DBW-50thAnnBook-PROOF

E X PA ND I NG S A F E T Y A ND E DUC A T I ON P R O GR A M S

Dolores Farrell came to work at Cal Boating in May 1993 as a manager in the Operations Division. She brought with her a wealth of experience and expertise from her job at the Department of Justice Crime Prevention Center, where she had been instrumental in developing the School Law Enforcement Partnership Program. Fittingly, she was initially hired at Cal Boating to work in children’s education, but her responsibilities quickly expanded to include programs for both minorities and disabled individuals, and later law enforcement. Her ability to successfully wear so many hats paid off in 1995, when Dolores was appointed division chief for Boating Operations. Dolores was the division’s first female manager, and because she did not have boating expertise at the time, acceptance was difficult. But she handled her new challenges with customary aplomb. “It was very hard to be a woman manager at the time,” recalls Dolores. “I overcame the resistance to my being in that position by doing everything the very best I could.” One of the first things Dolores discovered was that the Operations Division did not have a line item budget. She quickly went to work to

Dolores Farrell Boating Operations Division Chief, 1995-2006

Mid- 1980s

1984

Cal Boating’s William Ivers, Bill Satow and Bill Curry, along with representatives of Michigan and other boating industry leaders, establish national States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA) to focus on boating facilities providing public access to waterways; first meeting held in 1987.

“Wallop-Breaux” Aquatic Resources Trust Fund established by Congress. Federal funds from fishing and boating taxes become available to states for boating safety, education, law enforcement, and access programs. Although the fund’s name has changed, Cal Boating receives $6.043 million from this source annually.

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50 Years: The Department of Boating and Waterways, 1957 to 2007