HOW DO WE APPROACH NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK National Safe Boating Week embodies what the Coast Guard Auxiliary recreational boating safety mission is all about

Is this an important event in your district? How does your District Commodore feel about NSBW? Is the timing of NSBW bad for your district? With so many locations still having cold weather in May or too little water for boaters to enjoy is this a hard idea to market? Do your divisions support NSBW?

Or is it more like… What! NSBW again I don’t have time I guess we could do vessel safety exams one day Can’t you pick someone else to do this This isn’t really important to our flotilla How can we sell this idea when we still have cold weather? Our lakes and rivers are drying up, people just aren’t out there like they use to

Getting members to in invest in NSBW In 2014 D7 RADM Jake Korn sent out a letter to his active duty and Auxiliary family, “I encourage all of you to participate in some venue that reflects our commitment to endorse safe boating and diving activities.” He went on to recommend topics for discussion such as EPIRBS, DSC Marine radios, Safety Expos, open house events with small boat stations and “Wear Your Life Jacket To Work” opportunities in local communities.

Getting organized If the DSO-PA or DSO-PB is not the NSBW chair, in January your district should consider assigning or appointing an Auxiliarist to act as NSBW chair. By April they should share with you what they have learned from members For those flotillas or divisions struggling with getting started recommend searching the internet to check out other organizations, find publications and news releases from previous years or contact the Branch Chief for NSBW In the revised Coast Guard Auxiliary Public Affairs Manual Chapter 10 is dedicated to National Safe Boating Week, it is an excellent guide

Start with a planning meeting Start early! Set goals and deadlines Request safe boating week proclamations* Draft news releases Don’t forget the active duty in the area – ask for their support Reach out to our other community partners such as law enforcement, marine units, fire departments, lifeguards and retailers Prepare a report for the district commodore Don’t forget recognition for a job well done Proclamations can be request on local community level by flotillas. Templates can be found on the safeboatingcampaign.com site. If reaching higher such as the governor of your state, best to ask for assistance from your district station liaison officer (SLO). Don’t overreach.

Get others to support the plan Throughout the year our PA’s, PV’s and VE’s should be building relationships with the community In local communities do we support other organizations with their safety days? Reach out to local law enforcement, fire rescue, lifeguards and the US Power Squadron Use social media Speakers bureau What are we marketing?

Command messages that we use year round Always wear your lifejacket File a float plan Take a boating safety course Never boat under the influence Have a vessel safety exam every year Know how to use your marine radio Carry a water activated EPIRB Attach a kill switch lanyard to your lifejacket

What can members do? Set up an information booth at local stores, boat ramps and places where people gather Stencil “Life Jacket Zone” signs at local launch ramps Offer seminars or mini classes such as knot tying Don’t forget to reach out to other marine partners to join in Get local schools involved – make posters for the WearIt! campaign then use them to promote boating safety locally

Untapped resources Contact your District Recreational Boating Safety Specialist. There are 9 around the country who work for the Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety at HQ. They are a wealth of information and happy to help the Auxiliary. Auxiliarists serve as appointed State Liaison Officers for their districts, they have resources and network with other marine partners. Reach out to them.

Got Mascots? Use them

Choose your NSBW event Wear Your Life Jacket To Work Day on May 15, 2015 Ready Set Wear It on May 16, 2015 Open House at Sectors or small boat stations, help them compose and deliver flyers, set up displays for the public, invite other agencies. Bass Pro Shops and West Marine are our partners in the retail business – give talks on Cold Water Survival, Hurricane Preparedness and boating safety basics Create a fellowship event and wear a life jacket to it

Websites, Apps and more USPS.org – US Power Squadron Uscgboating.org – statistics, links to Aux sites and other organizations Safeboatingcampaign.com – WearIt! info Safebotingcouncil.org – lifejacket zone stencils and more Sidekicksoncourse.com – children’s activities AmericanCanoe.org and their Paddle Ready app Boat Essentials App – from the USCG, links to CG SAR offices, boating accidents reporting, vendors and more

When the week is over, don’t forget to Share information on events with the Branch Chief for National Safe Boating Week, Diane Riggan Submit articles to flotilla newsletters, division, district and outside publications. (Check district protocols first) Don’t forget The Navigator once yearly publication Recognition for participants – certificates or plaques or consider Meritorius Team Commendation award