Blogs

On-Water Skills Training Course Verification

By Ron Sarver posted 05-31-2017
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The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) announces a new course verification opportunity for providers of on-water skills training for recreational power or human-propelled boating courses. Successful completion will include the award of a uniquely numbered verified course mark indicating, “The content of this course conforms to the American National Standard for on-water skills as verified through an independent third-party assessment process.” Recognized by the American National Standards Institute as American National Standards, both the On-Water Power and On-Water Human-Propelled standards identify fundamental skills that entry ...
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Waterways Management the focus of recommendation report from National Transportation Safety Board

By Hannah Helsby posted 05-02-2017
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (February 9, 2017) – The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a recommendation report examining Waterways Management and the increase in encounters between commercial and recreational vessels in the nation’s navigable waters. The NTSB visited multiple major ports around the country where they conducted interviews of local waterways users. As a result of this analysis, the NTSB has made the following recommendations to the U.S. Coast Guard; 1. Establish a process whereby, at regular intervals, all harbor safety committees identify the safety risks posed by the interaction of commercial and recreational vessels in their ...
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National Association of State Boating Law Administrators names Communications Director

By Hannah Helsby posted 05-02-2017
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Lexington, KENTUCKY (01/12/2017) – The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) has named Hannah Helsby as Communications Director for the association. Hannah joined NASBLA in 2012 when she was hired as a Project Associate. Her first major project was to assist in the continued growth and development of NASBLA’s highly successful national campaign, Operation Dry Water (ODW). Operation Dry Water is a year-round nationwide boating under the influence awareness and enforcement campaign, coordinated nationally by NASBLA. With a background in media and communications, and family ties to law enforcement, Hannah’s work with Operation Dry ...
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Change of Watch in NASBLA’s BOAT Program

By Hannah Helsby posted 05-02-2017
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 8, 2016) - After seven years with National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) as the Director of the Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Program, Mark DuPont will be leaving NASBLA to pursue opportunities in the private sector in order to expand his skills, knowledge and maritime expertise. Although he is moving on from his role as NASBLA’s BOAT Program Director, he is not leaving the mission and purpose of the BOAT Program. Dedicated to enhancing the safety and security of America’s waterways for the last sixteen years, Mark will still be connected and involved as he looks to advocate for training goals and to establish ...
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Deputy Todd Baker recognized as regional boating officer of the year

By Hannah Helsby posted 05-02-2017
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SEATTLE, Wash. (Sept. 14, 2016) – During its 57th annual meeting, held in Seattle Wash., Sept. 11-14, 2016, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) recognized Deputy Todd Baker with the Clark County (Wash.) Sheriff's Office as the regional Boating Officer of the Year, as selected by the Western States Boating Administrators Association First launched in 2000, the Marvin “Butch” Potts Memorial Award, known as the Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award, is presented annually to the boating law enforcement officer who has made outstanding contributions to the field of boating law enforcement. Deputy Todd Baker has served ...
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Conservation warden recognized as regional boating officer of the year

By Hannah Helsby posted 05-02-2017
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SEATTLE, Wash. (Sept. 14, 2016) – During its 57th annual meeting, held in Seattle Wash., Sept. 11-14, 2016, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) recognized Conservation Warden Darren Kuhn with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as the regional Boating Officer of the Year, as selected by the Northern Caucus States. First launched in 2000, the Marvin “Butch” Potts Memorial Award, known as the Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award, is presented annually to the boating law enforcement officer who has made outstanding contributions to the field of boating law enforcement. Conservation Warden Darren Kuhn is ...
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Florida officer named national boating officer of the year

By Hannah Helsby posted 05-02-2017
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SEATTLE, Wash. (Sept. 14, 2016) – During its 57th annual meeting, held in Seattle Wash., Sept. 11-14, 2016, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) presented its prestigious national Boating Officer of the Year Award to Officer Jarrod Molnar Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission First launched in 2000, the Marvin “Butch” Potts Memorial Award, known as the Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award, is presented annually to the boating law enforcement officer who has made outstanding contributions to the field of boating law enforcement. Officer Jarrod Molnar has worked with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation ...
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Ohio specialist recognized as regional boating educator of the year

