Tuesday, December 22, 2009

How do we keep this year in perspective?

What a wild year for SOFTIN, and just about everyone else! Nonprofits are having a tough time and donations are generally declining. SOFTIN was able to buck that trend. Our revenues increased. The reason? Twofold, really. One is that people who understand the power of the sea… in terms of healing and in terms of being a place where change can happen… have come to SOFTIN’s aid with donations to fuel our program. The second reason is that we have worked very hard at attracting funding.

One of our fundraising enterprises was to begin what will be an annual car show. That was a boatload of work, but a truckload of fun. We are anxious for next year’s show (Sunday, July 25th, save the date.) which will be at the WWII Air Museum in the Camarillo Air Field). We’ll have hot rods, classics, low riders, trucks, motorcycles and bicycles, along with vendors and stuff for everyone (kids, too) to do. Thanks to the folks are the WWII Air Museum, there will be vintage war birds mixed in. Can you imagine a WWII fighter plane next to a 1940s classic car? Awesome!

SOFTIN’s Board of Directors put in a tremendous amount of volunteer work to provide direction, oversight and just good help. They help drive this boat and thanks to them we are on the right course.

For the staff, the most memorable part of the year has been providing services and giving hope to hundreds. We have memories of trips which bring a tear to our eyes every time we think about or talk about those profound heartwarming experiences. We helped people overcome trauma, work through disabilities and impairments. We helped families stay together and learn to have fun family adventures to break cycles of abuse. We are making a mark on this world and it is a wonderful mark. Thank you for sharing the story and I hope you will find ways to help.

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
SOFTIN
dbacon@softininc.org
www.softininc.org

PS: Our website (www.softininc.org) has buttons for Paypal and credit cards, to make donating easy.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Donations Keep SOFTIN working

Sharing good news makes my fingers quicker on the keyboard and right now I have happy fingertips. Two successive donations have helped SOFTIN to continue to provide services to our special-needs community.

$500: I put on a talk about SOFTIN at a meeting of a fishing club. These are boat people who understand the value of lessons learned at sea. After the meeting, a feller (who wishes to remain anonymous) came up to me and asked for my address so that he could send a check because he felt deeply touched by what we do for the disabled, impaired, victims of abuse, frail elderly and youths-at-risk. Two days later his check for $500 arrived in the mail. He lived up to his word and thanks to him, more services can be provided.

$1,603: In mid-November SOFTIN was invited to set up an information display for the corporate Charity Fair at FLIR Corporation, a high-tech company. I wrote a blog entry here at the time. We just received a letter from FLIR describing donations from employees, matching amounts from the company and an award from their community philanthropy fund. Along with the letter were checks totaling $1,603. Wow! There are plenty of special-needs people who are going to benefit greatly from this donation.

SOFTIN is SO thankful for these two generous donations, especially here at year-end. We get a little misty-eyed about such things. We are, after all, SOFTIN softies and this is the most meaningful work we have ever done.

Able to move forward,

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
SOFTIN
dbacon@softininc.org
www.softininc.org

PS: That address for donations is:
SOFTIN
691 Camino Campana
Santa Barbara, Ca 93111

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thankful for our opportunity to serve

Even in a year of worldwide economic woes SOFTIN has much to be thankful for on this day of Thanksgiving. Our funding level has suffered, yet our level of service grew substantially to our highest level yet. Our collaborations with other nonprofit organizations grow stronger. Our volunteers… from Vivy Vague selling family-made candles and baskets, to Dave Bacon (my son) working on illustrations for the Bentwing Books, to the many hours of loving labor our Board of Directors puts in… remain steadfast and dedicated to our mission of providing at-sea educational adventures to special-needs people.

It is a good Thanksgiving!

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
SOFTIN
dbacon@softininc.org
www.softininc.org

PS: We are planning for next year and I’m glad to have you with us.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Corporate Charity Fair a big hit

SOFTIN was invited to an unusual and wonderful event…. A corporate Charity Fair. FLIR Corporation in Goleta, California does this each year. For many years, the company funneled employee contributions and corporate contributions to one of the big national charity organizations. But at the request of a number of their employees who wanted to see their contributions go to helping a variety of nonprofit charitable organizations, FLIR management came up with a bright plan… invite numerous charities (ranging from very small to very large) to set up display tables at a 2-hour Charity Fair in the large and tastefully decorated company break room.

FLIR employees came in and talked with all of us, gaining helpful insight on all the wonderful charitable work being done locally, regionally and nationally. The employees even had a fun method of engaging in a raffle, based upon cards on which they gathered signatures from the nonprofit representatives they spoke with. Subsequently, FLIR awards donations to the various attending organizations.

The event was a positive and engaging experience for all. I doff my hat in admiration and appreciation to FLIR Corporation and especially to the staff members who worked very hard to create and manage the Charity Fair.

Working at SOFTIN is a joy,

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
SOFTIN
dbacon@softininc.org
www.softininc.org

Monday, November 2, 2009

Girding up for insurance renewal

We look forward to insurance renewals with some trepidation. Will the costs go up? Will the coverage go down? We are diligently working on coming up with tax-deductible donations to cover our insurance bill, anticipated to be near $1,700.

SOFTIN Directors firmly believe in the importance of insurance. We carry liability insurance to protect people and assets. We also carry a Directors and Officers policy to protect our people and or organization. Every nonprofit organization should put good insurance coverage high on the list of financial priorities. It is always best to do things right.

