Boating Safety Tips: Boater Education & Resources for Safe Family Fun

No matter how much experience you have, it’s always a good idea for everyone to review boating safety rules before departures. Read below to familiarize yourself with these 10 basic boating safety tips:

• Be Weather-wise
• Always check local weather conditions before departure- TV and radio forecasts can be a good source of information. If you notice darkening clouds, volatile and rough changing winds, or sudden drops in temperature, play it safe by getting off the water.
• Follow a Pre-Departure Checklist
• Proper boating safety means being prepared for any possibility on the water. From compliance with fire safety regulations to tips for fueling up, following a pre-departure checklist is the best way to make sure no boating safety rules or precautions have been forgotten.
• Use Common Sense
• One of the most important parts of boating safety is to use your common sense. This means operating at a safe speed at all times, especially in crowded areas. Be alert at all times, and steer clear of large vessels and watercraft that can be restricted in their ability to stop or turn. Also be respectful of buoys and other navigational aids, all of which have been placed there for one reason only- to ensure your own boating safety.
• Designate an Assistant Skipper
• Make sure more than only one person on board is familiar with all aspects of your boat’s handling, operations, and other boating safety tips. If the primary navigator is injured or incapacitated in any way, it’s important to make sure someone else can follow the proper boating safety rules to get everyone else back to shore.
• Develop a Float Plan
• Whether you choose to inform a family member or staff at your local marina, always be sure to let someone else know your float plan. This should include where you’re going and how long you’re going to be gone.
• A float plan can include the following information: name, address, and phone number of trip leader; name and phone number of all passengers; boat type and registration information; trip itinerary; and types of communication and signal equipment onboard.
• Make Proper Use of Lifejackets
• Did you know that the majority of drowning victims are the result of boating accidents were found not to be wearing a Lifejacket? Make sure that your family and friends aren’t part of this statistic by assigning and fitting each member of your onboard team with a lifejacket-prior to departure.
• Avoid Alcohol
• Practice boating safety at all times by saving the alcohol for later. The probability of being involved in a boating accident doubles when alcohol is involved, and studies have also shown that the affect of alcohol is exacerbated by external effects such as sun and wind.
• Learn to Swim
• If you’re going to be in and around the water, proper boating safety means knowing how to swim. Local organizations such as the American Red Cross and others offer training for all ages and abilities- check to see what classes are offered in your area.
• Take a Boating Course
• Beginning boaters and experienced experts alike need be familiar with boating safety rules of operation. Boater education requirements vary by state- some require validated completion of at least one boating safety course. Regardless of your individual state's requirements, it's always important to be educated, aware and prepared for every circumstance that might arise. You can learn boating safety rules by taking a local community course, or there are online tutorials to help educate novice boaters.
• Consider a Free Vessel Safety Check
• Take advantage of a free Vessel Safety Check from the US Coast Guard (see links below). They offer complimentary boat examinations to verify the presence and condition of certain Safety Equipment required by State and the Federal regulations. Free of charge, they’ll provide a specialist to check out your boat and make helpful boating safety tips and recommendations. They also offer virtual online safety checks as well.

 From:  discoverboating.com

Become a Fan of Newby Realty on Facebook	Newby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales
Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

National Day of Prayer - May 3, 2012

National Day of Prayer calls on all people of different faiths in the United States to pray for the nation and its leaders. It is held on the first Thursday of May each year.

What Do People Do?
Through the efforts of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, more than 35,000 prayer gatherings will be conducted by about 40,000 volunteers across the United States. Several million people are expected to participate in this call to prayer. Some celebrities, such as popular musician and Grammy Award winner Ricky Skaggs, will join millions of Americans in praying for the nation.
Other events in various communities across the United States may include: choirs and bands performing songs relating to prayer; community prayer breakfasts or luncheons; daytime prayer walks; and evening worship and prayer services or gatherings. National Day of Prayer is a time for people of all faiths to pray together in their own way.

Public Life
National Day of Prayer is not a public holiday. Schools, post offices, stores and other businesses and organizations are open as usual. Public transport services run to their usual schedules and no extra congestion on highways is to be expected.

