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New Recommendations for Improving Boat Occupant Injury Surveillance

By Hannah Helsby posted 12 days ago
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Just Released: New Recommendations for Improving Boat Occupant Injury Surveillance Public health and boating experts issue recommendations for improving data to prevent injuries New recommendations on improving recreational boat occupant injury surveillance were jointly released today by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and the Safe States Alliance , in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard . Public health surveillance – the continuous and systematic collection and analysis of health-related data – is essential to understand and prevent injuries before they occur. However,previous data reports released by ...
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Pamela Dillon, NASBLA, retires after more than 40 years in recreational boating safety

By Hannah Helsby posted 12 days ago
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The  National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) would like to recognize Pamela S. Dillon for the hard work, dedication and service she has given to NASBLA, the States and the recreational boating safety community as whole as we also announce her formal retirement as of Dec. 31, 2019. Dillon has served as the Education and Standards Director for NASBLA since October 2011, in this position she led NASBLA’s education efforts with monumental results. With all she accomplished in her time with NASBLA, it is just the tip of the iceberg in what she has accomplished over a lifetime of vocation and service in the recreational boating community. ...
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Sunglow Charters recognized for receiving Third-Party Verification

By Hannah Helsby posted 12-17-2019
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Sunglow Charters recognized for receiving  Third-Party Verification for two courses, Sailing and Power Sunglow Charters is being recognized for meeting the American National Standard for  On-Water Recreational Boating Skills Standard for both SAIL and POWER with their  Sunglow Charters Sailing Lesson Plan and their  Sunglow Charters Power Lesson Plan. The organization's on-water sailboat and powerboating course has been verified to meet the American National Standard for on-water skills entitled EDU-3 Skill-Based Sailboat Standard and  EDU-1 On-Water Power Standards respectively,  and has received the ...
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Newport Coast Maritime Academy’s ‘Basic & Inshore Powerboat Cruising’ course receives recognition for its Third-Party Verification

By Taylor Matsko posted 12-10-2019
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Newport Coast Maritime Academy’s ‘ Basic & Inshore Powerboat Cruising’ course receives recognition for its Third-Party Verification Newport Coast Maritime Academy is being recognized for meeting the American National Standard for  On-Water Recreational Boating Skills Standard – POWER.  The organization's on-water powerboating course, “ Basic & Inshore Powerboat Cruising ,” has been verified to meet the American National Standard for on-water skills entitled EDU-1 On-Water Power Standards  and has received the Verified Course Power Mark.  Under funding provided by a USCG grant, the  National Association of State Boating Law Administrators ...
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Ohio DNR Parks and Watercraft’s Introduction to SUP – Instructor Course is the Third Verified Course for the Organization

By Taylor Matsko posted 12-02-2019
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Ohio DNR Parks and Watercraft’s Introduction to SUP – Instructor Course is the Third Verified Course for the Organization Ohio DNR Parks and Watercraft is being recognized for meeting the American National Standard for  on-water skills.   The Introduction to SUP – Instructor Course is the organization’s third course to meet the American National Standard entitled  EDU-2 Skill-Based Human-Propelled Standard. Ohio DNR Parks and Watercraft is the first organization to have three skills courses independently Verified under this program. Under funding provided by a USCG grant, the  National Association of State Boating Law Administrators  implemented a ...
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Ohio DNR Parks and Watercraft’s Introduction to Kayaking – Instructor Course receives recognition for its Third-Party Verified Course

By Taylor Matsko posted 11-26-2019
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Ohio DNR Parks and Watercraft’s Introduction to Kayaking – Instructor Course receives recognition for its Third-Party Verified Course Ohio DNR Parks and Watercraft is being recognized for meeting the American National Standard for  On-Water Recreational Boating Skills Standard – HUMAN-PROPELLED.  The Ohio DNR, Division of Parks and Watercraft, work to be a diverse and skilled team empowered to deliver the highest standard of outdoor recreation experiences and natural resource management. The organization's on-water kayaking course, “ Introduction to Kayaking – Instructor Course ,” has been verified to meet the American National Standard for on-water ...
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Award Winners Recognized at the 2019 NASBLA Annual Conference