Keeping SOFTIN on the level,

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
SOFTIN
dbacon@softininc.org
www.softininc.org

Sunday, October 18, 2009

A teacher’s reward

As we teach our special-needs passengers about the wonders of the sea, about stewardship of our environment and how to perform tasks aboard a vessel, SOFTIN teachers find our rewards in many of the same feelings as shore side classroom teachers. It is the amazing feeling of taking a pupil from ignorance to understanding on any given topic. The profound feeling of accomplishment felt by the student is perfectly mirrored in the teacher.

It is a partnership… an agreement… a bond. On the student’s part, there is an acceptance of a teacher as one to learn from and a commitment to try to learn. On the teacher’s part, there is an acceptance of a void of knowledge to fill, skills to teach and a relationship to foster. When a pupil feels the joy of learning and a sense of accomplishment, the relationship bonds lights up with mutual accomplishment. The teacher is just as joyful as the student. At times, maybe more so.

Those are feelings worth living for and seem to be most powerful between special-needs kids and their teachers. Consequently, SOFTIN teachers are happy teachers.

Always for SOFTIN,

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
SOFTIN
dbacon@softininc.org
www.softininc.org

PS: SOFTIN teachers are always looking for more special-needs pupils. Contact Capt. Tiffany (805 574-9388) to join in on an educational adventure.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

On marlinspike seamanship for special-needs people

A look of self pride comes over anyone who masters a nautical knot or accomplishes some other form of marlinspike seamanship. But when a special-needs person learns well and demonstrates proficiency, the power of that feeling of accomplishment is a tangible and contagious feeling of joy.

Teaching ropes and knots and coils and such is one of the most important parts of SOFTIN’s curriculum of on-the-water educational adventures. At times the task is a bowline knot and at other times it may be a proper cleat hitch and flemish coil. No matter the task, marlinspike seamanship skills are something to be proud of and something to be admired. Self respect and a sense of accomplishment are the desired byproducts and it always seems to work.

SOFTIN passengers learn may things during the course of an adventure and seamanship lessons/skills have proven repeatedly to be among the most beneficial in terms of personal growth for the people we serve.

Inviting you to help,

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
SOFTIN
dbacon@softininc.org
www.softininc.org

To join in on a SOFTIN trip, special-needs people or their caregivers are invited to contact Capt. Tiffany Vague at: tvague@softininc.org

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Planning considerations for an educational adventure

The heart of SOFTIN is educational adventures for special-needs people. To make the most of an opportunity, the planning stages are vitally important. SOFTIN staff works closely with caregivers from family or collaborating agencies bringing the adventure-seekers to us for an excursion.

Some special-needs people have more in the way of special-needs than others. For some, fear of the unknown is a huge obstacle to a rewarding experience and one which requires one-on-one nurturing and comforting throughout the educational adventure. We rely on caregivers to give us the information we need to provide for special-needs and in many cases we rely on caregivers to come along so the passengers can remain within their comfort zone and thereby maximize the benefits of the journey.

Other special-needs people just need opportunities to expand their horizons. They are comfortable boarding a vessel, taking instruction and joining in the learning activities. The important thing is to learn about special needs in advance of the trip and prepare accordingly.

Once our preparations are complete and we have provided for everyone’s needs, we begin the fun part… Teaching enabling life skills and sense of self esteem to challenged special-needs people (including disabled, impaired, victims of abuse, frail elderly, youths-at-risk) though one-on-one, hands-on educational lessons and experiences at sea; practicing marlinspike seamanship; viewing, identification and monitoring of marine mammals and seabirds; demonstrating subsistence/recreational fishing skills focused on the principles of ethical angling; teaching ocean conservation values and water quality issues; learning about the people, infrastructure, vessel types and job/career opportunities among our waterfront communities; monitoring and educating the public and resource managers about sea life and habitat.

SOFTIN invites you to help,

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
SOFTIN
dbacon@softininc.org
www.softininc.org

PS: We do not charge our special needs passengers. Our work is to benefit them.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Seeking Support for a donated sailboat and berth

A generous couple in Santa Barbara… as previously reported here in our blog… has offered to donate a 25’ sailboat complete with a berth (slip) in the Santa Barbara Harbor. SOFTIN is seeking financial support to take possession of this wonderful service resource which we plan to use to provide sailing adventures to deserving people with disabilities, impairments, victims of abuse, frail elderly and youths-at-risk.

I estimate the combined value of the sailboat and slip to be $26,000. The first-year costs are estimated to be $15,000. In subsequent years, the costs will drop to a fraction of the first year costs, so the value will still be strongly positive, in terms of dollars and cents. In terms of service to the special-needs people we serve, the continuing value will be… well, priceless.

SOFTIN invites you to help,

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
SOFTIN
dbacon@softininc.org
www.softininc.org

PS: We do not charge our special needs passengers. Our work is to benefit them.

Friday, September 25, 2009

A surprising story about state government relations

I just had to share this story because it surprised and delighted me.

I try to find and follow all regulations and requirements. It takes some doing, considering the myriad requirements of city, county, state and federal government. After much research and sifting through conflicting information, I determined that we should have a sellers permit from the Ca Board of Equalization (BOE) because a very small amount of the income (a whopping $57) from our car show is actually taxable. So I went through the application process and got the durned thing right before the car show. Filing is quarterly, so I’ve been waiting for October to file. Meanwhile, I received two letters from the BOE notifying me that they require a $2,000 security deposit.