By Hannah Helsby posted 05-02-2017
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SEATTLE, Wash. (Sept. 14, 2016) – During its 57th annual meeting, held in Seattle Wash., Sept. 11-14, 2016, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) recognized Officer Sarah Genzman with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources as the regional Boating Educator of the Year, as selected by the Southern Caucus States. Generously sponsored by BoaterExam.com, the Boating Educator of the Year Award was launched by NASBLA in 2011 to recognize those who go above to engage students and boaters, raise awareness, and make boating education initiatives relevant, thorough and exciting. Officer Sarah Genzman is a State Watercraft Officer Education ...
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Sgt. Jim Shelton recognized as regional boating educator of the year

By Hannah Helsby posted 05-02-2017
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SEATTLE, Wash. (Sept. 14, 2016) – During its 57th annual meeting, held in Seattle Wash., Sept. 11-14, 2016, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) recognized Sgt. Jim Shelton with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division as the regional Boating Educator of the Year, as selected by the Southern Caucus States. Generously sponsored by BoaterExam.com, the Boating Educator of the Year Award was launched by NASBLA in 2011 to recognize those who go above to engage students and boaters, raise awareness, and make boating education initiatives relevant, thorough and exciting. Sgt. Jim Shelton has been ...
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Brooks named national boating educator of the year

By Hannah Helsby posted 05-02-2017
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SEATTLE, Wash. (Sept. 14, 2016) – During its 57th annual meeting, held in Seattle Wash., Sept. 11-14, 2016, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) presented its prestigious national Boating Educator of the Year award to Erika Brooks with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Generously sponsored by BoaterExam.com, the Boating Educator of the Year Award was launched by NASBLA in 2011 to recognize those who go above to engage students and boaters, raise awareness, and make boating education initiatives relevant, thorough and exciting. Erika Brooks has held her position as boating education coordinator since 2004, working ...
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Florida administrator receives prestigious award for boating safety work

By Hannah Helsby posted 05-02-2017
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SEATTLE, Wash. (Sept. 14, 2016) – During its 57th annual meeting, held in Seattle Wash., Sept. 11-14, 2016, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) presented Major Richard Moore, boating law administrator of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, as the recipient of its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. NASBLA first presented its Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998. This award is designed for persons who have contributed to boating safety over his or her lifetime or career. Moore has working in boating safety and conservation law enforcement in Florida since 1990. He worked his way through the ranks as a law ...
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Water Sport Foundation Honored with Innovations Award

By Hannah Helsby posted 05-02-2017
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SEATTLE, Wash. (Sept. 14, 2016) – During its 57th annual meeting, held in Seattle Wash., Sept. 11-14, 2016, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) presented the Innovations Award to the Water Sports Foundation for their Kayak Manufacturers Outreach Initiative. NASBLA, in conjunction with its Mission Partner, Boat Ed (www.boat-ed.com), developed the Innovations Award to recognize programs or initiatives that focus on outreach efforts that impact the recreational boating public with key safety messages. This Kayak Manufacturers Outreach Initiative involved bringing the top six manufacturers of recreational kayaks (those most often ...
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Florida Officer Receives Boating Safety Award

By Hannah Helsby posted 05-02-2017
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SEATTLE, Wash. (Sept. 14, 2016) – During its 57th annual meeting, held in Seattle Wash., Sept. 11-14, 2016, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) presented its Boating Safety Award to Cpl. Joshua Underwood with the St. Johns County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office. NASBLA first presented the Boating Safety Award in 1992. Sponsored by the National Safe Boating Council, a longtime partner of NASBLA, it is awarded to a state or local government individual who is involved in boating safety but does not serve as a boating law administrator, and who has demonstrated outstanding performance in any area of the program, including but not limited ...
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Terry Receives Flagship Award from NASBLA

