Support the MMTA endorsed fall Boston In Water Boat Show!
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MMTA ENews Brief: September 27, 2005
- Boston In Water Boat Show Opens Thursday
- Ballots & Member Survey Now Due
- SEP 29 Annual Meeting
- Permission to Caravan to Boat Show
- 2005 Massachusetts Marina Week Report
- From the desk on JAMY BUCHANAN MADEJA, Esq.
- Correction: Plugging Holes in MEPA
- MRAA Message from Phil Keeter
- EPA Publications Available
- Fishing in the City!
- Volunteers Needed for Boston Harbor Islands Regatta: OCT 1
- Staples Business Advantage Program
- Have an Item for ENews?
- E-Mail Changes?
- Advertise on BoatMA.com
- Share The Wealth!
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PLEASE RETURN YOUR BALLOT AND MEMBERSHIP SURVEY TODAY
All MMTA members should by now have received their 2006 Election Ballot together with a Membership Survey.
PLEASE remember that all ballots must be received at the MMTA office no later than September 27th. To make your Association even better, please dig out the survey, take a few minutes to fill it out and return via fax or regular mail. MANY, MANY thanks to all those members who have returned their Ballots and Surveys. YOUR vote and YOUR input count!
MMTA ANNUAL MEETING & BOAT SHOW RECEPTION
SEPTEMBER 29 -- MMTA Annual Meeting 6:30 PM
The 2005 MMTA Annual Meeting will take place in conjunction with the Exhibitor Reception at the Boston International in Water Boat Show on Thursday evening September 29th beginning at 6:30 PM. Each boat show exhibitor receives 2 complimentary tickets: if you need more, consult your exhibitor package or contact Vernon Promotions at www.bostoninwaterboatshow.com
MOVING BOATS TO THE BOSTON INTERNATIONAL IN WATER BOAT SHOW?
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DEALER PLATES?
Permission may be obtained to "caravan" a fleet of dealer vessels under the authority of a lead vessel displaying current MA Dealer Registration Plates.
To obtain permission, a form must be completed and sent to Capt George Agganis at the MA Environmental Police HQ. Following review and approval, notice will be return via facsimile to the dealer. Each and every vessel in the caravan must carry a copy of the Approved Notice on board at all times for the duration of the show.
Copies of the form were included in your Boat Show Exhibitor package. If you need additional copies, visit the MMTA Members Only website.
From the Desk of Nathalie Grady, MMTA Public Affairs Director
National Marina Day 2005 Report
Governor Romney declared August 13 - 20, 2005 as "Massachusetts Marina Week" in recognition of Commonwealth marinas and boatyards providing safe gateways to and acting as environmental stewards of Commonwealth waterways. Though National Marina Day (NMD) was officially celebrated nationwide on August 13, 2005, events throughout the month of August in Massachusetts highlighted to elected officials, community leaders, and current and potential boaters the significant economic and social contributions of the boating industry.
On August 13th, Boston Harbor was the destination for Constitution Marina's NMD celebration, which included free boat rides provided by Russo Marine of Medford, a cookout, swimming and an information booth on recreational boating. Area residents and even tourists passing by joined the festivities and found a cool spot on the water during a weekend of record heat.
Just south across the Harbor at Marina Bay in North Quincy, numerous events were enjoyed by boaters and non-boaters alike, including a bench dedication in memory of a dear friend to boaters and all things boating, Mark Bikash. The Bikash family was joined by personal and professional friends of Mark to celebrate his life and the contributions he made to the marine industry and the "neighborhood" of Marina Bay. A donation was made in Mark's name as well to the Massachusetts Marine Trades Educational Trust, which strives to increase and enhance marine educational opportunities for individuals seeking to join the industry. Marina Bay also hosted its annual whiffleball game, boater appreciation party and "Gone Fishin" tournament in memory of Kevin Albert, which included an educational scholarship award.
Along the Connecticut River Valley, complimentary access to some of Massachusetts' most pristine water bodies was enjoyed by many visitors, including State Representative John Scibak. In South Hadley, Brunelle's offered free boat rides along the Connecticut River with the participation of Action Marine in Holyoke. Marina owner Luke Brunelle was honored with a legislative citation awarded by Rep. Scibak in recognition of Brunelle's contributions to recreation on the Connecticut River and in celebration of National Marina Day. Different views were enjoyed in nearby Southwick, with free boat rides on Congomond Lake, compliments of Saunder's Boat Livery.