So I called them up, got to the right person (which was actually easier than I expected) and explained that we have $57 to pay taxes on, meaning that our total tax liability will be about 5 bucks. Therefore a $2,000 security deposit is way out of line and makes it unreasonable for me to comply with the regulations. You can imagine my surprise when the state of California understood my logic, agreed with me and waived the security deposit. They even invited me to call them up when I’m ready to file (about next week) and they will walk me through it the first time. These folks are downright reasonable and sociable!

Just had the share the good story,

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
SOFTIN
dbacon@softininc.org
www.softininc.org

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Seeking the perfect venue for SOFTIN’s next car show fundraiser

After such a rousing and fun car show fundraiser this year, SOFTIN’s Programs Manager, Capt. Tiffany Vague (tvague@softininc.org) is searching for the perfect venue for our next car show fundraiser. We have the date… Sunday, July 25, 2010, so mark your calendars and please plan to join the fun as a visitor or maybe enter your car. We will have a long list of show categories. Entries can be handled with Capt. Tiffany.

The location will probably be in the tri-counties area (Santa Barbara, Ventura or San Luis Obispo counties of California), but we may find a perfect place elsewhere. We expect more cars, more vendors, more fun things for kids to do and fun things for the adults, too. I’m thinking a dance contest might be fun, with music from the 50’s 60’s 70’s, 80’s 90’s and 2k tunes as well.

I hope you will be there!

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
SOFTIN
dbacon@softininc.org
www.softininc.org

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Porpoise and dolphins and other SOFTIN friends

Loud cheers and high excitement fill SOFTIN’s boat with joy whenever porpoise or dolphin are spotted during our educational adventures. This month we are spotting porpoise frequently as they lazily and at times playfully cruise along the coast – often just outside the surf zone – looking for their favorite forage fish. These fun and funny critters remind us of the old Flipper show and our special-needs passengers just love them.

Excitement runs high when common dolphins move inshore to chase bait fish. These high-energy critters swim fast and jump high, much to the delight of SOFTIN adventurers. The best part is when they gather around the bow of the WaveWalker (SOFTIN’s excursion vessel) and ride along with us.

Seals and sea lions are our constant companions around the harbor and we nearly always have a chance to visit them. Sea birds and shore birds are likewise ever-present partners on SOFTIN trips.

High adventure and good times await special-needs friends of SOFTIN. Do you know people with disabilities, impairments, and other special needs? Contact SOFTIN to arrange for an educational adventure they will grow from. Capt. Tiffany Vague organizes our trips. She can be contacted at tvague@softininc.org.

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
Seafaring Opportunities For Those In Need (SOFTIN), Inc.
dbacon@softininc.org
www.softininc.org

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

SOFTIN receives funding from Santa Barbara Yacht Club Women

Santa Barbara Yacht Club Women Foundation donated $1,200 to SOFTIN to fund educational adventures for special-needs kids. SOFTIN will work with collaborating organizations to identify recipients, based upon needs assessment or reward system, who will benefit from learning about the waterfront, various vessel types, ocean-related career opportunities, marine mammals, sea and shore birds, marlinspike seamanship, fishing, marine resource management, water quality management, marine debris prevention and the concept of becoming trusted shipmates.

The rewards of these educational adventures are profound and meaningful and SOFTIN thanks the Santa Barbara Yacht Club Women for making such adventures possible.

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
Seafaring Opportunities For Those In Need (SOFTIN), Inc.
dbacon@softininc.org
www.softininc.org

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Sailboat & Slip donated if SOFTIN can cover expenses

A kind and wonderful couple offered to donate their sailboat (a Cal 25’) and slip to SOFTIN. This allows us to add a significant and powerfully therapeutic service to SOFTIN’s program of providing at-sea educational and self-esteem building experiences to special needs people we serve.

We are thinking that once a passenger works through our curriculum aboard the WaveWalker (our existing service vessel), this allows an option for continuing education and adventure aboard the sailboat. This concept will provide both an incentive and reward for our passengers and give us the opportunity to help them grow and experience another dimension of adventure at sea, first-hand and hands-on. I can just picture their ear-to-ear grins as they haul on ropes, watch the wind fill the sails and feel the power of nature provide momentum.

The challenge facing us (and I hope you will help us with this) is a first year expense of roughly $14,500. Subsequent years will be less costly. The costs of the first year are weighted by slip transfer and other one-time fees. Our deadline for raising the funds is nearly November.

Always for SOFTIN,

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
Seafaring Opportunities For Those In Need (SOFTIN), Inc.
dbacon@softininc.org
www.softininc.org

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Invitation to make good things happen

SOFTIN has the capacity to establish and maintain collaborative relations with additional organizations which provide services to special-needs people. Our list of collaborators is impressive (YMCA, Parents of Special Education, Child Abuse Listening & Mediation, and others) and we have room for more. We invite and encourage contact from potential collaborators so that we can enrich lives by providing at-sea educational adventures.

Please make contacts for us, should you know of someone who works at such an organization. You can make good things happen for some very deserving people. Do you have special needs people in your family or circle of friends? Tell them about us and help them contact us.

Contact Capt. Tiffany Vague at tvague@softininc.org, to explore a collaborative relationship or to schedule educational adventures for special-needs people.

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
SOFTIN, Inc.
www.softininc.org

PS: We do not charge our special needs passengers. Our work is to benefit them.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Note of thanks for hosting our Board meeting

SOFTIN wants to offer a note of appreciation to Marriott of Ventura Beach for hosting a meeting, yesterday, of our Board of Directors. Allowing us use of a nicely appointed meeting room was a gracious and helpful contribution. The cookies, melon tray, coffee and water were very nice touches. This resort hotel is beautiful and staff members were friendly and helpful to a person. They even checked with us periodically to see if there was anything they could do to make our experience better. We couldn’t have been more pleased.

