The NSBC General Membership Meeting was held in conjunction with the 2023 International Boating and Water Safety Summit in Little Rock, AR on Monday, April 17. It brought together members, partners, and others interested in learning more about the NSBC programs and member opportunities. The General Membership Meeting was held for the first time during the general session program for IBWSS.
The NSBC Fall General Membership Meeting will be held in conjunction with the NASBLA Annual Conference in Denver, CO on September 19. We encourage you to attend. Learn more and register.
2023 NSBC Hall of Fame Inductees
The National Safe Boating Council inducted two recreational boating safety leaders into the Boating Safety Hall of Fame, the organization’s most prestigious award recognizing those who provided vital leadership in making our waterways safer throughout their career. Chris Edmonston and Veronica Floyd were honored during the opening ceremony at the International Boating and Water Safety Summit in Little Rock, Ark. on April 16, 2023.
Chris Edmonston
Edmonston was instrumental in the development and growth of the only FREE online boating safety course developed specifically by state boating license agencies across the nation offered by the BoatU.S. Foundation. Believing that pairing online education with on-water skills training would result in safer boaters, he spearheaded the development of the NSBC on-water training program. Learn more.
Veronica Floyd
Floyd has been a tireless advocate for the marine industry for more than four decades and has interacted and worked with many associations, organizations, and coalitions such as the American League of Anglers and Boaters, American Sailing Association, BoatU.S. Foundation, National Marine Manufacturers’ Association, National Association of Manufacturers, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, National Safe Boating Council, U.S. Coast Guard, and more. Learn more.
About the NSBC's Boating Safety Hall of Fame
The NSBC’s Boating Safety Hall of Fame was established in 1995 and recognizes individuals who have made, or continue to generate, substantial and lasting contributions toward the advancement of recreational boating safety.
Keeping Waterways Safe with Sealite's Regulatory Buoys
We don’t sell buoys, we sell safety. At Sealite, our priority is safety on the waterways. View our range of marine aids to navigation on our website. Sealite has a wide offering to best fit your inland waterway solution including:
SL-B700 Regulatory Float Collar Buoy
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SL-15 1-2NM Solar Marine Lantern
SL-60 2-3NM Solar Marine Lantern
It was wonderful meeting many of you at the 2023 International Boating and Water Safety Summit. To secure your NSBC member pricing, contact Cathy Sonnentag.
The IBWSS Communication Awards recognize the creative ways boating and water safety advocates are communicating with the public about safety on and in the water. Recipients were recognized at the 2023 International Boating and Water Safety Summit in Little Rock, Ark. on April 17.
“We were impressed with the quality of entries received this year, and the new campaigns reaching millions of boaters around the nation,” said Peg Phillips, executive director of the NSBC. “From local outreach events to national news coverage, and from compelling stories to social media, this year’s recipients are making great strides in their communities.”
Award recipients were recognized in the following categories: Community Impact, Digital, Giveaways, Print, PSAs, and Public Relations.
The Safe Boating Campaign is a worldwide effort focused on responsible boating led by the National Safe Boating Council with support from boating safety advocates around the world. It is produced under a grant from the Sports Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The annual campaign kicks off next month with two exciting annual events! Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day (May 19, 2023) and National Safe Boating Week (May 20-26, 2023).
The partner toolkit includes many free and paid resources – such as brand, logo, talking points, outreach plan, suggested social media posts, template announcements, fact sheets, videos, photo library, posters, PSAs, banners, launch point signs, and life jacket loaner stand artwork.
Register as a Safe Boating Campaign partner and get access to the latest information to share about responsible boating in your community all year long.
While supplies last, request your Safe Boating Campaign Box for only the cost of shipping and handling.
Wear your life jacket at work on Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day on Friday, May 19, 2023! It's easy - join in the fun by wearing a life jacket and posting creative pictures on social media for a chance to win a prize. This is a great way to encourage others to boat responsibly.
How You Can Participate
Share a picture of yourself wearing a life jacket at work (or home) on social media along with the hashtag #wearyourlifejacketatworkday and tag @boatingcampaign (Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram). Don’t use social media? Email photos to outreach@safeboatingcouncil.org.
Chance to Win a Prize
Winners will be chosen randomly throughout the day to receive boating swag from the Safe Boating Campaign, such as t-shirts, dry bags, first aid kits, stickers, and more.
Remind Boaters to
'Get Connected'
The NSBC's Get Connected campaign encourages boaters to use an engine cut-off switch (ECOS) every time they go powerboating to keep them and others safe on the water.
An engine cut-off switch attaches to the boat operator and cuts power to the boat’s engine if the operator is displaced from the helm. It also may be activated manually if needed in an emergency. An ECOS may be a lanyard attached to the engine switch, or a boat may be equipped with wireless technology that resembles a key fob or wristband.
Explore the latest resources for NSBC instructors on our website. Or, simply go to www.safeboatingcouncil.org and click on Training in the menu, then select Instructor Resources.
We've made it easy for instructors to have everything they need to maintain their NSBC instructor certification. Resources include:
Order youth activity books! Let's Go Boating and ABC's of Boating are colorful and fun books to educate primary and secondary school aged children on safe recreational boating. Shop now >>
Member-Only Discounts
NSBC members receive exclusive discounts from industry partners, such as Athletic Brewing Company, ExpertVoice, FELL Marine, Full Throttle, Mustang Survival, Onyx, and TowBoatU.S. Get discounts >>
Photo Library
Looking for boating photos to share in your marketing efforts? The NSBC offers a FREE photo library to promote boating and water safety with images. Browse the photo library >>
Sponsored by Sealite
Sealite, part of SPX Technologies (NYSE: SPXC) is a technology leader in the design and manufacture of marine aids to navigation (AtoN) equipment including Marine Lighting, Navigation Buoys, Marine Floats, Port Entry Lighting systems, Lighthouse Lighting Equipment and Monitoring and Control systems software. They are a global manufacturer of products that guide vessels safely into ports and harbors around the world. The Sealite team is dedicated to servicing the marine industry through the efficient design of solutions that withstand the toughest environments.
