Dustan E. McCoy, chairman and chief executive officer of Brunswick Corp., recently accepted the 2011 National Association of State Boating Law Administrators' Public Service Award.
The annual award is presented to companies that make significant contributions to boating safety. Brunswick recently formed a partnership with the U.S. Power Squadrons to offer boating education and training through the organization's 440 squadrons across the country, in conjunction with Brunswick's network of 1,500 U.S. boat dealers.
During his keynote address to more than 700 delegates at the Power Squadron's annual meeting, McCoy challenged the group's members to reach out and attract new boaters. Boating is a social and family activity, McCoy said. When he was a teenager, a family friend asked him to go boating. From then on he was hooked and, to this day, he enjoys boating.
McCoy urged delegates to take someone aboard the next time they are on the water, especially a youth.
Brunswick launched a partnership with the U.S. Power Squadrons last year to conduct boater education through participating Brunswick dealerships across the country. Classes and seminars range from beginner to expert levels and cover topics that include navigation, knot tying, electronics and trailering. Power Squadrons personnel conduct the courses, using facilities that participating Brunswick dealers provide.
U.S. Power Squadrons chief commander Frank Dvorak indicated that such a partnership with Brunswick is groundbreaking and positive for boating.
"We need to reach boaters at all levels and at every location where they boat, and where better to do that than at a boat dealership? We value the USPS's growing relationship with such a top-notch company," he said in a statement. "Dusty received a well-deserved standing ovation for his message and we accept his challenge to do all we can to spread the word about safe boating and make sure that all on the water are well prepared and educated."