Our BoD meeting was quite productive. We voted in a new slate of Directors and Officers, listened to officer and committee reports, discussed our escalating services to special-needs people, reviewed our social networking plan, our fundraising event and laid plans for future fundraising and community awareness raising events. Finally, we discussed a sailboat and slip that a wonderful donor wants to give to SOFTIN to help us expand our services.

Life really is sweet when providing special services to special-needs people.

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director, SOFTIN
www.softininc.org
http://softininc.blogspot.com
dbacon@softininc.org
(805) 895-3273 (my cell phone to call and arrange a donation)

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Changing mentalities during a day of serving special-needs

Running consecutive trips for groups with vastly different special-needs can be a mental and emotional workout. Yesterday, for example… a grieving family came out with us. It wasn’t a case of a family member passing away. It was a case of the father having to leave to serve a jail term. The children and wife were suffering terribly and they needed a family educational adventure to have as a memory. They had a blast and built a beautiful memory together.

Minutes after they disembarked the next group came aboard… children at high risk as a result of their parents’ involvement in the drug culture. They came to us with therapists from our collaborating partner, Child Abuse Listening & Mediation (CALM). They children learned a great deal about part of the world they new little-to-nothing about.

The needs of these two specific groups were very different, yet each was a special need that SOFTIN is perfectly and uniquely positioned to fill with an at-sea educational, self esteem and skill building adventure. It gave the grieving family a time of togetherness and adventure to cherish during the forced separation. It gave the children at risk a look outside the box they usually live in, gave them a taste of adventure and a sense of what lifestyles they could strive to live and what waterfront or at-sea professions they could aspire to.

Meeting varied special-needs is challenging yet equally rewarding because we see so clearly that we are helping special needs people in profound and unique ways. We sure could use your help. Will you contact us and offer to help fund our work?

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director, SOFTIN
www.softininc.org
http://softininc.blogspot.com
dbacon@softininc.org(805) 895-3273 (my cell phone to call and arrange a donation)

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Car show community awareness event a success for SOFTIN

Hundreds of spectators had a blast admiring well over one hundred show cars decked out in stunning details and shining like a noonday sun at the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara. There were muscle cars with engine parts poking up above their hoods and every inch of engine compartment in use. There were classic cars which brought back many a wonderful memory for those of us old enough to remember playing in those cars. There were lowriders with amazing paint jobs and innovative modifications. There were custom-built bicycles that stopped spectators in their tracks. There was plenty to see.

There was plenty to do, as well. A live band, RedFish classic rock band, donated their time to play toe-tapping music inside the domed building the whole day and keep our spirits soaring. Two DJs (Mike “the Cholo” DJ performed as a volunteer and also handled the awards ceremony) played in different areas on the grassy areas outside the building. A fine showing of vendors gave car show owners and spectators alike plenty to shop for. A used book sale table offered attractions to avid readers. A silent auction provided a method for folks to support SOFTIN and buy wonderful goods, services and adventures. A kiddy corner – complete with fun and games – gave the little ones plenty of action and honed their game skills.

The show finished with a raffle drawing and trophy awards for the best show vehicles in dozens of classes. A truckload of trophies were awarded. We wished we had planned for one more category… not for show cars, but for the best dancers. One couple in particular, who did win a trophy for their truck, would also have left with a trophy for best dancers. They just couldn’t help but move to the music of RedFish inside and the DJs outside.

A heartwarming act of SOFTIN mission support brought tears to many an eye. Actually, two acts. The gentleman who won the 50/50 raffle (50/50 meaning that the prize was 50% of the raffle ticket sales money) put his winnings into the SOFTIN donation jug. The second act was when the same gentlemen won the other cash prize (donated along with a raffle prize) and also put that money into the donation jug. His name is withheld by request, otherwise we would shout his name from the rooftops. He’s our hero.

SOFTIN thanks our volunteers and the community (especially the car culture community) for their generous outpouring of support. Proceeds from SOFTIN events support our programs to provide at-sea education and skill-building adventures for the disabled, impaired, victims of abuse, frail elderly and youths-at-risk.

Capt. David Bacon
www.softininc.org
http://softininc.blogspot.com

Friday, July 24, 2009

Five battered families served by SOFTIN in one very special evening

Five families living under abusive conditions, and trying to break the patterns of abuse, had a chance for a healing adventure thanks to a special trip arranged by SOFTIN in collaboration with Capt. Jason Diamond, owner/operator of the vessel Stardust in Santa Barbara. A special “Thank you” to Capt. Jason and his crew, Sal and KC.

These families are in a special program, working with therapists from Child Abuse Listening & Mediation (CALM)… a collaborator of SOFTIN’s. CALM contacted SOFTIN and we put together a special evening trip for this large group.

The weather was perfect, seas were calm, critters were friendly and in wonderful abundance. A special treat was cruising slowly by a navigation buoy in use by nearly a dozen California sea lions hauled out and sunning themselves. We studied pinnipeds, shore birds and pelagic sea birds and plant life. We talked about local shipwrecks, conservation, water quality management, marine debris prevention and wildlife management as we taught the principles of ethical angling. The kids had a blast catching a releasing fish and it was readily apparent that some of them discovered a healthy outdoors hobby.