Cape Yachts in Harwich Port linked its celebration of NMD 2005 by wrapping up its "Women in Boating" seminar series with a "Discover Boating" weekend for women only. The seminar series was hosted at several 2005 boat shows and was designed to provide women with a pressure free venue to learn more about the family-friendly and economical form of recreation that is boating.
As a member of the marine trades industry, you are an important part of the economic health and quality of life enjoyed in the Commonwealth. Marine trades businesses generate nearly $2 billion annually for Massachusetts. National Marina Day provides an opportunity for you to celebrate this. Consider taking part next year by inviting legislative and local officials as well as current and potential boating customers to your facility. Spread the word that recreational boating is a family and environmentally friendly activity and you are a proud member of the marine trades industry!
MARINE TRADES PROGRAMS GRADUATING DOZENS OF MARINE SERVICE PERSONNEL
Are you looking for marine trades personnel that are ready, willing, eager and able to join your firm? Please consider hiring one of the recent graduates of the various MMTA sponsored marine trade schools. Each student has made a personal commitment and financial investment in learning the marine trade. Contact Ed Lofgren at erl@3Amarine.com or 781.749.3250 if you would like to review the credentials of or interview any of these fine candidates.
Remember to post ALL of your job openings on the BoatMA.com Members Only web site
CRYPTIC ALPHABET SOUP: FROM THE DESK OF…..JAMY BUCHANAN MADEJA, ESQ., BUCHANAN & ASSOCIATES, MMTA GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND LEGAL COUNSEL
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has sent 1,500 notices to Massachusetts and New Hampshire businesses announcing the "availability of the Remediation General Permit (RGP)." This Remediation General Permit is intended to replace what was known as an "exclusion letter" in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, which was often used to permit activities concerning contaminated materials and discharges to waterways or groundwater. In short, we used to be able to get a letter from the EPA saying "your activity is excluded from needing more approval." Now, EPA is notifying us that compliance with the conditions of a general permit known as a Remediation General Permit will be necessary instead.
Anyone who received that notice (Dated September 15, 2005) is thought by the U.S. EPA to have an open file with a pending exclusion letter, meaning the U.S. EPA thinks the recipient has an ongoing cleanup or discharge underway. The notice informs the recipient that the U.S. EPA is expecting a responsive filing from the recipient by October 10, 2005. I have also been informed, however, that any discharge covered by a U.S. Army Corps Section 404 or Section 401 permit is not required to make any new filing and that some recipients may actually have completed the relevant activity already and just never filed a closure document with the U.S. EPA.
It would be prudent for recipients of these notices to contact their environmental consultant promptly, to meet the October 10 deadline, and consider consulting environmental legal counsel, as well, to be sure necessary approvals are and remain in place. Ms. Madeja can be reached at 617-227-8410 or jmadeja@buchananassociates.com.
ERRATA:
Below is the corrected text for last week's ENews item on Plugging Holes in MEPA. The text highlighted in red was inadvertently omitted in the previously distributed ENews.
PLUGGING HOLES IN MEPA: Projects requiring state permits or funds must submit Environmental Notification Forms to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act office, describing the environmental impacts, if the project surpasses certain regulatory thresholds. Sounds straightforward. It isn't, if the relevant review threshold is unclear.
The threshold which most applies to "Chapter 91" licenses says that an ENF must be filed if the project involves a solid fill structure OF 1,000 OR MORE SF BASE AREA which occupies flowed tidelands or waterways, or 2,000 or more square feet base area of a non-seasonal pile-supported or bottom-anchored structure. So, what is "base area"? Does one include the decking over water or just the pilings in the water? And how far landward should one measure to? The MEPA head honcho and the Department of Environmental Protection's Chapter 91 Legal Eagle now agree that "base area" includes not only the piles themselves but any structure which the piles support, and that one should measure to the Mean High Water Mark. For instance, consider a pile-supported pier that was designed to be 20' wide x 100' long to the Mean High Water Mark, with another 10' from the MHWM to a building entrance. Shorten the pier by 1' seaward of the MHWM and this MEPA threshold is not triggered. Do check for any other possible MEPA thresholds, such as for altering coastal bank or salt marsh, but that one's clear sailing.
Questions: Contact Jamy Buchanan Madeja, Esq. at 617-227-8410 or jmadeja@buchananassociates.com.
