ANNA MARIA – At the request of Anna Maria Island Sail & Power Squadron Commander Matt Kuber and Past Commander and Anna Maria resident David Haddox, Mayor Mark Short proclaimed May 17-23 as National Safe Boating Week in Anna Maria.
While reading aloud the proclamation during the April 10 Anna Maria City Commission meeting, Short said, “National Safe Boating week is observed to bring attention to important lifesaving tips for recreational boaters so they can have a safer, more fun experience out on the water throughout the year.
On average, 650 people die each year in boating-related accidents in the U.S. Seventy-five percent of these fatalities are caused by drowning and the vast majority of these accidents are caused by human error or poor judgment, and not by the boat, equipment or environmental factors.
A significant number of boaters who lose their lives by drowning each year would be alive today had they worn their life jackets. Therefore, I, Mark Short, do hereby support the goals of the Safe Boating Campaign and proclaim May 17-23 as National Safe Boating Week and the start of the year-round effort to promote safe boating.”
When accepting the proclamation from Short, Kuber said, “The Anna Maria Island Sail & Power Squadron stands ready in our three-fold mission to serve the community. Our first mission is boater education, our second is community service and our third mission is fraternity. Thanks for this opportunity and we hope to provide more services in the future and year-round.”
The AMI Sail & Power Squadron encourages boaters to wear life jackets, take a safe boating class offered by the squadron and get a free vessel safety check offered by the squadron. Learn more about the squadron at www.usps.org/annamaria.
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