FROM THE HELM
Dear MRA Members and Guests,
The MRA teams behind the scene have had a productive start to the year; the Board's annual planning meeting was held in January at the Bay Club Hotel & Marina on beautiful Shelter Island, San Diego. 2023 promises to be a fantastic year, including stellar programming for this year's California Boating Congress and an exciting lineup for MRA's Annual Conference.
The 2023 Bay Area Slip Survey has been sent out and will be ready to publish in late March or early April; many thanks to our partners at California Harbor Masters and Port Captains and the Bay Area Marina Operators for their assistance in getting the word out. Due to this collaboration, we had significant participation. For those who participated, you can request a copy at timms@marina.org.
In early March, the MRA will be sending out the 2023 Abandoned & Derelict Vessel Survey; through this survey, the Marine Recreation Association, California Association of Harbor Masters & Port Captains, the Bay Area Marina Operators, and San Diego Dockmasters Group are attempting to quantify the scope and scale of the issue. Gathering this data is to allow for more efficient collaboration with governmental agencies. Please look for and respond to the survey when it hits your inbox; your participation is essential to the program's success.
This month's newsletter includes excellent content, including the inland reservoir report, more information on California Boating Congress, and a warm welcome to our new members; BAE Boats, North Lake Tahoe Boat Rental, ProFender America, and Tahoe Boat Company Owners Association.
As always, with thanks,
Kate
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Register NOW for the 7th ANNUAL BOATING CONGRESS
{Your Opportunity to Make a Difference!}
This year’s California Boating Congress, sponsored by the
Marine Recreation Association, is set for April 11 & 12, 2023
at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, in Sacramento, directly across from the California State Capital Park. The 2023 CBC will kick-off with
an evening Welcome Reception on the 11th, with a full day of interaction with marine and boating industry regulators and
California state legislators on the 12th.
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After more than two years of COVID restrictions limiting our ability to interact with state legislators and regulators, the California Boating Congress will return to a more normal personal-interaction format, with informational seminars in the morning sessions and meetings with legislators in the afternoon.
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Robert Newsome, Sr. Vice President, National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) will present an updated Boating & Economic Impact report for all attendees at the event luncheon. Robert has authored and presented on numerous industry and recreational boating topics and is Chairperson of the National Safe Boating Council. His responsibilities with NMMA include overall organizational operations, the development and implementation of strategic support for the recreational marine industry, and he serves as a spokesperson for the Discover Boating program. Republican Leader James Gallagher and Senator Brian Jones will also attend the lunch.
The afternoon sessions with a number of key legislators who have an interest in our issues are being set up now and will be held at the Hyatt Regency rather that at the State Legislature offices, which should help facilitate more effective interaction on marine industry and recreational boating issues.
A limited number of special hotel room rates are available at the Hyatt Regency for CBC attendees for reservations made by March 21st . . . to make reservations call Hyatt Central reservations at 800-233-1234 or book online at https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/SACRA/G-CBCO, be sure to mention the Group Code: G-CBCO
This year’s Congress is being co-hosted by ten other boating related groups, including the National Marine Manufacturers Association, California Marine Affairs and Navigation Conference, Boat U.S., Personal Watercraft Industry Association, California Delta Chambers & Visitors Bureau, Recreational Boaters of California, Sacramento Valley Marine Association, California Association of Harbor Masters & Port Captains, California Yacht Brokers Associations, and the Coastal Conservation Association of California, bringing together the marine industry and boating community to help shape future boating policy, funding, and regulation. In today’s world this effort is even more important to positively impact the planning and policies that affect recreational boating and other marine concerns in the state.
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SENATOR TED GAINES (RETIRED), BOARD MEMBER,
CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION,
TO PRESENT A MORNING SESSION ON
"VESSEL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT" AT THE
2023 CALIFORNIA BOATING CONGRESS
This year’s 7th annual California Boating Congress, sponsored by the Marine Recreation Association, is set for April 11 & 12, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, in Sacramento, and promises to provide critical interaction with marine and boating industry regulators and California state legislators.
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The 2023 CBC will return to a more normal personal-interaction format with an evening Welcome Reception on the 11th and a full day of informational seminars and meetings with legislators and regulators on the 12th.
