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YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED
TO BECOME A SPONSOR OF THE 2008
 
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

THE BUSINESS OF BOATING IN MASSACHUSETTS

HOSTED BY THE
MASSACHUSETTS MARINE
TRADES ASSOCIATION

TUESDAY - JANUARY 29, 2008
AT THE QUINCY MARRIOTT HOTEL

www.BoatMA.com/conference08
(Conference Website Under Construction Oct 2007 Coming Soon!)

To Access An Adobe PDF Or MS Word File Of This Conference Sponsorship Invitation
Click On The 2008 Conference Logo Or Visit
http://www.boatma.com/pdf/Conference%20Sponsor%20Invitation/

SPONSORSHIP RESERVATION FORM

SPONSORING FIRM: 
Please include firm name, mailing address, email, website and telephone as it should appear in conference materials. 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

PRIMARY SPONSOR CONTACT
Please include individual name, telephone email for invoicing, if different from above.

 _________________________________________________________________________________________________

SPONSOR REPRESENTATIVES ATTENDING CONFERENCE
Please include individual name as it should appear on name tags and an email address for registration confirmation

__________________________________________ Name & Email 

__________________________________________ Name & Email

__________________________________________ Name & Email 

__________________________________________ Name & Email   

 
PLATINUM: Includes Registration for 2 & 1 Display Table

_____ $ 5,000 Solo Luncheon Sponsor (Limited Availability)
  
_____ $ 2,500  Solo Track Sponsor (Limited Availability) (Circle 1: Marina-BY-Builder; Service-Repair; Dealer-Retail)

_____ $ 2,000  Reception Soft Drink Sponsor (Limited Availability)

_____ $ 1,500  Breakfast Co Sponsor (Limited Availability)  

_____ $ 1,000  Morning Break Co Sponsor (Limited Availability)

_____ $ 1,000 Afternoon Break Sponsor (Limited Availability) 

GOLD: Includes Registration For 2

_____ $ 1,500 Luncheon Co Sponsor (Limited Availability)

_____ $    500 Morning or Afternoon Break Sponsor


SPONSOR DISPLAY TABLE ONLY

ATTENTION SPONSORS & SPEAKERS

Please Circle Your Response To Each of The Following Questions
And Return With Your Conference Sponsor Reservation:

Yes/No - We will ship 250 pieces of logo merchandise to the Conference prior to January 22nd In Care Of: MMTA, L. Roach, 155 Edgewater Drive Pembroke MA  02359

Yes/No - We Will Ship Our Sponsor Display and Related Materials Directly Top the Marriott for Receipt No Earlier Than January 27th

Yes/No - We will send our Corporate Logo to conference@BoatMA.com 

Yes/No - We will require overnight accommodations and will contact the Marriott Quincy (617.472.1000) directly prior to January 7th and Request the MA Marine Trades Rate of $129

Yes/No - We Will Send a 100 Word Summary/Biography of Our Speakers or Firm a "Headshot" Photo to conference@BoatMA.com 

Yes/No - We Require Access to AC Power at Our Reserved Sponsor Table

Yes/No - Contact Me about Special Dietary Requirements

Yes/No - Contact Me about Other:  ___________________________

PLEASE RETURN BOTH PAGES OF THE SPONSOR RESERVATION FORM
BY EMAIL TO: conference@BoatMA.com Or BY FACSIMILE TO: 781.846.0207
THANK YOU!

SPONSOR & SPEAKER INFORMATION

On behalf of the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association's Board of Directors and 2008 Conference Committee, thank you for accepting our invitation to participate in the 2008 Marine Trades Professional Development Conference: The Business of Boating in Massachusetts scheduled for Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at the Marriott Hotel in Quincy, Massachusetts.

We anticipate a large and diverse group of marine industry business owners and senior staff.  The curriculum has been designed around three tracks of interest: Marina/Boatyard/Builder, Dealer/Retailer and Service/Repair. Sessions run concurrently throughout the morning.  All three groups will come together for lunch, afternoon sessions and the closing reception. Each "track" has a designated Track Leader who can assist you with curriculum questions, electronic distribution of meeting materials and support your audiovisual requirements.  Scheduled speakers are encouraged to work closely with their track leader in advance.  Track leaders can provide feedback on presentation content, recommended level of complexity and recommend times for Q & A.  Be sure to take advantage of their local knowledge as you prepare your presentation.  

The MA Marine Trades Association seeks to provide a friendly, casual and educational forum in which members and guests may learn, inquire, suggest and explore ideas for the benefit of both the local and national marine industries.  In providing this opportunity, we strive for higher levels of excellence in our endeavors and to become better marine business people, environmental stewards and informed citizens of the Commonwealth. 

