Apr01 MINUTES OF THE

NATIONAL WATER SAFETY CONGRESS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

Nashville, Tennessee

7 April 2001

 

The meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Water Safety Congress

(NWSC) was called to order at 8:30 am by President Steve Fairbanks.

 

The following members were present:

 

Ann Van Buren         Toni Rushing            Bill Gossard

Brenda Warren         Arlyn Hendricks         Frank Trent

Carl Garner           Steve Fairbanks         Kathy Meadows 

Keith Bryant          Emmett Forte              Nancy Bernard           

Joe Morgan            Paul Crawford           Ron Riberich   Allan Bailey        

   Bill Hagdorn       Fred Messmann

Bobby Pharr          

                 

The following members were absent:

 

Ross Adkins, Lu Christie, Russ Minton, Bill Ladd, and Butch Potts.

 

Present also were John Malatak, U. S. Coast Guard Liaison and Virgil Chambers

liaison from National Safe Boating Council.

 

Two guests present were Pete Colangelo former president of the NWSC and Michael

Pons from France.

 

Roll was called and a quorum was established.

 

Rhea Dawn Smith passed out board member packets that included schedules,

programs, name badges, ribbons, tickets, etc.  A discussion was held about the

program and the need to introduce speakers. There was one cancellation on the

program.

 

Reading of the Minutes: It was moved and seconded to forego reading of the

minutes of the previous meeting and accept written minutes as presented.  Motion

passed.

 

Officers Reports:

 

Treasurer - Toni Rushing - Passed out report on treasury. We have a balance of

$13,359.80 in our regular checking account, $24,724.86 in our money market

account, and $10,654.16 for a total of $48,738.82.  We have expended 23% of our

operating budget.  Of the partnering grant budget of $10,000 we have spent

$6,720.  The balance is committed for WSBLAA and SSBLAA meetings.

 

A round of applause for Toni was given.

 

Regional Vice Presidents Reports: 

 

1.              Region I Vice President - Frank Trent – Past Year Activities: 

Met with Virginia Department of Natural Resources "Boating Safety Day" to

discuss annual event and to see if the NWSC or the Corps of Engineers could

provide assistance or participate in the state-wide event.  Program has been

underway for 2 years and is a tremendous success.

 

Made contact either by phone or email with all Boating Law Administrator offices

within Region I with varying degrees of success and announced the upcoming

International Boating and Water Safety Summit as well as the National Water

Safety Congress Awards Program.

 

Having printed Awards of Recognition for NWSC nominees who were not accommodated

with an Award of Merit or Regional Award. Distribution will be made shortly to

Board Members for use.

 

Under another hat (Corps of Engineers) funded Brenda Warren in the amount of

$8000 to represent Corps of Engineers HQ in water safety matters and this effort

I feel has been very successful in giving the Corps and NWSC visibility in areas

where we have had none or very little visibility.

 

Using Corps email system I announced the Summit on several occasions and was

able to create interest among Natural Resource management staff and also created

a letter encouraging attendance by our Natural Resource Management Staff and had

it signed by the Chief of Operations and Chief of Safety.

 

Discussed Opryland sur-charge with Corps logistics personnel and put out message

to Corps field personnel as to how to prepare travel orders.  This policy should

be reiterated at beginning of main session on Monday.

 

Awards Program:  Notified via email, state and federal organizations nationwide

of NWSC annual awards program and published Regional VP names and address and

encouraged individuals to contact their local VP if they had someone who needed

to be recognized?

 

In Region 1, I received 17 nominees and accepted 13 which I forwarded to Fred

Messmann and he was good enough to work around the maximum submittal problem by

taking three of them and putting them in another Region.

 

It has been a good year and fatalities are down overall in Region 1 even though

we had a very hot summer in 2000.

 

Awards Committee – Fred Messmann – Thanked those you gave him a timely response

to his request for awards.   Asked board members for suggestions about ways to

make the award program better.  There was discussion about the format for award

submission.  We have 80 Awards of Merit and 9 regional awards.  There was one

extra from one region due to co-winners.  Have 5 plaques for corporate sponsors.

