The INDEPENDENT, May 21, 2009
Practice safe boating skills this summer
Memorial Day weekend is
the unofficial kick-off for the
boating season in Oregon, and
the Oregon State Marine Board
wants to remind boaters head-
ing to the water to stay sober,
wear a life jacket and be cour-
teous to other boaters.
“With the beautiful weather,
people are lured to the water
for relaxation and fun” said
Ashley Massey, OSMB public
affairs specialist. “Every year, a
fun day can turn tragic because
of alcohol. It impairs your judg-
ment and you take risks you
normally wouldn’t. We see a lot
of reckless operation and dis-
courteous behavior, not to
mention people jumping into
freezing water when they are
drinking.”
For decades, Coast Guard
statistics have shown that 50
percent of boating accidents and
one-third of boating fatalities
each year are alcohol-related.
Alcohol or other substances
impair judgment, vision, bal-
ance and coordination and the
effects are amplified on the wa-
ter due to the motion of the
boat and environmental stres-
sors such as glare, wind and
sun – increasing the likelihood
of boating accidents and fatali-
ties. The reality is that any
amount of alcohol impairs a
person to some degree, usual-
ly starting with their inhibitions.
In Oregon, a boater is con-
sidered legally “under the influ-
ence” with a blood alcohol con-
centration (BAC) of 0.08 per-
cent or higher. What this means
is the boater will automatically
lose boating privileges and pay
a hefty fine. Marine deputies
can still arrest boaters for ob-
served impairment below 0.08
percent BAC, which can still
lead to a boating under the in-
fluence of intoxicants (BUII)
conviction. An impaired boat
operator who is arrested for
BUII faces fines of up to $6,250
and/or up to one year in jail,
loss of boat operation privi-
leges and suspension of boat
registration for up to three
years.
“Reckless operation is taken
very seriously,” said Massey.
“We have to be tough on viola-
tors to keep Oregon’s water-
ways safe for everyone, be-
cause innocent people are usu-
ally the victims.”
To avoid receiving a BUII ci-
tation and to prevent boating
accidents and fatalities, the
Marine Board offers the follow-
ing tips:
• Leave alcohol at home or
on the shore. Instead, take
along a variety of non-alcoholic
beverages.
• If you are feeling fatigued,
take a break on land and return
to the water when you are re-
energized and alert.
• If you dock somewhere to
eat and choose to drink alcohol
with your meal, wait a minimum
of one hour for each drink con-
sumed before operating your
watercraft.
• Being alcohol-free while
onboard is the safest way to
enjoy the water. Intoxicated
passengers are equally at risk
of injury and death.
• Operators and passengers
should wear properly fitting per-
sonal flotation devices (life
jackets). A full description of life
jackets can be found at http:
//www.boatoregon.com/OSMB/
safety/safety.shtml.
• Take a boating safety
course. In Oregon, all boaters
must now take a boating safety
course and carry a boater edu-
cation card when operating a
powerboat greater than 10
horsepower.
For more information about
safe boating in Oregon, contact
Ashley Massey, OSMB public
affairs specialist, 503-378-2623
or visit www.boatoregon.com .
You can learn how to make yourself heard
by the American Counseling
Association
When we were young most
of us were told to “speak up,” to
“say what’s on your mind,” and
to “tell us what you think.” But
many of us find that advice
hard to follow as we mature. In-
stead, we hold our silence and
end up feeling frustrated or em-
barrassed because we didn’t
express what we really felt or
believed.
Speaking up can and should
be a positive experience. Done
correctly, it demonstrates our
willingness to share our experi-
ences, perspectives and sug-
gestions. And while speaking
up may sometimes bring a neg-
ative reaction, it still can leave
us feeling satisfied by knowing
that we shared what we believe
to be right or helpful.
If you find it hard to express
your thoughts, some simple
principles might make it easier
to speak your mind.
The first one is simply to be
courageous. We often don’t
speak out simply because of
self-doubt. It may have us fear-
ing that what we have to say
will be resisted, or rejected, or
might even bring retaliation.
Those are all very real fears,
but giving in to them will leave
you feeling powerless and frus-
trated.
Instead, acknowledge your
self-doubt and fears, then step
up and be courageous enough
to express yourself. Often you’ll
find that there really was no ba-
sis for that self-doubt, and even
when your words bring a nega-
tive reaction, you’ll still feel
good for having had the
courage to make your views
known.
Along with being coura-
geous, it’s important to be re-
spectful. Rather than just
speaking out, first take the time
to listen. When you do speak
you want to show that you un-
derstand and respect the views
and values of others before ex-
pressing your own. Your inten-
tion is not to convince others,
but rather to express the differ-
ences that you’re feeling. Ac-
knowledge that what others are
feeling and believing also has
legitimacy.
Finally, speaking out suc-
cessfully requires you to be de-
cisive. Speaking up is your de-
cision to voice your convictions
without being preoccupied with
the outcome. You can be polite
and respectful of others, while
still being clear about what you
feel and believe.
It takes time and practice to
get used to speaking up and
expressing your views, but it’s
worth the effort. Your goal is not
to always get your way or force
your views on others, but rather
to share what you truly think
and feel. Speaking up is an im-
portant part of sharing and par-
ticipating in the human experi-
ence.
Page 15
Power of the People
By W. Marc Farmer, General Manager,
West Oregon Electric Cooperative
It’s hard to be greener than we
are at WOEC – but we’re trying.
In the past year, climate change has
been in the news on a daily basis. Advertis-
ing campaigns are now all about “being
green.” One thing is certain: It’s hard to be
much greener than West Oregon Electric
Cooperative (WOEC).
Only three states have a lower carbon footprint in the country
than Oregon. As a member of West Oregon Electric Co-op, you
are using electricity that is 97 percent carbon free. Your co-op pur-
chases primarily clean, renewable hydropower with a mix of wind,
nuclear, gas and a small portion of coal. It all adds up to afford-
able electricity and a very small carbon footprint.
Your co-op has been very involved in discussions about cli-
mate change through our state and federal associations that ad-
vocate for electric co-op members. Our message to elected offi-
cials is to focus on affordable, workable and sustainable programs
to meet carbon objectives. Climate change is a global problem
and Oregonians cannot solve the problem alone.
We are, however, willing to do our part – and more. Oregon
electric co-ops have brought forward legislation to increase our
energy efficiency and conservation programs in a way that makes
sense for small utilities and rural communities. We believe this ap-
proach is superior to a complicated, bureaucratic cap and trade
program that will simply drive up the cost of electricity and create
wealth for Wall Street investors.
Through its involvement in PNGC, West Oregon Electric Co-op
has owned part of a Coffin Butte, a project that produces electric-
ity from methane output at a landfill near Corvallis since 1995.
WOEC through PNGC is also involved in a project to produce
electricity from waves in the ocean, a solar project, and is in the
beginning stages of looking into a biomass project. By working to-
gether with 14 other electric cooperatives in three states, WOEC
can participate in renewable energy projects that make sense
both from an energy and an environmental standpoint.
West Oregon Electric Cooperative offers the opportunity to pur-
chase “green power” through our Green Power program. We also
provide rebates for the purchase of energy efficient clothes wash-
ers, electric water heaters, and weatherization (windows and in-
sulation). Please contact us if you want to learn more about ways
our efficiency programs can save you electricity and money or to
sign up for our Green Power program.
Oregon co-ops and WOEC are proud of our record of provid-
ing reliable, affordable electricity while protecting the environ-
ment. It’s harder to be greener than your electric cooperative. But
we’re always trying.