Nobody's Waterproof
(press release)

photo contributed

WBT pro-angler Helen Gordon of Flower Mound, Texas will be promoting watercraft safety in behalf of the Britteny Lindt Foundation.

3-11-08 Press Conference – Britteny Sage Lindt Fund

1)   – Thank you to the press and community for support and being here

2)    - The BSLF was founded 8-21-06 and has accomplished the following;

A – Funded 3 scholarships for LISD

B – Donated a 21 ft boat to P&W for Nobody's Waterproof campaign, which they were able to talk to and educate over 2,000 watercraft operators in 2007. In the P&W words, "The BSLF has saved lives"

C - 4 bills submitted to the TX state legislature in 2007. Only one passed, while 2 were killed in the House, as they ran out of time and never voted on them. 3 of the 4 bills passed unanimously in the committee hearings. The only one that had no support was the watercraft education bill.

D – Through the BSLF awareness efforts and the support of P&W, patrol boats on Lewisville Lake in 2007 were increased from 1 boat – up to 5 patrol boats

E – Countless news articles and broadcasts from the media, which raised awareness, together - we all saved lives in 2007.

3)   – We are here today to announce the partnership of the BSLF, the American Bass Anglers Tour, and Professional Angler Helen Gordon – with the women's Bassmaster tour. This is an opportunity to take the BSLF campaign into a national arena for action and awareness.

4)   The Bass Angler membership and statistics is a good match with our cause of watercraft safety and safer roads.

A- 50 MM sport fishermen & women in the USA

B-  30 MM freshwater Anglers in the US

C-  These Anglers spend $42 Billion in retail sales annually

D- Overall annual economic output for sport fishing is $116 Billion (Texas alone is 5 Billion)

E-  More Americans fish than play Golf & Tennis combined

► 140 MM possible impressions for the BSLF in viewership between, Television, Radio, internet, and print media

► Our goal is to create the understanding that there is a need for a national campaign to promote and pass legislation requiring watercraft education, insurance requirements, and on the water and on the roads - strict drunk driving consequences.

► The Bass tournaments will take Helen Gordon's truck and boat to over 20 lakes throughout Texas and into Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Arkansas

► We anticipate coverage of the BSLF campaign and goals in 4 different national magazines, and ESPN Television

► We will be working on multiple watercraft safety laws for the 2009 Texas legislative session. We will also be in support of Drunk Driving bills before the TX legislature.

► We will be working to create partnerships with states around the country to do the same and eventually gain support from state legislators around the country to require that watercraft follow the same type of education, alcohol restraints, and insurance requirements that we have all come to appreciate on automobiles and motorcycles.

A watercraft is a moving vehicle, with far less safety controls and equipment, thus watercraft recreation should NOT get a pass on compliance with moving vehicle safety standards that are conducive to watercraft and the safety of those partaking in this great recreational experience.