FROM THE PILOTHOUSE
It seems like it went from winter into summer without a break for spring. That, of course, makes it more difficult to get the boats prepped and ready for summer customers. So we’ve all been extremely busy the last few months. I hope you are all doing well and will be able to take some time off and do a little boating on your own.
We have also been busy working for you at the Marine Trades Association. We were fortunate to meet with Rear Admiral Crea and her staff at the First Coast Guard district and outline some of our concerns about port security restrictions on recreational boating and our In-the-Water boat Show and related boating safety issues We were very well received and look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship with the Coast Guard as it impacts our industry and to continued cooperation with the various Port Security Committees in our region.
We also had a very productive meeting with the Mass. Boating & Yacht clubs Association. This Association represents over 80 yacht clubs and marinas with a membership of over 50,000 boating families in Massachusetts. We hope to join forces with this organization when there are legislative and regulatory issues that affect the boating community.
We have also been working closely with the Coastal Zone Management and other regulatory agencies and have secured a seat on the governor’s newly formed Mass. Ocean Management Task Force.
I will be attending these meetings through the summer and fall in order to draft some “recommendations” for the environmental Affairs Secretary Ellen Roy Herzfelder and Governor Mitt Romney. Any assistance would be appreciated.
And then there’s National Marina Day and Discover Boating. Our Public Relations Committee has been working hard to promote boating and the boating lifestyle through a number of great events planned around the state. This is a great opportunity for us to invite our local state legislators and senators to come to our businesses and learn about the recreational boating industry. I urge you to write and call your representative—you can be sure we will need their support at some time in the not too distant future. You can easily find out who your local rep is by logging onto www.ma.gov and paging through to you local elected officials We have materials for you to distribute to tell our story.
Have a Great summer!
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