February 2003 Chartroom Chatter
I would like to again congratulate the winners of the 2002 Kilmon Award: 2001 Queen of the Chesapeake Candice Ann Steele and 2001 Queen of the Delaware River Yachtsmen's League Barbara Gricco. These two young women did an outstanding job during their reign and have continued to remain active in the boating community. Thanks again for a job well done and both of you were deserving winners of the Kilmon Award.
The deadline for placing an ad in the 2003 edition of the Roster Issue of the Chartroom Chatter (Yearbook) is February 10th 2003. The CBYCA 2003 Chartroom Chatter Roster Issue is the main source of funding for this organization and your full support would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks go to Commodore Ron Jarvis and the members of North Point Yacht Club for hosting the January CBYCA Board meeting. Thanks for the hospitality.
As a reminder, the new CBYCA Delegate pins will be issued to each club Delegate and Alternate Delegate, of record, at the February Delegates meeting being held at Kent Island Yacht Club. All club rosters are due no later than February 10th. We will use the information on these roster sheets to determine eligibility for receipt of the pins. If a club has not submitted their roster sheet to QO Faye Broseker by the deadline, then no pin will be issued until the required information has been submitted. The timely submission of this information is essential to insure that the club information printed in the CBYCA 2003 Chartroom Chatter Roster Issue is complete and accurate. Each club will be contacted if this information has not been received so there are no surprises. Each club's cooperation is requested to help meet the deadline.
GOD BLESS AMERICA
I would like to thank North Point Yacht Club for their hospitality hosting the CBYCA January Board Meeting.
Our first Delegates Meeting for 2003 will be held at Kent Island Yacht Club on February 15, 2003 at 1300. A buffet lunch will be served at 1200 for $10.00 per person. Please call me (410-437-5448) for lunch reservations by February 10th.
Our speaker will be Congressman Jim Saxon who will be speaking about the Recreational Waters Protection Act. This bill significantly changes the standards for type 1 MSD's by reducing the coliform bacteria counts to less then one percent of the current limit set by the USCG. Passage of this bill will provide important benefits to recreational boating. This is a very important topic for all recreational boaters.
I look forward to seeing a good Delegate turnout.
Communications Committee Report
V/C Betty Stahler, Chairperson CBYCAQO@aol.com
I would like to thank all the clubs that have submitted complete information to me for their Commodore Balls and events. I hope everyone is finding the information to be helpful. We still have work to do cleaning up the events side of the goldenrod. When submitting information, please furnish me with date, time, club, event/location, contacts name and phone number. Any event or opening day information that is not complete will not be published.
John Garlotta Jgarlotta@hotmail.com
Attention Fellow Boaters
FREE BEER! FREE BEER! FREE BEER!
NOT REALLY111 I JUST WANTED TO GET YOUR ATTENTION
Let's all join together and make this the best roster book ever yet!
Remember the number of yearbooks your club receives is dependent on the size of your club and most importantly the size of your advertisement in the roster book.
Regards to all.
Coles Marsh, DSLMD marshcr@prodigy.net
The legislative session is in full swing with our new Governor Robert Ehrlich being sworn in on January 15th. He wasted no time in addressing environmental issues with a Summit on January 20th. Those skeptical about his commitment to the environmental issues seemed pleased with his agenda to spend some 110 million dollars on Chesapeake Bay Environmental issues. The ageing sewerage treatment facilities and chemical waste seem to get top billing. The governor vowed to have a working dialogue with the watermen and farmers to open solution-based objectives. Harmony between the two groups, for all of our best interest seems to be the message.
Governor Ehrlich selected C. Ronald Franks to head DNR. Mr. Franks was a delegate to the General Assembly for Queenstown, MD. Some fear that an outsider would face insurmountable obstacles in coming to a department minus most of its leadership, staggering budgetary problems, and unfamiliarity with personnel and programs, and a department saturated with lesser, though key players chosen by the previous governor.
The ink was hardly dry on the appointment of Franks when it was announced Pete Jensen from Queen Anne's County had been selected as Deputy Secretary. Mr. Jensen has a long history with DNR and brings experience; credibility and you might say continuity to the department in a state of change.
I have asked Donna Morrow, " Maryland Clean Marina Initiative" Program Administrator to write an article briefly describing the program and giving you a web-site address and phone numbers to consider obtaining information about how your club can benefit from being a member. This is a "FREE"service to YOUR club and can do much to show that "Yacht Clubs" are leaders in protecting our precious recreational playground.
PLEASE KEEP YOUR DIRECTOR INFORMED. YOUR CLUB CAN BE A GREAT SOURCE. WE NEED YOUR VOICE.
Maryland Clean Marina Initiative
Donna Morrow
The Department of Natural Resources' Maryland Clean Marina Initiative promotes and celebrates voluntary adoption of measures to reduce pollution from marinas, boatyards, yacht clubs, and recreational boats. Signing the Clean Marina Pledge is the first step toward receiving recognition as an environmentally-responsible boating facility through this program. To achieve full standing as a Clean Marina, managers must implement measures to control pollution associated with vessel maintenance and repair; petroleum storage and transfer; sewage disposal; solid, liquid and hazardous wastes; storm water runoff and facilities management. They must also meet all legal and permitting requirements. The program staff is able to assist with identifying what permits and/or regulations apply to a facility and can also provide templates for commonly needed plans.
