Blogs

NASBLA recognizes Alex Otte for her commitment to ending Boating Under the Influence

By Taylor Matsko posted 4 days ago
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NASBLA recognizes Alex Otte for her commitment to ending Boating Under the Influence   The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)  recognized Alex Otte for her continued commitment to putting an end to boating under the influence and the incredible impact she has already made on the recreational boating community during the 202 3 State Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Workshop held March 1 – 2 in Lexington, Kentucky. NASBLA Past Chair Lieutenant Kenton Turner presented his Chair’s Award to Alex Otte in recognition of these efforts. At the end of his or her term, the NASBLA Chair selects ...
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NASBLA Executive Committee Delegation Meets with U.S. Coast Guard in Washington, D.C.

By Taylor Matsko posted 10 days ago
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NASBLA Executive Committee Delegation Meets with U.S. Coast Guard in Washington, D.C. On March 15, 2023, a small NASBLA Executive Committee delegation , led by NASBLA Chair Susan Stocker , had the opportunity to visit the United States Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The focus of this meeting was to re-commit to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the United States Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) . This revised MOU is a transitional document from the original MOU which established NASBLA as the holder of the national training standards for state, county, local, ...
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Jeff Lane becomes the third Certified Recreational Boating Professional (CRBP)

By Taylor Matsko posted 10 days ago
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Jeff Lane becomes the third Certified Recreational Boating Professional (CRBP) On November 29, 2022, Jeff Lane with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, passed the Certified Recreational Boating Professional (CRPB) exam and was awarded his CRBP certification. The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is excited to recognize Jeff Lane as the third person to achieve the CRBP credential. The CRBP certification is a voluntary credential for recreational boating professionals developed by NASBLA. The credential is broad-based and addresses boating professionals’ knowledge, performance, ...
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W. Vann Burgess Honored for his Outstanding Impact on Recreational Boating Safety

By Taylor Matsko posted 18 days ago
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W. Vann Burgess Honored for his Outstanding Impact on Recreational Boating Safety   During the 2023 State Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Workshop held March 1 – 2 in Lexington, Kentucky , th e  National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)   recognized William Vann Burgess for his outstanding career with the U.S. Coast Guard and his lasting  impact on the Recreational Boating Safety program .     NASBLA Chair Susan Stocker presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Mr. Vann Burgess . This recognition is given to those who have made significant contributions ...
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Florida names new Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Matsko posted 18 days ago
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Florida names new Boating Law Administrator The   National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)   is pleased to welcome Captain Rachel Bryant, the new Boating Law Administrator (BLA) for the state of Florida. Capt. Bryant came to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ( FWC) in 2012. She has a total of 29 years of law enforcement experience, including field training officer, general instructor, high liability instructor and as a member of the Environmental Emergency Response Team. She is currently serving as President of the State Law Enforcement Chiefs’ Association. Bryant began working in FWC’s Boating ...
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Lieutenant Kenton Turner Honored with the Recreational Boating Safety Program’s Award of Excellence

By Taylor Matsko posted 25 days ago
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Lieutenant Kenton Turner Honored with the Recreational Boating Safety Program’s Award of Excellence Lieutenant Kenton Turner, NASBLA past Chair and Indiana Boating Law Administrator (BLA), was presented with the Recreation al Boating Safety Program’s Award of Excellence by Captain Troy Glendye , Chief of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety, at the 2023 State RBS Workshop in Lexington, Kentucky, on March 1, 2023.  Lt. Turner was recognized for his outstanding contributions to NASBLA, spanning across multiple program s. During his six-year tenure on the NASBLA Executive Board, Lt. Turner served in every Board position ...
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Maryland names new Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Matsko posted 26 days ago
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Maryland names new Boating Law Administrator The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)  is excited to welcome Major Brian Rathgeb, the new Boating Law Administrator (BLA) for the state of Maryland. Major Brian Rathgeb has worked for the Maryland Natural Resources Police for 26 years. Over the course of his career, he has commanded every unit within the Agency. He began his career working at a marine patrol duty station on the Patuxent River in Southern Maryland. Major Rathgeb worked in both marine and inland patrol enforcement throughout Southern Maryland as an Officer and Corporal. In 2005, he joined the statewide ...
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California names new Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Matsko posted 02-28-2023
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California names new Boating Law Administrator The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)  would like to welcome Maria Perez-Allen, the new Boating Law Administrator (BLA) for the state of California. Perez-Allen holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. She has been involved in many aspects of government recreational activities, including boating for more than 13 years with the state of California. Perez-Allen looks forward to working with the BLAs from other states and territories, along with other stakeholders on various boating-related tasks. In her spare time, Perez-Allen enjoys spending time with her ...
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NASBLA Education Standards Panel name changed to National Boating Standards Panel

