 | MMTA ENews Brief: June 17, 2005
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| MMTA ENews Brief: June 17, 2005
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Contact MMTA Public Affairs Director, Nathalie Grady for more information on hosting a National Marina Day event at your location. Thank you to the following MMTA Members who will celebrate National Marina Day 2005:
At the MMTA Board of Directors meeting on June 6, 2005 seven firms were approved for membership in the Association. We are pleased to report that MMTA membership is at an all time high. Membership dues fund what the Association does for you every day! Please reach out today to your colleagues and encourage them to apply for membership. The new members listed below are welcomed with thanks to the following MMTA members firms that were their sponsors: Constitution Marina, 3A Marine Service, Marine Consulting Services, Glyn's Marine, Kellogg Marine, Outermost Harbor Marine, and Burr Brothers. Please join us in welcoming:
Our collective efforts have paid off. In a recent telephone conversation with EPO Director James Hanlon, MMTA learned that the Hyannis and Fall River Registry & Titling Divisions will remain in operation for the foreseeable future. While these offices may relocate along with the local Department of Revenue to new digs, they will remain fully staffed and open within the towns of Hyannis and Fall River. MMTA expresses its thanks to membership, advocates and individuals who brought this issue to our attention and helped to develop a strategy to keep the offices open. Special thanks are due to Rep. Shirley Gomes, Rep. Michael Rodriques and Senator Robert O'Leary (all members of the MA Legislative Boating Caucus) for their tireless efforts to address this matter. Whether you are a constituent or not, please consider sending a note of thanks to these legislators for fighting to keep these offices open on behalf of you and your customers! Special thanks and congratulations are also due to the EPO's James Hanlon who has recently been named Director of the Environmental Police and who has worked closely with MMTA in constructive, open and productive dialogue. These Dates will be posted on the Members Only Bulletin Board
During May and June, MMTA Volunteers, Directors and Staff have participated in a number of meetings on behalf of membership. Many thanks to all who took precious time during the most hectic spring season in memory to volunteer and advocate on behalf of the marine trades in Massachusetts: Examples and participants in May/June events were: MA Legislative Boating Caucus Convened at the State House on May 19: Over 25 Representatives and Legislative Aides participated in the May 19 meeting of the MA Boating Caucus at the State House in Boston. Attending on behalf of the members of the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association were President Greg Glavin, Director Russ Vickers along with MMTA staff members Nathalie Grady, Jamy Madeja and Leona Roach and officials from CZM, the EPA and the Environmental Police. Agenda items for discussion included: Abandoned Vessel Legislation (House Bill 1399); Boat Registration Issues; Expanding Public Access to the Waterfront and Coastline; Mandatory Boater Safety Education; Workforce Development; State and Municipal Bans on Recreational Activity and Sales Taxes on Boats. As a follow up to the Spring meeting with MMTA member firms and the USCG regarding Chapter 104 Vessels and Chapter 105 Facilities, Chief Tim White of USCG Sector Boston produced a Marina Intake questionnaire specifically for marinas and boatyard personnel who accept dockage reservations. The form and checklist are designed to determine in advance if the vessel arriving is governed by Chapter 104 and therefore must berth at a Chapter 105 facility. A copy of the checklist is available at the MMTA Members' Only website for your reproduction and distribution to marina dockage reservation staff. Two DEP enforcement visits have been confirmed in the Southeastern Massachusetts area. Visits initially are focused on areas of Hazardous Materials Handling and Disposal but are comprehensive and not limited to HAZMAT issues. Please let MMTA know if you have been visited by any Regulatory Agencies. By sharing your experience anonymously, you can help fellow members understand, comply and do better business. Please visit these helpful links:
CZM has posted a $20,000 RFR for an entity to contractor to conduct a survey of the Massachusetts marina and boatyard industry to provide direct feedback and recommendations on developing a Clean Marina Program. Responses are due July 1, 2005 and questions are due June 17, 2005. To review the RFR, go to the Commonwealth's Procurement Access & Solicitation System, Comm-PASS, located at http://www.comm-pass.com/, click "Search for solicitations," and search for document number "ENV05 CZM16." The deadline for submissions is July 1. For further information, contact Stephen McKenna at stephen.mckenna@state.ma.us. Recreational boating has grown into one of our Nation's most popular pastimes, and as the summer approaches, millions of Americans will enjoy our country's beautiful waters. During National Safe Boating Week, we highlight our Nation's commitment to making recreational boating safer. The number of boating fatalities has decreased over the last decade. By promoting the use of appropriate safety measures, we can save more lives and further reduce the number of injuries caused by boating accidents. The U.S. Coast Guard and others recommend four guidelines for safe boating: wear properly fitted life jackets; get vessels checked for safety; never boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs; and get proper training about the safe operation of boats. By adhering to these simple suggestions, boaters can keep themselves and others safe as they enjoy our Nation's waterways. In recognition of the importance of safe boating practices, the Congress, by joint resolution approved June 4, 1958 (36 U.S.C. 131), as amended, has authorized and requested the President to proclaim annually the 7 day period prior to Memorial Day weekend as "National Safe Boating Week." NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 21 through May 27, 2005, as National Safe Boating Week. I encourage the Governors of the 50 States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and officials of other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, to join in observing this week. I also urge all Americans to learn more about safe boating practices, wear life jackets, take advantage of boating safety programs throughout the year, and always engage in proper and responsible conduct while on the water. