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MMTA ENews Brief: February 23, 2006
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AN ACT RELATIVE TO OCEANS - SENATE BILL 2308
ALSO REFERRED TO AS THE OCEAN ZONING/PLANNING BILL
This is a single-topic update on a matter of great importance to the marine business community, namely proposed "Ocean Zoning" or "Ocean Planning" legislation.
First, please know that there are a number of state agencies and environmental organizations lobbying aggressively for some form of increased State Ocean planning. It may take years, or it may come quickly, but there is too much at stake in Commonwealth owned water resources for the state agencies and the interested environmental organizations not to continue lobbying for increased planning legislation. Because the Commonwealth owns the territory from the low water mark out three miles, they view it as irresponsible not to have public plans defining allowable uses and prohibitions.
That said, your Massachusetts Marine Trades Association has been laser-focused on two key recreational boating needs in any such legislation: 1) boating itself, meaning transiting the waterways, cannot require a permit or a plan; and 2) all existing marina facilities, including mooring fields, cannot require a new permit or plan to continue operating. We are pleased to report MMTA has been successful in obtaining both elements in the most recent draft of the pending bill (SB 2308, Senator O'Leary as sponsor).
MMTA will continue to monitor the bill and participate in the legislative process to assure aggressive protection of our members' interests, including assuring fair representation on any advisory committees or boards for any eventual ocean plans. In terms of strategy, it is not possible for MMTA to both oppose such bills outright and yet to also be sure any bill does protect recreational boating interests. So far, MMTA is electing to protect core recreational boating interests in the legislation, in order to fulfill its basic responsibility to its members.
As this bill progresses, we will issue periodic updates. In the meantime, please contact Leona Roach, Executive Director, with general questions or comments. If appropriate, she can also refer you to Jamy Buchanan Madeja, Legal and Government Relations Counsel.
AN ACT RELATIVE TO ABANDONED VESSELS HOUSE BILL 4362
ALSO KNOWN AS THE VESSELS ABANDONED ON LAND BILL
Your MMTA is actively lobbying for passage of HB 4362, the bill we drafted to help you unload deadbeat vessels more easily and without going to court unless you want to. It sailed through its maiden hearing, thanks to MMTA members who testified supportively. No opponents remained standing or even rose to object. The bill is now in House Ways & Means where it is undergoing internal scrutiny for any financial warts. The bill's primary sponsor, Representative Anthony Verga of Gloucester, has been a champion advocate. He arranged a meeting for MMTA with the Chairman of House Ways & Means, whose staff now observe that getting the bill out of committee should be only a matter of time. Aye, there's the rub: of the over 7,000 bills filed each legislative session, only a few hundred become law. HB 4362 is well poised to be one of them. We will ask for cajoling letters to your legislators shortly, once the bill leaves HW&M and goes up for its first "floor vote" by the full House. Questions or comments: Jamy Buchanan Madeja, Esq., 617-227-8410, ext. 234 or jmadeja@buchananassociates.com.
WILL THE 51ST NEW ENGLAND BOAT SHOW HAVE A HOME?
Due to a complicated set of circumstances, the New England Boat Show [NEBS] is presently without a home for 2007 and beyond. The show is crucial to the boating industry. A majority of exhibitors trace over 50% of their annual sales to this show: we must unite as an industry and take every step possible to insure the future existence and expansion of the NEBS. Our future depends on it.
Many are fortunate to have secured space at this sold out event: another 300 firms languish on a waiting list due to lack of exhibition space at Bayside. If you are a show exhibitor at Bayside chances are good that your exhibit is constrained by door and ceiling dimensions and the lack of available expansion space. If you are an exhibitor or visitor to the show, chances are good that you and your customers are weary of over crowded exhibits and a deteriorating, outdated exhibition hall.
