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Operation Dry Water taking place nationwide over the July 4th holiday

By Taylor Matsko posted 21 hours ago
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JUNE 17, 2021: Law enforcement officers across the country will be on heightened alert for those in violation of boating under the influence laws as part of the annual Operation Dry Water weekend, July 2 – 4, 2021.  Operation Dry Water (ODW)  is a year-round boating under the influence awareness and enforcement campaign focused on reducing the number of alcohol- and drug-related incidents and fatalities. The U.S. Coast Guard, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies, recreational boating safety advocates and the  National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)  are gearing up to spread awareness and prevent tragedies related to ...
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The Corps Foundation Kicks Off the 2021 Life Jacket Video Contest to Promote Life Jacket Wear

By Taylor Matsko posted 23 days ago
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The Corps Foundation Kicks Off the 2021 Life Jacket Video Contest to Promote Life Jacket Wear (May 25, 2021) — The Corps of Engineers Natural Resources Education Foundation ( The Corps Foundation ) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) are proud to announce the 2021 Life Jacket Video Contest. The contest invites anyone 18 or older nationwide to create a video public service announcement (PSA) to help encourage adults to wear life jackets. Deadline for submissions is September 1, 2021. Winners will receive a cash prize and the opportunity for national exposure for their winning entries. This contest was developed because every year thousands of people ...
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Maryland names new Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Matsko posted 23 days ago
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Maryland names new Boating Law Administrator The  National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) would like to welcome Colonel G. Adrian Baker, the new Boating Law Administrator (BLA) for the state of Maryland. Colonel Baker was appointed Superintendent of the  Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) in September of 2019 after seven years as Chief of Police in Chestertown, MD. Col. Baker’s turn at the helm of the NRP is a return to the agency where he previously spent 28 years before retiring as the Captain in command of the Natural Resources Police central region. During his career with the NRP, Col. Baker also spent time assigned ...
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Operation Dry Water encourages sober boating ahead of Memorial Day Weekend

By Taylor Matsko posted 30 days ago
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MAY 19, 2021: Operation Dry Water (ODW)  and the  National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)   are proud to join boating safety advocates nationwide during National Safe Boating Week, May 22 – 28, 2021, to raise awareness about safe boating practices. National Safe Boating Week takes place just prior to Memorial Day weekend and is the annual kick-off of the  Safe Boating Campaign , a global awareness effort that encourages boaters to make the most of their boating adventure by being safe and responsible. As part of the holiday weekend, boaters from across the country will head to the water while honoring, celebrating and remembering all ...
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National Boating Under the Influence Prevention Campaign, Operation Dry Water, Publishes Annual Report

By Taylor Matsko posted 05-12-2021
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MAY 12, 2021: More than 600 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies participated in the 2020  Operation Dry Water (ODW)  campaign. Over the course of the campaign’s heightened awareness and enforcement weekend, July 3 – 5, more than 7,600 law enforcement officers made 625 arrests for boating under the influence (BUI). Officers were on patrol as part of the Operation Dry Water initiative, identifying impaired boaters and removing them from the water. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, officers were able to take advantage of the increase in boater participation by making a record number of contacts with boaters. Officers made contact with over ...
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Between the Waves Podcast: The PLAN

By Taylor Matsko posted 04-28-2021
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Between the Waves Podcast The PLAN, Episode 19 *This is a transcript of the "The PLAN" episode of NASBLA's Podcast, Between the Waves, from April 26, 2021. Introduction: Hey, we've got a problem here. So, what's the plan? What's your plan? What do you plan? What's the plan? What's the plan? What's your plan? What's your plan of action? Plan? What’s the plan? So, what is the plan? Wait, I have a plan. I have a plan. I have a plan. That's the plan. I have a plan here. Oh, no. I have a plan. This plan is gonna work! Master plan, phase one! CODY JONES: On today's episode, we'll talk about the plan. What plan you ask? Great question. We're going to talk ...
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Wisconsin names new Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Matsko posted 04-27-2021
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Wisconsin names new Boating Law Administrator The  National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is excited to welcome Lieutenant Darren Kuhn, the new Boating Law Administrator (BLA) for the state of Wisconsin. Lt. Kuhn's effective start date was April 25, 2021 and he will be stationed out of the Green Bay DNR Office. Lt. Kuhn just completed his twenty-third year as a Wisconsin Conservation Warden, where he spent most of his career working on or in the vicinity of Lake Michigan, assigned to the Marine Enforcement Unit out of the Green Bay area. Most recently Lt. Kuhn was assigned to the Recreation Warden Team. This team focuses ...
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ODNR Officer’s Warning Credited with Saving Kayaker’s Life

