BoatUS Foundation


	2008 Environmental Leadership Award Recipient click here for 2007 recipients Russ Robinson, a long-time San Francisco Bay sailor with an eye for identifying challenges with recreational boating and waterway ecology, has been named winner of the BoatU.S. Foundation Environmental Leadership Award for 2008. "Russ’s efforts have impacted every boater in California, and possibly even those beyond the state's borders," said BoatU.S. Foundation Director of Environmental Programs Susan Shingledecker. A member of the San Jose Sailing Club and South Bay Yacht Club, Robinson has lived in the Bay area since 1957, and is an active sailor and past owner of Catalina 36, Jubilation. The Cupertino, CA resident has a long history with Recreational Boaters of California (RBOC), joining the group’s Board in 1992 and serving as its president in 2003. He serves on many government task forces, using his experience to help local government agencies understand the boating community. In the mid-1990's when Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) pollution threatened to close lakes in the state, Robinson helped form a coalition to address the problem, leading to the development of water sampling protocols, expediting the re-design of two-stroke engines and educating boaters on clean fueling practices.
Working with the California Department of Boating and Waterways, he made it easier for the agency to remove derelict vessels, before their sinking caused environmental harm. When questions were raised about marina pollution, he represented boaters on a task force and helped draft a voluntary approach and Clean Marina Guidebook for the state. He also helped return more 15,000 acres of industrial salt ponds to recreational use, and most recently worked to find common sense solutions to the closure of some of the Golden State’s lakes as a result of invasive species growth. Competing for this year’s award were 30 other nominees, including marina operators, government employees and boating industry leaders. In addition to Robinson’s award, the BoatU.S. Foundation honored 10 of these nominees with Environmental Commendations for their extraordinary environmental efforts, including the development of annual waterway clean up events, clean marina and oil spill prevention programs.
2008 Environmental Leadership Commendations Chris Wilke - Seattle, WA Promotes oil spill prevention by developing and supporting the Washington State Clean Marina Program and encouraging 32 marinas to become certified. Eric Olson - Seattle, WA Promotes oil spill prevention by developing and supporting the Washington State Clean Marina Program and encouraging 32 marinas to become certified. Vivian Matuk - San Francisco, CA Coordinates the "Keep the Delta Clean Program" and the "Boating Clean and Green Campaign" for the state of California. As well as train dockwalkers, and enthusiatically encourages boaters to practice environmentally sound boating. Robert Butler - San Diego, CA Worked with a turtle sanctuary 95 miles south of San Diego to remove an abandoned boat from a turtle nesting beach and worked with San Diego marinas to reduce pollution and supply them with oil/fuel spill control kits. Island County Beach Watchers - Coupeville, WA Protects and improves the Puget Sound ecosystem through research, education, outreach, and stewardship. Scott Hopkins - Marco Island, FL Promotes clean boating inlcuding innovative partnerships with Keep Collier Beautiful, and the State of FL promoting Leave No Trace environmentally friendly boating proactices and the FL Clean Boater and FL Clean Marinas Programs. Peter Hall - Gloucester Point, VA Provides leadership and service to Virginia boaters as a private marina owner and through assistance with the Virginia Clean Marinas and Clean Boaters Programs. The Kaskaskia Mariners Association - Marissa, IL Has held an annual river clean up day for 12 years removing debris along a 30 mile stretch of shoreline. This led to the state of Illinois adopting an annual "It's Our River" Clean up day. Clyde Ford - Bellingham, WA Wrote Boat Green, a book encouraging recreational boaters to adopt cost effective, environemtnally sound boating practices. Friends of Barren River Lake - Glasgow, KY A co-sponsor of the Trashmaster's Classic an annual lake shore clean up event. In the 20 years of the Trashmaster's classic oc er 9,673 volunteers have collected over 186 tons of trash and tires.
2007 Environmental Leadership Award Recipient The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water awarded the first Environmental Leadership Award to H.P. Sandy Purdon, founder of the "Clean Marinas California Program." Purdon was presented with the award at a California Boating and Waterways Commission meeting held in Dana Point, CA. The honor included a $1,000 award to help continue his efforts. Purdon began work on the Clean Marinas California program in late 2003 when Golden State marinas were facing increasing regulatory and permitting requirements. Purdon worked with 40 boat clubs and marinas in the San Diego area – borrowing the best components from other state Clean Marina programs – to create a voluntary alternative to the proposed regulations. In addition, the BoatUS Foundation recognized the achievements of several other nominees by honoring them with Environmental Leadership Commendations. 2007 BoatUS Foundation Environmental Leadership Commendations Jim Brown and the Lake County Airboat Association - Florida Together they introduced thousands of children to safe boating and environmental stewardship through river and wetland clean-up events. Michael Danko, New Jersey Sea Grant - New Jersey Worked closely with industry and government on a variety of issues related to clean boating including the NJ Clean Marinas program, federal Clean Vessel Act and created a shrink wrap recycling program. Friends of the Rappahannock - Virginia Developed a program in partnership with local marinas and businesses to promote the use of holding tanks and pump out stations. Grand Lake Sail and Power Squadron - Oklahoma Educated boaters about the environment through the development of a brochure, organizing community-wide clean ups and conducting shoreline habitat restoration projects. Will Keene, Edson Corp. - Massachusetts Advocated for clean waterways, specifically focusing on the proper discharge and disposal of on-board wastes through convenient pump out stations. Dewayne Hollin, Texas Sea Grant - Texas Created the Texas Clean Marinas and Clean Boater programs. Helped found the Sea Grant National Marina Network and conducted workshops on environmental education and best practices. Donna Morrow, Maryland Department of Natural Resources - Maryland Coordinated the Maryland Clean Marina Program, created a Clean Boating lesson plan for schools and was instrumental in the certification of all the state-owned facilities. OCSC (Olympic Circle Sailing Club) Sailing - California Founded on the Berkeley Garbage dump, they incorporated environmentally sound practices and conservation into all aspects of their sailing programs. Gregory Reynolds - Palm Beach County, Florida Removed boating hazards and marine debris from Lake Worth Lagoon including organizing clean-ups and educating the public. Doug Truston, Wormley Creek Marina - Virginia Ensured that his marinas were leaders in environmental practices, installed the first wash-water recycling system in Virginia and voluntarily coordinated emergency response training with a neighboring oil refinery.

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