The $800 million dollar taxpayer funded 500,000 sf Boston Convention and Exhibition Center [BCEC] is the only location large enough to accommodate an expanding NEBS. The future of the marine industry in Massachusetts is inextricably bound to the future of the NEBS: it will benefit everyone in the marine trades if together we secure a larger, newer location for this show in 2007 and beyond.
The MMTA urgently asks for your help as business owners, employers, as citizens to contact your legislators, your customers, and your local press to educate them about how important this issue is to our industry.
Why can't the NE Boat Show simply move to the under utilized BCEC? Chapter 152 of the Acts of 1997--the enabling legislation that publicly funded the $800 million dollar BCEC-- contains a provision that prohibits the hosting of public attended gate shows at this facility. The Acts of 1997 also prohibit any event held at World Trade Center, Hynes Convention Center or Bayside Expo during 1986 through 1996 from ever moving their event to the BCEC.
Ten years ago local citizens of the Seaport District were concerned about parking and traffic associated with a gate show. The Legislature also sought to protect the revenue of existing, smaller convention facilities. While each was a reasonable concern at the time, several things have changed since 1997. Downtown traffic patterns have altered and parking spaces have become more plentiful in the Seaport District with the substantial completion of the Big Dig and winding down of staging areas. Today remedies may easily be found to allay any and all of the traffic and parking concerns associated with boaters attending a Boat Show in the Seaport District.
The NEBS of 2007 would not be the same event as the one that existed ten years ago. The NEBS has outgrown the Bayside Expo Center and the facility has not been able to accommodate the demand for space for over 10 years. The NEBS should not be forced to forever stay at a facility insufficient for its needs simply because it hosted the show there in the past. An expanded NEBS at the new BCEC in 2007 would double the number of exhibitors, increase space available to current exhibitors and generate far more "heads on beds" for Greater Boston by attracting more show goers and more marine manufacturers supporting the event. The NEBS is poised to be a world class marine industry event if hosted at the taxpayer-funded BCEC.
In order for the New England Boat Show to find a home in 2007 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, an act of the Massachusetts Legislature will be required: specifically the expedited passage of House Bill 4493 which currently languishes in the Massachusetts Senate.
House Bill 4493 An Act Relative to Gate Shows, sponsored by Representative Paul Kujawski, is currently stalled in the Massachusetts Legislature and faces an uncertain future if not acted upon quickly in spite of efforts by the bills sponsor and the MA Legislative Boating Caucus led by Rep. Anthony Verga of Gloucester. The marine industry cannot afford to let HB4493 die or fail to be acted upon during this legislative session. The marine industry and show promoters need time to create a new event at BCEC and time is running out. Exhibitors need time to plan, budget, order product, work with manufacturers and develop their own business plans for 2007. They cannot wait indefinitely to learn when or if at all their single largest sales event will happen in the future.
There are over 6,000 newly filed bills in the Massachusetts Legislature, a very small number of which are actually acted upon in any two-year legislative session. We can and must make sure that House Bill 4493 is duly considered, publicly debated and ultimately passed for the benefit of our industry and the 27,000 men and women employed by the marine trades in Massachusetts.
What Can You Do? Become actively involved in the legislative process by exerting your rights as a citizen of the Commonwealth. Encourage your employees, your customers and your vendors to speak out.
REMEMBER: 2006 IS AN ELECTION YEAR.
YOUR LEGISLATORS ARE LISTENING
Legislators take notice of particular issues when dozens of communications are received on the same topic. We need to get the attention of our elected officials. We need each and every employee and family member who benefits from the marine industry in Massachusetts to contact their state representatives and senators to urge them to swiftly pass House Bill 4493.
Thank you in advance for contacting your legislators today. In doing so you are taking a positive step in support of the recreational marine trades industry from which we earn our living and support our families.
