In June 2010, SOBA's Executive Board of Directors (For current Board listing, click here) engaged in a day-long strategic planning meeting in Mobile AL - host site of our 2012 conference. The goal of this meeting was to examine in detail the results of the member survey (May 2010), review and discuss potential future challenges and opportunities, and develop a thorough, detailed strategic plan driven by member feedback and input. The SOBA board is currently developing a Draft Plan from the output notes of the Strategic Planning meeting, and this document will be shared with members in advance of our annual National Boating Access Conference later this year in Park City (October 18-21). Click here to download conference details and registration form. Members will be given the chance to provide feedback before the plan is finalized and distributed. For your information, topline results from this member survey are included here. Click here to link directly to survey results. Thank you for your continued interest and support of SOBA. We look forward to seeing you October in Park City for our 2010 conference, and meanwhile, we welcome your questions, suggestions and feedback. You can send comments to info@sobaus.org or call us at 312-946-6283. Wayne Shuyler SOBA President May, 2010 - National association honors Congresswoman Pingree for "preserving access" to waterfronts The States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA), an association of state government officials concerned with the protection and expansion of boating access, honored Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today with their 2010 Congressional Award for her work to save working waterfronts. "Congresswoman Pingree is among the greatest champions of recreational boating access in the U.S. Congress, from her Working Waterfronts legislation to her on-the-ground efforts in Maine," said SOBA President Wayne Shuyler. "Her efforts help protect the jobs created by the boating industry and and SOBA is thrilled and honored to present Congresswoman Pingree with this Congressional Water Access Award on behalf of all boaters." SOBA cited a bill Pingree wrote to preserve working waterfronts and access to waterfronts for fishermen and recreational boaters. “In Maine our waterfronts are not just part of our heritage, they are a fundamental part of our economy,” Pingree said. “They are the source of jobs and if we lose access to the waterfront, those jobs will disappear.” Pingree’s bill, the “Keep America’s Waterfront Working Act,” would create a federal grant program to acquire working piers and other points of waterfront access and provide funding for waterfront planning. The program is designed to allow states and local communities to support and protect places along the coast where commercial fishermen, boat builders, excursion and tour boat operators and other small businesses operate. Click here to view press release on Pingree's homepage. May, 2008 - Senator Herbert Kohl Receives 2008 SOBA Congressional Award A Window of Opportunity Today's economic conditions, under which many marine businesses are struggling, may make it difficult to look beyond the present moment. However, those who make the effort to consider and plan for the future will likely find several paths to success they can begin walking today. One such path is that of preserving and growing water access. While the decline in the housing market has had a negative impact on boat sales, it has had a positive impact on water access. The demand for residential waterfront development has lessened in popular boating communities in Florida and California, for example, making marinas and boatyards a more desirable option for developers. This is a window of opportunity for the industry in its quest to provide an affordable, hassle-free boating experience to today's and tomorrow's boaters - one you can't afford to pass up. That's why you should download Boating Industry's Water Access White Paper published in partnership with ValvTect Marine Fuel. This free publication provides expert tips, advice and best practices designed to help you achieve real results in securing the future of your business and the boating industry. Liz Walz Senior Editor Boating Industry Trusted Source. Proven Solutions. Real Results. SOBA AND NASBLA SIGN MOU On September 10, 2007 during the NASBLA Annual Conference, Jeffery Johnson (pictured on left), 2007 President of NASBLA, and Ed Poolos (pictured on right), then Vice President of SOBA, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This is an excellent opportunity for SOBA to align itself more strategically with NASBLA and their activities. The MOU states that each group shall work to support each other’s respective missions: SOBA's mission is to encourage, promote and support federal and state programs that provide safe, high-quality and environmentally sound public recreational boat access to the waterways of the United States and its territories. The States Organization for Boating Access accomplishes its mission by: • Providing strong and effective national leadership for the planning, funding, design, construction, operation and maintenance of boat access facilities; • Creating and maintaining a national forum for the exchange of information relative to recreational boat access; • Encouraging cooperation between and forging partnerships with; federal, state, local and private entities in the provision, design and operating of boat access facilities; and • Working to influence federal, state and local legislation on recreational boat access issues NASBLA 's mission is to strengthen the ability of the state and territorial boating authorities to reduce death, injury and property damage associated with recreational boating and ensure a safe, secure and enjoyable boating environment. The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators accomplishes its mission by: • Providing national leadership and advocacy to focus policies and resources on reducing risks in recreational boating and in waterway security; • Providing models and standards that foster best practices and uniformity among the states and territories; • Providing professional development opportunities and other products and services that benefit members; and • Identifying and employing the highest professional standards and best practices in governing, administering and measuring the performance of the association. Click here to read the signed MOU. Clean Vessel Act (CVA) Survey Results Now Available In September of 2006, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall requested the Sport Fish and Boating Partnership Council to lead a review of the Service’s Clean Vessel Act (CVA) grant program. This review would be the first systematic review in the 16 years the program has been in existence. In support of this review, SOBA was requested to conduct a survey of state CVA coordinators. This survey allowed the 34 state coordinators that participated the opportunity to provide the review team with valuable information as well as allowing them an opportunity to provide comments pertaining to the entire program review. Below are the numerical results of the survey. Click here to view results. Senators Boxer and Nelson Commit to Fixing Ballast Water Permitting Issue Congressman Oberstar Receives SOBA Congressional Award National Forum to Address Water Access Issues Local government officials, coastal management planners, legal scholars and boating industry representatives will gather in Norfolk, Virginia next May to explore solutions to the loss of water access that is hindering recreational boaters, commercial fishermen and water-dependent businesses around the nation's coasts. READ MORE. Boating Access Promotion Media Package Here you'll find great ideas and tools for you to use in announcing your latest accomplishments to those who'd really like to know, especially elected officials responsible for securing funding for your project and potential guests of your newly constructed or renovated boat launching facility. READ MORE Boating Access Inventory An assessment of current and future needs regarding boating and fishing access. READ MORE