One of our volunteers noted that the children had come aboard with traces of sadness in their eyes, but left with smiling faces and eyes lit up with the joy of adventure.

Capt. David Bacon
http://www.softininc.org/
http://softininc.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Car Show FUNdraiser countdown

Final days of preparations brought many pleasant surprises for SOFTIN’s car show and silent auction, this Saturday (July 25th) at Santa Barbara’s Earl Warren Showgrounds at Las Positas offramp from the 101 freeway, 10:00am to 4:00pm. We have commitments from many car clubs to bring their gorgeous show cars… hotrods, classics, lowriders, trucks and even custom bicycles. We have good turnout from the vendor community with lots of goods and services represented. Stacks of great used books will be for sale at a special table. We’ll have games and plenty for kids to do. Adults and kids alike will enjoy listening to RedFish classic rock band. We expect two DJ’s to mix music, games, fun and announcements. Take a chance on a valuable raffle. A huge rack of trophies will be awarded to the best show cars, trucks and bicycles. Judging will be done by professionals. Food and drinks are available at the concession stand in the dome.

We’re ready to roll out a great show. All we need now is a solid turnout from the community. Please plan to come and generously support SOFTIN’s programs. If you are unable to attend, please consider supporting SOFTIN by using the Donate Now button here on SOFTIN’s blogspot page.

Capt. David Bacon
www.softininc.org
http://softininc.blogspot.com

PS: More detailed information about the car show/silent auction is at: http://www.softininc.org/SOFTIN/Fundraising_Event.html

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Boat work... the other full time SOFTIN job

Anything that has to do with boats comes with a hidden agenda… boat work. SOFTIN’s good deeds are no exception. For every hour spent with our special-needs passengers, there is an hour and a half worth of boat work to do.

A SOFTIN day begins at the office getting the paperwork ready and progresses to the boat well in advance of the time we plan to meet the passengers. The boat must be cleaned and made safe and presentable inside and out (even though it may have been cleaned after a trip the day before… there are birds around the harbor, don’t ya know). Life vests must be checked. Curriculum supplies must be checked and stowed in a readily-accessible location. There must be time to check the boat’s electrical systems, navigational and hazard avoidance systems and steering. We start and warm up the motors, while listening to the latest reports on the marine radio station. We begin the passenger manifest and prepare the mandatory paperwork for the passengers or their caregivers to read, fill-out and sign.

Now the real fun begins. Once the passengers arrive the crew is thoroughly enjoying ourselves meeting and getting to know the people, fitting life vests and giving a safety orientation so that everyone feels and behaves safely. Now we get to cast off and work through our curriculum, tailored to meet the special needs of this particular group of people. We are flexible enough to bring the adventure to life for the people we serve.

After the trip and the passengers leave, more boat work remains. We go to the fuel dock, fill up and return to the slip. We write logs and file paperwork. We stow safety gear and curriculum materials where they belong. We clean the boat again, just as thoroughly as before the trip. Finally we lock up the vessel and go back to the office to catch up on business matters and line up more SOFTIN excursions before going home to a much-needed meal and a well-deserved night’s sleep.

There may be a lot to it, but SOFTIN work is bliss because it is deeply touching to help special needs people so profoundly.

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
SOFTIN, Inc.
www.softininc.org
www.softininc.blogspot.com

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

SOFTIN's Needs

SOFTIN has some immediate needs and also ongoing needs you may hopefully be able to help with.

IMMEDIATE NEEDS:
Our major fundraiser and community awareness raiser event, a car show and silent auction, is coming right up… Saturday, July 25th at Earl Warren Showgrounds at the 101 freeway and Las Positas offramp in Santa Barbara. The show runs from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Our needs are for donated items of value for the silent auction. Can you help? Please send items (shipped to arrive before July 25th) to SOFTIN’s offices at 691 Camino Campana, Santa Barbara, Ca 93111. Your donations will help support SOFTIN’s programs for disabled, impaired, victims of abuse, frail elderly and youths-at-risk.

We want to see a great community turnout, so please exercise your own social networking capabilities to help us get the community there.


ONGOING NEEDS:
The educational adventure programs of SOFTIN require cash funding. Please help. There is a Paypal button on this blogspot page. We can also accept credit card deposits. Just call us at (805) 895-3273 to arrange your donation. Please mail checks (made out to SOFTIN, Inc.) to us at: 691 Camino Campana, Santa Barbara, Ca 93111.

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director
http://www.softininc.org/
http://softininc.blogspot.com

PS: Expect to owe state or federal taxes? You can give money to SOFTIN to reduce your tax burden. And we'll do GOOD works with your money!

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Our mission and curriculum, your mission

Our Mission Statement

With funding from the public, SOFTIN enables the disabled, builds self-esteem in the physically and mentally impaired, helps victims of abuse overcome trauma, assists elderly in living fuller lives, educates children and teaches troubled youth the values of nature, conservation and community spirit... all through unique and tailored at-sea learning/research experiences.

Curriculum specifics (short version)

Teaching enabling life skills and sense of self esteem to challenged special-needs people (including disabled, impaired, victims of abuse, frail elderly, youths-at-risk) though one-on-one, hands-on educational lessons and experiences at sea; practicing marlinspike seamanship; viewing, identification and monitoring of marine mammals and seabirds; demonstrating subsistence/recreational fishing skills focused on the principles of ethical angling; teaching ocean conservation values and water quality issues; learning about the people, infrastructure, vessel types and job/career opportunities among our waterfront communities; monitoring and educating the public and resource managers about sea life and habitat.