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Senator Ted Gaines (Retired), Board Member, California State Board of Equalization, will present a morning session on “Vessel Property Assessment” at 9:30 am on April 12th, discussing California’s tax and business climate, vessel property assessment, and the role of the State Board of Equalization. Mr. Gaines represents the SBE First District where he is committed to providing transparent representation for his constituents in 34 California counties. Ted is also a small business owner and prior to his election to the SBE Board in 2018 he served 12 years in the State Legislature where he was a tireless voice for California taxpayers, ratepayers, businesses, and families.
This year’s Congress is being co-hosted by ten other boating related groups, including the National Marine Manufacturers Association, California Marine Affairs and Navigation Conference, Boat U.S., Personal Watercraft Industry Association, California Delta Chambers & Visitors Bureau, Recreational Boaters of California, Sacramento Valley Marine Association, California Association of Harbor Masters & Port Captains, California Yacht Brokers Associations, and the Coastal Conservation Association of California, bringing together the marine industry and boating community to help shape future boating policy, funding, and regulation in an ever-changing environment.
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BUSINESS FOR GOOD
Bill Yeargin is CEO of Correct Craft and the author of five books, including the best-seller Education of a CEO.
Business gets a bad rap, and it’s often deserved. Polls conducted in Florida, my home state, conclude that most people think businesses look out for themselves at the expense of their employees and the broader community.
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It is easy to understand why many believe businesses only focus on financial results. They hear earnings reports that seem exorbitant and often cannot understand why executives of public companies earn the compensation they do. These highly publicized news items make some companies seem cold-hearted and selfish, even when they may be trying to do the right thing.
The company I lead, Correct Craft, is a billion-dollar-plus business that’s nearly a century old. We have manufacturing plants across the United States and distributors in about 70 countries. While it’s a high-performing company, we also take seriously the why of our motto, “Making Life Better.”
Businesses like ours have a unique platform to make people’s lives better. We can make life better through how we deliver products and services to customers, how we treat employees and what kind of advocate we are for our industry. The most unusual and impactful way businesses can make life better is how we treat those who can never pay us back.
Philanthropy is one of the foundations of our company. We want to make great products, give great service, make money and reward employees, but we also want to use our platform for good.
Because we identify as a philanthropic organization, hardly a day goes by without someone asking for money. We make some donations, but the requestors are almost always disappointed when they learn donations are not a core part of our philanthropic strategy. Most are great causes, but we want to target our philanthropy so that it benefits those who need it outside our organization while simultaneously helping our team.
This works by targeting most of our giving toward projects to which our team can contribute time. For instance, we have been recognized by Habitat for Humanity because we funded several of its home projects. Habitat for Humanity is appealing to us because our team can invest their skills and time to help build the homes.
During the past 15 years, I have taken employees to Cambodia, India, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and across Central America and the Caribbean to help people who will never be able to repay us. Our teams across the United States work locally with organizations in their communities, assisting people who most need help.
Our strategy is based on the belief that one of the best things we can do for our team members is to offer them a higher purpose. We are a high-performing business, but we want to be high-performing in our communities, too. This energizes employees who are excited to be part of a team that is making lives better.
People often ask about the financial cost of the service projects we undertake. They also suggest it would be financially prudent to make donations, rather than to send people around the world to serve. These are legitimate concerns, but we believe combining our gifts of money with time and talent benefit both the people we are serving and our team.
While I believe our motivations are right, related to serving our communities, our culture of service results in a substantial positive impact on our organization.
Service significantly impacts the organizational culture at Correct Craft. When people are focused on a purpose higher than just themselves, it improves everything within the organization. Even those who choose not to participate in service projects — they are voluntary — are impacted. Service helps drive an unselfish organizational culture.
Also, people want to work for a company that makes an impact. Finding good employees is challenging. However, a culture of service and higher purpose plays a significant role in helping us recruit and retain exceptional team members.
Although our service projects are expensive, we have yet to try to quantify the return on investment. However, I am convinced that a culture of service has a dramatic, positive impact on our financial results. People are energized to be part of a team that cares, and it shows up in all kinds of ways, including financially.