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty ninth. GEORGE W. BUSH A Message from MMTA's Washington Advocate, Larry Innis: I attended a meeting at the DC headquarters of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to discuss a recent regulation which is scheduled to go into effect in September. This bill would require trailers to have a weight sticker giving the exact weight and the GVWR.Larry Innis will continue to update MMTA. The $4.8 billion marine science industry of New England is a formidable economic engine that has the potential to prosper through investments in homeland security, oceanographic and atmospheric warning systems, allied navies, and environmental monitoring, but the industry is in danger of running aground in the global competition for investment unless it can find more highly skilled workers and research support, according to a study released today by the UMass Donahue Institute. For more information, please visit: http://www.donahue.umassp.edu/news/one-item?item_id=20093 The first full season of the Provincetown Fish & Farmers Market will begin June 24, during the Portuguese Festival, and run every Friday through September from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Market, which was successful, last year, will be held on MacMillan Pier. This farmers market has a unique flair with music, street performers and fresh seafood, including lobsters, direct from the local fishing fleet. "Quite possibly it's the only farmers' market where you can enjoy a whale watch, sail or tour around Cape Cod Bay, take in a live show, shop for the freshest groceries and buy the freshest seafood," Pier Manager Rex McKinsey said. "Even Bostonians can enjoy market day by hopping aboard the newest fast ferry, the Provincetown III, owned by Bay State Cruises, and be home for dinner." Provincetown's MacMillan Pier is home to a large fleet of day boats draggers, scallopers and lobstermen who go out for the day and return with seafood from nearby waters. Organizers are trying to ensure that a variety of fresh seafood and lobster will be available during the market, McKinsey said, and selections will change throughout the season. For additional information or a list of fish available directly from boats, visit: www.fishandfarmersmarket.com The wallet-sized 2005 Boaters' Guide to Tide and Pumpout Facilities, which is printed on waterproof paper, contains pumpout facility locations along the Massachusetts coastline and a June-September tide chart. For a printed copy, email your request and mailing address to czm@state.ma.us. For an electronic copy, go to www.mass.gov/czm/potoc.htm Dear Editor and Auxiliary Member and Recreational Boater, Below please find articles that relate to either Recreational Boating Safety, Marine Safety, Search and Rescue or Environmental Protection. Each of these "missions" are key to the work of Coast Guard Forces (the United States Coast Guard, Coast Guard Reserve and the Coast Guard Auxiliary). You may and should use them in your media/web/newsletter outlets. Please provide proper attribution and feel free to use them at whim. Should you publish any article, an e-mail detailing which issue and/or web page would be appreciated. Send e-mail to MediaRelease@auxpa.org. Additionally, should you have a specific request for an article; we would be pleased to discuss it. Thank you for your interest in Recreational Boating Safety and the Coast Guard/Coast Guard Auxiliary's efforts in making boating the safest it can be! AMI-The Association of Marina Industries-is the international trade association of the marina industry. AMI represents a diverse membership of over 1,500 marinas, boatyards, yacht clubs, and public/private moorage basins across the United States and around the world. These companies provide slip space for over 240,000 recreation watercraft and employment for over 13,000 marine tradesmen and women. Suppliers of equipment and services to this industry complete AMI's membership. AMI member companies range from small family owned and operated companies to large corporations, and includes a variety of business types, including for-profit companies, non-profit clubs, private cooperatives, and concessionaires. The membership of AMI is a unique blend of interests in marina and boatyard facilities. In addition to facility operators and equipment manufacturers, membership represents academic and government agency interests, consultants, insurance and engineering firms, and many marine trade associations. In addition, AMI members provide millions recreational boaters each year the wide variety of goods and services, ranging from fuel and oil sales to boat repairs and food and lodging, that allow recreational boating to continue to grow in popularity with sportsmen and women. Please visit www.marinaassociation.org to renew your membership inline today! "The sea is dangerous and its storms terrible, but these obstacles have never been sufficient reason to remain ashore... unlike the mediocre, intrepid spirits seek victory over these things that seem impossible... it is with an iron will that they embark on the most daring of all endeavors... to meet the shadowy future without fear and conquer the unknown." Unlike the US Post Office, the cyberspace postmaster does not forward your e-mail. Has your e-mail address changed? If so, be sure to let us know so you won't miss an issue of MMTA ENews: Send a notice of any email address changes or requests to opt out of future mailings to: webmaster@boatMA.com THE BEST PROMOTIONAL VALUE FOR YOUR MARINE BUSINESS! If you do ANY advertising, this is THE place to be! Only for MMTA members, the BOATMA.com web site draws thousands of boaters every single day. There is no better place to get exposure for your marine trades business!
Email webmaster@boatma.com or call David, the BoatMA.com webmaster, at 508-240-2533 to sign up today! Like what you have read? PLEASE share these ENews briefs with colleagues and staff of MMTA member firms. While emails are sent to one contact at a Member Firm, all employees of member firms can benefit from this information. Do you know a firm that should be a Full or Associate member of MMTA? We want your referrals for membership: just drop a note to Membership Committee Chairman Niven Damon at Niven@nivendamon.com HAVE AN ITEM FOR ENEWS? Drop us a line at: Leona.Roach@BoatMA.com
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