Your Mission Statement

Help us help them. Your tax deductible donation to SOFTIN, Inc. will enrich the lives of the disabled, impaired, victims of abuse, elderly and youths-at-risk we serve. Give them educational experiences and skills that they would otherwise never gain. Imagine the nurturing power of close interaction with the creatures of the sea – mammals, birds, fish, shellfish and plants. Imagine their joy of learning life-enriching knowledge and skills including reading the signs of weather, monitoring various marine life, fishing, working with ropes, learning to use charts/maps and understanding the lifestyle and career possibilities of the waterfront community. Finally, imagine the genuine and profound appreciation of the special people we serve and empower to live fuller lives. Our mission is made possible by your mission. Give generously and do it now because the need is now.

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director, SOFTIN
http://www.softininc.org/
http://softininc.blogspot.com

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Foster care kids - serving a disability of neglect

Disabilities and impairments come in many forms, some are difficult to fathom but just as real as a leg that cannot support weight. One such condition we see on SOFTIN trips is a disability caused by neglect. From among the various groups we serve, this is most readily apparent among foster kids. The sad truth is that too many foster parents are in it for the monthly check and the kids suffer from lack of homespun education and familial experiences They struggle with who they are and what they are capable of. These are the forgotten kids of our society and become our youths-at-risk.

I’m happy to report that not all foster parents are like that, and we can see tremendous differences among foster care kids. During our trips, we strive to serve the needs of each individual as can only be done in small group settings with nearly one-on-one caregiving.

Seafaring Opportunities For Those In Need (SOFTIN), Inc., adjusts our curriculum differently to meet the needs of the physically disabled, or the mentally impaired, or terminally ill, or neglected kids. When foster care kids come aboard, we give them a great deal of personal attention, listen to them when they share their own stories, and focus on the educational aspect of our trips. We also strive to help create that important emotional connection to the critters of the sea, which becomes a very healing force.

Interestingly, foster kids tend to focus most attentively (and more so than any other group) on our talks about job and career opportunities along the waterfront and at sea. What they are capable of and what they can accomplish in their lives are areas where they have commonly had the least adult input yet have the greatest hunger for knowledge. By feeding that hunger for information and knowledge, we empower them to see themselves in satisfying professional roles such as Coast Guard crew, Harbor Patrol Officers, vessel-for-hire crew and eventually captain, commercial fishers, oil rig workers, chandlery clerks, waterfront custodians, seafood chefs and numerous other seafaring positions.

By inviting foster care kids to see themselves in these positions, they feel empowered to develop and believe in a professional goal. In turn, this motivates them to become academic achievers and have a dream to believe in and work towards. And that… is the greatest lesson we can possibly teach.

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
SOFTIN, Inc.
www.softininc.org
http://softininc.blogspot.com

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Public service announcements for car show

We are getting good publicity for SOFTIN's car show & silent auction, sceduled for Saturday, July 25th at Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara (101 fwy and Los Positas exit).

During the weeks before the event, the following radio stations/shows have agreed to air our Public Service Announcements:
KZSB
Fish Talk
KDB
KMIX
Gold Coast
KVTA
KDAR
KRUZ
Magic

This list is a work-in-progress and we anticipate adding to the list.

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
Seafaring Oppotunities For Those In Need (SOFTIN), Inc.
dbacon@softininc.org
http://www.softininc.org/

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Special preparations for special adventures with special-needs people

Preparing for a SOFTIN trip is such a special time for the crew. Sure, there is always the boat preparation work to do because we run a clean and tidy vessel, but we also go through an emotional preparedness process that begins with eager anticipation.

Eagerness stems from knowing we are preparing to help people gain profound experiences by connecting them with nature and sea critters in a new (to them) environment. You see…very few of the special needs people we serve have experience on boats. This is new, wild and a little intimidating at first. So we prepare ourselves to be calming influences and earn our passengers trust by interacting directly and openly and by showing seagoing competence. The kids are generally pretty quick to recognize us as trustworthy people and that helps tremendously as they work to feel comfortable on a moving boat.

We prepare the passengers by talking to them about the boat and the sea and telling them stories, as we fit their life preservers and take care of paperwork. We provide a brief safety orientation and then we cast off. Once free from shore… the adventure begins!
You can learn more about the adventure by visiting our website, www.softininc.org. While visiting, please check out the page about our car show/silent auction fundraising event.

Monday, June 29, 2009

What tugs at our heartstrings

Sharing something that just tugs at my heartstrings… when a severely impaired child disembarks -- after having an educational adventure so inspiring that the child forgets all about impairments for a couple of hours and becomes a happy kid interacting with the critters of the sea -- gets about halfway up the ramp to the marina gate, turns back, ambles quickly back down to the SOFTIN crew, wraps arms around us and says, “Thank you. I had fun and I want to go again.”

The SOFTIN crew has been deeply touched by many such emotional displays of honest and unrestrained feelings. After wards, we share a good cry together and thank heavens for being able to do such wonderful good work.

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
SOFTINwww.softininc.org

Friday, June 26, 2009

Car show page added to SOFTIN's website

SOFTIN's website has been updated to include a special page for our car show and silent auction fundraiser, scheduled for July 25th at Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara. The page URL is: http://www.softininc.org/SOFTIN/Fundraising_Event.html

You are encouraged to visit our website and also attend our fun fundraiser.

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
SOFTIN, Inc.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Paypal donations now enabled!