We are far from perfect and make many mistakes, but we work hard to leverage our business platform for impact. We are trying to Make Life Better. When organizations use their platforms for good, it greatly impacts our communities and the world. I encourage you to join us.
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Tucked in Marin County’s San Rafael Bay located north of San Francisco, lies Safe Harbor Loch Lomond Marina. One of the largest marinas in the North Bay with over 500 slips up to 62’ long, is currently undergoing a cosmetic and structural upgrade that will last for many years to come.
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Sometimes marinas are in good structural order and rehabilitation of decking and fendering creates a new look that enhances the cosmetics of the marina. The existing layout worked well, and the existing dock framework was in good working order, so Bellingham Marine is currently installing modern floats, new tri-frames with poly covers, and new composite decking throughout, utilizing the existing framework for a modern, upgraded look with lower maintenance.
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The renovation began in 2022, and about 90% of the marina remains open to slip holders and visitors during the project. Bellingham Marine is working closely with the marina managers to coordinate the transition of construction from dock to dock, with Loch Lomond management moving vessels in and out of slips as BMI completes renovations at each dock. Bellingham Marine is well-versed in working with marina operators to minimize disruption by creating phased project plans to keep a minimum number of slips available to tenants and visitors.
As with all renovation projects, a few areas requiring additional attention were uncovered as the work progressed. As a licensed general and electrical contractor, Bellingham Marine is skilled in all aspects of marina construction and has the experience and manpower to handle unplanned repairs as they arise during the course of a project. As the work progressed, BMI completed additional electrical and mechanical repairs and upgrades, as well as replacement of damaged boards, stringers, cleats, and hardware.
Whereas new construction tends to move a lot more quickly, with demolition and removal of existing infrastructure and sub assembled components that were manufactured offsite brought in for installation, rehabilitation requires constant active time onsite and is completed dock-by-dock, requiring a longer crew presence. Bellingham Marine is about halfway through the marina renovation and is currently onsite with completion expected later this year.
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"What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” ~ Jane Goodall
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Dockwalker conducting boater education prompted by the CA Boater Kit and its questionnaire. Source: Civicorps
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Become a Partner Dockwalker by taking one of our FREE trainings!
Click the hyperlinked dates below to register, once you are registered we will email you the Disclaimer form you need to complete and the training handouts.
NORTHERN CA TRAININGS:
• Saturday, March 4th (10 am to 12:45 pm). Virtual training, register here
• Saturday, April 1st, 2023 (10 am to 12:45 pm). Virtual training, register here
• Saturday, April 29, 2023 (10 am to 12:45 pm). In-person training at the Oakland Yacht Club, register here If we don't reach our targeted registration, this training will be virtual. You will be notified by Monday, April 24th, 2023 and a link for the virtual training will be provided to you.
• Saturday, May 6th, 2023 (10 am to 12:45 pm). In-person training at the Sacramento Marina, register here If we don't reach our targeted registration, this training will be virtual. You will be notified by Monday, May 1st, 2023 and a link for the virtual training will be provided to you.
SOUTHERN CA TRAININGS:
• Saturday, March 25, 2023 (10:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.) Virtual Training Please register here
• Saturday, April 15, 2023 - In Person Training - 10:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Marina Del Rey at the Del Rey Yacht Club here If we don’t reach our targeted registration, this training will be virtual. You will be notified by April 10th.
• Saturday, May 13, 2023 - In Person Training - - 10:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. San Diego at the Silver Gate Yacht Club Register here If we don’t reach our targeted registration, this training will be virtual. You will be notified by May 8th. training will be virtual.
• Saturday, June 10, 2023 - Virtual Training (10:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m). Virtual Training Please register here
Refresher Trainings If you have been trained in the last three years, please register for a refresher training, as follows:
Northern CA:
• Saturday, April 22, 2023 - 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. - Virtual Training, Register here
• Thursday, May 11, 2023 - 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. - Virtual Training, Register here
Southern CA:
• Saturday, March 18, 2023 - Virtual Training (10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m). Please register here
• Thursday, April 27, 2023 - Virtual Training (5:30 pm to 7 pm).
Once you are registered for a training, you will receive an email with the Disclaimer form needed to complete and the training handouts AND a Zoom link to the training (no account needed), which requires a computer with internet access (if no computer microphone, you can use a phone to call in while online).