Background
In 1775 the Continental Congress allocated a time for prayer in forming a new nation. Over the years, there have been calls for a day of prayer, including from President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. On April 17, 1952, President Harry Truman signed a bill proclaiming the National Day of Prayer into law in the United States. President Reagan amended the law in 1988, designating the first Thursday of May each year as the National Day of Prayer.
The National Prayer Committee was formed in the United States in 1972. It went on to create the National Day of Prayer Task Force, with the intended purpose of coordinating events for the National Day of Prayer. According to the Legal Information Institute, the President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.

By Time and Date

Become a Fan of Newby Realty on Facebook	Newby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales
Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

What's Your Anger Style?

Anger. Everyone experiences it. However, who knew that there were styles of anger? What's yours?

There are four specific styles of anger: reactive, passive-agressive, avoidant, and direct.


Reactive
People who have a reactive style of anger will respond immediately to supposed insult or injustice by, for example, possibly yelling or slamming doors. Simon Rego, PsyD, explains why people do this:

Many people act this way because it tends to get results. People who explode also experience a lot of guilt. Later, they may feel ashamed because they didn't control themselves or they know they hurt the other person.

Responding this way might have immediate satisfaction, but in the long-term, people could view the person as volatile or as a bully who needs to get his/her way. Taking this particular approach can also take a toll on one's health as well. This type of anger increases stress on the heart and, in turn, elevates the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

What should be done instead:

• Think: Think through your feelings and practice self-control.
• Breathe: When the urge to lose it begins to stir up inside of you, take 10 deep breaths, enough that your belly extends out when you exhale. This circulates extra oxygen and brings about the flow of hormones like serotonin.
• State your feelings: State your feelings, but state them in a way that will not judge or label the person because this could potentially spark an argument.

Passive-Aggressive
Passive-aggressive is basically attacking another person indirectly such as sabotaging, gossiping, withholding praise, making digs, or using the silent treatment. One problem with this tactic is that it is easy to recognize, which can lead to further confrontation.

What should be done instead:

• Own it: Those who are passive-aggressive don't usually feel entitled to possess strong emotions, however, accepting that someone has upset you is step number one.
• Check yourself: Ask yourself how you would feel if someone else acted this way toward you. If your answer was negative, then stop acting that way.
• Talk in the mirror: If you have difficulties taking a head-on approach, practice what you want to say in the mirror.
• Voice your needs: Start by stating something mutual such as preserving a relationship or clearing the air, then advance into talking about how you are feeling.

Avoidant
This style of anger is one that consists of pretending that nothing is wrong when something certainly is. Jair Soares, MD, says:
Internalizing damages your self-esteem, because you feel weak and unable to assert your own needs. That can contribute to depression. Bottling up anger causes a rush of negative stress hormones in the body, taxing the cardiovascular system.

Which can lead to more serious health risks like heart issues and digestive problems.

What should be done instead:

• Learn to recognize your rage: Those with this style of anger have a difficult time recognizing when they're irritated. If you find yourself avoiding people and claiming to be quite stressed, examine your most recent interaction with people for a potential trigger
•  Face your fears: Avoidance is something that arises from silent worry like ending a relationship by voicing your feelings.
• Practice: Challenge yourself to be firm and assertive with a different person once a day. After doing this a number of times it will be easier to do in other situations. 

Direct
This style of anger speaks for itself. People with this style do not find it difficult to admit when they are angry. Unlike those with the reactive style, people who respond in a direct way construct a rational, effective, respectful approach before speaking. Dr. Rego believes this tactic is the most ideal style. According to Dr. Rosenthal, it is "the most effective way to get through anger to a positive, swift resolution. It shows you're respectful of others' needs and feelings, but you take your own emotions into account too."

What should be done instead:

• Pick your battles: You don't have to respond to every situation. Sometimes the best approach is to just let it go.
• Continue to sharpen your communication skills: There is always room for improvement. Remember, practice makes perfect.

By Brad Plaggemars

Become a Fan of Newby Realty on Facebook	Newby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales
Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

May Day

The first day of the month of May is known as May Day. It is the time of year when warmer weather begins and flowers and trees start to blossom. It is said to be a time of love and romance. It is when people celebrate the coming of summer with lots of different customs that are expressions of joy and hope after a long winter.