Paypal donations are now enabled. Please help us keep Softin a reality for those in need!



Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Paypal installed to facilitate online donations

We just completed installation of a Paypal account to make it easier for helpful folks to donate to SOFTIN. The username needed for donating is: dbacon@softininc.org

Your donations make life enriching experiences available for special needs people.

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
SOFTIN, Inc.
www.softininc.org

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Letter of support for SOFTIN from C.A.L.M.

Letter of Recommendation for SOFTIN

Of all the special-needs people SOFTIN serves, perhaps the most complex are victims of abuse and troubled families in need of direction. In an earlier blog entry, I listed some of our collaborating partners. One is Child Abuse Listening & Mediation (CALM). These good folks provide highly specialized services to traumatized children who have suffered from abuse and neglect and to families in need of help to regroup and move forward in a positive and nurturing manner. SOFTIN is proud to help CALM provide meaningful experiences and opportunities for growth to the people we serve collaboratively.

Below is a letter of recommendation and support for SOFTIN, written recently by the Executive Director of CALM.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 4, 2009

To whom it may concern:

In the course of our work here at CALM we work with children that have been neglected, exposed to violence and abused. Often they have few areas in which they feel competent. I can’t express what a joy it has been to witness the changes that occur in children when they are given the opportunity to have hands-on learning and fun such as that provided by SOFTIN. The at-sea experiences have been a once in a life time adventure for the children and families that we serve. It has been so beneficial because our mission is to prevent child abuse; providing parenting education and promoting positive experiences among family members. After one of our families went on one of Captain Dave’s trips she wrote that it was the best experience that their family ever had together.

We will certainly continue our ongoing collaborative relationship and it is with pleasure that I lend CALM’s support to SOFTIN.

Sincerely

Cecilia Rodriguez MFT
Executive Director
CALM
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
SOFTIN, Inc.
http://www.softininc.org/

PS: We reach out for people to serve, through networks of good people. Do you know of a special-needs child? Do you know of an organization who serves special-needs people? Please send them our way.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Interaction among special-needs kids

SOFTIN’s crew of experienced at-sea educators uses every observational tactic available to assess the effectiveness of an educational adventure on each and every passenger as we work through our curriculum. We’ve learned some really useful techniques and tactics.

One valuable assessment tool is observing interaction between children. Here is what we’ve learned and the approach we’ve developed… special-needs kids typically have an emotional shell they have carefully built up. We recognize it when they come aboard withdrawn, quiet and with little eye-contact. These kids often remain in this mode while we cruise the harbor and give informative talks about the various vessels, structures, points of interest and how the waterfront functions as a community. This works out very well because they quietly soak up all of this information, as evidenced by how they recite some of what they have learned as we cruise back into the harbor at the end of the trip.

Once we begin introducing them to the critters of the sea, things change rapidly. These critters… seals, sea lions, dolphins, cormorants, loons, seagulls and pelicans (including our greatest friend, Bentwing the disabled brown pelican) help us break through the emotional shells. When the youngsters begin interacting with the critters (making sea lion sounds, cheering the dolphins, feeding the birds and other fun stuff), the truly magic moment occurs. They come busting out of their shells and become emotionally normal; happy, fully-engaged, laughing, sharing with the other kids.

This is one of the key things we watch for… how well the kids interact with one another. We’ve learned that once the kids share and play, they are having an exceptionally rare (for them) opportunity to forget their issues. We call it, “living large outside the shell”. Caregivers accompanying the children recognize it to, and they visibly relax and celebrate.

The education and adventure our program provides is wonderfully beneficial, but the carefully-crafted opportunity to “live large outside the shell” is precious.

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director
http://www.softininc.org/

Monday, June 15, 2009

The real story of SOFTIN is stories of people we serve

The real story of SOFTIN is about the changes we bring about in the special-needs people we serve. SOO many have tugged at my heartstrings, but here is a story that has played out similarly many times over, yet always subtly differently because people are all individuals.

Little Stella is an autistic child of six, who came aboard the WaveWalker on a SOFTIN trip, accompanied by her Mom. Stella was having a tough time developing a comfort level with the new experience. She came aboard timid, withdrawn with arms folded and making no eye contact with anyone. She was shaking her head, murmering to herself and periodically asking Mom to take her home. Mom held her, comforted her and quietly insisted she try this for a little while.

As the excursion began, the SOFTIN crew of Ramona Lisa and Capt. Tiffany talked with her and the other passengers about the different kind of boats in the harbor and what each kind of boat is used for. They played color games by pickiing out certain colors. Next they played shapes games. Then everyone picked out boat names they liked. We cruised the harbor and looked at Coast Guard vessels, Harbor Patrol boats, research vessels and others.

We pointed out the critters of the waterfront... harbor seals, night herons, seagulls, cormorants and pelicans. We told the story of Bentwing, the disabled (from birth) brown pelican who made his disability his strength, became a useful member of the waterfront community and likes himself just the way he is. We found Bentwing that day and Stella fed him a fish. Stella and Bentwing liked each other very much.

Next we visited California sea lions hauled out on a buoy outside the harbor. Stella yelled and waved at them and made sounds like they made. We tried a little fishing nearby and Stella caught her first fish. We taught her about it, how it lives and how important clean water is to that fish. Stella learned to thank the fish for the wiggle and let it go.

On the cruise back into the harbor. Stella was excited, animated and talked to everyone aboard about how much fun it was to catch a fish, to feed a pelican and to name all the seagulls.