  The cost was the same as last year. 

 

A round of applause for Fred was given.

 

Region II Vice President - Bill Gossard – Region 2 states reported approximately

1,015 accidents in 1998 and 1,009 in 1999.  This was about a 0% change in

accidents – the good news is that fatalities dropped from 96 in 1998 to 78 in

1999 or about a 23% decrease in fatalities.  Preliminary information for 2000

for fatalities indicates no change in fatalities from 1999.  Accident data has

not yet been completed for 2000. 

 

A number of states in the New England area considered or are actively seeking

legislative initiatives in 2001 including the State of Connecticut strengthening

its alcohol law (implied consent), Rhode Island (mandatory education), and

Massachusetts (mandatory education).

 

The award program is very strong in the New England area with too many entries

for the 10 Awards of Merit presently authorized by the board.  The states have

been active participants in this program as well as the U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers.  Region 2 will have 10 Awards of Merit and 1 Regional Award.

 

Other activities included attendance at the International Conference on Safety

in Transportation in Telese Terme, Italy during February 2001. President Steve

Fairbanks also attended the conference.  The ICOSIT conference was very

successful and the support of he NWSC and The National Safe Boating Council were

greatly appreciated.  It is expected that the NWSC will again be invited in

2002. 

 

Region III Vice President - Brenda Warren – One national award nominee, 7

regional Awards of Merit.  Attended the NABA meeting in Connecticut and the

NASBLA last September.  Attended the Futures Forum for Recreational Boating

Safety in Florida the first three days of April.  Report to posted on the NASBLA

website at www.nasbla.org.  The interagency agency task force on recreational

boating formed by the Coast Guard. They will make a presentation at the Corps

meeting Monday afternoon.  A meeting of all agency representatives will meet

Thursday after the Summit.

 

A round of applause for Brenda’s representation of the NWSC was given.

 

Region IV Vice President - Keith Bryant – No meetings attended since last board

meeting in October.  Awards – 1 regional award and 10 Awards of Merit.  In

addition issued 2 certificates of merit.  Alabama has pending legislation to

raise minimum operator age to 14 from 12 and to lower BAC from .10 to .08. 

Florida has pending legislation to life the age cap on mandatory education

requirement.  Mississippi has a new law that just took effect that requires PWC

operators to wear a Coast Guard approved PFD while the craft is moving.  Across

the region accidents and fatality numbers are down from last year.  Education

efforts for school children are increasing. 

 

Region V Vice President - Carl Garner – Contacted all the BLA in the region and

heard back from two.  Arkansas reported that mandatory boating education

requirement is working well. They have several new wildlife officers. New Mexico

legislation for DUI failed.  Contacted Kirby Corporation of Houston about award

of merit and as result sent them a 50th Anniversary packet and received a

donation.  The number of fatalities in Oklahoma was up from the previous few

years.  As a result education efforts have been increased.  Oklahoma Safe Kids

Coalition and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Lake Patrol Troop are working on

legislation for mandatory education but are not having much success.  The Corps

has formed a regional Water Safety Task force.  This group is looking at

educational materials aimed at Hispanic people. Received 14 nominations for

Awards of Merit and 2 good ones for regional award making for a difficult

decision.     

 

Region VI Vice President - Kathy Meadows – Sent out 70 award packets, received

23 nominations and selected 10 Awards of Merit winners and 1 regional winner.

 

Kansas - Mandatory education became effective Jan 1, 2001. 30

instructor-training courses were scheduled through March.  Best year in recent

memory as far as boating accidents are concerned.  Only 42 reportable accidents,

and no fatalities.  This is the first time in years that there hasn’t been a

fatality.  Of the 42 accidents, 18 resulted in injuries and 23 involved personal

watercraft.  12 of those injury accidents were PWC-related.