Below you will find information designed to demystify the conference logistics and assist you in your planning.  Consider arriving the evening of January 28 to join in some informal networking with conference registrants.  If we may assist you in anyway, please do not hesitate to call on any one of us:  we are grateful for your participation and sponsorship and look forward to warmly welcoming you to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in January. 

Cordially,

THE BUSINESS OF BOATING IN MASSACHUSETTS
2008 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE  

Chuck Allen of A to Z Boatworks, Wally Foster of Foster Rigging, Bob Fuller of South Shore Boatworks, Captain Lou Gainor of Nautical Talk Radio, Tina Marie Giambro of Port O' Call TV, Nathalie Grady MMTA Public Affairs, Marie Hayward of NE Marine Documentation, Mary Horan MMTA Administrator, Rick Johnson of Maritime Specialties, Dave Kaiser of Mattapoisett Boatyard, Craig LeBlanc of Allen Harbor Marine, Ed Lofgren of 3A Marine Service, Rahn Meehan of Commodore Uniform, Tim Moll of Brewer's Plymouth Marine, Ren Nichols of Allen Harbor Marine, Jonathan Prescott of Manchester Marine, Leona Roach MMTA Executive Director and Eric Stockford of Donovan Marine. 

CONFERENCE CONTACTS
            
Leona Roach, MMTA Executive Director , Leona.Roach@BoatMA.com, 781.826.1570
Nathalie Grady, MMTA Public Affairs Director, Nathalie.Grady@BoatMA.com, 978.808.1408
Ed Lofgren, Conference Chairman, Erl@3AMarine.com, 781.749.3250
       
CONFERENCE DAY CONTACTS:

Leona Roach, Mobile, 781.248.4306
Nathalie Grady, Mobile, 978.808.1408
Marriott Quincy, 617.472.1000

SPONSOR & SPEAKER LOGISTICS

SPONSOR/SPEAKER RECOGNITION:
All Sponsors and Speakers please email a 100 word description of your services or a professional biography to conference@BoatMA.com.  Please send a high resolution company logo to be included in conference materials and signage. Speakers: please also send a high resolution "headshot."  The sooner you provide this information, the sooner we can include your logo and recognition of your generosity in Conference materials.   

INCLEMENT WEATHER PLAN:
Winter weather in New England may affect travel conditions on January 29th.  The Conference WILL NOT be cancelled. CALL 781.826.1570 after 6:00AM on January 29th to find out if inclement weather has forced a delayed start time.  In the event of an inclement weather delay, a special recorded announcement will notify Conference registrants of the revised conference schedule.  

HOTEL ROOMS, RATES & SERVICES:
Overnight accommodations are available at the Marriott Hotel at a negotiated rate of $129/night plus tax by mentioning "Mass Marine Trades" when making your reservation. Group Negotiated Hotel Rate Cutoff Date is JANUARY 7TH. Call Marriott Reservations at 1 (800) 228-9290 for "Mass Marine Trades" group rate.  The Marriott Quincy is a full service hotel offering restaurants, concierge services, a Business Center, Notary Public & Gift Shop. For directions and additional hotel information visit www.quincymarriott.com 

HOTEL PARKING & TRAFFIC: 
Free Parking at Ballroom Parking Area is recommended.  The area surrounding the hotel may be congested with morning commuters entering the Crown Colony Office Park.  Consider adjusting your drive time accordingly by allowing an extra 20 minutes from all points.

FOOD, BEVERAGE & ATTIRE:
Beverages, Snacks, Lunch & Reception hors d'oeuvres are included with Conference registration.  If you have dietary restrictions, please contact us as soon as possible at 781.826.1570.  Attire is business casual. 

SPONSOR GIFTS TO ATTENDEES  
We welcome your branded merchandise contributions to the Conference Registrant's Welcome Kit. Please ship 250 pieces (the anticipated number of guests) no later than January 18h to MMTA, ATTN Conference 2008, 155 Edgewater Drive, Pembroke, MA  02359. Please do not ship product literature or marketing materials for inclusion in the welcome kit:  these materials are best distributed at your sponsor table or during your presentation.  

SPONSOR TABLES & AC POWER:
Sponsor Display Tables are 6' X 30," draped in Black on Black fabric and include 2 chairs. Additional chairs may be obtained on the day of the conference.  You may access your sponsor table anytime after 6:30 AM on Tuesday morning.  We recommend that Sponsors and their Tables be ready to do business before the 0730 Registration opening.  Sponsors should provide their own signs, literature or displays.  If you are sponsoring a break, lunch or reception, special signs will be provided acknowledging your generous contributions. If you require AC Electrical Power at your Sponsor Table, please send an e-mail as soon as possible to conference@BoatMA.com.  A limited number of tables have AC power and are in specific locations—we need your AC requests in advance in order to accommodate them.

