GSL Slip Renters and Marina Users.

State Parks has received a complaint today about the use of my family flag being attached to the signature line of my personal email account.  The complaint came from an official email of one of the clubs that resides at the marina. So it occurred to me that if the board and members of the club feels it is inappropriate to include the flag on my email that other clubs or individuals in the marina community may also feel it is inappropriate.

I do want to clarify that the flag on my signature line was on one of my personal email addresses.  I created that flag over 30 years ago and it represents my family tree.  I am proud of it and have put it on the signature line of only my personal email address.  It is not on my State of Utah email address.  But for those that have been offended by its use or feel that having it on the signature line of my personal email is inappropriate, I truly apologize.  It was not my intent to be offensive or inappropriate.

Yet this does brings up a very important point that I feel I must address so there is no misunderstanding.  Although I am the Harbor Master at the marina and am an employee of the State, not all emails or comments I post are meant to represent the opinions of the state.  And although I live at the marina it does not mean I work 24/7 or am always on duty.  (I try to be off the clock by 5pm.)  So let me clarify several points so that there is no misunderstanding about official correspondence and non-official correspondence or about official web sites and private web sites.

www.StateParks.Utah.gov which has a link for information about the Great Salt Lake State Marina is the official state website for the Great Salt Lake State Marina.  I maintain and update the information on this site for the State of Utah as part of my job duties.  Any official information will be posted there within the parameters and constraints of the site.

Great Salt Lake State Marina on Facebook is also an official State site owned by the State for the Great Salt Lake State Marina.  I am the moderator of that site.  And, in accordance with my duties, I maintain information on that site.

State Parks does not operate a mass email list for mass emailing people.  So I do not have the ability to send out official notices using a mass email. 

www.gslmarina.com is NOT an official website of the state of Utah.   www.gslmarina.com is a private site owned, operated and paid for by me.  I created in response to requests for better information about the lake, upcoming events, ecology, weather, warnings, etc.  I created it in order to fill a void I was not able to complete using the official State website.  Any content on the site is wholly my own and is not endorsed or meant to represent State Parks or the State of Utah. 

Also, along those same lines, I want to make sure everyone understands that the forecasts on www.gslmarina.com are NOT official government forecasts.  They are my own forecasts based on the models I look at every day.  I check several sites out every day.  Some of them are government sites.  Others are private sites run by private entities that do weather modeling.  I then look at all these models, observe what is happening, and then publish my own weather forecast on www.gslmarina.com.  These forecasts are purely my own conjecture based on my interpretations of what I am seeing.  The State of Utah is not responsible for the content of my forecasts.  If you prefer an official government weather forecast I recommend you use the National Weather Service forecast produced by NOAA.  They have some great forecasts and weather modeling programs.  In fact, as I have stated many times before, it is the best practice not to rely on any one weather site or weather forecast.  It is good practice to look at multiple forecasts and models before venturing out on the lake.  That is exactly what I do every day.

The GSL Marina Email List, for which many of you have subscribed to (anyone receiving this email) is also NOT a government email list.  I repeat, it is NOT a government email list. It has been a very valuable tool for me to get information out to the boating community about events that are being held out here, crane days, weather warnings, dangerous situations I see, boat (property) damage, or there might be something fun going on out here.  The list is wholly owned and operated by me.  Any email sent using the list is wholly my opinion and does not represent the opinion of the State of Utah or State Parks.  That is why I use my personal email address.  .  I also have several people who are no longer located at the marina that like to stay on the list so they can know what is still going on at their old sailing grounds.

This list is a subscription list.  One must chose to subscribe to it.  We have nearly six hundred people that subscribe to it.  A good percentage of those on the list are not even slip renters.  And we have several slip renters that have chosen not to be on the list.  If you prefer to not be on this list please email me and I will immediately remove your name.  I get a few of these requests every year and, when I receive a request to remove someone from the list, I immediately comply.

I have several personal emails.  dshearer@gslmarina.com (my main email) is one of them.  So is Harbormaster@glsmarina.com

I also have a government email which I use for when I want to conduct official business.  That one is davidshearer@Utah.gov

So, in the future, if someone takes offense to the content of one of my personal emails or something that is on my www.gslmarina.com please understand that I am totally and solely responsible for its content.  Please feel free to let me know if you think I have offended or are being appropriate.  I will address your concerns and, if warranted, will change my behavior.  If I say something that is inappropriate using my government email, please feel free to contact my supervisors so that this can be addressed appropriately.

I hope this helped to clarify the difference between the government sites and the non-government sites that I may be associated with.  But if it hasn’t please feel free to contact me.

Dave Shearer