 

Missouri - 3rd Annual Partnering for Safety Meeting will be held at Lake of the

Ozarks the end of this month. Reps from various Corps of Engineers, MO Water &

Highway Patrols and U.S. Fish and Wildlife will meet to discuss various

partnering possibilities that combine their common interests (i.e., billboards

with water safety/seat belt safety message, etc)

 

Iowa - If the projected 6 percent state government across-the-board budget cut

occurs, the Iowa DNR will be forced to cut all summer water patrol positions

this year and eliminate overtime for the full-time staff. Some existing

vacancies may not be filled until after 1 July 01.

 

Training of DNR and other law enforcement agencies on new BWI law is continuing.

 The purpose of the one-day training sessions is to familiarize law enforcement

with the paperwork and requirements of the new BWI law that went into effect 1

July 2000.

 

Midwest Regional Water Safety Council – The MRWSC has been asked to assist with

planning and presenting of several programs on council activities at the 2002

NABA (Northern Boating Law Administrators) conference which will be held in

Omaha-Council Bluffs in June 2002.  MRWSC is also continuing fundraising efforts

for the purchase of a robotic boat for the council’s education activities.  They

currently have 3 sponsors totaling around $6,000, including a $1,000 grant from

the NWSC.

 

Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, Water Safety Committee - The MVR Water

and Boating Safety Committee met last month in Peoria, Illinois.  Several new

initiatives were discussed, including cross training of water patrol staff

between lakes, and pooling of staff and boats to address special events and

problems at specific lakes/areas during the summer months.  There was also

consensus to work more closely with the Midwest Regional Water Safety Council in

the coordination of National Safety Boating week’s projects and similar events. 

The group agreed to meet again in the fall to review the 2001 recreation season.

 

FY00 Boating Stats for Region 6 - According to a Nov 3, 2000 press release, 1999

stats showed that the North Central Region (Region 6 – IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND,

SD) is the third top-ranking region for number of registered boaters, with 1.6

million registered boats.  For the most part, FY00's figures show an improvement

in the number of accident and fatalities over previous years. 

 

Region VII Vice President - Bill Hagdorn – Missed Oct 2000 NWSC meeting due to

agency reductions in travel budgets.  Did not attend any Regional or NASBLA

meetings this Year.

 

Legislation passed or pending - Alaska: HB 108, Alaska Boating Safety Act

passed.  Idaho -  Four pieces of Legislation passed- 1: requires wearing PFD for

all PWC users, all water skiing and recreation towing activities; 2: Police

officer can make OUI arrest without witnessing; 3: Increase penalty if OUI

arrest made and there were children in boat; and 4: Reduced some boating laws

misdemeanors to infraction violations.  All laws are positive to boating

program.  No other states submitted reports.

 

Awards - Region 7: will present 1 Regional Award and 10 Award of Merits at

Summit.  Sent out over 70 award packets, received 18 nominations.

 

Activities promoting water safety – Alaska - Canoe Fun Day; Published Alaska

Boaters Handbook & Regional Supplements; developed an Outdoor Interpretative

Display Series; Held the Elmendorf Air Force Base Safety Day.

 

Accident number - Year 1998

  Ak  Id  Or  Mt  Wa  WY   Total 

 

Accidents to Date:    70  76

PWC Related          35  

Alcohol Related      6

Fatalities:           19       9*

PWC Related           2

Alcohol Related      2

Comments: * 5 fatalities on moving water.

 

Regional Issues/ State Issues - Idaho will be looking at 1.establishing a youth

PFD law; 2. Setting a minimum operator age; and 3. Require registration on

manually propelled vessels. 

 

Region VIII Vice President – Paul Crawford – Attended a meeting of 13th Flotilla

of the U.S. Power Squadron. The biggest issue is CO levels on houseboats.  The

National Park Service is being sued by the Blue Water national group in an

effort to prohibit PWCs from any NPS area.  Nevada is considering a boater

education law.  50 award packets sent out. Received 20 nominations.  Have 2

regional winners and 10 Award of Merit winners.             

