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National Boating Standards Panel Seeks Workgroup Members

By Taylor Kirshe posted 2 days ago
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National Boating Standards Panel Seeks Workgroup Members The National Boating Standards Panel (BSP) is seeking subject matter experts to join in the development of a new standard addressing towed water sports education. This standard will serve as the basis to empower operators of vessels, spotters, and participants engaged in towed water sports activities to make safe decisions that will mitigate risks on the water. Subject matter experts from any and all backgrounds are invited to join this workgroup! You do not have to be a member of NASBLA or BSP to participate. If you or someone you know is interested in this standard project, please contact ...
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Arkansas Names New Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Kirshe posted 4 days ago
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Arkansas Names New Boating Law Administrator The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) would like to welcome Corporal Sydney Grant, the new Boating Law Administrator (BLA) for the state of Arkansas. Corporal Sydney Grant has established a distinguished career in wildlife law enforcement with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). Since graduating from the AGFC Enforcement Training Academy in 2016, she has served as a wildlife officer and game warden in Sevier County within the A4 District. Effective October 1, 2024, she has been appointed as Boating Law Administrator (BLA), leveraging her extensive field experience ...
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Alaska Boating Law Administrator Elected NASBLA Chair

By Taylor Kirshe posted 10 days ago
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Alaska Boating Law Administrator Elected NASBLA Chair During its 65th Annual Conference, held in New Orleans, Louisiana, Sept. 17 – 19, 2024, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) elected Joe McCullough, Boating Law Administrator for Alaska, as chair of the organization for the 2024-2025 year. He succeeds Lt. Curtis Lewis, Illinois’ Boating Law Administrator. NASBLA is a national nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety. NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities of all 50 states and the U.S. territories. Joe McCullough has spent 32 years ...
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Andy Foos Attains Certified Recreational Boating Professional (CRBP) Certification

By Taylor Kirshe posted 24 days ago
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Andy Foos Attains Certified Recreational Boating Professional (CRBP) Certification On September 5, 2024, Andy Foos of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks & Watercraft, passed the Certified Recreational Boating Professional (CRBP) exam and was awarded his CRBP certification. The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is pleased to recognize Andy Foos as one of the individuals who have recently attained the CRBP credential. The CRBP certification, developed by NASBLA, is a voluntary credential for recreational boating professionals. It encompasses knowledge, performance, and career ...
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K-12 Personal Flotation Device Education Standard: Public Comment Period Now Open through December 5, 2024

By Taylor Kirshe posted 25 days ago
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K-12 Personal Flotation Device Education Standard: Public Comment Period Now Open through December 5, 2024 NASBLA’s National Boating Standards Panel (BSP) is seeking your feedback on the new American National Standard candidate, the K-12 Personal Flotation Device (PFD) Education Standard . Currently, there is no uniform education standard that supports the state and federal requirements for children to wear PFDs. BSP established the K-12 Workgroup to develop a standard to serve as the foundation for curriculum developers to address this need. The goal of this Standard is to educate a younger audience of boaters, an audience that will carry the ...
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Tennessee names new Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Kirshe posted 08-12-2024
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Tennessee names new Boating Law Administrator The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is excited to welcome Lieutenant Colonel Matt Majors, the new Boating Law Administrator (BLA) for the state of Tennessee. Lt. Col. Majors is well-acquainted with both the U.S. Coast Guard and NASBLA, having deeply engaged with both organizations. His extensive involvement has provided him with significant knowledge and experience with these organizations. Since 2002, Lt. Col. Majors has served with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). Over his 22-year tenure, he has held various roles, including wildlife officer, boating ...
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Hawaii names new Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Kirshe posted 08-05-2024
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Hawaii names new Boating Law Administrator The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is pleased to welcome Meghan Statts, the new Boating Law Administrator (BLA) for the state of Hawaii. Meghan Statts was born and raised in Kailua, Oahu, and is a proud graduate of Kailua High School. With a career dedicated to public service, Meghan has been an integral part of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, for 29 years. Throughout her tenure, she has held various positions and currently serves as the Administrator for the Division. The Division has been tasked with 13 mandates, ...
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Protecting Indiana's Waterways: A Look at DNR's Boating Safety Efforts

