From the May / June 2009 Marsh Rider issue:

Reflections

By BISHOP WRIGHT, Jr.
President, Florida Airboat Association

A volunteer’s actions speak louder than words. After fifteen years of hard work, the FAA has learned to listen to the people who support and unify airboaters in Florida. That is why the FAA has the backing of airboaters. The FAA leadership has volunteers to serve airboaters rather than self-serving elitist individuals who expect airboaters to serve them.

In this column, I’ll talk about just a few successes that recent FAA volunteer airboaters have achieved. One is fulfilling the promise of improved communications to all airboating individuals through the FAA’s Marsh Rider magazine. In the past, everyone wanted to know how to join the FAA and get involved. Since this magazine has come out, everyone knows what we’re doing and they feel more involved. Airboaters receive periodic legislative updates on where the FAA is going, stories on past events, calendars of upcoming events, as well as what FAA is trying to accomplish.

On July 4, Independence Day, we will hold our second annual Airboater Appreciation Day events during which the FAA volunteer airboaters identify and recognize the outstanding efforts and contributions of individual airboaters who make a difference for airboating and sportsmen’s conservation issues throughout the year. Don’t’ miss this year’s chance to salute those who have made a difference. This will also be a chance for you to congratulate George Bryant in person for being appointed by Governor Crist to the Boating Advisory Council. I’m sure George will be thanking you for writing letters and making the supportive phone calls that helped him achieve this appointment. I personally congratulate George for going about this the right way and not sneaking in the back door to get this appointment. That is why I believe he will be the best airboater on this council.

Abundant full time efforts exist in Tallahassee on behalf of airboaters. Some say we have done nothing in Tallahassee, which is good, because Tallahassee has not sent down any new regulations on airboaters; FAA volunteer airboaters still support lobbying efforts because we know the truth.

FAA volunteer airboats have taken aggressive action against Osceola County’s airboating discrimination. The volunteers collected to good use. We can finance this battle because of FAA volunteer airboaters and their financial support.

FAA volunteer airboaters are working in cooperation with all five Florida Water Management Districts to expand airboating and hunting on FWMD land by creating airboat jumps, bad weather shelters, new boat ramps, and more access to hunting areas. This process is working well, and I believe we will have a very successful year with even more access opened to us.

FAA volunteer airboaters are working on plans for the 3rd annual airboat show to demonstrate our proud airboating heritage and promote our lifestyle to the general public. The airboat show will take place on October 3, 2009. It is one fundraiser that has proven itself time and time again. But this is also a chance to introduce people who don’t have airboats to all of the good things we do. I would like to thank our 2009 Gold Sponsors who have already stepped up to the plate: Kissimmee River Valley Sportsmen’s Association (triple gold: $7500) and Florida Sportsmen’s Conservation Association ($2500).

FAA volunteer airboaters worked in cooperation with the Airboat Association Of Florida and SouthernAirboat.com to provide an observance ceremony for the survivors of Eastern Flight 401 and for Bud “Bullfrog” Marquis. This observance was conducted at the eastern Everglades crash site on the 35th anniversary of the tragedy. This even received national television coverage. Bud Marquis’ saving of so many lives is probably the most awesome thing FAA volunteer airboaters have accomplished.

FAA volunteer airboaters joined with Tampa Bay Watch to remove derelict crab traps, Because our airboat is the vessel of choice for this project, we have changed the attitude of many people toward airboating. Our association with Tampa Bay Watch has become a proven partnership.

FAA volunteer airboaters are currently unifying airboaters and making an overwhelming difference. Unfortunately, some disgruntled past members are upset and have dragged energy and funds away and worked to deplete our war chest through frivolous lawsuits, designed to bog down our FAA volunteer airboaters and make it more difficult to defend real airboating issues. Not to worry. After we prove our innocence, they will have to refund our war chest. After this confrontation we have become more educated about our next opponents.

FAA is proud of three affiliates, Broward County Airboat & Halftrack Conservation Club, Lake County Airboat Club, and North Florida Conservation and Airboaters Alliance, who are planning to hold decibel awareness tests. We are currently setting the time and place for these tests. These locations will give all airboaters in Florida a chance to join in and take part, which will give people an idea of what sounds their airboat creates at 50 and 100 feet.

I am very pleased to see how many affiliates are promoting airboating through events and outings, not to mention the meetings they have attended. A freedom undefended is a freedom soon lost. So keep up the wood work.

Great job done by all!

How do you become an FAA volunteer airboater? Simple. Get involved in your local airboat club today. Give a day back to the environment you love by attending your local airboat club work projects: like crab trap removals, lake cleanups, youth camp work projects, and meeting attendance. It is very important for our community to get positive views from those who are not airboaters.

Keep in mind: FAA has turned over a new leaf as you will continue to see in the near future. Actions do speak louder than words and remember that we need your support.