It is a pain to get them, but they do help to enforce the rules. I like to think of all the people that I would have never met if it werent for the fact that they were observers. Some have become good friends over the years. Like paul said, ask the directors from each port and they usually know of somebody willing to do it. If you are looking for Niagra contact Bill Hilts Jr, or sometimes they even have names at the Newfane Marina.