Manassas, VA (May 11, 2016) – The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC), in partnership with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) hosted a Boating Safety Congressional Reception on May 11 in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. This event, held in conjunction with the American Boating Congress (ABC), was organized to celebrate National Safe Boating Week and acknowledge past Confluence Award recipients and bring to light important
boating safety issues currently facing our nation.
Among those in attendance were guests from the U.S. Coast Guard, ABC, and members of Congress. Remarks from Chris Stec, Chief Operating Officer for ACA | Canoe – Kayak – SUP – Raft – Rescue and NSBC Vice Chair, Eleanor Mariani, Connecticut Boating Law Administrator and NASBLA Past President, and Thom Dammrich, President of NMMA set the tone for a lively, energetic reception focusing on positive advancements in recreational boating safety.
Special Guest Speaker Vice Admiral Fred Midgette, U.S. Coast Guard, spoke to the importance of promoting life jacket wear amongst recreational boaters. He mentioned the high number of deaths caused by not wearing a life jacket and also stressed the importance of education. “When you educate people on their own, they figure out how smart it is to wear a life jacket. And when you push the idea of life jackets, I think you’ll drive those numbers way down,” commented Vice Admiral Midgette.
While no Confluence Award recipients were recognized this year, the co-hosts of this year’s reception also took a moment to pay homage to those that impact recreational boating. The Confluence Awards aim to recognize those who have worked to save lives, reduce boating casualties,
and ensure boating resources are returned to boaters. The diligence and vision of these individuals result in safe and enjoyable recreational boating, enhanced homeland security, and implementation of the Strategic Plan of the National Recreational Boating Safety Program for America’s waterways.
About the National Safe Boating Council
The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) is the foremost coalition for the advancement and promotion of safer boating through education, outreach, and training. The NSBC accomplishes this mission by promoting outreach and research initiatives that support boating education and safety awareness; improving the professional development of boating safety educators through training; and developing and recognizing outstanding boating safety programs. To learn more about the NSBC and its programs, visit www.SafeBoatingCouncil.org.