WaterColor – Western Lake Rescue
Posted 04-26-2009 at 01:20 PM by murray
Tags employee, jarrod zerangue, watercolor
WaterColor – Western Lake Rescue
April 25, 2009
By Murray Balkcom
As my morning was coming to a close, kayaking on Western Lake, in the distance I noticed a canoe overturned with two people in the water, clinging on to the ends of the canoe. Already heading to the scene, to offer assistance in the WaterColor wooden motorboat was WaterColor BoatHouse employee, Jarrod Zerangue. He had a small crew on board and had been touring them around Western Lake when he saw the couple in distress. Jarrod motored up beside the overturned canoe, and saw that the couple were wearing their life jackets, and were okay. Jarrod’s boat was quickly blown away from the stranded canoe. Jarrod turned the controls of the wooden motorboat over to capable hands, then proceeded to jump overboard, still in uniform, to offer assistance to the stranded couple. Jarrod had not seen this happen before, nor had I, and I had no idea what Jarrod was going to do, other than help them swim it to the shoreline and wait to be picked up. I’m sure the couple in the water was glad to see him swim over to their canoe to offer assistance.
When I approached the canoe, the new captain of the WaterColor motorboat, had also pulled up beside the still overturned canoe. I paddled my kayak between the canoe and the motorboat, and we all assisted the couple, using my kayak as a platform to climb aboard the motorboat. Jarrod, still in the water holding onto the canoe filled with water,
was able to touch bottom, as we had been pushed by the wind into shallower water. I jumped in and together, Jarrod and I managed to flip the canoe, emptying the water, before turning it right side up. We tied the canoe to another kayak, and paddled it back to the dock, while Jarrod jumped back on board his vessel, and motored everyone else back to the WaterColor dock. All were happy, without injury, though a little wet, yet refreshed from the cool water of Western Lake.
Often in a large resort the size of WaterColor, employees who deal face-to-face with the owners and guests have to make many split-second executive decisions, and many of the good decisions go unrecognized by middle and upper management. It is very likely that no one outside the WaterColor BoatHouse and BikeBarn knows what Jarrod did today, nor do they likely realize the gratitude that this rescued couple has for Jarrod’s quick action on the water. I’m sure he didn’t jump in Western Lake to impress his employer. That which an employee does while the employer is not looking speaks volumes for the employee. You can tell so much by one’s actions when no one else is around. Jarrod jumped in to help the couple because he obviously cares about others, and in my opinion, that characteristic is what makes an exceptionally great employee for any company. I would hope that all people who were faced with the situation which Jarrod faced, would react in a similar way, but I highly doubt that would be the case. If this was a test, Jarrod Zerangue passed with a perfect score. Jarrod, thank you for being the type of person I want in my community.
April 25, 2009
By Murray Balkcom
As my morning was coming to a close, kayaking on Western Lake, in the distance I noticed a canoe overturned with two people in the water, clinging on to the ends of the canoe. Already heading to the scene, to offer assistance in the WaterColor wooden motorboat was WaterColor BoatHouse employee, Jarrod Zerangue. He had a small crew on board and had been touring them around Western Lake when he saw the couple in distress. Jarrod motored up beside the overturned canoe, and saw that the couple were wearing their life jackets, and were okay. Jarrod’s boat was quickly blown away from the stranded canoe. Jarrod turned the controls of the wooden motorboat over to capable hands, then proceeded to jump overboard, still in uniform, to offer assistance to the stranded couple. Jarrod had not seen this happen before, nor had I, and I had no idea what Jarrod was going to do, other than help them swim it to the shoreline and wait to be picked up. I’m sure the couple in the water was glad to see him swim over to their canoe to offer assistance.
When I approached the canoe, the new captain of the WaterColor motorboat, had also pulled up beside the still overturned canoe. I paddled my kayak between the canoe and the motorboat, and we all assisted the couple, using my kayak as a platform to climb aboard the motorboat. Jarrod, still in the water holding onto the canoe filled with water,
was able to touch bottom, as we had been pushed by the wind into shallower water. I jumped in and together, Jarrod and I managed to flip the canoe, emptying the water, before turning it right side up. We tied the canoe to another kayak, and paddled it back to the dock, while Jarrod jumped back on board his vessel, and motored everyone else back to the WaterColor dock. All were happy, without injury, though a little wet, yet refreshed from the cool water of Western Lake.
Often in a large resort the size of WaterColor, employees who deal face-to-face with the owners and guests have to make many split-second executive decisions, and many of the good decisions go unrecognized by middle and upper management. It is very likely that no one outside the WaterColor BoatHouse and BikeBarn knows what Jarrod did today, nor do they likely realize the gratitude that this rescued couple has for Jarrod’s quick action on the water. I’m sure he didn’t jump in Western Lake to impress his employer. That which an employee does while the employer is not looking speaks volumes for the employee. You can tell so much by one’s actions when no one else is around. Jarrod jumped in to help the couple because he obviously cares about others, and in my opinion, that characteristic is what makes an exceptionally great employee for any company. I would hope that all people who were faced with the situation which Jarrod faced, would react in a similar way, but I highly doubt that would be the case. If this was a test, Jarrod Zerangue passed with a perfect score. Jarrod, thank you for being the type of person I want in my community.
Total Comments 8
Comments
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Nice!Posted 04-26-2009 at 01:45 PM by Dune-AHH
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WaterColor is fortunate to employ Jarrod. Thanks for posting and for your help, Murray. Great job, Jarrod!!! Very impressive. The SoWal community is lucky to have great citizens and workers who really care about others.Posted 04-26-2009 at 02:29 PM by DuneLaker
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Excellent happy ending!!!Posted 04-26-2009 at 02:29 PM by kurt 
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Great story! Thank you for sharing and glad all are well!Posted 04-26-2009 at 09:38 PM by Lynnie
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Thanks for posting WaterColor is fortunate to have such an employee as Jarrod. and our community is fortunate to have you both!Posted 04-27-2009 at 05:32 AM by goodwitch58
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Added to SoWal.com home page.Posted 04-27-2009 at 08:31 AM by kurt
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Well, I would hope that Jarod and you would be around should I ever find myself in this situation. Great job!Posted 04-30-2009 at 07:19 AM by kathydwells
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Good work.Posted 05-01-2009 at 12:16 PM by missredfox
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