Recognized Clean Marinas may use the Clean Marina logo in their advertising and on their letterhead. They receive a flag to fly from their facility, a page on the Clean Marina web site and promotion in Clean Marina publications. The goal of the program is to certify 25 percent of Maryland's 600 marinas as Clean Marinas or Clean Marina Partners by 2004. To date, 55 facilities have been certified as Clean Marinas. Another 11 boating facilities with minimal services, such as public ramps, have been certified as Clean Marina Partners. Boaters are encouraged to patronize Maryland Clean Marinas and Clean Marina Partners.
For more details about the Maryland Clean Marina Initiative or to order free pollution prevention materials for boaters, call the Clean Marina program office at 410-260-8770 or toll-free in Maryland at (877) 620-8DNR, extension 8770 or visit www.dnr.state.md.us/boating http://www.dnr.state.md.us/boating/cleanmarina
Jerry Donofrio, Sr., DSLNJ Security@fcc.net
BOTH THROTTLES FORWARD
SPEED LIMITS
The bi-monthly meeting held by the New Jersey Boat Regulatory Commission, January 8, at the New Jersey State Police Headquarters in West Trenton was attended by over 80 persons. This was the largest number of attendees at any Commission meeting. The NJBRC is an appointed Commission which falls under the Department of Law and Public Safety and is guided by NJ State Attorney General's office.
The reason for the large turnout was do to a ruling, which was to be issued at this session, with regard to a speed limit to be imposed on certain New Jersey waterways. The primary problem is along the eastern shoreline areas of Raritan Bay down to Egg Harbor. At the last public meeting in November, I gave testimony to the negative effects of speed limit imposition on various types of craft and the difficulty of properly enforcing a speed law with current technology. My suggestion at that meeting was, that the NJBRC should consider only a "No Wake" speed in these congested waterways as the solitary practical and safe speed for enforcement purposes.
The NJBRC ruled at the January meeting to adopt the suggested, "No Wake" speed in the specified waterways and not to impose a maximum speed in other areas as was previously considered. Issues of speed were heavily contested at all the meetings by representatives of the Save the Bay organization.
ICW DREDGING
The Army Corps is conducting a study of the NJ ICW for the purpose of dredging to a maintained depth. In a telephone conversation with the contractor who is doing the study, they are trying to get specific information on the quantity and size of boats entering the ICW through Cape May to justify recreational dredging of the area since there is really little if any commercial traffic on the New Jersey ICW.
SALT WATER FISHING LICENSE
Governor McGreevey has speculated on the opportunity to impose a licensing fee for saltwater fishing. It would allow a $7 million dollar boost to the general fund without any benefit to fishermen or boaters. The head boat captains are up in arms over this and fear losing out of state income, as these people would travel to better fishing ground with no licensing requirements. The Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA), headed by Jim Donofrio (no relation), is also opposed to the proposal as the fishermen who the state is targeting fish for migratory species only. In a statement from the DEP Commissioner Campbell, he does not agree with any licensing for saltwater fishing. Wonder how long the Governor will allow a cabinet member to disagree?
SAFETY AND EDUCATION
Assemblyman Smith is still conducting public hearings on the issues of mandatory education for all boat operators in New Jersey. We are keeping our ear close to the wheel on this issue.
Sincerely,
Jerry Donofrio Sr.
Director of State Legislation- New Jersey
Chesapeake Bay Yacht Clubs Association
11 Needlepoint Lane
Willingboro, New Jersey 08046
609-877-2561
Jerry Donofrio, Sr., Chairman
http://SPORT.NJ.COM/SPORT/BOATERVOTER
e-mail - security@fcc.net
DON'T TREAD ON ME - WITHOUT MONEY
The New Jersey Boater Voter Coalition has been asked to participate in a focus group by the NJDEP Coastal Zone Management Program (CZMP) Director. The topic is the public trust doctrine and public access in New Jersey. The lack of public access for boaters is one clear message being delivered to coalition groups, by the BVC for over 10 years. Our focus will be the deficiencies for boats trailered as well as lack of access to other public areas such as waterfront historical facilities and towns along our waterfronts. We will also approach the Public Trust Doctrine and its application to private clubs.
In 1972, Congress passed the federal Coastal Zone Management Act. This provided authorization and funding for states to develop and implement their own coastal management programs. The shore lands were now given protection, in the name of the state, for the use and enjoyment of the public, both living and future generations. These rights of the public to the shore lands and waters are known today as Public Trust rights, and the shore lands and waters known as Public Trust lands and waters. States hold these lands and waters, not as they "own" upland for state parks or forests, but in trust for the benefit of the public. Hence the name Public Trust Doctrine.
So today, thanks to Emperor Justinian, 530 A.D., you can stroll down the beach and enjoy your trust rights just about everywhere in the United States, including the five U.S. territories and commonwealths -- the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The exception is New Jersey where we still generally have to pay for access to beaches, boat ramps and are constantly in conflict with single use constraints of water front properties. Visiting boaters must pay more than a local boater for the right to use a public ramp, sometimes as much as 500%!