By Hannah Helsby posted 05-02-2017
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SEATTLE, Wash. (Sept. 14, 2016) – During its 57th annual meeting, held in Seattle Wash., Sept. 11-14, 2016, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) presented Tamara Terry, the Marketing Manager for the Division of Wildlife in the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), with its prestigious NASBLA Award. The NASBLA Award is the nonprofit organization’s oldest award. It is given in appreciation to an individual who has either given a lot of time and effort to the association to help achieve its objectives or who is acknowledged nationally, statewide or in their community for notable contributions to the betterment of boating. ...
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Weatherington elected president of national boating safety and security organization

By Hannah Helsby posted 04-27-2017
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SEATTLE, Wash. (September 13, 2016) - During its 57th annual meeting, held in Seattle Wash., Sept. 11-14, 2016, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) elected Stephanie Weatherington, Arkansas’ boating law administrator, as president of the nonprofit organization for the 2016-2017 year. She succeeds Darren Rider, Tennessee’s boating law administrator. A native of Little Rock, Ark., Weatherington graduated in 1994 from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. She began her career as a wildlife officer with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in 1995. She was named the boating law ...
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NASBLA programs honored with prestigious awards

By Hannah Helsby posted 04-27-2017
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 20, 2016) – On June 15, 2016, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators’ Boat Operations and Training Program was announced as one of six winners of the American Society of Association Executives’ coveted Summit Award. The Summit Award signifies the elite winners among the recipients of the 2016 ‘The Power of A’ Awards and is bestowed upon associations that make exemplary commitments to creating a stronger America and the world. "We appreciate the recognition of a program that’s taken six years to build and nurture. The BOAT Program brings the nation together under one training standard and ensures its safety and security ...
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Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Marine Law Enforcement Section becomes accredited in National Standard of training

By Ron Sarver posted 03-24-2017
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The Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Marine Law Enforcement Section (OHP-MLS) has become the eighteenth organization in the country to be accredited by the NASBLA Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Program . This accreditation recognizes the OHP-MLS as having successfully implemented a National Standard of training, typing and credentialing. The Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Program, established by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and recognized by its membership, the 50 United States and six territories, and by the United States Coast Guard as the National Standard of training, typing and credentialing, was created to ensure ...
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NASBLA names new Communications Director

By Ron Sarver posted 03-24-2017
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The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) has named Hannah Helsby as Communications Director for the association. Hannah joined NASBLA in 2012 when she was hired as a Project Associate. Her first major project was to assist in the continued growth and development of NASBLAs highly successful national campaign, Operation Dry Water (ODW). Operation Dry Water is a year-round nationwide boating under the influence awareness and enforcement campaign, coordinated nationally by NASBLA. With a background in media and communications, and family ties to law enforcement, Hannahs work with Operation Dry Water aligned perfectly with her ...
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Waterways Management focus of report from NTSB

By Ron Sarver posted 03-24-2017
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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a recommendation report examining Waterways Management and the increase in encounters between commercial and recreational vessels in the nations navigable waters. The NTSB visited multiple major ports around the country where they conducted interviews of local waterways users. As a result of this analysis, the NTSB has made the following recommendations to the U.S. Coast Guard; Establish a process whereby, at regular intervals, all harbor safety committees identify the safety risks posed by the interaction of commercial and recreational vessels in their respective geographic areas; where necessary, ...
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The Future of Boating Safety!

By Mike Folkerts posted 02-24-2015
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As I'm just getting around to starting with blogging, I realize that I'm late to the blogging party! Being of a generation that wasn't introduced to computers until midlife, the word "Blog" meant...well...nothing! Back to the subject at hand, the Future of Boating Safety! I chose this particular subject because I'm concerned that my chosen profession is at risk...risk of being eliminated. It's not just a funding issue either! I think the risk is that today's society may be more interested in doing other things than boating.... I recently put my personal boat up for sale; a prospective buyer brought his wife and younger (toddler) daughter to look ...
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