 

President’s Report – Steve Fairbanks – Attended NSBC board meeting in January at

Nashville.  NSBC will again head up the Safe Boating Campaign.  Have a new PR

firm for the campaign, Blaine and Associates out of D.C.  Safe Boating Campaign

Kickoff will be 24 May 2001 in Washington, D.C.  Will attend if cost can be kept

down to a reasonable level.  Will have Congressional reception the evening of

May 17 and present the Hall of Fame Awards at that event.  NSBC is developing a

partnership with Wal-Mart to include a checklist of required boating equipment

that would be available at each store.  Also looking at distributing “Sidekicks”

at participating stores.  Have a new interactive kids section on their website. 

The NSBC is establishing a message board for boating safety questions.  Gave a

report on NWSC activities at this meeting.  NSBC is starting a small grant

program similar to ours using grant funds left over from Safe Boating Week. 

They are developing a program for chair emeritus group.  We might want to

consider this for the NWSC. 

 

Attended International Safety and Transportation Conference in Italy.  Expenses

for the trip paid by the group from Italy.  Group is trying to get international

cooperation on  waterway markings.  Bill Gossard to report more in depth. 

 

Attended Futures Forum on Recreational Boating held in Florida first three days

of April.  Approximately 100-boating/water safety professionals were in

attendance.  Looking to be proactive to meet the challenges of recreational

boating.  One challenge is that leisure time might increase by 50%.  Broke down

into four working groups to brainstorm on the challenges and how the

organizations are to meet these challengers.   Detailed report posted on

www.NASBLA.org.  Appointed to the NASBLA Waterways Management Committee.  The

update on the Guide for Waterways Management will involve this committee. 

 

Operation Boat Smart is an initiative by the Coast Guard to get a more

cooperative effort between all partners to promote boating safety.  The NWSC has

been invited to participate as a partner.  The executive board approved the NWSC

participation by signing the letter of intent.  This letter of intent supporting

Operation Boat Smart is to be signed Monday at the Summit. 

 

    Motion – Warren/Garner – That the NWSC participate in Operation Boat Smart. 

Motion passed. 

 

Legislation (HR 702) titled the PWC Responsible Act for 2001 has been

introduced.  The bill is flawed in that it mandates efforts that are already

being done by the states.  NASBLA is opposed to this bill. 

 

Butch Potts is home and doing well.  Working from home.  Not enough strength to

attend meetings yet.

 

Russ Minton is home following surgery last week.  Doing well with few

complications.  Lu is home with him.

 

International Reception to held on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. in Delta 6303. 

 

Executive Vice-President’s Report – Ron Riberich  -

 

50th Anniversary Campaign:

 

From mid November, 2000 until the end of February, myself, and Tom Hood,

(Operations Safety Manager, Nashville, District) visited about a dozen

recreation boat dealers, boat manufactures, commercial marine operators, retail

stores and various private firms in the east Tennessee Area, soliciting funds

for the Congress’s 50th Anniversary celebration. 

 

We made several excellent contacts who were interested in the work of the

Congress and expressed willingness to attend this years Summit.  Two firms asked

us to come back later this year and help with a presentation for their

employee’s monthly training topic that will deal with boating and water safety

training.

 

An interesting issue we encountered during our industry contacts was in

Chattanooga, Tennessee where a commercial towing operator asked for our

assistance to help set up a safety operation plan for area rowers that use the

river.  The issue is rowers are in the main channel of the river and not paying

much attention for commercial traffic when they are in the water.  There are

about 15 different rowing organizations in the Chattanooga area that include

high schools, private clubs and a university team.

 

We set up a meeting with the area rowers, commercial marine operators, the Coast

Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Corps of Engineers, and TVA .  We developed a

tentative operating plan for the rowers that will allow them to operate safety

on a specific stretch of the river.  The Coast Guard will issue a Marine safety

Information Bulletin for commercial traffic to alert the towing industry of

rowers in the particular area of the river.  We also suggested the rowers

utilize more safety equipment when practicing for events such as PFD’s, and

illuminated markings for their craft. 

 

Rowing is apparently a growing sport in various regions of the country.  We

intend on using the same operating plan developed for Chattanooga for other

areas in the Tennessee Valley where rowing is gaining in popularity.

