[OSMB-News] News Release -Marine Board Recognizes Outstanding Volunteer Instructors

[Ashley MASSEY]

For Immediate Release	Date: February 17, 2009

Marine Board Recognizes Outstanding Volunteer Instructors

	The Oregon State Marine Board recently held its sixth-annual volunteer recognition banquet on February 7, in Newport.  The event honored volunteer instructors, who provide high quality, low cost boating safety courses that meet the mandatory boater education law requirement.   
	Volunteer instructors are presented with certificates of appreciation for their valuable contributions to the Mandatory Boater Education Program and for educating boaters to become safer.  During 2008, volunteer instructors taught 114 Boat Oregon classroom courses, certifying 1,407 students.  Volunteer proctors and marine law enforcement also conducted 126 equivalency exams with 539 boaters passing the exam.  Overall, the Marine Board issued 33,624 boater education cards in 2008.  "The Marine Board is extremely thankful for the volunteer instructors who put their personal lives on hold while they provide their time and expertise to educate other boaters," said MariAnn Koloszar, Mandatory Education Coordinator for the Marine Board.  "We could not accomplish our mission without the dedication they put forth.  It was an incredible season and they should feel proud of all of their accomplishments this past boating season."  
	Since the mandatory education law went into effect in 2003, the number of boating accidents has dropped.  "The volunteer instructors' efforts are a testament that educated boaters are safer boaters," said Koloszar.
            The Marine Board recognized several volunteers for extraordinary efforts during the 2008 boating season with the following awards; Volunteer of the Year, Instructor of the Year, and the Randall S. Cummings Award for Community Involvement. 
            The Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Bill Foote, who has shown tremendous dedication to the mandatory education program by teaching four Boat Oregon classes, volunteering 50 hours at boating youth events, assisting 16 hours to the Marine Board with administrative tasks and volunteering 301 hours to the Marion County Marine Patrol.
            The Instructor of the Year award was presented to LeRoy Bentley who has deservedly won this award for five consecutive years.  Bentley taught 21 classes for 208 students in the Portland/Metro area, and proctored three equivalency exams, passing four students.  Bentley also volunteers his time each year at the Portland Boat Show.  Looking back at Bentley's records, he single-handedly has educated over 2,000 boaters.  He is an excellent instructor and is passionate about making the waterways safer. 
            The Randall S. Cummings award was presented to Doug White, who has taught more than just boating safety courses to boaters.  White has a zest for life and has passed along his infectious smile and positive attitude to all who come in contact with him.  He also has a penchant for troubleshooting and presenting positive solutions for program improvements.  White taught five Boat Oregon classes, volunteered 39 hours in boating youth events, volunteered 281 hours to the Marion County Marine Patrol, and spent 272 hours converting archived slide photographs (over 7,000 slides) into digital files for the Marine Board.  White defines dedication and emulates the spirit of the Randall S. Cummings award for safety education and community involvement.  
	The Marine Board is extremely grateful for such a high-caliber group of individuals, who dedicate their talents, time and passion to teaching boaters how to be safe and responsible on Oregon's waterways.  "We get calls all the time from boaters who profess to know all there is to know about boating and don't see a need to take a boating safety course, and after attending one of the Boat Oregon classes, students realize how little they actually knew."  Koloszar added.  
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Media Note:  Photos are available.  

Ashley A. Massey
Public Affairs Specialist
Oregon State Marine Board
503-378-2623
503-378-8587 ext. 82623
ashley.massey at state.or.us

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