New NASBLA President Elected September 13, 2010
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At the NASBLA Business Meeting on Sunday, September 12th, the new slate of NASBLA officers were elected by a quorum of the NASBLA membership. Elected as the new NASBLA President for the 2010-2011 term was Mr. Jim Graybeal of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control.
Jim Graybeal graduated from Frostburg State University in 1979 with a bachelor of science degree in recreation and parks management. In 2002, he graduated from Wilmington College with dual master of science degrees in public administration and human resource management.
NASBLA President Mr. Jim Graybeal
Jim joined the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control in 1982 as a seasonal manager of a boat livery operation. He soon accepted a full-time position with the park maintenance staff then was promoted to assistant park superintendent in 1984. In May 1985, Jim graduated from the Delaware State Police Academy, and in November he became a park superintendent. In 1996, Jim became chief of enforcement for the Division of Fish and Wildlife, becoming the state’s boating law administrator.
In August 1997, Jim was elected as a member-at-large for the Northern Association of Boating Administrators (NABA). He served as NABA president and as a member of the NASBLA Executive Board in 2002. Jim chaired NASBLA’s Law Enforcement Committee in 2005 and 2006. He was elected as a member-at-large on NASBLA’s Executive Board in 2006. He was elected Vice President in 2009 and President in 2010.
Also elected to the NASBLA Executive Board:
CAPT. MIKE FIELDS, NASBLA VICE PRESIDENT
TOBY VELASQUEZ, NASBLA TREASURER
COL. TERRY WEST, NASBLA PAST PRESIDENT
HERB ANGELL, NASBLA MEMBER–AT-LARGE
KEVIN BERGERSEN, NASBLA MEMBER–AT-LARGE
ELEANOR MARIANI, NASBLA MEMBER–AT-LARGE
Day 1 NASBLA Conference Photo Highlights September 13, 2010
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Registration Area
Registration Desk
Surfers at Waikiki Beach
Vessel Identification Registration & Titling Committee
Exhibitors Setting Up
Enforcement and Training Committee
Engineering, Reporting and Analysis Committee
Hawaiian Music at the Hotel
NASBLA Committee Reports September 13, 2010
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On Saturday, September 11, the NASBLA Committees reported out their progress for the 2009-2010 year. This year marks the first time NASBLA has gone paperless and all committee work product can now be found online at the 2010 NASBLA Committee Products Page.
Enforcement and Training
Saturday – September 11: Day Agenda and What to Expect September 11, 2010
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Conference Agenda – Saturday, September 11
8:00 am – 4:00 pm – Registration Open
Ballroom Foyer
10:00 am – 2:30 pm – FY-10 Committee Briefings
Kauai Ballroom
10:00–10:30 – Vessel Identification, Registration & Titling
10:30–11:00 – Enforcement & Training
11:00–12:00 – Engineering, Reporting & Analysis
12:00–1:30 – Lunch (on your own)
1:30–2:00 – Government Affairs
2:00–2:30 – Education & Awareness
Noon – 1:30 pm – Lunch (on your own)
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Spouse/Guest Welcome
Niihau Room
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm – National Safe Boating Council General Membership Meeting
Kahuku Room
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm – Opening Ceremonies
Kauai Ballroom
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm – President’s Reception
Maui Ballroom
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Networking
Hospitality Suite – Room 3036
What To Expect – Sunday, September 12
7:30 am – 4:00 pm – Registration Open
Ballroom Foyer
7:30 am – 3:00 pm – Exhibits Open (morning coffee)
Maui Ballroom
8:00 am – 11:00 am – BLA Workshop
Molokai Room
11:00 am – 12:30 pm – Lunch (on your own)
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – NASBLA Business Meeting
Molokai Room
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Networking
Hospitality Suite
Friday – September 10: Day Agenda and What to Expect September 10, 2010
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Conference Agenda – Friday, September 10
10:00 am – 11:00 am – First-Time Attendee Orientation
Kahuku Room
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm – NASBLA Executive Board Meeting
Niihau Room
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm – National Safe Boating Council Executive Board Meeting
Honolulu Room
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Networking Room
Hospitality Suite – Room 3036
What To Expect – September 11, 2010
8:00 am – 4:00 pm – Registration Open
Ballroom Foyer
10:00 am – 2:30 pm – FY-10 Committee Briefings
Kauai Ballroom
10:00–10:30 – Vessel Identification, Registration & Titling
10:30–11:00 – Enforcement & Training
11:00–12:00 – Engineering, Reporting & Analysis
12:00–1:30 – Lunch (on your own)
1:30–2:00 – Government Affairs
2:00–2:30 – Education & Awareness
Noon – 1:30 pm – Lunch (on your own)
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Spouse/Guest Welcome
Niihau Room
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm – National Safe Boating Council General Membership Meeting
Kahuku Room
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm – Opening Ceremonies
Kauai Ballroom
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm – President’s Reception
Maui Ballroom
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Networking
Hospitality Suite – Room 3036
Back to the Future: Honolulu – 1973 September 7, 2010
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Thirty-seven years ago, in mid-November to be exact, the NASBLA Annual Conference took place in Honolulu, Hawaii. Even though a lot has happened in the nearly four decades since we last visited the islands as an association, it’s amazing to look back at how our core mission truly has remained the same – protecting the lives of the boating public.
A look back at the meeting notes of that conference shows a lot of similarities to the issues we still discuss today, and surprising discussions on issues we now consider to be status quo.
According to the meeting summary report from 1973, NBSAC was a topic of discussion as NASBLA fought for equal representation of BLAs on the advisory council. Apparently, a fact I hadn’t realized, state members did not have the same number of representatives as did industry and public members. Obviously, this parity issue was resolved as we now enjoy that level of parity on the council.
Taxation was another topic of discussion. NASBLA endorsed a system of excise tax on boats, which was fiercely opposed at the time by the National Boating Federation. Certainly, this train of thought was a precursor to the system of user taxes that in part comprise the Sportfish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. It was these early discussions though that helped shape and mold the successful system of user pay/user benefit that is in use today.
What really shocked me was a mention though of compulsory operator licensing. Apparently NASBLA in 1973 went on record in opposition to mandatory licensing, which was being promoted by the Coast Guard. While national licensing is still something NASBLA does not support, the issue of mandatory education is alive and well and will be featured in a town hall discussion at this year’s conference.
The final thing that got my attention was the seemingly complex system of state reporting that was organized by NASBLA. At that time, lacking a national infrastructure, NASBLA collected forms on everything from level of boating law conformity amongst the states to the more expected educational activities. It drives home the importance the association had in the early days at truly helping craft the system of boating safety laws currently in code throughout the country.
As we once again gather to meet and discuss in Honolulu, it is important to look back and reflect on the work our predecessors have done in order to get us to this point. Perhaps more important though is to consider future generations and the impact we have on them as we continue to make decisions affecting not only the association, but the country.