But, just about anywhere else in the United States, with some limited exceptions of other "private beaches", one may stroll the beach at ease, just as long as you stay on the beach and don't trespass on the landward private property. With the proper fishing license, you have the right to fish from shore. You can swim from the beach, sail your boat over the waters, collect shells, or just collect your thoughts. You can't trespass over private land to get to the beach, but once there, these are the Public Trust rights of every member of the public in the United States, except again in New Jersey where the property owner must allow public access over part of their property if they have had significant improvement under a water-front development project permit, even though it may be a private club.
The present study is an attempt to assess the individual and collective contributions of the 29 coastal management programs in achieving some of the most important objectives of the Act:
Traditionally, acquisition and regulatory programs were the most effective means of providing public access. These tools are now used less frequently due to decreases in public funding and increased societal concern over the protection of private property rights. As a result, coastal states have been very inventive in developing new tools and approaches. Examples include providing legal assistance to secure public rights-of-way and developing partnerships with public and private institutions.
This focus group is part of two others being conducted by the University of Massachusetts, Urban Harbors Institute. The UHI is public policy and scientific research institute, founded in 1989, providing coastal and ocean related policy analysis and expertise in integrated coastal zone management and urban harbor management. They locally assist coastal communities on such issues as water quality, harbor management, and waterfront land use and regulations. Nationally, they have conducted a comprehensive study of urban water transportation systems, including a detailed database on all U.S. ferry systems, funded by the Department of Transportation. And for the past several years, have served as "secretariat" for the well - known, biennial "Coastal Zone" conferences.
For more information about the UMASS Urban Harbors Institute go to their web site http://www.uhi.umb.edu/
Here is an important web site that has a great search engine to find information which may be related to the waterway(s) of your state. News or studies conducted under funding of the EPA or other government sub-groups is contained in a publication called Coastlines. Coastlines is the bi-monthly newsletter of the National Estuary Program. Most of us use boats in an area controlled under the National Estuary Program. Every issue features stories, news, and events from twenty-eight NEP embers. Learn about the many estuary program efforts underway to protect our coasts, from habitat protection and innovative pollution control programs and public education. Many of the programs will affect your boating enjoyment or even prevent you from boating in certain areas. You'll find out about citizen volunteer programs, the latest scientific research projects, K-12 educational programs, special events, and much more. Get connected to your coastline by finding out what's going on! Go to their search button down the page and type in your topic or name of a waterway.
http://www.epa.gov/nep/coastlines/
Return To Top Of Page
Arthur R. Murray
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Chairman Safety Committee
The United States Coast Guard has issued a new Life Jacket or Personal Flotation Device (PFD) rule to go into effect on 22 December 2002. The purpose of this rule is to minimize drowning of children under thirteen years of age. The rule requires that all children under thirteen years of age wear a Coast Guard approved PFD while aboard recreational vessels underway, except when those children are below decks or are in an enclosed cabin. This rule follows an interim rule published in the Federal Register on 23 June 2002. The new rule affects only those States that have not, by statute or rule established their own requirements for children to wear life jackets while on recreational vessels.
For those States that have existing rules requiring a child to wear a PFD while on a recreational vessel, the new Coast Guard rule recognizes and adopts that State's rule even if it is less stringent. Currently the States and Territories that have no rules requiring children to wear a PFD are Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, the Northern Mariana Islands, New Mexico, North Carolina, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. With the implementation of the new rule, every State and Territory now has a requirement that children wear a PFD while on a recreational vessel underway.
Between the years 1995 and 2001, there were one hundred and twenty-one children who died from drowning. Had they been wearing a properly fitted PFD many of these children would still be alive. Life jackets save lives, but only when they are worn. Recreational boat operators when passing through the waters of one State and into those of another should be cognizant of the PFD rule that applies to the waters being traversed. From State to State they could be different. Operators who fail to comply with the PFD requirement for children could suffer penalties. These penalties may be assessed up to a maximum of $1,100 for each violation.
Mark Your Calendars!
| Date | Time | Meeting | Location |
| 18 January | 1000 | Board Meeting | North Point YC |
| 15 February
|
1000
1300 |
Board Meeting
Delegates Meeting |
Kent Island YC
|
| 15 March |
1000
1300 |
Board Meeting
CBYCA/DRYL |
Bordentown YC |
| 19 April |
1000
1300 |
Board Meeting
Delegate Meeting |
Eastern YC |
| 31 May | 1000 | Board Meeting | Maryland YC |
| 2 August |
1000
1300 |
Board Meeting
Delegate Meeting |
Chester River YC & CC |
| 13 September | 1000 | Board Meeting | Corinthian YC |
| 18 October | 1000 | Board Meeting | Charleston YC |
| 15 November |
1000
1300 |
Board Meeting
Delegate Meeting |
TBD |
| 20 December | 1000 | Board Meeting | Mount Vernon YC |
Please be prompt with your articles. It makes our job easier.