lepore, Hana Lepore, Anthony Oliveto, and Craig Amarando, consider one question:

 

Will this help us save lives, or not?

 

 

We respectfully request an answer to this petition by Wednesday, June 26th, 10 am. We expect to see our fellow lifeguards promptly reinstated. 

 

Regards, 

FIOD Lifeguards & Friends