COUPEVILLE, Wash. — U.S. Sen. Patty Murray will be honored by Washington State University next Saturday for winning federal support to expand the successful WSU Beach Watchers volunteer program.
Sen. Murray is scheduled to attend the opening session of the annual Sound Waters: A One Day University on Whidbey Island on Saturday, Feb. 5, to accept the award. WSU officials and Beach Watcher representatives will present the honor at 9 a.m. in the Coupeville High School Performing Arts Center, 501 Main Street in Coupeville.
Sen. Murray’s advocacy on behalf of the Beach Watchers program resulted bipartisan Congressional support that is allowing the highly successful volunteer program to expand from its base in Island County to the shoreline counties of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, Clallam, Jefferson and San Juan.
Since the program was founded in 1989, 242 volunteers in Island County have become Beach Watchers by completing more than 100 hours of training through WSU Extension. In return, the volunteers commit to return at least 100 hours in community service. To date, Beach Watchers have returned more than 95,000 hours in volunteer service and public education to the community.
Sound Waters is an all-day program offering 60 different classes for the public taught by educators, authors, government officials and other experts, including a number of Beach Watcher volunteers. More than 400 people are registered to participate.
More information about the One Day University, and about the Island County Beach Watchers program, is available at www.beachwatchers.wsu.edu or by calling (360) 679-7327 or 321-5111 ext. 7327.
Sound Waters is sponsored by WSU Beach Watchers with support from Island County Marine Resources Committee, Island County Public Works, the Puget Sound Action Team, Sea Grant and Shell Oil Company.
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