By Taylor Matsko posted 04-21-2021
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ODNR Officer’s Warning Credited with Saving Kayaker’s Life ODNR urges people to wear a life jacket and exercise caution around lakes and streams [COLUMBUS, OH] – A morning safety inspection may have saved a woman’s life on the Maumee River. Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) officer Sergeant Sarah Genzman would not allow a kayak on the water when she discovered there was no life jacket on board. That kayak capsized a few hours later, but the woman inside was wearing a life jacket and was able to float into safe hands because of the inspection. “It is our duty to make sure anyone heading out onto the water is safe and prepared,” ...
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Maine names new Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Matsko posted 04-12-2021
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Maine names new Boating Law Administrator The  National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) welcomes Lieutenant Jason Luce, the new Boating Law Administrator (BLA) for the state of Maine. Lieutenant Jason Luce was hired by the Maine Warden Service as a District Warden in 1999. At this time, he was assigned to the Sebago Lake District. Lt. Luce patrolled Sebago Lake and the surrounding towns until 2007 when he was promoted to Investigator. As an investigator, Lt. Luce was assigned to the southern region of the state and assisted with major case investigations. In 2013, Lt. Luce was promoted to Sergeant and supervised game wardens ...
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Pennsylvania names new Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Matsko posted 04-06-2021
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Pennsylvania names new Boating Law Administrator The   National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)   is pleased to welcome back Laurel Anders, the new Boating Law Administrator (BLA) for the state of Pennsylvania. Laurel earned a BS degree in Environmental Education at Slippery Rock University and began her career with the   Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC)   in 1994 as a seasonal field employee in the Commission’s education program. She was subsequently promoted to Aquatic Resources Program Specialist and then to Strategic Initiatives and Projects Coordinator. From 2010 to 2015, she was the Director of the Bureau ...
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Certified Marine Technicians Increase Exponentially with Online Learning

By Taylor Matsko posted 03-31-2021
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Certified Marine Technicians Increase Exponentially with Online Learning On the anniversary of its first online certification course, ABYC reports over 1,000 new certified marine technicians. [ANNAPOLIS, MD] – On March 31, 2020, the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC), the nonprofit organization that provides standards-based technical education for the marine industry, hosted its first interactive online education course in response to the COVID pandemic. Exactly one year later, 1,100 students have passed online courses to earn their professional-level ABYC certification. Additionally, 54 marine technicians have become ABYC Master Technicians, ...
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Between the Waves Podcast: Golden Nuggets of the National Defense Bill of 2021

By Taylor Matsko posted 03-17-2021
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Between the Waves Podcast Golden Nuggets of the National Defense Bill of 2021, Episode 18 *This is a transcript of the " Golden Nuggets of the National Defense Bill of 2021 " episode of NASBLA's Podcast, Between the Waves, from March 15, 2021. It was December 23, 2020, and the headline read, “Trump Vetoes the National Defense Bill, but Congress Has the Votes to Override It”. Little did our community of boating professionals know at the time, the large impacts such a bill would have for us moving forward. On today's episode we will discuss some of the hidden gems of the National Defense Bill that have a direct impact on the recreational boating safety ...
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ABYC Foundation Announces Virtual Educator Training Conference, Training the Trainers of the Future Marine Workforce

By Taylor Matsko posted 03-17-2021
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ABYC Foundation Announces Virtual Educator Training Conference, Training the Trainers of the Future Marine Workforce [ANNAPOLIS, MD] – The American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) Foundation announced their second Educator Training Conference to be held July 20-22, 2021, in a virtual format. The “train-the-trainer” event is designed for high school and post-secondary instructors and administrators who are currently teaching or considering teaching marine service technology in their schools. “We were blown away by the sellout participation at our first educator training conference in 2019, and the industry’s support,” said Margaret Podlich, ABYC Foundation ...
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Basic Boating Knowledge Standards - Public Review Period Open Through March 1, 2021