Back at the dock, Mom expressed her amazement at Stella's progress in just a few hours. Mom appreciated our work so much that she volunteered to help SOFTIN any way she could. We can always use good help. As for Stella... she had a stellar day and didn't want to leave the boat because she had found something to love doing and had made an emotional connection with the critters of the sea. She hugged each of us and loudly proclaimed she wanted to go again. Mom had to pick her up and carry her to get her to leave. Watching them walk up the ramp to go home, with Stella waving at us, all of us were wiping tears from our own cheeks. How could we not?

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director
http://www.softininc.org/

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Collaborations to be proud of

We at SOFTIN are proud to have strong collaborations with organizations who bring us the special-needs people they serve. Working together we can do so much more with so much less resource... all to the benefit of the people we are here to serve.

Here are some of our collaborative parters:

Channel Islands YMCA: Noah's Anchorage for youth at risk

Channel Islands YMCA: Isla Vista Teen Center

Child Abuse Listening & Mediation (CALM)

Parents of Special Education

Challengers (a youth sports league for disabled and impaired kids)

Social Services of Kern County (bringing us Foster Kids)

Social Services of Santa Barbara County (soon to be bringing us Foster Kids)

We also collaborate with the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) to offer additional educational experiences to the people we serve. SBMM allows SOFTIN to give free Museum passes to our passengers.

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director,
SOFTIN, Inc.

PS: We welcome collaborative relations. If you are involved with an organization providing services to special-needs people, let's discuss how we can work together.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

FUNdraiser - car show & silent auction 7-25-09

SOFTIN's first major fundraising and community awareness raising event is a car show and silent auction, Saturday, July 25th 10:00am to 4:00pm at the Earl Warren Showgrounds located at Las Positas and the 101 freeway in Santa Barbara (3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, Ca 93130 for you GPS navigators).

Please come for the fun and to support the work of SOFTIN to bring at-sea education and personal growth experiences to the special-needs community. 100% of the proceeds from the event will benefit our program for disabled, impaired, victims of abuse, elderly and youths-at-rick. Admission is $10 at the entrance. Parking is expected to be $3.

A great number of car clubs from the southwest are coming to support our cause and show their cars. All car and truck types will be on display. A special section (and trophies) for custom bicycles is planned as a special treat.

Speaking of treats, we will have a live band (Redfish) inside and a DJ outside. We'll have vendor booths filled with goodies and representing supporting businesses. We are gathering lots and lots of used books for a big book sale. The silent auction will be stocked with goodies ranging in value from a few bucks on up to thousands. SOFTIN loves kids and we plan to have fun things for the youngsters to do, so bring the whole family and enjoy the day while supporting SOFTIN.

When you get hungry, famous Woody's is the concessionaire at Earl Warren's Showgrounds and Woody's can fix you up with some good grub.

Our sponsors thus far are: Toyota of Santa Barbara and Redfish. We welcome additional sponsors. We have sponsorship packages of $500, $1,000, $2500 and $5,000. Please contact Capt. Tiffany Vague at tvague@softininc.org.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Here is how SOFTIN does our work

Here is how SOFTIN works. We do put together groups of special-needs individuals for our educational adventures, however we primarily collaborate with other nonprofits or government/educational agencies who serve the same special needs community... disabled, impaired, victims of abuse, frail elderly and youths-at-risk.

Those organizations or agencies choose from among the people they serve, based upon a needs analysis, rewards system, or whatever is best for them. They bring us 4 or 5 passengers plus 1 or 2 caregivers (for a maximum of 6, our legal limit). We provide our comprehensive curriculum on the water and then the organizatons take the passengers home.

Note that you can find our curriculum on our website, http://www.softininc.org/. Most trips run 2 to 2.5 hours, however we tailor our curriculum, including time, according to the needs of the specific group of passengers.

We operate out of Santa Barbara Harbor and we have expansion plans as funding allows. Also on our website you will find our contact info. Perhaps you have a family member who qualifies? Are you part of an organization serving the same people and would like to collaborate? Will you make a tax-deductible donation? All are welcome reasons to contact us. Or, to express your support (which you can do here as a comment).

Our needs are for special-needs people to serve and funding. We do the rest. SOFTIN's crew is made up of seagoing professionals with backgrounds in working with special-needs people, especially kids.

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director

Introducing SOFTIN, Inc.

Seafaring Opportunities For Those In Need (SOFTIN), Inc., was started in August '07 to provide at-sea education, skill building and self esteem building experiences and adventures to those who need to most... disabled, impaired, victims of abuse, frail elderly and youths-at-risk. We have been providing our services since day 1. We receieved our 501c3 status July 1, '08.

We have a broad curriculum to teach as much as we can, but the underlying focus to establish an emotional connection with the critters of the sea. When that magic moment happens, these previously withdrawn and fearful kids bust out of their emotional shells and become excited, animated and happy-go-lucky kids for the rest of the trip. It is an astounding and joyful transformation.

Myself, along with my co-founders (Capt. Tiffany Vague, Ramona Lisa McFadyen and Debbi Bencomo), are known to frequently shed a tear over the profound work we do and the emotional expressions of gratitude from our special needs passengers. We are fortunate to have a Board of Directors fully engaged and helpful. That is a blessing.

Please visit our website at http://www.softininc.org/ and visit our Facebook page listed as Seafaring Opportunities For Those In Need.

Capt. David Bacon
Executive Director

PS: We do not charge our special needs passengers. Our work is to benefit them.