By Taylor Matsko posted 11-12-2019
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Award Winners Recognized at the 2019 NASBLA Annual Conference The 60 th Annual NASBLA Conference was held in Anchorage, Alaska from Sept. 29 - Oct. 2. During the awards ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 1, NASBLA presented their annual 19 national awards, recognizing NASBLA members and colleagues in the recreational boating safety community for their outstanding contributions.   President’s Award At the end of his/her term, the NASBLA President selects individuals to honor with special recognition for their contributions during the past year to boating safety and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. This year, NASBLA President, ...
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NASBLA BOAT Program Celebrates 10 Years Preparing First Responders

By Taylor Matsko posted 11-04-2019
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 4, 2019 NASBLA BOAT Program Celebrates 10 Years Preparing First Responders   [LEXINGTON, KY] – The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators’ (NASBLA) Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Program is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. NASBLA recognized in the early 2000s that there was a need for a national training standard amongst all law enforcement and emergency first responders. In response, after significant research, preparation and collaboration with the U. S. Coast Guard, Office of Boat Forces, the NASBLA BOAT Program was officially unveiled in 2009. The program addressed an urgent need which ...
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Operation Dry Water Award Winners Recognized at the 60th Annual NASBLA Conference

By Taylor Matsko posted 10-30-2019
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Operation Dry Water Award Winners Recognized at the 60 th Annual NASBLA Conference The Operation Dry Water Awards Program recognizes law enforcement officers and agencies that are making a positive impact on boating under the influence (BUI). This year, the 2019 Operation Dry Water (ODW) award winners were recognized at the NASBLA Annual Conference held in Anchorage, Alaska. The awards ceremony took place on Tuesday, October 1 st , where the ODW Officer of the Year, Top Agencies and Media Award winners were honored for their hard work and dedication to boating under the influence prevention and the Operation Dry Water campaign. The 2019 Operation Dry ...
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Texas BLA elected NASBLA Chairman

By Hannah Helsby posted 10-07-2019
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LEXINGTON, KY. (October 1, 2019) – During its 60th annual meeting, held in Anchorage, Alaska, Sept. 29 – Oct.2, 2019, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) elected Asst. Commander Game Warden Cody Jones, Boating Law Administrator for Texas, as Chairman of the nonprofit organization for the 2019-2020 year. He succeeds Mark Brown, Oklahoma’s 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. Asst. Commander Jones is a 16-year veteran ...
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Wisconsin Officers receive NASBLA Award of Commendation for actions

By Hannah Helsby posted 10-02-2019
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NASBLA and the Wisconsin Department of Natural resources recognizes  Conservation Warden Kyle Johnson, Rock County Sheriff's Deputy Christopher Krahn, Wisconsin State Trooper Brandon Ferrell and Conservation Warden Alex Brooks for their life saving actions  with the NASBLA Award of Commendation. The Award of Commendation is given in cases where the individuals were considered instrumental in directly contributing to the saving of a human life or lives.  Wisconsin State Trooper Brandon Ferrell & Conservation Warden Alex Brooks Conservation Warden Kyle Johnson & Rock County Sheriff's Deputy Christopher Krahn ...
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Basic Boating Knowledge Standards - Public Review Periods Open Through December 5, 2019

By Taylor Matsko posted 09-10-2019
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Basic Boating Knowledge Standards - Public Review Periods Open Through December 5, 2019 The National Boating Education Standards Panel announces opening of Public Review Comment Periods for five standards. Proposed changes reflect revisions to the previous approach of stand-alone Basic Boating Knowledge standards. In the proposed “Core-Plus” approach, the “Plus” standard is designed to be used in conjunction with the “Core” standard. Future changes in the “Core” will, by definition, be incorporated into any “Plus” standard should this system be adopted as proposed. These five documents are open for review and comment. Comments are being collected on the ...
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2019 Regional Boating Educators of the Year Announced

By Taylor Matsko posted 07-29-2019
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2019 Regional Boating Educators of the Year Announced LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 29, 2019) –  The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is pleased to announce the regional winners of the  Boating Educator of the Year Award . Generously sponsored by  Fresh Air Educators , and  Kalkomey Enterprises, Inc. ,  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. As a member of NASBLA, every state and territory is eligible to nominate their state‐level boating educator ...
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2019 Western Region Educator of the Year Award Winner

