Boat U.S. - May 2008 - (Page 38) Boating Safety Birthday the post-war eco“Back then it started as a safe boatnomic boom was in full swing and a growing ing week committee and every time we got middle class was enjoying new opportunitogether for a meeting, it was revitalizing ties for both work and leisure. Dwight D. for us and refocused everyone on the safety Eisenhower, the hero of WWII, was still issues,” said BoatU.S. Founder Richard president, gas was 29 cents a gallon and you could buy a home for $15,000. You could also buy a boat to relax with the family on weekends. By the mid1950s, “boating for the millions, instead of the millionaires,” was firmly in place. Unfortunately, there was a downside. An alarming and growing number of boating fatalities were capturing attention in news reports and among government officials. In 1973, President Bush took time to try on inflatable life jackets with 1,754 people died in boating acci- the Council board. dents — an all-time high, according to U.S. Coast Guard statistics. The ratio Schwartz who joined the committee in the of deaths per boating population was more 1960s. As Schwartz points out, everyone than triple today’s rates (18.3 deaths per on the committee had other demands, but 100,000 boats, compared to 5.6 per 100,000 having a group that met regularly brought in 2006). Something had to be done. everyone’s attention back to the problem of Fortunately there already existed a reducing boating accidents. “This issue was small band of boating enthusiasts — mainly not going to go away and it needed constant the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power attention,” he added. Squadrons and the American Red Cross — Fast forward 50 years to a new century that worked informally with the Coast Guard and the vast changes become apparent. The on boating safety. Fifty years ago, they creNational Safe Boating Council, that was ated an “umbrella” group to organize what incorporated in 1972 from the original comeventually became National Safe Boating mittee, now has over 340 organizational Week, in which diverse organizations from members. And the North American Safe the Auxiliary to engine manufacturers could Boating Campaign has gone from posters all work together on a campaign to bring and printed handouts to satellite feeds to down the accident figures. TV stations, Internet downloads of safety In 1958, material at anyone’s fingertips, a professional staff instead of strictly volunteers and stable funding, thanks to the marine fuel tax dollars distributed through the Wallop-Breaux trust fund since 1984. The membership roster is a “who’s who” of boating that, after years of limiting membership to nonprofit groups, now encompasses federal and state agencies and numerous marine industry companies. Anyone who has served on the council knows that politics are generally left at the door among the groups that may have differences of opinion on other issues, but get on the same page when it comes to promoting safe boating and education. “There’s strength in numbers and while we may all take different approaches to boating safety, collectively we come together through the council,” said Ruth Wood, current council chair and president of the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. “I think all the groups feel they have ownership and the organizations have all evolved to keep boaters engaged.” NSBC directors are volunteers drawn from member groups for two-year terms. BoatU.S. staff have served as the chair of the council on three separate occasions during the last two decades. Money Talks As many of the original organizers recall, when National Safe Boating Week was first proclaimed by an act of Congress in 1958, the campaign was largely supported by a handful of volunteer groups who supplied their own materials, time and manpower to Boating Safety Timeline The Motorboat Act gives the Coast Guard authority to enforce boating regulations. Rep. Herbert C. Bonner holds hearings on boating accidents in 10 cities, with 310 witnesses. A small cadre of groups, including BoatU.S., works as a committee with the Coast Guard to promote the week. 1940 1947 Fiberglass boats debut at the 1947 New York Boat Show. 1956 1958 1960s 1971 Federal Boat Safety Act passes requiring better built boats. Federal Boating Act passes and National Safe Boating Week is designated by Congress with a committee to organize it. 38 BoatU.S. Magazine May 2008
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