Your State Liaison Officer (SLO) is the Auxiliary's liaison between your state's Boating Law Administrator (BLA) and the Coast Guard Auxiliary district(s). As such, they are a force multiplier for the Auxiliary's Recreational Boating Safety efforts. You will find information here about what State Liaison Officers do and what makes them effective.

State Liaison Officers maintain a close relationship with the state's Boating Law Administrator and his/her staff. The liaison officer should meet with the Boating Law Administrator at least semiannually, possibly in company with the Coast Guard District Recreational Boating Specialist and District Commodore. More frequent contact may be necessary with the administrator's staff members. The liaison officer should confer with the District Staff Officer - State Liaison Officer, District Chief of Staff/District Commodore, and RBS Specialist prior to each meeting with the Boating Law Administrator.

Submit a letter report after each meeting to the District Chief of Staff/District, Director of Auxiliary, RBS Specialist and the National RBS Outreach designee. This report should summarize the meeting and outline important issues or points of concern. If significant matters are brought up during the visit with the Boating Law Administrator, immediately notify the District Staff Officer - State Liaison Officer, Chief of Staff/District Commodore by telephone and follow-up with a written report.

Many State Liaison Officers also serve as Legislative Liaison Officers and are confused about their state liaison duties. Legislative liaison responsibilities focus on state legislative matters. SLOs are responsible for recreational boating safety. While some State Liaison Officers also serve as Legislative Liaison Officers, the two positions are not the same and their foci are significantly different. To find out more about SLO duties, please read the State Liaison Guide.

Operation Safety First is part of a motivational thrust to remind State Liaison Officers of what can be accomplished with a fresh read of the SLO Manual, particularly the sections on liaison duties and Boating Law Administrator relationships. These references go into detail about the process to follow in developing a regular productive relationship between the local Auxiliary and the state. In conjunction with the SLO Manual, some ideas are being presented to motivate the State Liaison Officer to nurture into a mature relationship with his/her local District and sate. It is being suggested to the liaisons that topics to discuss with the Law Administrator might include the following:

1. Vessel Safety Check definition and goals.
2. Boating safety courses' goals and issues.
3. Recreational Boating Safety Program Visitor goals.
4. Sources for boating safety brochures.
5. National Safe Boating Campaign products and recommended activities.
6. Boating-under-the-influence Thrust by state natural resources police/rangers.
7. Link to the Auxiliary Recreational Boating Safety Outreach Directorate website at wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=B-DEPT.

• State Liaison Guide
• Boating Safety Partnerships Archive
• State Liaison Officers
• Auxiliary State Liaison Officer (SLO) Program
• Recreational Boating Safety Outreach staff