I have a question for you. How can a State Liaison Officer help your district meet its recreational boating safety responsibilities?

Transcription

1 I have a question for you How can a State Liaison Officer help your district meet its recreational boating safety responsibilities? 1

2 The State Liaison Officer, or SLO, is be an ambassador for the Auxiliary and the Coast Guard. The SLO s most important t job is to maintain a close relationship with the state s Boating Law Administrator (BLA) and his/her staff. The SLO is on the front line nurturing the Auxiliary s recreational boating safety (RBS) relationship with the state. During these times of tight budgets, the states are looking to the Auxiliary to help bridge the boating safety gap. The DSO-SL is responsible for administering the district s State Liaison Program. Their duties include gathering SLO reports and forwarding them to the RBS Affairs Department Regional Branch Chief, the District Commodore, and the District Chief of Staff. The resources available to the SLO includes the Auxiliary Manual, State Liaison Guide, the National RBS program Strategic Plan, and RBS Affairs website provides endless resources. Communication is key to any program s success. Documenting and reporting communications enhances the relationship among the Boating Law Administrator, the Auxiliary, and other boating safety organizations.

3 Who are State Liaison Officers anyway? y An SLO is An Auxiliarist appointed by the District Commodore to serve as an SLO. He/she must adhere to the Auxiliary s rules of conduct, dress code, and have a thorough knowledge of the Auxiliary and its missions. The SLO must be well versed in boating within the state, as well as the recreational boating safety missions of the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary. The SLO coordinates Auxiliary support for Public Education, Vessel Safety Checks, National Safe Boating Week and Operational needs.

4 The SLO arranges and coordinates meetings between the Boating Law Administrator (BLA), the Coast Guard s Recreational eat a Boating Safety Specialist (RBSS), and the District Commodore (DCO). Collectively they review past accomplishments with the objective of making improvements for the coming year. During these meetings, the SLO discusses the Auxiliary s current goals and initiatives and how the Auxiliary can help the state to meet its goals. The SLO can help Identify where Auxiliary patrols are needed on sole-state waters. They inform the Boating Law Administrator or staff of procedures for obtaining Auxiliary safety patrols on sole-state waters. They also seek the BLA s assistance in arranging for the use of state areas for Auxiliary communications sites, and ask that state-owned moorings be made available to Auxiliary operational facilities when they are on patrol. As this part of this State partnership, the SLO can encourage the BLA to schedule annual vessel safety checks (VSCs) for all State vessels as a demonstration of the state s support of this valuable program. The SLO can also confirm guidelines for conducting VSCs at state boat launching ramps, and open doors to areas that are ordinarily closed to Vessel Safety Checks. The SLO will review the state s boating educational goals and determine what additional support is needed between the Auxiliary and the State s boating education program; They can request the BLA to support to published Auxiliary PE courses by using state t resources to disseminate i this information to news media, marinas, game wardens, marine police, etc. They should encourage the BLA to use NASBLA approved PE courses if they are not already doing so. The SLO can work to obtain or maintain the state s recognition of appropriate Auxiliary PE courses as meeting any state boater education Requirements. SLOs also promote National Safe Boating Week activities. The SLO works with the BLA to prepare the State's National Safe Boating Week proclamation and other proclamations such as VSC Month.

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6 a. State Boating Law Administrator (BLA) The SLO maintains a close relationship with the BLA and his/her staff, conferring at least semiannually, possibly in company with the Coast Guard RBS Specialist (RBSS) (described below) and the DCO. These meetings may be held at a regional or district BLA workshop. It might be possible to get on the agenda of such events to present the advantages of using Coast Guard and Auxiliary RBS assets and programs. b. USCG District Recreational Boating Safety Specialist (RBSS) The SLO must be in step with the RBSS. The tasks performed by the RBSS have important consequences (including funding) for all stakeholders. Communicate regularly with ihthe RBSS to develop a thorough hunderstanding di of Coast Guard and Auxiliary goals; this will aid in developing a unified approach to RBS efforts. c. Auxiliary District and Division Staff Officers It is important that the SLO develops working relationships with appropriate Auxiliary district and division staff officers. The SLO should develop a good understanding of program concepts, local capabilities and limitations from these officers; this will enable an effective working relationship with all program stakeholders. d. District Commodore The DCO and the SLO work together to develop strategies to meet state, USCG and Auxiliary recreational boating safety objectives. This relationship can be developed through the DSO SL if one has been appointed. e. RBS Affairs Department States Division Regional Branch Chief If no DSO SL has been assigned, the SLO should work closely with the RBS Affairs States Division Regional Branch Chief, who will provide mentoring and general program guidance.

7 The SLO attends the regularly scheduled meetings of the state boating advisory councils and commissions, as well as public meetings on boating matters. Attendance at these meetings will be as an interested party only, not as an official representative of the Auxiliary or Coast Guard. Each SLO submits at least one report each quarter that includes their State Liaison related activity, suchasmeetings with BLAstaff and other RBS stakeholders, as well as joint state Auxiliary Recreational Boating Safety cooperation. SLOs are expected to participate in District RBSS workshops when they are held. These open doors to many opportunities within the State and help meet goals and implement training. The SLO can keep BLA staff supplied with appropriate Coast Guard and Auxiliary RBS pamphlets, posters, and videos. Determine the availability of similar materials produced by the state that could be distributed by the Auxiliary. And the SLO should encourage joint state Auxiliary participation at boat shows, marine events, and other public RBS affairs opportunities. 7

8 While the SLO is building partnerships p with the BLA s and their respective states, the SLO can also assist in building Auxiliary programs with other DSOs. By working with the DSO PE, we can ensure the States classes along with other Auxiliary public education classes are used. The SLO can work closely with the DSO PA with exhibits for National Safe Boating week along with other state functions throughout the year. And of course, some states require notification if vessel safety checks are going to be conducted on their ramps. What an opportunity to meet the local ranger or DNR staff. And of course working with the DSO OP on state lakes and reservoirs. 8

9 The DSO SL is responsible for administering the district s State Liaison Program, as well as mentoring and providing guidance to SLOs appointed within the District. DSO SL should participate in any district planning meetings that explore RBS issues. The DSO SL should coordinate his/her efforts with their DSO PE, DSO VE, DSO OP, DSO PV, and DSO MS counterparts. The DSO SL gathers SLO reports and forwards them to the RBS Affairs Department Regional Branch Chief, as well as the DCO and DCOS. The DSO SL works with the RBS Affairs Department Regional Branch Chief to perform an annual performance review for each SLO. The DSO SL will consult with their DCO or DCOS about new SLO appointments. 9

10 The RBS Affairs Department developed a brand new State Liaison Guide in January of This important resource not only tells SLOs what they need to know to do their jobs, but also provides important guidance for others developing and overseeing RBS efforts at the state level. Please make a point of downloading and reading this important tool. The AuxBWiki is a collaboratively developed website that includes many, many good ideas and references for promoting recreational boating safety. This isn t just for RBS Affairs. This is built for anyone who promotes recreational boating safety on behalf of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Please check it out. If you have ideas for improving AuxBWiki please contact us and let us know how we can make it better. 10

11 So I ask you again. How do State Liaison Officers help meet District requests or goals? Together we can help the states to promote recreational boating safety g p p g y programs, and help meet RBS safety goals that are established by your district.

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