From the Desk of Phil Keeter, Marine Retailers of Association President
Dear Marine Dealer:
MRAA needs you to get involved in the industry because your dealership is at stake.
As the Grow Boating Initiative becomes a reality your input on several issues is important:
- Dealer/Manufacturer Agreements which are changing
- Dealer Certification will become a requirement
- Continued funding thrn the engine surcharge will need support
MRAA is a dealer organization and is your voice in the industry. We need you to form a Critical Mass so your voice will be taken seriously. If you don't become involved and give your input you lose your right to complain and you'll get what you do not want.
The enclosed convention brochure gives you a view of what to expect in November in Las Vegas. Over $60,000 is being spent in speaker fees to bring you the latest on issues you must address employee satisfaction, selling techniques, teamwork, leadership in your dealership, dealer certification, the effect of oil prices on our industry. Anyone of the speakers alone is worth the registration fee. This is a "can't afford to miss" event. Please register today. If your not glad you attended, MRAA will refund your registration fees.
In closing, I would ask each of you one question, "What you have done to make boating a better industry?" Dealers need each other to get involved to build the Critical Mass I spoke of earlier. The current environment is the best we have ever had to get what you as a dealer need. But you can't sit on the sidelines and expect someone else to do all the work.
Attend the convention and do your share! See you in November in Las Vegas.
Best regards,
Phil Keeter
President
FREE PUBLICATIONS
MMTA has extra copies of the following EPA publications:
- EPA New England's Small Business First Stop Environmental Homepage
- Get On Board: New England Clean Engine Partners
- Ship Shape Shore & Waters Handbook for Marina Operators & Recreational Boaters
- Marina Environmental Management Plan: Workbook for Marinas, Boatyards & Yacht Clubs
If you would like a copy, send an email to Leona.Roach@boatMa.com indicating which publications(s) you would like sent to you via US Mail. Supplies are limited.
FISHING IN THE CITY!
Have you checked out the new Urban Fishing section on takemefishing.org? This special section of the site lists programs in more than 20 states. You can view this section by clicking Urban Fishing.
For many urban Americans, particularly children and families, programs like these are their only opportunity to experience fishing. Many cities have wonderful fisheries, but they are often underutilized. That is where we can help. The Urban Fishing website section will become the centerpiece of a media outreach effort targeting newspapers, meteorologists, morning talk shows and other media outlets.
If your organization coordinates an "Urban Fishing" program, we need your help! Let us know if your program or city is not currently listed. No program is too small for inclusion. Please contact Friend Gray or call (703) 519-0013, and we'll make sure your program is listed.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Boston Harbor Islands Regatta
October 1, 2004, 2pm - 6pm Georges Island, Boston Harbor
Volunteer powerboat captains are needed to assist with the transportation of sailboat race crews from moorings among the Boston Harbor Islands to Georges Island for a post race cookout. Food will be available to volunteers. Volunteers must bring their own suitable, insured powerboat with appropriate fendering and must be comfortable transferring passengers to/from sail boats. General regatta information is available at www.BostonIslands.com/regatta.
To volunteer, please call Doug Welch at 617-223-8035. Please help us make this exciting new sailing event a success!
NEW MEMBER BENEFIT: MMTA-STAPLES BUSINESS ADVANTAGE PROGRAM
Deep discounts and dedicated customer service typically reserved for much larger corporations are now available to MMTA members.
How Do I Enroll?
It's easy. Visit the MMTA Members Only Section at www.BoatMA.com and click on the STAPLES LOGO.
Forgot YOUR MMTA Members Only Password? Remember they are case sensitive:
Username: MMTA
Password: hightide
After you complete the online enrollment, an MMTA-Staples Account Manager will contact you to complete the registration process and assist with any questions you have about getting started. It's That Easy!
E-Mail Changes?
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
Advertise on 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!
MMTA also invites you to sponsor an ENews Brief. We will feature an image and some text about your company right at the top of a ENews Brief like this one, which is sent to all MMTA members. What a great business-to-business opportunity!
Email webmaster@boatma.com or call David, the BoatMA.com webmaster, at 508-240-2533 to sign up today!
SHARE THE WEALTH!
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.
HAVE AN ITEM FOR ENEWS? Drop us a line at: Leona.Roach@BoatMA.co
MEMBERSHIPS SUPPORT MMTA
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 or signup on-line.
New Member applications submitted and approved at the November Board meeting will be eligible for a 14 month membership!
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