Press Release
For Immediate Release:
November 13, 2001
Contact: Brian Platz,
503-373-4728 or brian@boatescape.com
BoatEscape.com, an Oregon
dot-com that provides free comprehensive information to Internet users about
Oregon's recreational resources, has won the Northwest Marine Trade
Association's Robert F. Rittenhouse Award, "for outstanding contributions
to the marine industry and boating public," according to association
president Michael Campbell.
BoatEscape.com is the
creation of Brian Platz of Salem and Bob VanderLinden of Albany, who compiled
data on thousands of Oregon lakes, rivers, bays, and ocean access points for
use by boating enthusiasts. "We set out to provide a service for Oregon's
boaters and tourists," Mr. Platz explained. "We had no idea the
response would be so enthusiastic, and we think that the NMTA is recognizing
the passion of Oregon boaters with this award.
"Thanks to the
cooperation of avid boaters across Oregon, the information we had to put on the
site grew and grew. The result is probably the largest database of any state
that ties everything to do with marine recreation together in one Web
site," Mr. Platz said.
BoatEscape.com is a free Web
site that enables users to explore commercial, recreational, and natural
features of every body of water in the state of Oregon. Designed for all
boaters, including those who fish, ski, sail, or paddle, BoatEscape.com offers
easy-to-find links to all of the information a boater needs to know about an
Oregon destination. In a few clicks, users can query the unparalleled database
for such diverse information as campgrounds, marinas, regulations, bait shops,
fishing reports, fuel availability, ramps, tides, driving directions and much
more.
Robert F. Rittenhouse was
appointed marine director of the Oregon State Marine Board when the board was
first formed in 1959. Rittenhouse served for 27 years with the U.S. Coast
Guard, which gave him a knowledge of boating matters that appealed to the state
as it began interviewing candidates. The Oregon State Marine Board was founded
and supported by Oregon's recreational boaters for the purpose of overseeing
boating safety programs. Rittenhouse served as director from August 1959 until
he died in 1973.
Past recipients include:
1977 - Don Holm
1986 - James Hadley
1987 - Rey Young, Jr.
1988 - Larry Barber
1989 - James W. Canton
1990 - Randy Cummings
1991 - Rick Buck
1992 - Don Church
1993 - Jill E. Broggi
1997 - Donald P. Ruepell
2000 - Dave Obern
The Northwest Marine Trade
Association (NMTA), based in Seattle, is the oldest and largest regional
boating trade organization in the nation.
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