May Day has been a traditional day of festivities throughout the centuries. It is most associated with towns and villages celebrating with fetes and community gatherings. Perhaps the most significant of the traditions is the May Pole, around which traditional dancers circle with ribbons.

Ribbon Dance

Dancers gather in a circle, each holding a coloured ribbon attached to a much smaller pole. As the dance commences the ribbons are intertwined and plaited either on to the pole itself or into a web around the pole. The dancers may then retrace their steps exactly in order to unravel the ribbons. This style of maypole dancing originates in the 18th century, and is derived from traditional and 'art' dance forms popular in Italy and France. These were exported to the London stage and reached a large audience, becoming part of the popular performance repertoire. Adopted at a large teacher training institution, the ribbon maypole dance then spread across much of England, and is now regarded as the most 'traditional' of May Day's traditional characteristics.

Become a Fan of Newby Realty on Facebook	Newby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales
Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Humans Need Responsive/Resonant Hearing

Heinz Kohut, Vienna born, Chicago transplanted psychoanalyst conceptualized the concept of a psychology of the self. Kohut posits humans, beginning at birth, need to be empathically 'heard' and have a 'mirroring' effect in order to develop a strong and healthy sense of self.

Here are the guidelines for measuring empathic listening--communication. 

0 - Unresponsive--The person shows little interest in others--merely waits for their turn to speak.
1 - Indirectly unresponsive--The person makes a cliché response--"You shouldn't feel that way..." "I am sorry to hear that...." etc.
2 - Free associating, self referential--"Oh, yeah, that reminds me of the time when I...."
3 - Free associating--The person goes off on a tangent, making only indirect reference to what you said.
4 - Impersonal, non-nurturing--"Yeah, that's the way the cookie crumbles...." "That's too bad."
5 - Superficial--"Yeah, I know what you mean." Then diverting the conversation to him/herself.
6 - Neutral--The person indicates she/he heard what you said, but does not encourage you to expand upon your statement.
7 - Responsive--The person indicates she/he heard and encourages you to expand. Expansion is created by asking in-depth questions.
8 - Resonant--The person indicates she/he resonates with what you say and shows through questions and body language that she/he is interested in hearing about what you experienced.

What number represents how you listen?  Numbers 7 and 8 are the kinds of listening that validate the one speaking to you - they not only help build their self esteem but to bond with you, also.

 

By Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, author, international speaker and inspirational leader specializes in: Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life's challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening.

Become a Fan of Newby Realty on Facebook	Newby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales
Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Please excuse my child from being absent...

These are actual notes written for excusing a child from a school absence:

Chris will not be in school cuz he has an acre in his side.

My son is under the doctor's care and should not take fizaca ed. Please execute him.

Please excuse Joyce from P.E. for a few days. Yesterday she fell off a tree and misplaced her hip.

I had to keep Billie home because she had to go Christmas shopping because I didn't know what size she ware.

Please excuse Johnny for being. It was his father's fault.

Mary could not come to school because she was bothered by very close veins.

George was absent yesterday because he had a stomach.

Ralph was absent yesterday because he had a sore trout.

Please excuse Wayne for being out yeaterday, because he had the fuel.

Please excuse Sarah for being absent. She was sick and I had her shot.

Become a Fan of Newby Realty on Facebook	Newby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales
Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Understanding A Cat's Body Language

Through body language and demeanor your cat is a skilled communicator. Here’s how to read the non-verbal messages your cat is communicating:

On Patrol Of Her Territory

1. Perked ears indicate curiosity
2. Tail provides balance
3. Whiskers measure width
4. Sebaceous glands secrete an oily substance with a distinct smell
5. Paws planted firmly and confidently on the ground
6. Paw pads act as shock absorbers

Ready To Take Action

1. Tail acts as a counterbalance as center of gravity shifts forward
2. Smooth body fur indicates confidence
3. Forward ears show assertiveness
4. Dilated pupils indicate excitement
5. Concentrated expression
6. Hind legs bent, ready for action

Relaxed and Content

1. Each whisker is used for sensory perception
2. Direct eye contact demonstrates trust
3. Tail in relaxed position
4. Slanted eyes indicate contentment
5. Nose pad receptors
6. Ears always attentive

By Purina

Become a Fan of Newby Realty on Facebook	Newby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales
Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.