(L to R, Row 1) S. Weatherington, L. Clark, B. Schwartz, K. La, K. Carroll, J. Ellis.
(Row 2) T. Dammrich, B. Adriance, R. Baldridge, M. Simoni.
(Row 3) C. Hawley, D. Clarke, C. Edmonston, P. Robertson. (credit: BoatUS)

Leaders Gather for BoatUS National Advisory Council

Annual forum looks at recreational boating issues

A panel of 11 distinguished national boating leaders who serve as a sounding board for Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) gathered last week with the senior BoatUS leadership in St. Simons Island, Georgia, to discuss key issues impacting recreational boating.

The 11 volunteer leaders of the BoatUS National Advisory Council attending the annual meeting included 1. Kris Carroll, president, Grady-White Boats, Inc.; 2. Lenora S. Clark, former California Boating and Waterways commissioner and former Recreational Boaters of California (RBOC) president; 3. Dean Travis Clarke, former executive editor, Bonnier Marine Group; 4. Thom Dammrich, president, National Marine Manufacturers Association; 5. Chuck Hawley, former director, US Sailing; 6. Jim Ellis, National Advisory Council chairman and former president, BoatUS; and 7. Bob Adriance, former editor, Seaworthy.

Joining the Council this year, new members included 8. Robert Baldridge, immediate past chief, United States Power Squadrons; 9. Peter Robertson, president, RBOC; 10. Mark Simoni, immediate past commodore, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary; and 11. Stephanie Weatherington, president, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators.

BoatUS leadership included CEO Kirk La, BoatUS Foundation President Chris Edmonston; BoatUS Foundation Vice President Susan Shingledecker; BoatUS Vice President Heather Lougheed; Government Affairs Senior Program Manager David Kennedy; and Vice President of Public Affairs Scott Croft. Joining the group was Beth Newburger Schwartz, president, Epoch Communications and wife of late BoatUS founder Richard Schwartz.

Topics of the daylong agenda included a discussion on the future and direction of recreational boating as well as a look at the post-election political landscape in Washington, D.C., and what it means for recreational boaters. High on the list of federal legislative issues was the Renewable Fuel Standard (changing the government’s ethanol fuel mandate), Magnuson-Stevens Act Reauthorization (support for national saltwater recreational fisheries policy), the Florida Everglades algal bloom issue (addressing phosphorous and nitrogen runoff), and recreational fishing policy in marine protected areas.

On the boating-safety side, the group also looked at the vulnerability of the GPS system, new emergency signaling devices/flares, and discussed the changes in vessel stability and capacity plates. State docket issues included Hudson River Anchorages and Florida anchoring policy, boater education programs and the changing nature of government policy on anti-fouling paints.