MARRIOTT HOTEL PACKAGE RECEIVING:
Should you be shipping boxes direct to the hotel, they must be addressed to the  attention of the Event Manager Meg Garruto, and MMTA-JAN 29.   The Hotel is able to accept up to (10) boxes for the conference no charge. Additional boxes are $5.00 per box. Pallets are $50 per pallet. For further assistance, please contact Marriott Event Manager Meg Garruto directly at 617.472.1000.  Due to limited storage space, shipments MAY NOT arrive any earlier than 2 (two) days prior to the Conference, otherwise the Hotel reserves the right to refuse the delivery. 

WORKSHOP ROOM SET UPS:
The Conference will provide the following: LCD Projector, Projector Stand, Projection Screen, Power Cords, Power Strip, Wired Microphones and a Speaker Podium.  For the General Session presentations, sound amplification and hook up to House Sound will also be provided.  Audio Visual Assistance will be available on site. Morning sessions will be set classroom style; Afternoon general sessions will be set as 10' Round tables.
 
WORKSHOP HANDOUTS:
It is preferred that the 2008 conference be paperless.  Please submit an electronic version of all handouts and/or your presentation (Adobe PDF or Microsoft Office format) no later than January 22nd to conference@BoatMA.com.  Retention material will be advertised as available to conference registrants free of charge one week before and following the Conference.  If you intend to distribute individual handouts to your  audience, kindly prepare a minimum of 90 copies per morning session; 250 copies for afternoon session presentations.  There is a business center located within the hotel for last minute reproduction needs.  Feel free to incorporate the MMTA or Conference Logo into your presentations.  A copy is available in electronic format.   

WORKSHOP ELECTRONIC PRESENTATIONS: 
Speakers should bring their own laptops, power cords, a backup CD ROM of their presentation AND send an electronic copy of the presentation no later than January 22nd to conference@boatMA.com.  Presentations will be compiled into a single PDF file that may be downloaded from BoatMA.com prior to and following the Conference. 

Some laptops may not be properly pre-configured to switch to external video ports and some older projectors require specific output resolutions to be manually set up on the laptop. We have staff available experienced in dealing with these issues, however, the minutes before a presentation may not be the best time to deal with stubborn compatibility issues or a laptop missing an external video port driver. We welcome your testing your laptop/LCD configuration in advance of your presentation.  In the spirit of "belts and suspenders," we request a copy of you presentation in advance via email.  If it becomes necessary we can quickly load the presentation to compatible equipment. Another common problem with laptop presentations is a battery going dead halfway through. We gently urge presenters to remember to bring along your laptops (AC) power cord.  The Conference will provide all extension cords. While all reasonable efforts will be made to safeguard equipment, common sense dictates that ALL speakers, sponsors and workshop leaders should remove their laptops and valuables from the meeting room to a secure location following their presentations.

WORKSHOP TRANSITIONS & TIMING:
Speakers, please plan to be your session location at least 15 minutes prior to your start time.  Each meeting room will be staffed by a Conference Ambassador (look for the Blue Shirts) who can tend to any last minute presentation needs or provide AV assistance.  It will take time to settle your audience and we suggest you leave ample time for Q & A at the end.  Kindly adjust your formal presentation time accordingly.  In order to stay on schedule, we respectfully request your assistance in starting on time and concluding your workshop a minimum of 5 minutes before the next scheduled speaker.

MARRIOTT QUINCY – MEETING ROOM FLOORPAN

Morning Sessions:                                     Meeting Rooms 1-3, 6-8 & A-C
Breakfast, Lunch & Breaks                      Salons 4 & 5 & Foyer
Afternoon General Sessions                     Salons 4 & 5
Registration & Conference HQ                Blue Hills 
Sponsor Displays                                       Foyer

Many Thanks To Last Year's Generous Sponsors & Speakers!

Platinum

GE Distribution Finance     
Bombardier      
EBI Consulting     
Volvo Penta      

Gold

Cape Cod Marine Trades      
Clean Quest        
D.J. Gustafson & Co.      
NE Marine Documentation & Admiralty Insurance  
North American Expositions Co.    
North East Marine Power     
ValvTect Marine Fuels      

Table Sponsors 

Alcota Cleaning Systems      
Aquas Clean Marina Services       
Commodore Uniform      
Donovan Marine       
Edson International       
John Furrh Associates - Safety Consultants   
Kellogg Marine       
MA Office of Coastal Zone Management    
Shorelander - C & E Distribution    
Spader Business Management      
US Environmental Protection Agency    
Watch Captain LLC       

Speakers

Buchanan & Associates
Dalton & Finegold LLP
International Marina Institute  
Landing School of Maine 
Mark Yearn Marine Insurance Services 
National Marine Manufacturer's Assn 
Norman E Schultz Co  
Partnering for Performance 
Paul O'Donnell 
Volta Oil 

Click Here To Visit The 2007 Conference Website

MMTA Info

For More Information on the
Massachusetts Marine Trades Association
Please Visit Our Website
At www.BoatMA.com