As an organization we did some amazing things in 2013, thanks to the dedication and support of each end every one of our volunteer Patrollers and our unpaid Patrol Directors group. Here is a brief review.
The year started off early with us supporting a fundraiser with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and participating in a community safety meeting in January.
We worked closely with the SFPD and organizers of the March 4 Equality, aptly enough held in March and we provided safety information and guidance to students at SFSU alongside SF SAFE in April.
We supported MCC when they asked us to assist in providing safety support at a meeting of SF PRIDE which was to discuss the controversial Bradley Manning nomination in May, and June was hectic as usual with Pink Saturday but all the more so as we were out in force to provide support to SFPD and organizers of the Day of Decision, when the US Supreme Court provided their ruling regarding CA Proposition 8.
We conducted some outreach to sister COPS group, Stonewall Patrol, in San Diego, participating in their PRIDE celebration parade in July, and we also initiated and participated in a large community safety event held at Eureka Valley Recreation Center with Supervisor Wiener, DA Gascon, Chief Suhr, and SF SAFE.
October was the famous Castro Street Fair, and we were proud to once again assist CSF by fulfilling the traditional safety role we have undertaken for more than four years with them now.
Along with these special events, of course we also fielded 77 patrols throughout the year, contributing a total of 1,356 hours of time to the community.
Education and awareness is a large focus for us, so we hosted three community self-defense seminars throughout the year. The most successful took place at Magnet in the heart of the Castro with over 25 people in attendance on November 11.
A class attendee practices a self-defense technique
We also founded and nurtured the Castro Business Watch (CBW) program in close cooperation with SF SAFE and SFPD Mission Station.
We eagerly look forward to accomplishing more in 2014 with your help and continued support.