By Taylor Matsko posted 02-23-2021
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Basic Boating Knowledge Standards - Public Review Period Open Through March 1, 2021 National Boating Education Standards Panel Chair Amanda Perez announces the opening of a third Public Review period for the following five draft Basic Boating Knowledge standards: NASBLA 100-20XX: Basic Boating Knowledge - Core, NASBLA 101-20XX: Basic Boating Knowledge - Plus Human-Propelled, NASBLA 102-20XX: Basic Boating Knowledge - Plus Sailing, NASBLA 103-20XX: Basic Boating Knowledge - Plus Power, and NASBLA 103.1-20XX: Supplement: Basic Boating Knowledge - Plus Water-Jet Propelled. Registered users can visit EZ-ESP to download draft documents for ...
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Between the Waves Podcast: Oxygen - The Wonder Drug

By Taylor Matsko posted 02-10-2021
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Between the Waves Podcast Oxygen - The Wonder Drug, Episode 17 *This is a transcript of the "Oxygen - The Wonder Drug" episode of NASBLA's Podcast, Between the Waves, from January 25, 2021.  The call came in like a poaching in progress call. It was my boss. “Get down to the Speaker's office right now. He wants to speak with us about oxygen.” “Well, boss, I'm on my way. You better add two hydrogen to that, or it's not my shop. Just kidding, I’m in route.” Moving through the bustling halls and up to the officer guarding the back elevator that heads directly up to the Speaker's office, behind the House chambers, my head was swirling as to why the Texas ...
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Let’s Talk Fireboats

By Taylor Matsko posted 02-10-2021
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Let’s Talk Fireboats By Captain Pete Louzao As you may know, in 2020, the maritime environment has seen an increase in marine-related recreational and commercial mishaps. What do we do? Just what we always do in the Fire Service: Examine, look at lessons learned, plan, train, equip, and evaluate. In this article, we will discuss where to start and some things to think about. If your area of operations borders the waterfront, you need a plan. Do you have one? These plans typically are written for a specific port area by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Commander. A USCG Commander in Miami recently said, “Major marine firefighting incidents will likely require ...
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NASBLA releases its 2020 Annual Report

By Taylor Matsko posted 02-09-2021
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NASBLA releases its 2020 Annual Report The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) , a national nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety, has released its 2020 Annual Report . The report covers a wide range of achievements by NASBLA and its members, stemming from NASBLA policy committees, grant projects, annual events, national awards and more. NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities of all 50 states and the U.S. territories. “Like our member agencies and other able partners in boating safety and maritime security nationwide, NASBLA pressed on in the face ...
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NASBLA recognizes Assistant Commander Cody Jones for service as Chairman

By Taylor Matsko posted 01-20-2021
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January 14, 2021 Colonel Chad Jones Law Enforcement Division Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 4200 Smith School Road Austin TX 78744 Dear Col. Jones, On behalf of the membership of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), I am writing to thank you and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for the outstanding leadership demonstrated by Assistant Commander Cody Jones during his recent term as Chairman of the NASBLA Executive Board during 2019-2020. As the association’s first-ever Chairman of the Board (formerly NASBLA President), Asst. Commander Jones set a high bar for all those who will follow in his footsteps. Taking over ...
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NASBLA recognizes the winner of the 2020 Dr. L. Daniel Maxim Award for Distinguished Service

By Taylor Matsko posted 01-20-2021
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NASBLA recognizes the winner of the 2020 Dr. L. Daniel Maxim Award for Distinguished Service *This is a transcript of the “ Pete Chisholm recognized as the winner of the 2020 Dr. L Daniel Maxim Award for Distinguished Service" video from the virtual recognition ceremony on Wednesday, December 16 th , 2020. DARREN RIDER: Hello everyone! We hope you are staying safe and healthy during these times. As many of you know, NASBLA typically recognizes all of our award winners in-person at the Annual Conference. However, this year the Annual Conference was held virtually, so we were only able to recognize some of these winners during the short awards ceremony ...
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Alex Otte named MADD National President

By Taylor Matsko posted 01-13-2021
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Alex Otte named MADD National President The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is excited to announce that effective Jan. 1, 2021, Alex Otte was promoted to the National President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). As President, Otte will serve as national spokesperson and chief advocate for MADD, whose mission is to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking. Prior to being selected to serve in this position, Otte worked as a Research Associate after joining NASBLA in 2018. Otte was the lead researcher and writer for NASBLA’s Boating Under ...
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