By Taylor Kirshe posted 06-18-2024
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JUNE 18, 2024: Indiana's ties to the maritime world date back to its days as the Indiana Territory. The famous Corps of Discovery expedition, later known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition, began when Meriwether Lewis met William Clark in what is now Clarksville, Indiana. From there, they navigated down the Ohio River corridor and up the Mississippi River, officially starting their expedition in St. Louis, Missouri. The state boasts 100,000 acres of publicly owned lakes and reservoirs, 50 miles of Great Lakes shoreline along Lake Michigan, and 35,000 miles of rivers and streams. Known as the "Hoosier State" and "The Crossroads of America," Indiana is home ...
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Operation Surf and Turf: Joint Effort Removes Impaired Operators on Water and Roadway

By Taylor Kirshe posted 06-17-2024
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Operation Surf and Turf: Joint Effort Removes Impaired Operators on Water and Roadway On May 31, 2024, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) wildlife officers partnered with the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) and the Metro Nashville Police Department with a common goal: to remove impaired operators. All these departments agree that operating any vehicle or vessel under the influence is dangerous, whether you are on the water or on the roadways of Tennessee. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., wildlife officers conducted boat patrols accompanied by troopers to assist with vessel stops and boating under the influence (BUI) investigations. They saturated ...
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NASBLA Names 2024 Regional Winners for Pamela S. Dillon Boating Educator of the Year Award

By Taylor Kirshe posted 06-12-2024
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NASBLA Names 2024 Regional Winners for Pamela S. Dillon Boating Educator of the Year Award LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 12, 2024) – The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is pleased to announce the regional winners of the 2024 Pamela S. Dillon Boating Educator of the Year award . Generously sponsored by Kalkomey Enterprises, Inc. , this award was established by NASBLA in 2011 to honor educators who excel in engaging students and boaters, raising awareness, and making boating education initiatives relevant, comprehensive, and exciting. As NASBLA members, every state and territory is eligible to nominate their state-level ...
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NASBLA Announces 2024 Regional Winners of the Butch Potts Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award

By Taylor Kirshe posted 06-12-2024
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NASBLA Announces 2024 Regional Winners of the Butch Potts Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 12, 2024) – The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is excited to announce this year’s regional winners of the Butch Potts Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award . This prestigious award represents the highest level of achievement among boating law enforcement officers across the United States. The selection process for this award began in January when NASBLA solicited nominations from each state and territory for their boating law enforcement officer of the year. Subsequently, ...
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2024 Western Region Educator of the Year Award Winner Announced

By Taylor Kirshe posted 06-12-2024
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2024 Western Region Educator of the Year Award Winner Announced Scott Murdoch, a dedicated wildlife officer with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), has been named the NASBLA Western Region Educator of the Year for 2024. When envisioning a boating educator in Colorado, one might not immediately think of a wildlife officer from Conifer, a small district without boating waters. However, Murdoch has defied expectations, becoming instrumental in CPW’s mission to promote boating safety across the state. Murdoch began his career as a district wildlife manager in Grand Lake, where he seized every opportunity to be on the water, patrol, and educate ...
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Deputy Adam Peterson Named the 2024 NASBLA Western Region Officer of the Year

By Taylor Kirshe posted 06-12-2024
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Deputy Adam Peterson Named the 2024 NASBLA Western Region Officer of the Year Deputy Adam Peterson, of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office , has been named the NASBLA Western Region Officer of the Year for 2024. For the past four years, Deputy Peterson has provided exceptional service in all aspects of marine law enforcement and the boating community throughout Oregon. He has demonstrated outstanding commitment through education, public outreach, technological innovation, enforcement of Boating Under the Influence (BUI) laws, incident investigation, and community service. Deputy Peterson patrols Clackamas County, which has the highest ...
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Marcus Bowling Named the 2024 NASBLA Southern Region Educator of the Year

