• Web 2.0 Tactics • Workshop Wrap-up • Tactical Operators Course May-June 2010 | Vol. 25 No. 3 National Association of State Boating Law Administrators DEPARTMENTS 2 From THe HeLM 4 NASBLA NeWS 21 BOATING BRIeFS The official publication of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators 24 goveRNMeNT affairs PRESIDENT Terry West 26 coast GuARd COMMeNTS VICE PRESIDENT James Graybeal 28 PARTNeR PeRSPeCTIVeS TREASURER Toby Velasquez FEATURES PAST PRESIDENT Richard Moore MEMBERS AT LARGE Herb Angell 6 Spring BLA Workshop goes to D.C. Kevin Bergersen The nation’s boating authorities meet for two-day conference Mike Fields 8 States get social online EXECUTIVE EDITOR John Johnson State agencies tap into social media to reach citizens MANAGING EDITORS Tom Hayward 12 California boaters being digitized Ron Sarver California agency promotes boating safety through social marketing EDITOR Kimberly Jenkins 14 Social Media: ART DIRECTOR “The times, they are a-changing” Amy McLean, Trapp Communications Alabama agency finds social media simple to use CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Sam Lynch 16 Tactical Operators Course takes off NASBLA’s latest training offering EDITORIAL OFFICES 1500 Leestown Road, Suite 330 Lexington, KY 40511 18 NASBLA treasures its member states Phone: 859.225.9487 Part 5 in a series commemorating NASBLA’s members Fax: 859.231.6403 E-mail: [email protected] ©Small Craft Advisory (ISSM: 1066-2382) Published bimonthly by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, 1500 Leestown Road, Suite 330, Lexington, KY 40511 ON THE COVER: Social media has been growing by leaps and bounds the last few years. (six issues). Subscription is $12 annually. Contact Boating authorities at local, state and federal levels have begun using these high-tech, yet simple NASBLA for permission to reprint articles at tools to enhance their services and improve communication with citizens across the country. 859.225.9487 and [email protected]. Send change of address to: Small Craft Advisory 1500 Leestown Road, Suite 330 Lexington, KY 40511 Magazine made with recycled content www.nasbla.org | small craft advisory | may-june 2010 from the HeLM Social Media Facilitates Communication Social Media: What does it mean? What does it do? essential? Frivolous? Perhaps both? Social media sites have made headlines on its Flickr photo stream, and shares pre- around the world. News of the unrest fol- sentations from conferences on SlideShare. lowing last year’s elections in Iran was most The National Safe Boating Council and the readily available on Twitter. Facebook has Recreational Boating and Fishing Founda- Terry West NASBLA President changed the American vocabulary, turning tion have made great use of social media “friend” into a verb and making a new dic- outlets to spread the “Wear It!” and “Take Me tionary entry out of “unfriend.” The dawn of Fishing” messages. There is now a marine the Internet made the world a smaller place, navigation application for the iPhone. and social media makes it smaller still. It is State boating programs have also made use now far easier to share information about of social media sites. Arizona, Nevada, Califor- our personal and professional lives than it nia, Idaho and Ohio are just a few examples. was even a year ago. But how do we reach a broader audience Whatever your personal thoughts on social and engage boaters in this social media media websites, they are most of all a tool conversation? The California Department of which reaches a vast audience. Facebook has Boating and Waterways recently saw their so- over 400 million active users, each with an cial media message soar, increasing traffic to average of 130 friends. These users create 25 their boating safety website by over 170,000 John Johnson NASBLA executive director billion pieces of content that is shared each unique visits. (See article on pp. 12-13.) month. Twitter has over 75 million users and NASBLA’s Marketing & Outreach Subcom- is adding more than 6 million each month. mittee is developing a “start to finish” model With daunting numbers like this, how for state programs to set up successful pages does NASBLA’s message of boating safety on Facebook and Twitter. The Alabama Ma- and security get heard? The key is recogniz- rine Police served as the test case and their ing that social media sites are not a broad- newly created Facebook page now has more cast medium, but a conversational medium. than 300 fans. State agencies and private Users engage in conversations and causes companies are increasingly adopting social that interest them and are able to filter mes- media policies which vary greatly, and the sages with which they do not agree or in Alabama Social Media Policy will be included which they have no interest. Social media in the final committee project as an example. sites focus on relationships created because NASBLA continues to meet member needs of technology, not because of the technol- by helping to reach new audiences as new ogy itself. Users choose who