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Dockwalkers are trained to safely engage members of the public and the boating community to adopt clean boating practices. Dockwalkers share clean boating information with boaters and distribute educational 2023 California Boater Kits, while visiting marinas, launch ramps, marine supply stores, boat shows special events, or wherever boaters are. "Dockwalker" is only a general term because you are not limited to "walking the docks" in order to talk to boaters about safety and clean boating practices. Remember safety and the environment go hand in hand.
Dockwalking is a fantastic way to interact with boaters to help keep California's marinas, waterways, and ocean clean and healthy. The training provides an overview of potential sources of boat pollution, federal and state laws, environmentally-sound boating practices, information on how to conduct Dockwalking, and an overview of the educational materials Dockwalkers will distribute.
Since 2000, more than a 1,000 Dockwalkers have taught 100,000 boaters about oil, fuel, sewage, trash and marine debris prevention. Participation in the program, including the training sessions, qualifies as community service.
Anyone from 15 to 100 years young with an interest in water quality and sharing clean boating information (regardless of your background) can become a Dockwalker!
This program provides tons of benefits to:
Program implemented by the California State Parks, The California Coastal Commission and The Bay Foundation in partnership with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, the US Power Squadrons, Save Our Shores, Lake Berryessa Partnership and many more organizations.
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TRADE MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS:
Big news coming from Australia’s leading Marine Fender manufacturer ProFender Australia™ this year with their expansion into the lucrative USA Marine industry and the inception of ProFender America™.
ProFender International™ as they are now known have been trading here on the Gold Coast in Australia for over 20 years and are now manufacturing out of their new state of the art facility in Huntington Beach California on the West Coast of the USA.
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These are very exciting times for myself and our entire team says Ross Cooney the CEO/President of ProFender International™ For years we’ve been exporting ProFender Products around the world with the demand in the USA’s marine industry increasing rapidly in the recent past leading us to this expansion which has been nearly three years in the making.
We pride ourselves in being the industry leading Vessel protection provider with constant research and development ensuring we stay at the forefront of our market now and into the future.
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
With Marine Recreation Association being the largest professional organization of marina, boatyard, hospitality, and other marine industry owners and operators located throughout the western United States with additional members in Canada, Mexico, and Australia, our mission is to provide a united voice in representing the interests of the boating industry, and to help educate and inform in all areas of recreational boating. MRA would like to welcome the following companies to our association:
BAE Boats
North Lake Tahoe Boat Rental
ProFender America
Tahoe Boat Company Owners Association
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TO OUR MRA MEMBERS
AND FUTURE MEMBERS
“Save the Date” for the 7th Annual California Boating Congress that will take place on April 11 & 12, 2023. The two-day event will begin with an evening reception, followed the next day by presentations, lunch and additional meetings with State Legislators. Planning is in the early stages and more information will be available in the next month.
Today I sent an email out to the Bay area marinas regarding the 2023 Slip Survey. The last time this survey was done was in 2019. The survey is being conducted in cooperation with the Northern California Ocean’s Marina Recreation Association, the California Association of Harbor Masters & Port Captains and the San Francisco Bay Marina Manager’s Group. If you did not receive the email, please email me at mra@marina.org and I will send you the survey form. Only those who participate will have access to the final survey results.
Our FREE Educational Series webinars are still available for viewing and can be accessed at:
To our trade members, please send me your press releases on new products or services you might have. The Trade Member Highlight section is a free opportunity to advertise them! I am reaching out to all of you and asking you to send me a press release when you have a new product or service that you would like for us to highlight. There will be one each month and will be placed according to submission date. This is one more way for us to promote your support and dedication to the association. We would also like to be included in your list of press release recipients.
Many times the contact name for membership changes during the year and unless it is around renewal time, we may not be aware of the change. Please take a look at your profile and make sure to let us know if there are any changes in contact names, addresses, phone and fax numbers or email addresses so we can have the most up-to-date information for you. Also, if you do not have at least 1 logo and 1 photo (of your marina or product) please email them to mra@marina.org so they can be uploaded. You can now also add a YouTube video if you have one.
Thank you and stay safe!
Mariann
Mariann Timms
Operations Administrator
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