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Werner recognized as the 2020 NASBLA Northern Region Educator of the Year

By Taylor Matsko posted 11-24-2020 11:45 AM

  


Werner recognized as the 2020 NASBLA Northern Region Educator of the Year
*This is a transcript of the "2020 Northern Region Educator of the Year Winner Recognized" video from the virtual recognition ceremony on Tuesday, November 10th, 2020.

DARREN RIDER:

Hello everyone! We hope you all are staying safe and healthy during these times. I feel honored to have the opportunity today to share some of the achievements of one of the 2020 NASBLA Award winners. Since the 2020 NASBLA Annual Conference was held virtually this year, we were unable to recognize all of the award winners. 

So, today, we are meeting again virtually to recognize and show our appreciation to one of the 2020 NASBLA award winners!

Numerous individuals and organizations assist NASBLA in various ways throughout the year. To show our appreciation for this invaluable assistance, NASBLA recognizes outstanding individuals and groups for their contributions to recreational boating safety through its awards program.

Generously sponsored by Fresh Air Educators and Kalkomey, the Pamela S. Dillon Educator of the Year Award was launched by NASBLA in 2011 to recognize those who go above and beyond to engage students and boaters, raise awareness, and make boating education initiatives relevant, thorough and exciting.

The 2020 Northern Region Boating Educator of the Year award is presented to Richard Werner with Safe Boating America.

Richard Werner is a U.S. Coast Guard licensed Master and the owner of Safe Boating America, a safety education company based out of Bethpage, New York. Safe Boating America consists of 17 instructors who teach more than 7,500 students annually throughout New York State and Connecticut. The company will soon be extending their services to the state of Florida.

As one of New York’s most active instructors, Werner has been certified to teach the New York State Safe Boating Course since 2004. Over the course of the past 16 years, Werner has delivered boating education to over 12,000 students in more than 350 sessions. His vibrant teaching style and successful use of visual aids has resulted in engaged students who ultimately become safer boaters on the water.

Perhaps the most notable of Werner’s contributions to New York’s boating community during this past year was his involvement in the passage of Brianna’s Law. Brianna’s Law requires boating safety education for all operators of motorized vessels in New York State. Brianna Lieneck, whom the law was named for, was an 11-year-old girl who was tragically killed in a boating incident on Long Island in 2005. Her mother, Gina, had been fighting for legislation that would require mandatory boating safety education in the state since Brianna’s death. Werner spent three years advocating as part of Gina’s team until the law was ultimately passed and signed by Governor Cuomo in August of 2019.

Werner’s dedication, focus and commitment to boating education are second to none and make him a valuable asset to the recreational boating community. He has truly made a significant impact on the safety of New York’s waterways. Congratulations Richard!

So now I would now like to give Rosaria DiSanto the opportunity to say a few words…

ROSARIA DISANTO:

Thank you, Darren.

On behalf of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, I'd like to thank you, Richard, for the service you provide to the students of New York Safe Boating Program. As one of our most active and engaging instructors for 16 years and counting, you and your team at Safe Boating America have helped thousands of students learn to be smart and courteous boaters. Students leave your classroom with a deep understanding of responsible boating behavior, and New York's waters are a safer place because of your hard work.

You're a valued member of the New York Safe Boating instruction team, and we thank you for your continued dedication to this program. Congratulations on the well-deserved honor of being named the 2020 Northern Region Educator of the Year.

RICHARD WERNER:

Well, thank you very much Rosaria and Darren.

DARREN RIDER:
Well, Richard, please provide some comments.

RICHARD WERNER:

Well, I can only say, once again, thank you. It did come as a surprise to receive the award, or to even be nominated. So, on behalf of myself, my entire instructor team, a real big thank you! I've got this unique little drawing of myself, which I don't quite think fits the bill, but I'm very honored to receive this award. It will be prominently displayed for years to come.

I truly enjoy what I do and putting in the hard work certainly makes it an easy burden, because I enjoy what I'm doing, and I love working with, not only the state of New York, but the other states in which we teach.

I'm so grateful for this award, for one other reason - I've been contacted by various Boating Law Administrators with congratulations and comments. I've never been that active within NASBLA, but certainly everyone that I've spoken with and dealt with has been so gracious and humbling for me.

So once again, thank you very much. Both Rosaria, Darren and everyone else that fights for, you know, safer waters and safer boating, so we can be safe out there. Simple as that. Thank you.

DARREN RIDER:

Excellent. Thanks, Richard.

So, finally, NASBLA would like to thank you for his continued efforts to spread boating education throughout the Northeast region of the United States and beyond. Your hard work and dedication to the safety of the recreational boating community does not go unnoticed.

Again, congratulations Richard!

RICHARD WERNER:

Thank you. Thank you very much!

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Watch the full NASBLA Northern Region Education of the Year recognition video on NASBLA's Vimeo channel!

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