Let’s Take It to the Next Level

Published: Saturday, April 16, 2011 7:00 am
By: Van W. Snider, Jr.

My son-in-law had his 40th birthday recently and he asked me if he had reached middle age. Being in my sixties, I certainly don't think forty is middle age, but I couldn't resist giving him a definite written by Tom Burns in his book "That's Life," which provides some humorous and meaningful quotes on life. I told him "Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy." We had a hardly laugh and went on to other topics. I recommend the book to lighten up your day.

Time does have a way of moving quickly and before we know it, boat launching season will be underway and thousands of boaters and fishermen/women will be out on the water after this long, cold winter doing what they enjoy most, spending time on the water.

I reviewed a number of articles I've written over the years and found two on the Michigan Clean Marina program. Much progress has been made since its creation in 2003. There are 39 certified Michigan clean marinas, approximately fifty additional facilities are in the process of certification and the Michigan Clean Marine Foundation has been formed. In addition, an impressive web-base marina training program has been developed by the Michigan Sea Grant staff at the University of Michigan which is being used to educate marina operators on environmental best management practices. Operators at these facilities and everyone involved in theclean marina program are pleased with the value the program provides to the environment, our communities and citizens.

How are certified marinas benefiting from the effort, cost and time the owners, managers and staffs invested in the certification process? This is a question raised at a recent Michigan Clean Marina Foundation board meeting. Do boaters consider selecting a facility because it has attained the Clean Marina certification? The Foundation board hopes this is one of the factors considered in selecting where boater chooses to dock his or her vessel, but Foundation board does not know. That being said, I would like Michigan boaters to move the Michigan Clean Marina Program to the next level. If you are a boater, sailor and fisherman/woman, you can help:

When selecting a facility to dock, launch or store your vessel, consider facilities that are a certified Michigan Clean Marina.
If you select a facility that is certified, let the manager and/or owner know one of the criteria you used in selecting their facility was the certification.
Make your own commitment to "Boat Green" and print, read and implement "Green Boater" practices listed on the website- www.miseagrant.umich.edu/cmp/. Just click on Clean Boating Tip Sheets on the right side of the home page.
Take the lead and organize boaters in your marina who will commit to clean boating practices and coordinate your efforts with the marina management staff.
If you are docking at a facility that has not yet become certified, suggest to management they take the steps necessary to achieve certification.
Encourage recycling of shrink-wrap when spring launch occurs.

Moving the Michigan Clean Marina program to the next level takes more than encouraging marina operators to move forward and completing the certification process. It takes volunteer boater participation. Each of us can implement practices that can protect and enhance water quality. What it takes is an individual commitment to dowhat is right. Can we count on you?

For questions or comments email Van W. Snider, Jr., CAE at [email protected].