Former Mariners and Friends, 

Our beloved Mariner Sea Scouting program in Dana Point needs some assistance to get through the COVID-19 halt in activity and funding gap.  Although regular programing has been put on hold, the cost of boat maintenance and slip fees continue.  It's incredible to consider that the Mariner fleet has grown to over 50 vessels and during a regular season positively impacts 100s of teenagers.  

Please assist with a donation that will assure the Mariners and the entire fleet of vessels are in working order once the "fair winds" flag is raised! 

Thank you!   Shawn Wehan, Mariner '87-'93.

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Recent letter from Skip:

Dear Friends,

I wrote you in December that it had been a difficult year.  I had no idea then how much more difficult it was to become. I write you now to ask for help!  I appeal for your financial support.  The Pandemic now threatens our survival because like so many other institutions our income is severely restricted while our expenses mainly continue.  Let me explain.   Over the years, I shepherded the growth of the Mission Viejo High School Sailing Club from its founding to the Sea Scout and Community Sailing Programs of today.  Initially, funding was provided by dues and the recycling of old newspapers.  Over the 42 years since I began, financial support had grown to become a complex stream of dues, fees, grants and individual donations.  Revenue is now stripped of its dues, fees and probably its grants.  Expenses such as dock fees, insurance and taxes continue.  As the Pandemic storm threatens our youth and their families, we have battened down the hatches, lashed down all of our equipment and gone almost totally virtual.  Survival until the Virus is overcome depends on reserves and individual donations.

In this newsletter, I reach out to you, the youths, parents, adult advisers, friends and donors whose email addresses we have saved or found during these 42 years.  I appeal for your financial support if you are able.  I also appeal for your help in making contact with lost friends as well.  Contact with many of those touched by Mariners has been lost over the years.  However, the advent of social media has brought about a way in which you through contacting friends can help us reconnect bonds formed - oh so many years ago.  If you know someone who desires to be reconnected or connected, please have them send their email address to skipwehan@fea.net.

The last 42 years have been a team effort.  Together not only have we provided so much fun, social bonding, instruction and a safe environment in which to spend teenage years for thousands of youths but we have been a major factor in the development of their character, leadership skills and confidence.  We emphasized that love is the best approach to meeting the challenges of life.  We can resume providing this extremely valuable community service once the danger imposed by the Covid-19 virus has been brought under control.  Our challenge is to survive until that day comes.  This too must be a team effort

Thank you!  Your efforts have been, are and will be greatly appreciated.

Fair winds and following seas,
Jim "Skip" Wehan