I downloaded the pdf from Connect and have attached my comments. I believe that most of my points have been captured, and a couple of observations may not be relevant as I learned more about this document.
I also attached a proposed revision of the accounting spreadsheet.
The media outreach additions should be self-explanatory. One thing that I'd like to point out in my proposal in this section is that there is a new column that asks for the "TOTAL Dollars spent on media outreach campaigns. The following columns then ask for "Percentage of media budget spent on …..?" and a performance indicator. I know this document is not intended to be a "survey," however, if people are taking the time to fill this out, the information should be useful. Asking these questions should get people to think about using the most efficient methods to reach people that produce the best return on investment.
I'm making some recommendations in the "Class section," which I believe will paint a better picture of the real world. I left the "NUMBER OF PERSONS ATTENDING STATE/NASBLA APPROVED COURSES" and "NUMBER OF PERSONS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING STATE/NASBLA APPROVED COURSES AND CERTIFICATES" heading. I sort of understand why the information listed under both headings might be useful. However, I believe one of these headings could be eliminated if there was a "Total Number of Official State Boating Certificates Issued." I think that knowing the "Total Number of Official State Boating Certificates Issued" is an important number to know and will become more important in the future.
To give us a better understanding of what organizations are providing boating education in the US. I'm also suggesting that the boating education course provider category be better defined. I've edited the existing USCG categories and added a new one. (Bold red text is new.)
- STATE Agency Taught
- For-Profit Company Taught
- COAST GUARD AUXILIARY Taught
- US POWER SQUADRON Taught
I'm not sure why the USCG Aux and Power Squadrons are called out specifically. Doing this and not providing a place to count the for-profit companies providing boating education in the US does not give an accurate accounting of where boaters are getting their education.
I wanted to clarify the "State" category. To do this, I added "Agency Taught" to indicate the number of boating courses a state agency provided the public using its resources and taught by state employees and volunteers. It does NOT count "state-authorized" courses offered by for-profit companies. The "For-Profit Company Taught" category would count all the classes taught by a for-profit company authorized to deliver boating education in that state.
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Mark Chanski
NASBLA Deputy Education Director
NASBLA
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-26-2020 03:54 PM
From: Ron Sarver
Subject: New State RBS Grant Program Guide
Attached is the [draft] State Recreational Boating Safety Grant Program Guide that the U.S. Coast Guard's Boating Safety Division released this morning at the State RBS Workshop in Lexington, Kentucky.
Verne Gifford, Chief of the Boating Safety Division has asked for folks to review this document and ask any questions or provide any suggestions/input.
Thanks
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Ron Sarver
Chief, Knowledge & Learning Management Systems
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators
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