 

 

Strategic Operating Plan:

 

I facilitated the drafting of the Strategic Operating Plan that is presented for

Board review.  The plan focuses on the Congress’ business for the next four

years.  Myself, along with Keith Bryant, Joe Morgan, Nancy Bernard, Arlyn

Hendricks and Brenda Warren, met on conference call for approximately 2 hours

every three to four weeks since October 2000, and examined all aspects of the

Congress’ business operations.  We developed through discussion and consensus

critical issues, which we believe this Board, must undertake to solve, if this

organization is to survive into the future. 

 

The Strategic Plan offers the Congress an opportunity to move forward.  There

are critical problem solving issues for everyone, but it will take the active

participation of every Board Member present if we are to achieve the desired

results. 

 

 

Committee Reports:

 

Programs Committee –Tabled until later.          

 

Awards Committee – Fred Messmann – report given earlier during VP reports.

 

Public Relations Committee - Ross Adkins – Absent – tabled.

 

Liaison Committee – Nancy Bernard – Received final reports from all 2000 grant

recipients.  All projects completed for 2000.  For 2001 we received 8 grant

requests and were able to fund 6.  Chartering kit is in the works to be

reprinted.  Received 5 calls about starting local water safety councils.  Trying

to have a quick and easy way on how to start a local council included in the

chartering kit.

 

International Relations - Bill Gossard –  At this year’s Summit we are expecting

representatives from France, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, and South

Africa.  We also had commitments with New Zealand, Australia, and Uganda.  The

New Zealanders and Australians had to defer until the Daytona Beach, Florida

conference and appear to be committed to attend that conference.  The Ugandan

attempted to come this year but we were stifled by the lack of funds to support

his needs.  He was offered a scholarship.  Additionally, the committee was able

to contact the State Department and prepare his way to easily process a tourist

visa. 

 

The International Relations Committee chair offers to the Board the

recommendation that we pursue a joint grant with the NSBC and NASBLA to seek

some seed funds to begin a program recognizing that boating and water safety are

international issues.  Many countries have little opportunity to share or learn

the invaluable safety lessons we discuss at such meetings and conferences as the

IBWSS.

 

Steve and Bill attended the International Conference on Safety in Transportation

(ICOSIT) in Telese Terme, Italy.  500 Italian delegates and about 50

representatives from the U.S., Canada, Iceland, Scotland, Belgium, along with

1500 Italian students attended the conference.  The conference addressed all

modes of transportation, with large focus on highway and children’s safety.  The

inland waterways group, in addition to presentations made as a panel, also

completed a major working document for the Italian conference entitled the

“Telese Consensus”.  The working group consisted of 20 members attending the

conference and was the only group that produced a document by the completion of

the conference.  The issue area forwarded for action by next year’s conference

included the following:  environmental concerns, sharing information via the

internet, international uniformity, international safe boating week, pleasure

craft operations, personal watercraft, freedom to navigation, and aids to

navigation and uniform inland waterways markers.

 

It is the committee’s understanding that the conference was a success for the

Italian organizers and that another conference in being scheduled including

support from other Italian organizations.  As we learned, conferences in Italy

are not organized by the Italian government but by individual and private

organizations.  The Italian representative and organizer will be at the IBWSS to

discuss dates and topics with individuals of those interested in advancing

international boating and water safety issues.     

 

Site Selection Committee - Carl Garner – Opryland Hotel room rate down from $90

to $85.  The 2002 Summit will be held at the Adams Mark hotel in Daytona Beach,

Florida.  Fall Board meeting to be 16-17 October 2001.  Summit dates are 28

April – 1 May, 2002.  Have 85% attrition rate on 375 rooms.  The Adams Mark will

have an exhibit at this year’s summit.  For 2003 we have two possibilities: San

Diego (Town and Country) and Las Vegas (Alexis Park).  Will make a decision at

October board meeting on 2003 IBWSS location.  Panama City Beach a possibility

for 2004. 

