A Note from the Executive Director
What do you think of when you hear the names of these protagonists and antagonists: Walter White, Jesse Pinkman, Gus Fring, and Hank Schrader? Pack your bags because IBWSS 2024 is in one of the most diverse landscapes in the country – Albuquerque, NM. New Mexico has some of the flattest land as well as some of the most rugged mountains in the country. It was also the location for the popular Netflix series Breaking Bad. All the locations in the series are real, so plan to visit the car wash or chicken restaurant on your way to Walter White’s house. Our team is planning another dynamic program filled with first-time IBWSS speakers and plenty of hands-on training. You really do not want to miss this opportunity to learn and network with industry peers – and some new friends. Learn more at IBWSS.org.
There are other opportunities this winter for professional development. The NSBC is hosting our instructor certification course nationwide, so if you’re interested in improving your powerboat handling skills and want to be part of our train-the-trainer network, please complete the candidate application.
Our friends at NASBLA are offering a certification unique to our industry. The CRBP, Certified Recreational Boating Professional, is an online course with ten domains and tests. This voluntary credential is broad based and addresses boating professionals’ knowledge, performance, and career achievements in the identified program domains. Having just completed the certification, I can highly recommend it. Each domain took me anywhere from 1 to 4 hours of research and study. Each test is 25 questions, and a passing score of 20 is required. Once you pass all 10 domains, you are a Certified Recreational Boating Professional. Learn more.
We look forward to seeing everyone in Albuquerque in just a few months. Did I mention the food? Albuquerque was recognized in Eater Magazine and was named one of the top cities in the world to travel to in 2023. See ya there!
Safe boating, Peg Phillips
Coming Soon: Request a Custom Quote Feature from Sealite.us
Sealite.us is getting a brand-new custom quote feature! This enhancement is developed towards improving your overall experience with us and simplifying the quoting process especially when you’re on the go.
Have a unique artwork or specific message in mind? You will be able to upload your custom artwork and enter your custom message online. A team member will personally follow up with you to ensure the quote aligns with your exact requirements. Check out our website and experience the convenience of obtaining a customized quote tailored just for you!
Have questions? Contact Cathy Sonnentag.
Wear It For Them Initiative
The Safe Boating Campaign has launched a new awareness initiative - Wear It For Them - to encourage all boaters to always wear a life jacket for themselves and everyone that depends on them.
“We want boaters to understand the impact that their decisions on the water can have on others, especially those closest to them,” said Peg Phillips, executive director of the National Safe Boating Council, the lead organization for the Safe Boating Campaign. “When you’re headed out on the water, don’t just wear a life jacket for you. Wear it… For her. For him. For them.”
Wear It For Them brings attention to boaters that when they wear a life jacket, they are making a conscious choice to protect themselves, and be responsible for the loved ones that count on them. Find ads, videos, and more at www.safeboatingcampaign.com.
NSBC Boating Data, powered by DECKEE, Unlocks Boating Insights in the United States
The NSBC has partnered with the award-winning boating app DECKEE to establish a ground-breaking boating data service in the United States.
The new service called NSBC Boating Data offers unprecedented insights and analysis of privacy-protected boating activity and behavior informed by GPS movement capture and boater data inputs.
“We are thrilled to partner with DECKEE to provide anonymized boating activity data to empower the boating industry to better understand waterway activity,” said Peg Phillips, executive director of the National Safe Boating Council.
“Boaters, anglers, sailors, and paddlers log their on-water activities with the free DECKEE mobile app every week. With respect for the community’s privacy, DECKEE and the NSBC strip this dataset of identifiers and aggregates it. What is left is a vast source of trends and insights,” continued Phillips.
With thousands of new activities added every month, DECKEE’s data set of billions of deidentified GPS points offers an entirely new way of understanding and analyzing boating patterns and behavior at a local level.
“NSBC Boating Data provides insights about where, when, and how people move around waterways,” said Mike McKiernan, CEO of DECKEE. “This data empowers stakeholders and decision makers to go beyond census data and answer questions about the waterways that were previously considered unanswerable, unlocking significant public safety, economic, and environmental outcomes.”
Since its launch in 2019, the free DECKEE app has been used by over 530,000 boaters worldwide, and provides representative samples of privacy-approved boating insights for U.S. states and cities.
“Our mission at DECKEE is to help the boating community worldwide stay safe, informed, and enjoy their time on the water,” continued McKiernan. “We are excited to partner with the National Safe Boating Council to offer these essential boating insights in the United States.”
Learn more about how NSBC Boating Data can provide custom boating data analytics and reporting.
Nominate a Boating Safety Leader
The NSBC’s Boating Safety Hall of Fame was established in 1995 and recognizes individuals who have made, or continue to generate, substantial and lasting contributions toward the advancement of recreational boating safety. Nominations must be received by January 31 of each year. Nominate a boating safety leader.
Boating Standards Panel Welcomes New Members
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and the members of the National Boating Standards Panel (BSP) would like to welcome three new members to the BSP! Peg Phillips, Wendy Flynn, and David Fuller officially joined the fifteen-member panel on January 1, 2024.
Peg Phillips joined the panel in the NGO/nonprofit category. Peg currently serves as the executive director of the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC), and she is also an experienced boating instructor. She is a certified American Canoe Association L2 kayak instructor, SUP instructor, and NSBC powerboat instructor trainer.