SAMPLE LETTER RE: Support of House Bill 4493
PLEASE SEND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
Below is a sample letter that may be sent to your elected officials on both the House and Senate sides of the MA Legislature. You may find out who your representative is and their contact information by visiting http://www.wheredoivotema.com
PLEASE take the time to personalize this letter, it will make your message much more powerful and effective. Like all of us, legislators hate form letters. If you would like to copy and paste the basics for your personalization, visit http://www.boatma.com/membersonly/news/bbs.pl
To view the entire text of House Bill 4493 visit:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht04/ht04493.htm
Date
The Honorable State Representative or Senator _______
Representative or Senator _________________
The State House - Room _____
Boston, MA 02133
Dear Representative/Senator ____________________:
My name is ___full name______, I reside in __town where you vote____ and I earn my living from the recreational marine industry in Massachusetts. I am a __job title_____ at __employer name_ in _employer town__, MA which employs _#__ people. We have been in business since _Year_. I write to you today on an urgent and time sensitive matter: House Bill 4493.
We have just completed a successful ten day exhibition at the 50th annual New England Boat Show from which we earn a significant portion of our annual income. The New England Boat Show, a major contributor to the financial stability of my business, is currently homeless. Will there be a 51st New England Boat Show?
My business and at least 1,200 other marine trades businesses statewide are directly threatened by the stalling of House Bill 4493 An Act Relative to Gate Shows which will allow the Boston Convention and Exposition Center (BCEC) to host the New England Boat Show (NEBS) starting in February, 2007. Immediate passage of H4493 is critical to the future of my business, our employees and their families. As an exhibitor, we need time to plan, develop and budget for our single largest sales event of the year. Time is fast running out.
As my elected representative, you will be interested to know that there is tremendous potential to generate significant additional economic activity statewide by expanding and hosting future marine exhibitions at the BCEC. Opening the BCEC to the New England Boat Show will not only help hundreds of Massachusetts businesses, it will keep good jobs in Massachusetts through the patronization of the BCEC, a facility built with and funded by our tax dollars. Passage of H4493 would be a win-win situation for the Commonwealth, its citizens and business owners.
The 2007 New England Boat Show, a 50 year tradition in Greater Boston and significant contributor to the economy, deserves to be hosted at a world class venue. We respectfully request your pro-active engagement and vigorous support of H4493. My future and the future of hundreds of others depend on it.
Respectfully submitted,
Name, Title
Firm Name
Home Address
ONGOING REMINDERS TO MEMBERS AND LINKS OF INTEREST
- REMINDER! 2005 TIER TWO REPORTS DUE MARCH 1ST
- REMINDER! 2006 MMTA MEMBERSHIP FEE NOW DUE
- FREE Storm Water & Pressure Washing Activities Seminar-March 1. MMTA Member EBI Consulting will hold a private seminar on Wednesday, March 1, 2006, 8:30 am - 11:00 am at the Quincy Marriott. Registration for this seminar is required by Friday, February 24th, and space is limited. Click Here to Register: http://www.ebiconsulting.com/marina-seminar.html
- AMTECH MARCH 2/3 MANAGEMENT COURSE IS SOLD OUT! But if you are interested send an e-mail to Leona.Roach@boatma.com as we are maintaining a waiting list in the event there are cancellations.
- MAKE THE MMTA JOBS BULLETIN BOARD WORK FOR YOU!
Be sure to post your help wanted notices here. It's free, it's popular and it works! http://www.boatma.com/jobs/bbs.pl
- MARINE TRADES EDUCATORS WISH LIST
Go To: www.boatma.com/membersonly/news/bbs.pl to visit the MMTA News Bulletin Board of Wish Lists from Ben Franklin Institute of Technology, Massasoit Community College and Cape Cod Tech
- SHOW YOUR COLORS:
Proudly Display the MMTA Logo: Download it Here:
www.boatma.com/membersonly/mmtalogos.html
- WE WANT YOUR MARINE INDUSTRY PHOTOS!
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- UPCOMING MARINE INDUSTRY EVENTS
CLICK HERE: http://www.boatma.com/membersonly/memberscalendar.html
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