Western Outdoor Times - Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!

At the recent annual meeting of the Western States’ Boating Administrator Association in Flagstaff, Ariz., the Lake Havasu Marine Association (LHMA) was the honored recipient of the Hollister Award that recognizes outstanding service in the field of boating safety by individuals or groups (public or private).

“Clearly the LHMA has made a positive impact to recreational boating safety in the Lake Havasu area and they are to be commended,” said State Boating Law Administrator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Kevin Bergersen.

The LHMA has been active in fulfilling its mission to provide a safe, clean lake and river environment by enhancing the public’s boating experience. The Association membership is comprised of boating-industry businesses, 77 dues paying Lake Havasu based community businesses and representatives of local governments.

Affiliations include the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Arizona State Parks, Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, Lake Havasu Police Department, Lake Havasu City government, Lake Havasu City Visitors and Tourism Bureau, Lake Havasu City Partnership for Economic Development, the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe and the Bureau of Land Management. (AZBW/WOT has also tried to support this fine organization with as much complimentary publicity as possible.)

Common Causes

The LHMA has been successful in implementing its many goals and projects to improve recreational boating by bringing a broad spectrum of the marine industry together ranging from Mercury Marine to local Lake Havasu store-fronts, various governmental agencies and the boating public to achieve common causes.

Through the Association’s programs, its membership has created a public force that fully supports the State of Arizona’s mission of providing safe watercraft recreation for the enjoyment, appreciation, and use by present and future generations.

LHMA president/CEO Jim Salscheider said the award recognizes the group’s boating safety projects including Designated Operator promoting a sober driver for every boat, Designated Captains, Pack-It-In/Pack-It-Out Trash Bag clean-lake program, creation of a half-mile long deep-water channel between the northern section of the Lake and the entrance to the upper river and Topock Gorge, the installation of new lake navigation/hazard buoys and a much needed dock renovation project at Windsor Beach launch ramp.

Volunteers And Sponsors

In addition to its tireless volunteer members, Salscheider credits Chip Romer, of Romer Beverage Co., Lake Havasu City, AZ and Bob Teague, of Teague Custom Marine, Valencia, CA for their unfaltering financial generosity that have boosted the association’s projects to success.

“We would not have been able to accomplish all that we have without the support of Romer Beverage Co. and Teague Custom Marine,” commented Salscheider. “They have answered every call, providing us with the funding necessary to initiate programs and undertake boating safety projects which otherwise would have been beyond our reach. They have made a profound difference for the betterment of Lake Havasu boating.”

The Hollister Award is one of the Western States Boating Administrator Association’s most prestigious awards in the area of contributions to boating safety. The Hollister Award was established in May 1962 by the WSBAA to recognize the late Senator John J. Hollister, Jr. of California. Senator Hollister was known then as the “Father of good boating legislation.”

For more information, call or e-mail Jim Salscheider, (928) 208-2442; jim@lhmarineassn.com.