2014
Decal
Distribution

Hello All,

                First a bit of background. Since the inception of the VSC program the distribution and accounting or decals awarded by vessel examiners has been a challenge at best to administer. The program sponsors and the USCG Office of Boating Safety require us to keep an accounting of the number of decals distributed to examiners, the number of decals actually used, as well as the collection of information about each vessel exam whether passed or failed. This information is used by these agencies to determine the effectiveness of the program, to advise the Coast Guard on developing policy with regards to recreational boating safety issues, among others. The program sponsor, again this year BoatUS uses this information to determine their return on investment in the program.

                Now the Challenges. The USPS program on average since its inception wastes over 40 percent  of the decals issued to us by the program sponsor.  2103 was a bit better at 35 per cent,  but as an example last year USPS was issued 40, 000 decals , we unable to account for about 14,000 of the decals issued to Squadrons and Districts. These 14,000 were distributed and are sitting somewhere, not being used, or able to be redistributed to others who may need them. In dollar figures this is $8,000.00 of sponsor investment that is waste. Both USPS and the USCGAUX have been told that this waste factor needs to be improved.

The next challenge is getting Vessel Examiners to report their exams. We have made it as simple as we could using an online interface, however only 36 percent of VE persons use the web site to report their exam activity. The website statistics are used by the CG Office of Boating Safety to generate the data they need to complete their mission, as well as USPS for various statistical processes, one of which is to determine if decal replacement requests are warranted. As an example, if a squadron places a request for additional decals, a check of the database is made and if the data shows that the squadron has not preformed any checks, even though they very well may have, but not completed the reporting requirements, decals will not be issued. This is why it is important that the information be entered when the exams are completed.

                The decal distribution policy is set by the National Safety Committee with the concurrence of the National Executive Officer.  Our determination, based on 14 years of distribution history, concluded that the VE’s would be better served if all of the decals distributed were sent to squadrons. The VE program is a squadron function and it did not make sense in the current climate to hold decals a the district level.

This year all the decals were sent to the squadron commanders, for distribution to squadron VE persons, or chairs. Squadrons received 150 percent of decals completed last year. Example if a squadron issued 100 decals last year they received 150 this year. This was done because many squadrons and districts had decals sent to persons who for many reasons did not get decals into the hands of their VE persons in a timely manner, or at all.

The district was left out of the decal distribution this year because, quite frankly, many of the district chairs failed to properly administer the program in their districts, resulting in squadrons demanding decal replacement because they could not get them from district chairpersons.

                I would hope that since all squadron commanders should have now received their decals, they would have passed them on to the squadron chair, if any, or the squadron VE’s, as well as kept some in reserve for new VE qualifying. Squadrons may request replenishment of decals as in the past, as long as the completed exams are entered on the National VE data system.

                I hope this answers your questions as to why the distribution was changed. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have further concerns.

V/r

R/C Mike Wiedel, JN-IN
Chairman
Recreational Boating Safety Committee
United States Power Squadrons

Boating Is Fun, Let Us Show You How