By Taylor Matsko posted 02-15-2023
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NASBLA Education Standards Panel name changed to National Boating Standards Panel    In 2011, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) established the National Boating Education Standards Panel (ESP) to advance national agreement in boating program content and course delivery, while also promoting safe recreational boating. ESP adopted an open, consensus-based process to develop boating education standards. In 2014, NASBLA received recognition as an Accredited Standards Developer from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the ESP has been charged with developing standards in adherence with ANSI since that ...
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Recreational Boat Occupant Injury Surveillance Roundtable Tier 2 Report

By Taylor Matsko posted 01-25-2023
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Recreational Boat Occupant Injury Surveillance Roundtable Tier 2 Report Recreational boating activity leads to a significant number of fatal and non-fatal injuries annually across the United States. With funding from the United States Coast Guard (USCG), Safe States Alliance  and the  National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) , the Recreational Boat Occupant Injury Surveillance Project was created in 2018 to better understand the scope of non-fatal injuries that occur to all occupants of boats by bringing together public health expertise with boating safety professionals. The Project is comprised of three tiers, including ...
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North Carolina names new Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Matsko posted 01-24-2023
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North Carolina names new Boating Law Administrator The   National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)   is pleased to welcome Major Mark Dutton, the new Boating Law Administrator (BLA) for the state of North Carolina.   Major Mark L. Dutton graduated from Appalachian State University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He began working for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) in 1997, and was promoted to Sergeant in 2005. In 2006, Maj. Dutton was named the North Carolina Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. As Maj. Dutton continued his career with the Commission, he was later ...
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Lt. Curtis Lewis awarded Certified Recreational Boating Professional (CRBP) certification

By Taylor Matsko posted 01-18-2023
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Lt. Curtis Lewis awarded Certified Recreational Boating Professional (CRBP) certification The Certified Recreational Boating Professional (CRBP) certification is a voluntary credential for recreational boating professionals developed by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) . The credential is broad-based and addresses boating professionals’ knowledge, performance, and career achievements in the identified program domains. On November 4, 2021, Lieutenant Curtis Lewis, Illinois Boating Law Administrator, passed the exam and was awarded his CRBP certification. NASBLA is pleased to recognize Lt. Curtis Lewis as ...
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NASBLA Mourns the Passing of Former Virginia BLA Nancy Jamerson

By Taylor Matsko posted 01-18-2023
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NASBLA Mourns the Passing of Former Virginia BLA Nancy Jamerson Nancy Alice Hamner Jamerson, 82, of Richmond, Virginia, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 13, 2022. She was preceded in death by her husband, Garnett M. Jamerson; and her parents, Earl Henry Hamner Sr. and Doris Marion Giannini. Nancy was born March 27, 1940, in Nelson, Virginia. The youngest of eight children, Hamner had five brothers and two sisters. Nancy was portrayed as the youngest Walton child named “Elizabeth” from the TV show,   The Waltons , which was written by her oldest brother, Earl Hamner, Jr. On November 25, 1967, Nancy married the love of her life, Garnett ...
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NASBLA recognizes Lieutenant Kenton Turner for service as Chairman

