atthehelm
Into The New Year, With Resolution
he party’s over, and our work begins anew — a new year, new opportunities and resolutions, and new waters to explore. This much is not
new: BoatU.S. has been working on issues of importance to boaters
for over 40 years.
Boating safety education is still right on top of our agenda. As
more states, and maybe even the federal government, enact mandatory education
laws, BoatU.S. is fighting to keep education convenient, affordable, and consistent. We’re lobbying for reciprocity among states so when you pass your boating
course in your home waters, your credential will be honored in neighboring states
and across the country. The BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean
Water created a free online boating safety course in 1997. Since then, more than
half a million boaters have learned boating basics — for free — from the comfort
of their own homes. New in 2010 will be an updated online course from the
Foundation, including animation and simulations of real-life scenarios.
Water access is an ongoing problem for boaters from coast to coast. Our
resolution remains the same, to generate support for legislation, grant programs,
and other opportunities that promote the basic precept that recreational boaters
and anglers must be able to get to the water to enjoy it. Our growing concern
about the next generation’s detachment from the outdoors, means access to even
an hour on the water will play a key role in keeping kids connected to the natural world and fosters the ethic of stewardship that our waters will depend on in the years to come.
Ethanol and its impact on your boat engines, the
environment and the economy are of great concern. The
Environmental Protection Agency recently announced that it
will make a decision in six months on whether to allow higher
blends of ethanol in our nation’s gasoline. BoatU.S. will continue to push for independent, rigorous scientific testing on
marine engines before any future change.
As we enter the New Year, we further commit ourselves to
effectively communicating with recreational boaters nationwide — from serving
up your magazine on a new digital platform that’s easier to navigate and read;
to informing you on issues of importance to you through our monthly e-mail
newsletter Membership e-Line; to targeted e-mail action alerts to let you know
when grassroots activity is the action of choice. If you haven’t done so already,
please share your email address with us so that we can stay in touch quickly and
efficiently.
Meanwhile, BoatU.S. Magazine remains our flagship publication, and will
continue to arrive in your physical mailbox so you can read it wherever and
whenever you choose — no high-speed connection
required!
Thank you for being a Member of BoatU.S. and
happy New Year from the crew that works for you!
T
CHAIRMAN & FOUNDER Richard Schwartz
PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER
Nancy S. Michelman
CONSULTING EDITOR
Bernadette Bernon
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Michael Vatalaro
MANAGING EDITOR Elaine Dickinson
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ryck Lydecker
CONSUMER EDITOR Caroline Ajootian
TECHNICAL EDITOR Chuck Husick
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Ann Dermody, Tom Neale
PUBLIC AFFAIRS ASSOCIATE
Claire Wyngaard
BoatU.S. has
been working
on issues of
importance to
boaters for
over 40 years
ART DIRECTOR Carla Shamblen
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Rick Kelvington, Marcus Floro
DIREC TOR OF ADVER TISING
Elio Betty
PHONE: 703-461-4383
FAX: 703-461-2845
ebetty@boatus.com
ADVERTISING SALES
John Bratten, Advertising Sales Manager
PHONE: 703-461-4389
FAX: 757-383-6132
jbratten@boatus.com
William J. McVey, Jr.
PHONE: 212-316-0383 / 800-447-4766
FAX: 212-666-1980
billm@mcveymichaels.com
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
PHONE: 888-282-2628
FAX: 703-461-4664
MEMBER SERVICES
800-395-2628
CIRCULATION MANAGER
Lauren James
EDITORIAL OFFICES
880 S. Pickett St.
Alexandria, VA 22304
PHONE: 703-461-2864
FAX: 703-461-2845
e-mail: magazine@boatus.com
address change: 800-395-2628
President & Publisher
©BoatU.S. MAGAZINE (ISSN 1090-1272) Published bimonthly by Boat Owners
Association of The United States, 880 South Pickett St., Alexandria, VA
22304 (six issues). Periodicals Postage Paid at Alexandria, VA. and at
additional mailing offices. Subscription is $6.00 annually to BoatU.S.
members. Contact BoatU.S. for permission to reprint articles, (703) 461-
2864. POSTMASTER: Send Change of Address to BoatU.S. Magazine,
880 South Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304 (2009).