 

Grants Committee – Toni Rushing – Submitted 4 proposals; IBWSS 2002, grassroots

to match local council grants, revise Guidebook for Mutiple Use Waterway

Management, and partnership with NASBLA for a total of $202,950.   No word from

the Coast Guard yet on grant proposals funding.      

 

Nominations Committee - Keith Bryant – Formal notice for nominations to the

board to published in the journal.  Steve will make an announcement at one of

the sessions at the Summit.

 

Membership Committee - Keith Bryant – People registering at the Summit to be

members of the NWSC.

 

Education Committee – Bill Ladd – absent - No report.

 

Historical Committee  and 50th Anniversary Committee - Emmett Forte – Historical

records have new home in Emmett’s new shop.  Has about 30–40 Guidebooks for

Waterway Management.  Disappointed with the number of replies from past members.

 Steve read letter from Nevada congratulating the NWSC on it’s 50th anniversary.

 Steve Foshee helped with planning for 50th anniversary celebration.  Sam’s

Clubs has been a very good sponsor.  The Belle Meade C&D room will be open for

past members to visit during the Summit.  There will be an open house for our

guests for the 50th.  Displays, refreshments, musicians, and area to congregate

will be available.  The Nashville District Corps of Engineers printed the awards

brochures, copied photos, and made sponsor signs.

 

Corporate Sponsors for 50th -  Toni passed out a list of corporate sponsors –

some of which sponsored both the NWSC and the 50th Anniversary Celebration.

 

A round of applause for Toni was given.    

 

Projects Committee – Bill Hagdorn – Web page up and going.  Comments from the

Board – looks good, links page needs to be updated.  The last Journal issue is

on the web page.  Bill would like a list of attendees to the Summit on the page.

 

Resolution Committee - Allan Bailey – Nothing to report.

 

Coast Guard Report - John Malatak – NWSC did submit four grant proposals.  Coast

Guard received requests for about 9 million dollars and has a little over 1

million to award.  The partnering grant was reduced from $14,800 to $11,000 and

the preferred number is $10,000.  The grassroots grant was fully funded at

$6,000.  2002 IBWSS grant was reduced from $87,150 NTE $$82,500.  Waterway Use

Guidebook reduced from $95,000 to $85,000 and might go lower thru negotiations. 

These numbers are not firm as of yet. 

 

Need to promote dangers from CO poisoning especially on houseboats.  The 24th is

the kickoff for National Safe Boating Week this year.  Lewis & Clark celebration

has the potential to impact the boating safety community.  We need to be aware

of this.  There will be a meeting to discuss Operation Boat Smart Monday

evening.  

 

John asked the board if there is any problem with using the term “life jacket”

instead of PFD.  Several board members stated that they prefer the use of “life

jacket” instead of PFD.  Seems that some folks in C.G. Headquarters are

questioning the use of “life jacket” when referring to a PFD. 

 

Section 508 of the ADA states that all federally funded websites must

accommodate visual and hearing impaired users.  

 

June 2nd is vessel safe check day for Power Squadron and Coast Guards Auxiliary

to do inspections at Wal-Mart, West Marine, and Boat US stores.

 

National Safe Boating Council – Virgil Chambers – Saved by the Jacket has been

translated into French for Canada.  The PSAs include actual testimonies from

people who were saved by wearing a life jacket.  Distributed 15,000 kits to

date.  Washington, D.C. kickoff to be the 24th of May.  Theodore Tugboat will

participate again this year.  Won silver Talley award last year for video news

release.  NSBC now has 300 member organizations.  Information on campaign found

at www.safeboatingcampaign.org.  Will be doing additional tattoos and another

version of “sidekicks”  

 

This year 2,756 Wal-Mart stores is partnering with NSBC to distribute

“sidekicks” and check sheets for boaters during Safe Boating Week. 

 

The NWSC will be presented a binder with letters from numerous organizations

congratulating the congress on 50 years of water safety promotion. 

 

A boating safety instructor’s kit will be available later this year at a cost of

less than $500.