How the public can help save the 1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station – OBX Today

How the public can help save the 1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station - OBX Today
Standing Watch: Keeper James imagining he is on watch looking for the wandering wreck of the schooner Ephraim Williams. [Dan Westergren]

By James D. “Keeper James” Charlet

Do you want to be part of the heroic rescue of the 1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station? If so, ‘how to’ will be at the end. But first, a brief background.

How the 1898 Station Will Help Hatteras

The Outer Banks Coast Guard History Preservation Group, 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization has a distinct plan to save the 1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station and to make it multi-functional to benefit millions. Here is how it directly helps Hatteras Island.

One function is a Visitors Welcome Center. We receive nearly three million visitors annually crossing the Basnight Bridge – and THE first thing they see is the magnificent 1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station! Just being welcomed for the first time since 1870 will generate very positive feelings. This room will be full of brochures of businesses on the island. It is already helping just being there. This will also generate more visitors, both new and repeat.

There will be a large auditorium with a ball room and many smaller meeting rooms and labs. This will become a Conference Center for innumerable organizations, both nationally and internationally. Similarly, it will be an enormously appealing place for company or corporate retreats. It will attract educators, businessmen and women, scientists, sports persons, clubs and all manner of other groups…just look at where it is!

This will go on for most – if not all – of the year. Many of those folks will rent a vacation home. Most will eat at our restaurants. Most will shop at our businesses. They will rent beach items. They are bringing income to you. They are also bringing tax revenue to Dare County and the State of North Carolina. 

Yes, the envisioned 1898 Station will be a big help to Hatteras Island.

So, How Can Hatteras Island Help the 1898 Station?

THE biggest help Hatteras men and women can give is demonstrating public support. I will post this article on the nonprofit Outer Banks Coast Guard History Preservation Facebook page. If we get thousands of ‘likes’ and shares, it will be clear to all where we stand.

Overwhelming public support also attracts major sponsors – everybody wants to be associated with winners. On top of all that, we are talking about supporting and sponsoring heroes – and everybody loves a hero!

With very little time and effort, you can volunteer part-time for ne or more of the committees:

Outer Banks Coast Guard History Preservation Group

COMMITTEES

Accounting/Bookkeeping

Architect Search

Coast Guard Laison

Coordinator for “Oregon Inlet Village” and the “Outer Banks Coast Guard History-related Brotherhood”

Donations

Events

Exhibits

Fundraising/Finances

Grants

Historian

Insurance

IT Electronics

Maintenance

Memberships

Merchandise

Newsletter

Press Releases

Publicity

Repairs, Renovations, Restorations

Reservations

Sponsorships (a MAJOR area)

Visitor Center Manager

Volunteers

Website

Again, IF you would like to serve on one or more of these, please write to me at:

LifeSavingServiceOBX@gmail.com 

James D. “Keeper James” Charlet

Outer Banks Coast Guard History Preservation Group TM

Founder, Chairman & CEO