By Taylor Kirshe posted 06-12-2024
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Marcus Bowling named the 2024 NASBLA Southern Region Educator of the Year Marcus Bowling, of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, has been named the 2024 NASBLA Southern Region Educator of the Year . As a dedicated member of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife for 25 years, Bowling has excelled in various roles, including law enforcement and marketing. Since 2019, he has served as the boating education coordinator, bringing invaluable knowledge, experience, and training to the position. Bowling's initiatives have profoundly influenced boating safety education in Kentucky. In response to the heightened interest ...
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2024 NASBLA Southern Region Officer of the Year Awarded to Tennessee's Montana Michelson

By Taylor Kirshe posted 06-12-2024
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2024 NASBLA Southern Region Officer of the Year Awarded to Tennessee's Montana Michelson Officer Montana Michelson, a dedicated member of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) , has been named the 2024 NASBLA Southern Region Officer of the Year . Throughout 2023, Officer Michelson showcased unwavering commitment to boating safety and enforcement, embodying a contagious work ethic and becoming an essential asset to District 21's boating enforcement efforts. His remarkable dedication and expertise have significantly contributed to enhancing boater safety in Tennessee. During the year, Officer Michelson conducted 837 boating inspections ...
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NASBLA Announces the 2024 Northern Region Educator of the Year

By Taylor Kirshe posted 06-12-2024
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NASBLA Announces the 2024 Northern Region Educator of the Year Christopher Calhoun, of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, has been named the 2024 NASBLA Northern Region Educator of the Year . Calhoun's contributions to boating safety and water rescue education have earned him this recognition. As an aquatic resource program specialist with the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC), Calhoun has dedicated 35 years to improving safety and training on Pennsylvania's waterways. His efforts have significantly impacted boating safety education both in the Commonwealth and beyond. In addition to his role with PFBC, Calhoun is ...
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NASBLA Names the 2024 Northern Region Officer of the Year

By Taylor Kirshe posted 06-12-2024
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NASBLA Names the 2024 Northern Region Officer of the Year Conservation Officer James Fogarty, of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) – Law Enforcement Division , has been named the 2024 NASBLA Northern Region Officer of the Year . Since joining the DNR in July 2016, Officer Fogarty has demonstrated unwavering dedication to boating law enforcement. He has consistently gone above and beyond normal duties, volunteering for special assignments such as interview boards for new hires, assisting with the Correctional Officer (CO) entrance exam, participating in recruiting events, and engaging in public speaking and media events. ...
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NASBLA BOAT Program Recognizes Charlie Mallow as the 2023 Instructor of the Year

By Taylor Kirshe posted 06-04-2024
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NASBLA BOAT Program Recognizes Charlie Mallow as the 2023 Instructor of the Year The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is proud to announce the 2023 BOAT Program Instructor of the Year, Charlie Mallow, recognized for his exceptional performance and dedication within the Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Program . The Instructor of the Year Award was presented to Charlie Mallow on May 8 in Clearwater Beach, Florida, acknowledging his unwavering commitment to providing high-quality education and experience to students participating in the BOAT Program. Mallow, a lead instructor, has consistently demonstrated ...
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North Dakota Game Warden Jerad Bluem Earns Certified Recreational Boating Professional Certification

By Taylor Kirshe posted 04-16-2024
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North Dakota Game Warden Jerad Bluem Earns Certified Recreational Boating Professional (CRBP) Certification On March 30, 2024, District Game Warden Jerad Bluem of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department passed the Certified Recreational Boating Professional (CRBP) exam and was awarded his CRBP certification. The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is pleased to recognize Jerad Bluem as one of the individuals who have recently attained the CRBP credential. The CRBP certification, developed by NASBLA, is a voluntary credential for recreational boating professionals. It encompasses knowledge, performance, ...
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Vermont names new Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Kirshe posted 04-09-2024
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Vermont names new Boating Law Administrator The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is excited to welcome Al Johnson, the new Boating Law Administrator (BLA) for the state of Vermont. Al Johnson is a lifelong boater and surfer raised on Cape Cod, where his father served as a USCG Reserve SAR Coxswain. He has dedicated the last 15 years to the Vermont Department of Health, managing grants, contracts, budgets, and financial reporting for the Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, primarily funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Al is particularly interested in NASBLA's "public health approach" to ...
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