to follow on tools become available. This summer, NAS- Twitter, who to “friend” or “like” on Face- BLA will launch its own online community book, making the use of these sites a unique which will make it easier to share informa- conversational world that fits their personal tion, success stories and best practices. or professional needs. This new tool will engage and broaden the The boating safety community has made boating safety and security audience by use of this means to reach its current audi- creating a new conversational medium that ence and to expand that audience. Coast can be individualized according to interest Guard Commandant Thad Allen has a Face- and expertise. Look for news about out new book page, and many of the Coast Guard online community in Currents, the monthly Districts use Twitter to send updates on NASBLA newsletter, and on our website, their rescue and recovery efforts. NASBLA http://www.nasbla.org. Climb on board and has a fan page and is listed as a cause on Fa- join the conversation! cebook, maintains a Twitter page, shares vid- eos though its YouTube page, posts photos www.nasbla.org | small craft advisory | may-june 2010 | page 2 nasbla NeWS Gearing up for Operation Dry Water working relationship on numerous fronts. Fetterman’s new During the weekend of June 25-27, 2010, NASBLA will be position with NASBLA will be an opportunity to continue a coordinating the second Operation Dry Water, a national strong partnership on safety and security issues. Boating Under the Influence law enforcement event. Fetterman has long been a strong advocate for mandatory “This year we’re aiming for life jacket wear policies for marine participation by agencies and or- law enforcement agencies. As a ges- ganizations in every U.S. state and ture of his commitment, he wore his territory. With this kind of involve- new NASBLA belt pack inflatable to ment, Operation Dry Water can lunch, to the delight of his hosts. have a major impact, especially if everyone sends the same messag- Update on Sport Fish es,” said NASBLA Deputy Director Restoration & Boating Ron Sarver, who coordinates the annual campaign. Visit http://www.operationdrywater.org for a variety of Trust Fund Reauthorization tools that’ll help you conduct a successful campaign. In April 2010, the Obama Administration officially re- leased its legislative change proposal for reauthorization of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. NASBLA welcomes new treasurer The proposal reflects the administration’s views on NASBLA has a new treasurer to finish out this fiscal year. reauthorization and was forwarded to Congress for their Toby Velasquez, boating law administrator (BLA) for New consideration. Mexico has been selected to fill the unexpired term of trea- The proposal would make several changes to current surer through the annual conference. The NASBLA officer law, including a change in how USCG funds are treated and and executive board position was recently vacated upon an increase in administrative monies for the U.S. Fish & the resignation of Raynor Tsuneyoshi as California BLA. Wildlife Service (USFWS). “While we are sorry to say farewell to our good friend and NASBLA, along with its partner organizations in the An- colleague Ray after more than nine years of service to the gling and Boating Alliance, will continue to work with its boaters of California and several years of commitment to the federal partners as well as partner associations in order to NASBLA board, we are very fortunate to have someone of advocate for quick passage of reauthorization. Toby’s caliber step forward to fill this critical role in our as- sociation’s leadership,” said NASBLA President Terry West. Toby will serve as treasurer until the membership con- NASBLA attends National Boating siders a new slate of board members and officers at the Safety Advisory Council meeting annual NASBLA conference in September. The 85th meeting of the National Boating Safety Advi- sory Council was held April 15-17, 2010, in Washington, NASBLA LE director D.C. NASBLA reported on current activities and work related to the National RBS Strategic Plan. Other topics dines with Coast Guard covered during the meet- On April 12, 2010, Vice ing included: Coast Guard Admiral (select) Sally regulations, mandatory Brice-O’Hara hosted a life jacket wear, propeller luncheon in the Com- strike injury avoidance, mandant’s Flag Mess at hull identification num- Coast Guard Headquar- bering, life jacket stan- ters in Washington, D.C., dards and testing laborato- for NASBLA’s new direc- ries, Performance Report tor of Law Enforcement Part II, and updating the – John Fetterman. Admiral National RBS Strategic Brice-O’Hara scheduled Plan. If you have questions the luncheon to recog- about NBSAC or any of nize Fetterman’s 32-year the topics covered please career with the Maine contact NASBLA Deputy Marine Patrol and his Director Ron Sarver at commitment to enhanc- Pictured from left to right: RADM Kevin Cook, VADM (sel.) Sally Brice-O’Hara, [email protected].