COLUMBUS, OH -- A total of six groups and 18 individuals, which include 17 members of The Spirit of America Foundation, were recognized by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Watercraft during its 2001 Boating Confluence held this week at Deer Creek State Park near Mt. Sterling.
Participants in our boating safety education program provide a great service to Ohios boating public, said Jeff Hoedt, chief of the ODNR Division of Watercraft. We congratulate all boating safety educators for their commitment to waterway safety.
Recognition awards were presented to the following boating safety groups and individuals:
Outstanding Boating Safety Education Program: Lawrence County Boaters Education Program (Ironton), U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla #0920904 (Lorain), and The Spirit of America Foundation (Mentor).
Boating Safety Education Program Achievement Award: U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla #35 (Marietta), Coffman Family YMCA (Springboro), and the Berea Power Squadron.
Individual Recognition Award: Jack R. Justice (Vermilion) from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla #0920904, and the following persons from The Spirit of America Foundation --- Cecilia Duer (Mentor), John Cherny III (Middlefield), Paul Mathews (Fairport Harbor), Gary Sweetapple (Painesville), Jeffrey and Laura Urban (Fairport Harbor), Leonard Eames (Ashtabula), Fred and Pat Eichenlaub (Madison), Jack and Twila Hauck (Bay Village), George Christ (Bay Village), Lisa Wachalec (Fairview Park), Wayne Ross (Elyria), Dr. Barbara Evans (Lorain), William Guinter (Avon Lake), and Joyce Tillack (Lorain).
Earlier this year, the ODNR Division of Watercraft awarded $300,000 in boating safety education grants to assist local communities and organizations in their boating safety education efforts. The Boating Safety Education Grant Program is funded through the state waterways safety fund.
Volunteer Awards: Dr. Tom Martin, Springfield (500 Hour Award); Philip Clem, Lakeview (250 Hour Award); Sara Rathburn-Yourkvitch, Sandusky (100 Hour Award); James Zofchak, Wickliffe (100 Hour Award); and Celia Duer, Mentor (100 Hour Award).