31 / 64
25
50 Years: The Department of Boating and Waterways, 1957 to 2007
and PWC classes have been recognized nationally as models for other
state training programs, and all of the law enforcement classes offered
by the department are approved by Peace Officer Standards and
Training (POST).
Looking back on her time with Cal Boating, which she genuinely
loved, Dolores is pleased that she had the chance to work with and
train outstanding people who now carry on the programs she helped
establish. She also takes pride in leaving a legacy and witnessing
positive cultural change within the department. “I tried to be a
supportive manager and give people the opportunity to be creative,”
says Dolores. “I never said, ‘That’s not my job,’ and I was always
striving for excellence.”
Nevertheless, her position was demanding – constituents expected
to see her out in public at events, school programs and association
meetings – and required a considerable amount of travel. Dolores
employs a water analogy to describe the secret of always maintaining
her professionalism despite any problems going on behind the
scenes. “When you see a duck on the water, it appears to be gliding
smoothly on the surface as it swims along,” Dolores points out. “But
underneath, its little legs are working overtime!”
Dolores retired in December 2006 and immediately faced knee
surgery in early 2007, but in her resilient style, she is recovering
nicely. In fact, she recently enrolled in a course to train for a run/walk
marathon in the fall. She “absolutely” loves boating with friends, and
she still believes that the Cal Boating ethic is to provide the very best
service to California boaters. “That has been our mission for 50 years,”
notes Dolores, “and for 50 years, we’ve succeeded.”
(continued from page 24)
Cal Boating’s highly acclaimed, free
AquaSMART LIVE Puppet Show
performs for K-6 classes throughout
the state to augment the boating safety
curriculum, including the need to
wear life jackets. This free companion
program to the AquaSMART series
for elementary schools, which Dolores
helped develop, became an immediate
success when it was introduced in
2002 and now serves some 80 schools
each year. The traveling puppet show
is hosted by Splasher the Frog, the
AquaSMART series mascot. The
AquaSMART LIVE puppet show
received the 2003 National Safe Boating
Council’s Western Region Boating
Education Advancement Award.
1992
More than 100 Cal
Boating-funded
pumpout facilities now
exist statewide; the vast
majority are free to the
boating public.
“Pump your poop.”
U.S. Fish andWildlife Service’s
Clean Vessel Act program
goes into effect, allowing for
construction of new vessel
sewage pumpout stations
through Cal Boating grants,
plus regional and statewide
educational programs.
1993
Cal Boating works with state
Assemblymember Jackie Spier
to require children under age 7
to wear a life jacket while on
board vessels 26 feet or less
while the boat is underway.