Annual report 2001 - BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety & Clean Water

Just one year after the successful merger of the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and the BoatU.S. Clean Water Trust, the newly formed Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water reached more boaters with potentially lifesaving services and clean water programs than ever before. In its first full year as a combined organization, the Foundation emerged as a dynamic team that continually finds new and creative ways to improve boating on a wide variety of fronts.

Our Mission

The mission of the Foundation is to promote safe and environmentally sensitive boating, with the purpose of reducing accidents and fatalities while increasing stewardship of our water resources.

OnLine Boating Safety course

When the Foundation first launched its Internet boating safety course in 1997, it was the first of its kind. Today, the Foundation remains a pioneer in this area by offering the only free, accredited online course available today.

In 2001, over 65,000 boaters studied the Rules of the Road, practiced identifying navigation marks and learned what to do in case of an onboard fire--all from the comfort of home. This innovative course allows boaters the flexibility of taking a boating class even if one isn't being held in their community. Students can take the online course at their own pace and after passing the test, they can even print out their own certificate. The Foundation's course is accepted by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and meets the mandatory education requirements in most states that require them.

Boating Courseline

For nearly as long as the Foundation has existed -- 19 years -- the Boating Courseline has been a staple of the organization. Boaters from all around the country call in and speak to Foundation operators or log on to the Foundation Web site to quickly obtain information about one of the thousands of local boating courses nationwide. In 2001, the Foundation received approximately 70,000 requests for boating course locations, both over the Internet and through the toll free Courseline.

Boating Safety Grants

Through its Grassroots Grants program, the Foundation supports community organizations in their efforts to promote safe boating in their home waters. The 2001 projects were as diverse as they were creative, for instance, the San Luis Yacht Club in Avila Beach, CA, used their grant to print 10,000 boating safety cartoon placemats for kids and 7,500 brochures on new life jacket laws in California, The Thurmond Lake Sail and Power Squadron in McCormick, SC, launched its "Splash the Turtle and His Life Vest" campaign, producing posters, coloring sheets, and turtle magnets to promote life jacket use to kids. The Foundation awarded 28 grants in 2001.

Life Jacket Loaner Program for Kids

This program takes life jackets where they are needed most: to families heading out for a day on the water. With the help of over 325 marinas, fuel docks, TowBoatU.S. towers, waterfront businesses and state boating agencies, the Foundation loans life jackets free of charge to families who need an extra jacket or two for the day. The program has reached over 50,000 children since it began in 1997.

In 2001, about 40 new loaner sites were added, bringing the total number of kids' life jackets available nationwide to over 10,000. Organizations like the Palatine, IL, Fire Department, the Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and others help make this program a success.

Hunters & Angler Outreach

Studies show that anglers and hunters who use boats in the pursuit of their sport have higher rates of on-the-water fatalities than other boaters and are in serious need of boating safety education. Thanks to a grant from the U.S. Coast Guard, with funding from the Wallop/Breaux Trust Fund, the Foundation has partnered with a number of groups, including Ducks Unlimited, the North American Hunting and Fishing Clubs and the National Rifle Association to name a few, to create the Sportsman's Forum.

The Forum had a busy year in 2001, conducting two focus groups to gauge the attitudes of sportsmen toward boating safety, filming television public service messages for ESPN, conducting presentations, and developing advertising campaigns targeted at sportsmen.

EPIRB Rentals

Any boater who has made an offshore crossing knows the peace of mind an EPIRB, or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, can bring. In an emergency, an activated EPIRB will notify search and rescue authorities of a vessel's location. In a unique nationwide program, the Foundation rents 406-MHz EPIRBs to boaters at a modest price. In a number of incidents involving rental beacons, each activation resulted in a quick response by the U.S. Coast Guard, who contacted the BoatU.S. 24-Hour Dispatch Center staff to quickly get information on the renter.

In 2001, the Foundation rented over 750 EPIRBs, both by mail order and through participating BoatU.S. Marine Centers.

Clean Water Grants

Like the boating safety grants, Clean Water Grants also take a grass-roots approach, encouraging volunteer groups to design programs tailored to their own community. Youth groups, boating organizations and community groups use grant money to fund projects like the Buffalo Aqua Club's "Boat It Out, Boat It In" campaign. The New York group used flyers, posters and decorated nylon trash bags to remind boaters to bring their trash back to shore. A project by the Potomac Conservancy in Arlington, VA, sponsored the printing of multi-lingual brochures that promoted low-impact fishing practices in the area, with particular emphasis on hard-to-reach Asian and Latino communities. In 2001, the Foundation awarded a total of 14 volunteer organizations with grants.