Advertisement
The BoatU.S. Action Center website is a DIY guide to help members break through government bureaucracy to tackle problems on local waters
Local law enforcement responds to an at-risk vessel situation on North Lake in Hollywood, Florida. Photo: Rick Legow
November in America means Election Day, but with no national referendum and only two state elections in 2023 (New Jersey, Virginia), some voting boaters may be more apt to sit this year out as “local elections don’t matter.” Think again. David Kennedy, manager of our BoatU.S. Government Affairs department, wants to stress to members that positive change begins at home.
“The best way to get traction on a local issue is locally,” he says. “BoatU.S. is a national organization and our members’ voice on Capitol Hill, but we’re built to engage with Congress, federal agencies, and state legislatures. When it comes to local issues, we can be most effective when members take the initiative to get the ball rolling – and we can certainly help with that.”
While a single voice on a local issue such as no-wake zones or derelict vessels may be lost at a city council meeting, a chorus of voices commands attention. “It’s always a good idea to form some kind of group with a structure. It can be a committee, a task force, or whatever, but there’s strength in numbers, and we can guide groups on how to engage at the political level.”
If you didn’t know, BoatU.S. has a website specifically designed to help members stay on top of state legislation, including a legislative tracker that allows members to filter down to specific states or specific issues such as boating safety, education, anchoring, the environment, or insurance.
Click to the Action Center page for federal and state issues such as California’s proposed increase in boat registration fees, the latest on ethanol-blended gasoline, or support for the national LAKES (Lake Access Keeping Economies Strong) Act. It’s here where members can find their elected officials and sign up for critical legislative alerts. Dig deeper into the site and you’ll also find concise articles explaining how to navigate government institutions, form coalitions, leverage social media, and write to elected officials.
“For members looking to draw attention to a local boating issue, this is our game plan to best have your voice heard,” says Kennedy, who notes two local success stories as prime examples.
Superstorm Sandy may have destroyed their marina, but it didn’t defeat their spirit. This group of boat owners successfully lobbied to rebuild what is now known as Moonbeam Great Kills Marina in Staten Island, New York.
After Hurricane Sandy destroyed Nichols Marina, leaving 350 Staten Island, New York, boaters without a home, the National Park System opted against rebuilding on the property within the Gateway National Recreation Area. Two slip holders rallied a group of boaters and recreation advocates to get behind rebuilding something at the heart of their community – their local marina. They called BoatU.S. Government Affairs, which lobbied U.S. senators, the local congressman, and the commissioner of the National Parks of New York Harbor. The team effort paid off and the resurrected marina (now known as Moonbeam Great Kills Marina) in Great Kills opened two years after the storm.
“They were vocal, organized, and kept at it in a professional way,” Kennedy says of the local boaters who spearheaded the campaign. “It was a prime example of how to wage an effective grassroots campaign.”
More recently, BoatU.S. worked with a member from Hollywood Lakes, Florida, frustrated by the lack of local action over an increasing number of derelict and abandoned boats in both North and South lakes within Hollywood, located about 10 miles south of Fort Lauderdale.
“We were told by local officials that their hands were tied,” explained member Rick Legow. “I reached out to BoatU.S. to see how we could find a way to stop these boats that never move from overwhelming our waterways, while still making space for active cruising boaters to anchor.”
The ordinance, passed in February, allows anchoring for 45 days within any six-month period, including an exemption for imminent or existing hazardous weather conditions, “a sensible, reasonable step toward addressing a chronic local issue,” says Kennedy.
Members seeking a remedy for an issue on their local waters can begin their strategy by visiting the BoatU.S. Government Affairs website (votervoice.net/BoatUS/home) or by visiting BoatUS.com and clicking “Advocacy” at the bottom of the page.
Forming coalitions
There is strength in numbers. Consider aligning your local organization (yacht club, sailing association, fishing group) with other like-minded groups to form a coalition, as lawmakers are more likely to listen to an organization representing 100 constituents with a consistent message than a single individual.
Is it solely a boating issue, or is it part of a broader topic such as zoning, conservation, public access, or general taxation? Bring various groups or individuals under one umbrella. Uniting around a common, broad-based goal such as “protecting public access to Big Bay” or “continued funding for state boating programs,” or engaging in joint activities (shore cleanup, marsh grass planting) are great ways to form coalitions.
- Find your allies. Who are likely allies? Who else has a stake in your issue? (e.g., marina operators, boat dealerships, retailers, yacht clubs, service organizations, Coast Guard Auxiliary, state marine trade associations, chambers of commerce). Bring them together. Host an event to get likely allies talking with each other. Search the internet for relevant websites, news articles, discussion boards, and potential contacts. State marine trade associations and state boating agencies may know of organizations likely to join your cause.
- Establish the coalition. Pick a name that is short but descriptive of the group. Select officers, if necessary, and especially a “point person” who will handle communications among coalition members, such as group e-mails.
- Stay focused. Coalition representatives should meet on some sort of regular basis (monthly, quarterly) to keep lines of communication open should a crisis arise. Consider periodic joint events to keep your coalition active (fundraisers, workdays, public education events, letter-writing campaigns). Review coalition goals periodically and revise as new conditions arise (changes in state and local government, coalition member organizations added, new issues/threats develop). Be willing to evolve. The issues that brought groups together may change or be resolved.