President's 2002 Address

Ron Riberich

Although summer of 2002 has officially ended and days are now getting shorter as we enter the fall/winter season, the National Water Safety Congress is still very much at work in carrying out its mission to promote and develop new water safety initiatives.  I would like to bring our members up to date on the workings and activities of the Congress in recent months. 

The Board of Directors held their annual fall meeting at the Alexis Park Hotel (site of the 2000 Summit and prospective site for the 2003 Summit), in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 1 and 2.  It was a very spirited meeting.  Discussion took place on a variety of subjects and reports were given on activities by our Regional Vice-Presidents in their prospective areas of jurisdiction.  Our seven internal Committees also reported on a variety of projects that hopefully may develop into new training guidelines for general public use.

I am also happy to report the 7^th International Boating and Water Safety Summit program for 2003 is about complete.  The conference promises to be equally as good as any of our previous annual meetings.  The overall format for next year will generally follow last years Summit, with general sessions filling the first and last days and break out track session topics scheduled in the middle of the program.  There is something for everyone who is involved in boating and water safety education.  We are also working on several on-water activities that hopefully will add a little different twist to the program this time around.

I will discuss more of the Summit program in my January address as we get closer to the event.  But in the meantime the preliminary program and session topics will be sent out by mail in mid November.  Be on the lookout for the flyer!

Several highlights from our committee reports were of particular note from the Board meeting.  The Education Committee proposed two excellent topics for future investigation and possible publication next year.  The first is to reproduce our Beach Safety Standard Guideline that was originally published by the Congress in 1982.  Recently there has been inquiry from the general public concerning beach safety standards and how public beaches should be marked with proper warning systems.  Unfortunately, the lack of proper beach markings and warning signs came to light this past summer when several individuals accidentally drowned off the shores of Lake Erie near Cleveland, Ohio.  The particular beach was not marked properly for swimming and caused confusion, resulting ultimately in the loss of life.

The second proposal from the Education Committee is for the Congress to develop a standardized Educational Water Safety School curriculum that can be used on a national level.  The idea is to begin teaching school children from kindergarten through senior high school standardized water safety education concepts for their particular age group.  The Congress would be in the forefront with this proposal seeking to place the idea as part of the U.S. education standards.

The Education Committee intends to do further research and develop cost proposals for implementing both of the above charges.  The Board has intentions of applying for a grant from the U.S. Coast Guard next year to begin initial funding procedures for both of the mentioned projects. 

The Partnership Liaison Committee reported their results of our small grant application program this past year.  From all indications the grant program was a success with $9,000 dollars awarded among 16 applicants.  Next year we again anticipate having about $9,000 dollars to reward local water safety councils for approved projects within their communities or lake regions.  The projects can be for educational programs or other types of water safety initiatives.  Please check the web site for the application procedures for the small grants program.

Our Awards Committee has been hard at work developing the guidelines for next years regional and local award receipt ants.  If you know of someone (individual or organization) in your area that you believe deserves special recognition for the

work they have been doing in promoting water safety efforts, please contact your Regional Vice-President and let them know.  We do not want to overlook anyone that is deserving of such consideration.

 In closing, we as the Congress have opportunities to develop new initiatives in the water safety arena over the next few years.  Our committees are focused and anxious to serve the organization, but the committees can still use help!  This is an opportune time to contact the Board and express your interest in helping out and serving on a committee.  We can use your ideas make no mistake of that.

Joining a working committee is an excellent way to learn what is happening first-hand within the Congress, and at the same time help develop more products that can be used for further education and training.  It is also a good way to work your way up to serving on the Board of Directors.  Your efforts can insure this organization continues to move forward in future years.

This is your organization.  Please take the time and share your thoughts and ideas with us.  I will report again after the first of the year as the Summit program starts taking it final shape.  In the meantime enjoy the fall colors, but please stay focused on water safety for next season.