By Taylor Matsko posted 07-26-2019
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2019 Western Region Educator of the Year Award Winner       Lieutenant Jesse Gehrt, of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), has been named the 2019 Western Region Educator of the Year . Lt. Jesse Gehrt began his career with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism in 2005. In 2015, Gehrt was selected for one of the Boating Specialist positions in the northeastern portion of the state and in 2017 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. For several years, Gehrt’s assigned duty area included Milford Reservoir, the largest federal reservoir in Kansas, encompassing 15,700 surface acres of water and 163 miles ...
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2019 Southern Region Educator of the Year Award Winner

By Taylor Matsko posted 07-26-2019
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2019 Southern Region Educator of the Year Award Winner Dana Gage, of The LV Project , has been named the Southern Region Educator of the Year for 2019 . In the aftermath of her son’s preventable and tragic death by drowning, Dana Gage made it her mission to change the way people think about water safety. Gage, using her professional media experience, founded The LV Project. The LV Project relentlessly pursues the idea that all people can LiVe and LoVe buoyantly - on water, and in life. Through their water buoyancy projects, The LV Project raises awareness for drowning prevention and specifically advocates for use of life jackets on lakes. Gage has ...
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2019 Northern Region Educator of the Year Award Winners

By Taylor Matsko posted 07-26-2019
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2019 Northern Region Educator of the Year Award Winners Thomas and Elizabeth Scott, of the  Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection , have been named the  2019 Northern Region Educators of the Year . Thomas (“Tom”) and Elizabeth (“Betty”) Scott began their journey as safe boating instructors in 2002 so that they could help their Boy Scout troop obtain a powerboating merit badge. For the last 17 years, they have worked as a team conducting Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) safe boating courses and public outreach. Together, they have provided over 300 hours of knowledgeable safe boating instruction ...
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NASBLA Announces Regional Boating Officers of the Year

By Taylor Matsko posted 07-24-2019
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NASBLA Announces Regional Boating Officers of the Year LEXINGTON, Ky . ( July 24, 2019) -  The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is pleased to announce the regional winners of the Butch Potts Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award . This award symbolizes the highest level of achievement among boating law enforcement officers throughout the United States. The selection process for this award began in January with NASBLA soliciting nominations from each state and territory to nominate their boating law enforcement officer of the year. Next, each regional association of boating law administrators chose ...
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2019 Western Region Officer of the Year Winner

By Taylor Matsko posted 07-23-2019
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2019 Western Region Officer of the Year Winner Corporal Daren Krag, of the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office , has been named the 2019 Western Region Officer of the Year . The Oregon State Marine Board has high standards for education through law enforcement. Over the years, some marine deputies choose to go above the rest to ensure Oregon’s waterways are safe. Cpl. Krag is one of these deputies, leaving a permanent footprint behind and setting an example of why law enforcement is essential to the safety of boaters on the water. Under Cpl. Krag’s leadership, his team has conducted over 72 hours of classroom instruction in local schools and safety ...
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2019 Southern Region Officer of the Year Winner

By Taylor Matsko posted 07-23-2019
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2019 Southern Region Officer of the Year Winner Corporal Lyndle Crownover, of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission , has been named the Southern Region Officer of the Year for 2019 . Cpl. Crownover has been in law enforcement for 27 years, spending 14 of these years as a Wildlife Officer. Since he began working for Arkansas Game and Fish, Cpl. Crownover has arrested 128 suspects for BUI, averaging just over 9 BUIs per year. He works with local Wildlife Officers, Corps of Engineers, the Baxter County Sheriff’s Department, and other agencies to plan law enforcement patrols on area lakes and rivers, placing a high priority on BUI enforcement. Cpl. ...
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2019 Northern Region Officer of the Year Winner

By Taylor Matsko posted 07-23-2019
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2019 Northern Region Officer of the Year Winner Conservation Warden Paul Sickman, of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources , has been named the 2019 Northern Region Officer of the Year . Conservation Warden Sickman is an example of a well-rounded officer who effectively balances enforcement, education and community involvement. However, Sickman’s primary concern is ensuring that all boaters have a safe and enjoyable recreational boating experience while on the water. Sickman coordinates the Lower St. Croix River law enforcement meetings in an effort to facilitate collaboration and coordination between multiple law enforcement agencies. During ...
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