Wendy Flynn joined the panel in the state category. Wendy currently works for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection where she leads the education and outreach section that is responsible for mandatory boating education. Wendy is a NASBLA Leadership Academy graduate (2023) and she is also a Certified Recreational Boating Professional (CRBP) through NASBLA.
David Fuller joined the panel in the NGO/nonprofit category. David currently serves as the Deputy Director of Education for the Coast Guard Auxiliary. David holds numerous Auxiliary and Coast Guard qualifications in operations, watchstanding, education, and RBS prevention and response. He has earned more than 60 awards and citations over his tenure of approximately 35,000 hours of volunteer service.
The BSP is thrilled to welcome these new members and looks forward to an outstanding year of panel work!
Remind Boaters to Get Connected
An engine cut-off switch (ECOS) attaches to the boat operator and cuts power to the boat’s engine if the operator is displaced from the helm. It also may be activated manually if needed in an emergency. An ECOS may be a lanyard attached to the engine switch, or a boat may be equipped with wireless technology that resembles a key fob or wristband. And, it's the law to use an ECOS!
The NSBC has all the resources you need to encourage boaters to use an ECOS every time they go powerboating to keep them and others safe on the water. Resources are available at www.GetConnectedBoating.org.
NSBC Member-Only Discounts
NSBC members receive exclusive discounts from industry partners, such as Athletic Brewing Company, ExpertVoice, Full Throttle, Mustang Survival, Onyx, Safe Lakes, Sealite, Sensorcon, Sirius Signal, TowBoatU.S., and more! Get discounts.
While you're shopping, stock up on your favorite outreach materials from the NSBC. For a limited time only, NSBC members receive free shipping on:
- Boating Safety Brochures Box
- Boating Safety Flyers Box
- Remember to Wear It Outdoor Signs
- Safe Boating Campaign Banner 4x3
- Safe Boating Campaign Banner 6x3
- Safe Boating Campaign Box
- Safe Boating Campaign Stickers
Use promo code NSBCSHIP at checkout. Promo code only valid for 1 use per member for the products listed above only for a limited time.
Meet Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel - and MORE - at IBWSS
The 2024 International Boating and Water Safety Summit will be in Albuquerque, NM! We can't wait to celebrate our 27th anniversary conference from April 8-11, 2024 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque. Our premier sponsor is At the Helm Training - a provider of personalized boat training and professional boat delivery anywhere in the United States and the Bahamas.
You don't want to miss a great line-up of speakers at this international event, including Boat Boss, The Qualified Captain, Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel, and boating leaders from around the world.
Boat Boss: Kim is owner and operator at FB Marine Group, a Boating Industry Top 100 dealer in South Florida. She led the growth from a $3 million sales brokerage firm to a dealership operation generating $30 million offering sales, brokerage, charter, financing, parts/service, storage, paint, and fiberglass repair. She is also host of the Boat Boss podcast, which interviews some of the top players in the business, sports, and entertainment worlds. Listen to Boat Boss to learn more about safely living, working, and playing on the water.
The Qualified Captain: Aaron Stasiak, owner of The Qualified Captain, started an Instagram page as a place to highlight on-the-water incidents that could have been avoided. While Aaron and his team are known for sharing videos of what not to do on the water, as lifelong boaters and anglers themselves, they take great pride in highlighting the lessons learned from each video they share on their platform along the way. With over 1 million followers on Instagram, The Qualified Captain has captured an audience of young adult boaters.
Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel: In 1978, avid water enthusiasts Chuck and Lou Ann Best rescued a squirrel after a rainstorm. When Chuck bought a remote-controlled boat for his daughter’s birthday, his friends teased him saying he bought the boat for himself, to which he responded, “I have to learn to drive the boat so I can teach my squirrel to water ski!" News spread of Twiggy "the water skiing squirrel," and the rest is history. Twiggy has performed since September of 1979, traveling all over the world and appearing in numerous books, magazines, newspapers, and television shows. Tragically, in 1997, Chuck drowned while attempting to rescue his stepfather in a boating incident. Upon her husband's passing, Lou Ann made water safety an important part of Twiggy's act. Chuck Best Jr. and his fiancé have reimagined his parents’ show for an entirely new generation of Twiggy fans. Twiggy is also the mascot for the National Safe Boating Council's Safe Boating Campaign, a worldwide effort focused on responsible boating, encouraging boaters to always wear a life jacket while on the water.
All-conference access for only $350, includes daily breakfast, evening receptions, and lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday. Book your stay at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Albuquerque with our discounted room rate.
Largest Library of FREE Boating Safety Resources
The Safe Boating Campaign, a worldwide effort focused on responsible boating led by the National Safe Boating Council, has the largest online library of FREE resources to encourage new and experienced boaters to choose to boat responsibly.
Whether you're planning outreach for the remainder of the year or getting a head start on next summer, boating educational assets are available from the Safe Boating Campaign. Browse Resources for logos, event toolkits, flyers, infographics, print ads, radio spots, and more.
Save the date for these events in 2024:
- Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day - May 17, 2024
- National Safe Boating Week - May 18-24, 2024
Get a head start on planning by following our step-by-step guide for Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day and National Safe Boating Week. The National Safe Boating Council is proud to partner with the U.S. Coast Guard on these annual outreach events.
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