Update

Confluence 2007: Charting the Future of Boating

Nearly 300 boating safety education and law enforcement partners came together for Confluence 2007 to explore the issues, trends, and forecasts that will shape boating, outdoor recreation, resource management, and public safety well into the future.

The general session on Wednesday afternoon included nationally renown speakers:

• Jeff Hoedt, Chief, Office of Boating Safety, USCG, "USCG Strategic Plan of National Boating Recreational Program"
• Margaret Podlich, Vice President of Government Affairs, BoatUS Foundation, "Federal and Major State Boating Regulations and Issues"
• Maureen Healey, Executive Director, PWIA, "Innovations in the Marine Manufacturing Industry"
• Jeremy Oyen, Director of Safety Education and Instruction, ACA, “What’s Up with the Paddlesports?”
• Barbara Byers, Public Education Director, LifeSaving Society, "Will It Float? Canadian Safe Boating Council Study on PFD Wear"
• Virgil Chambers, Executive Director, National Safe Boating Council, "Wear It! Initiative"
• Bernice McArdle, Director, Accessory Division and Affiliates, National PFD Marine Manufacturers Association "Industry efforts on the PFD 'Wear It' Campaign"

The general session ended with an Electronic Poll. Audience members were asked questions about the direction Ohio should take on certain boating safety issues. Their answers were tabulated immediately using radio-signal remote control devices, which tallied their choices and displayed them instantly onscreen. The questions and the opinions of the conference attendees are available here [28K; PDF].

Workshops on day two of the conference:

• Safe Kids Coalition (PFD exchange) - Diane Baldridge
• Tennessee’s Online Boat Accident Reporting System - Ed Carter
• Education Best Practices - Betsy Woods and Emily King
• Ohio’s Boating Statistics - Tammy Terry
• Boating Innovations - Carl Vance
• ADA Requirements for Public Boating Programs - Elaine Mravetz
• IPOD Casting - Tim Smalley
• OUI Stops - Dave Goodwin and Chad German
• Cold Shock Response and Cold Water Immersion - Ted Rankine
• “Nobody’s Waterproof” - Jennifer McCrockin-Scharlach
• Integrating Environmental Issues Into Your Boating Classes - Susan Shingledecker
• Panel of “Wear It” - Virgil Chambers, Betsy Woods, Emily King, Ted Rankine, Barbara Byers
• Ohio Response Plan - Mel House
• Easy Ways to Make Your Courses Accessible to All - April Rosenthal
• Tim’s Tool Time - Tim Smalley
• Water Safety Survival Introduction - Cindy Bellar, Eric Reed and Karen Muench
• Teaching techniques for Children and Youth Groups - Lake County Metroparks - Brian Davidson, Brian Fowler, Marie Kozan and Leigh Garam
• Making Effective TV PSA’s - Ted Rankine
• Defensive Boating / Risk Management - Jeremy Oyen