By Taylor Matsko posted 01-10-2023
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December 30, 2022 Col. Steve Hunter, Director Division of Law Enforcement Indiana Department of Natural Resources 402 West Washington Street Indianapolis, IN 46204 Dear Colonel Hunter: On behalf of the membership of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), I am writing to thank you and the Division of Law Enforcement for the leadership and guidance exhibited by Lieutenant Kenton Turner during his recent tenure as Chair of the NASBLA Executive Board during 2021-2022. Assuming the chairmanship of our association as our nation began to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic in the fall of 2021, Lt. Kenton Turner led the board and the ...
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NASBLA BOAT Program Recognizes Captain Eric Lundin as the 2022 Instructor of the Year

By Taylor Matsko posted 01-04-2023
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NASBLA BOAT Program Recognizes Captain Eric Lundin as the 2022 Instructor of the Year   The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) recognized the 2022 BOAT Program Instructor of the Year for his exceptional performance of duties and responsibilities within the Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Program . The 2022 Instructor of the Year Award was presented to Captain Eric Lundin on December 13 at the BOAT Program National Instructor Development Workshop held in Lexington, Kentucky.  In addition to his past success as a Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Environmental ...
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NASBLA Highlights 2022 Top Accomplishments

By Taylor Matsko posted 11-16-2022
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NASBLA Highlights 2022 Top Accomplishments Each year in its Annual Report , the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) highlights some of the major accomplishments reached by the organization over the past year. NASBLA Executive Board members presented these achievements to the NASBLA membership during the 63 rd Annual Conference in Manchester, New Hampshire. Over the course of the past year, NASBLA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Program delivered more than 200 courses, A Guide for Multiple Use Waterway Management, Third Edition ...
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NASBLA mourns loss of Emily King, Education Coordinator, Water Rescue Expert and Boating Safety Champion

By Taylor Matsko posted 11-16-2022
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NASBLA mourns loss of Emily King, Education Coordinator, Water Rescue Expert and Boating Safety Champion NASBLA mourns the loss of Emily King, 66, who passed away on November 10, 2022. Emily was a consummate professional recognized as an international expert in boating education and water rescue representing the National Safe Boating Council and previously the State of Ohio. Emily was an active member of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators’ (NASBLA) Education and Paddlesports Committees, member of the National Boating Education Standards Panel and training director for the National Safe Boating Council. Emily was ...
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Memorandum of Understanding Between NASBLA and Mothers Against Drunk Driving

By Taylor Matsko posted 10-26-2022
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Memorandum of Understanding Between NASBLA and Mothers Against Drunk Driving The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) have partnered to reduce and prevent incidents related to boating under the influence. Both organizations recognize the value of enhancing their collaborative relationship to help put an end to impaired boating. This partnership will strengthen the impact of each organization through greater coordination through outreach, education, training and support of law enforcement. “This is an important step forward in the national recognition and awareness of the devastating ...
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Award Winners Honored at the 63rd Annual NASBLA Conference

By Taylor Matsko posted 10-26-2022
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Award Winners Honored at the 63 rd Annual NASBLA Conference The 63 rd Annual NASBLA Conference was held in Manchester, New Hampshire from Sept. 27 – 30, 2022. During the awards ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 29, NASBLA presented the association’s annual national awards, recognizing NASBLA members and colleagues in the recreational boating safety community for their outstanding contributions to boating and water safety. NASBLA had the opportunity to recognize 21 award winners at this year’s event. Lifetime Achievement Award Captain Merri Walker , Massachusetts Boating Law Administrator, Massachusetts Environmental Police Joe Carro , Program & ...
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NASBLA Names Arizona’s Kim Jackson the 2022 National Boating Educator of the Year

By Taylor Matsko posted 10-26-2022
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NASBLA Names Arizona’s Kim Jackson the 2022 National Boating Educator of the Year The 2022 National Pamela S. Dillon Boating Educator of the Year award was presented to Kim Jackson, with the Arizona Game and Fish Department , on Thursday, September 29, at the awards ceremony during the  National Association of State Boating Law Administrators’ (NASBLA) Annual Conference held in Manchester, New Hampshire. Generously sponsored by Kalkomey Enterprises, Inc. , the Pamela S. Dillon Boating 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 ...
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