The National Water Safety Congress 2017 Award Recipients.

1. National Water Safety Congress
2017 Award Recipients
21st Annual International Boating & Water Safety Summit
Mark Brown, President, Michael Fields, Executive Director

2. Regional Award WINNER
International Order of the Blue Gavel
District 5
Mission is to recognize Past Commodores of the international
yachting community and unite them in order to promote the highest
ideals of yachting and preserve its customs and traditions through
social, educational and humanitarian programs.

3. International Order of the Blue Gavel, District 5

4. International Order of the Blue Gavel,
District 5

5. Award of Merit WINNER
VIP for a VIP Inc.
This program provides a platform to
Present the boating safety message to
25,000 + high school students that can’t
be reached in a traditional boating
education class setting.

6. VIP for a VIP Inc.
A North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission Officer joins
volunteers from local Fire, EMS, Police, & State Highway Patrol
Agencies to deliver a boating safety message – a video depicting a
boating related incident.
Program is
delivered statewide
40 times a year.

7. Award of Merit Winner
Sam Conley, Winona Walmart Store Manager/Granton
Approved a $1,500 Walmart Grant that supported Grenada
Lake’s Water Safety Programs (i.e. water safety
presentations to audiences of all ages, beach safety
demonstrations, boat inspections, life jacket loaner
stations, life jacket exchange program where inflatable toys
are taken and US Coast Guard life jackets are issued).

8. Sam Conley, Winona Walmart Store Manager/Granton

9. Award of Merit WINNERS
Troopers Joe Couch
& Trooper Gordon Chronister
Oklahoma Highway Patrol Marine Enforcement Unit
Troopers Couch and Chronister presented 43 Bobby the Boat Water
And Boating Safety Program to 4,496 elementary students
in Oklahoma and have educated thousands of other citizens via
safety fairs and water safety programming.

10. Troopers Joe Couch
& Trooper Gordon Chronister
Oklahoma Highway Patrol Marine Enforcement Unit
They have
managed to
build quite a
reputation and
are requested
to participate at
Septemberfest,
an annual event
held at the
Governor’s
Mansion in
Oklahoma City.

11. Award of Merit WINNER
Carson “Nick Mitchell
US Army Corps of Engineers

12. Carson “Nick Mitchell
US Army Corps of Engineers
550,000 Guidebooks
were printed,
accompanied by an
estimated 100,000
plus on-line views.
Over 650,000 people
have looked at the
image of a fisherman
wearing his life
jacket.

13. Award of Merit WINNER
Senior Wildlife Agent Kyle Wagner
Louisiana Dept of Wildlife & Fisheries Enforcement Division

14. Award of Merit WINNER
Joseph M. Vassallo, CBP,APSP Fellow
Float Like A Duck, Water Safety Program
 Mr. Vassallo has hosted the annual Float Like
a Duck free water safety event since 2003.
 The mission is “Educating the public on the
importance of safety while celebrating the
joys of water sports.” The ABCD’s are what
is encouraged.
Adult Supervision: always have adult present
Barriers: layers of barriers (i.e. alarms, locks)
Classes: swimming lessons and CPR classes
Devices: PFD’s, rescue tools

15. Joseph M. Vassallo, CBP,APSP Fellow
Float Like A Duck, Water Safety Program
 Over 4,500 have attended Float Like a Duck
event.
 Over 100,000 have been exposed to Float Like
a Duck via appearances, news reports, social
media, videos and collateral materials.

16. Letter of Commendation WINNER
Officer Corrie Roberts
Maine Marine Patrol
 Operates a 46’ P/V Guardian III for 12 yrs.
 Plays leadership role in testing and upgrading
new boarding suits.
 Saved lobsterman who was offshore suffering
from throat injury. Administered first aid.
 Boarded lobster boat which was circling out of
control that could have caused major accident.
 Part of Marine Patrol Assessment Team, and
one of two cold water officer survivor
instructors through NASBLA.
Photo by: Bob Trapani

17. Letter of Commendation WINNER
Jesse Wisterman, Ben Nyegaard & William D. Oliver
US Army Corps of Engineers – Vicksburg District-Louisiana Field Office
 Helped form a partnership with Black Bayou
Wildlife Area where schools receive water
safety demonstrations and outdoor education
at an educational center.
 Since 2014 approximately 2020 individuals
received programs courtesy of these Natural
Resource Specialist (NRS).
 NRS Oliver trained himself to operate “Corey”
the Water Safety Tugboat. He operates “Corey”
at special events and teaches water safety
to children and adults in an entertaining
way.
Wisterman
Nyegaard
Oliver

18. Letter of Commendation WINNER
Burger King
MidAmerica Hotel Corporation
 USACE safety partner since 2009. Placed water
safety messages on customer receipts and
food coupons.
 Placed 11 exterior “Life Jackets Save Lives”
digital marquees at various Burger King
franchises in Missouri, Arkansas & Illinois.
 Estimated # of persons affected by advertising
is 990,000 customers.
 Supported Wappapello’s July 4th Water Safety
event by providing free food coupons.
Coupon
example

19. Letter of Commendation WINNER
Joseph McLane, President First Midwest Bank
 First Midwest Bank of Poplar Bluff has been an
an avid supporter of Wappapello Lake’s Public
Safety Awareness Campaign since 1998.
 Provides safety messages on its customer money
envelopes at 11 branches, reaching over 225,000
customers yearly.
 Supported Wappapello’s 75th Anniversary
Celebration by having 30,000 special edition
Day User Fee envelopes w/ water safety
messages distributed throughout the year.

20. Letter of Commendation WINNER
SEMO Regional Water Safety Council
 Sponsors 2 annual special events and supports
other activities such as Kid’s Fishing Fun Day.
 Ranger Willie’s Wet & Wild Water Festival has
aquatic games and other activities. Event focuses
on promoting usage of life jackets and boating
safety. Last year 325 people attended.
 Council coordinates the life jacket loaner stations
in several towns in southeast Missouri.
 Provides funding for Day Use Fee Envelopes in
recognition of Wapppello’s 75th Year Anniversary.

21. National Water Safety Congress
Saving Lives on the Water Since 1951

22. CONGRATULATIONS
AWARD WINNERS!
&
THANK YOU
Attendees for the effort you
put forth in saving lives!