June 2023 e-Newsletter

June 2023

From the Helm

Dear MRA Members and Guests,

Welcome to the June edition of our newsletter when

we eagerly embrace the arrival of summer and all the boating excitement it brings. We are in a vibrant boating season filled with memorable moments on the water and the camaraderie that unites our boaters and teams.



As we celebrate Independence Day this week, we honor the rich heritage and freedom that define our great nation. It is a time when families and friends gather to enjoy the splendor of our coastal waters, lakes, and rivers, reveling in the beauty of nature and the serenity that can only be found on a boat. The 4th of July reminds us of the values we hold dear and the unity we cherish as we come together to appreciate the treasures of our marine environments.



In this newsletter edition, we ask you to vote on the Marine Protected Area Management Priorities, watch the new video from Discover Boating and enjoy Bill Yeargin’s essay on the importance of rest. Additionally, we are excited to announce that the conference registration is open, it will be a great year, and we look forward to connecting in San Diego this October.

On behalf of the Marine Recreation Association, I’d like to warmly welcome our new members, Marsh McLennan Agency, BoatOps, and Pittsburg Marina: WELCOME ABOARD!

We extend our warmest wishes to you all and a memorable and spectacular summer season. Thank you for being a part of our community, and we look forward to connecting with you in person this October in San Diego.

With thanks,

Kate

QUICK LINKS:

MRA Website Marina Search Engine Marine Products & Services



Register Today for

the 51^st Annual MRA Educational Conference and Trade Show

Registration is open now for the 2023 Marine Recreation Association (MRA) Annual Educational Conference and Trade Show, set for October 16th through the 18th at the beautiful Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California, home to PGA golf tournaments, the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, and just twelve miles from the classic restaurants and entertainment of the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego.

This year's Educational Conference and Trade Show theme, Acknowledgment and Appreciation, will focus on the future, looking forward to new challenges and achievements in the marine industry as we move forward from COVID in an uncertain economy.

Early registration is open NOW . . . take advantage of the savings today!

Special hotel rates are also being offered at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines Resort from October 14th to the 18th, and attendees are invited to come early and stay late to enjoy the wonderful Southern California weather and amenities overlooking the white sand beaches and blue Pacific Ocean.

This year's Conference will kick off on Monday, October 16th with two special events occurring during the day, and a Welcome Reception for all attendees and guests that evening:

• The 28th Annual MRA Golf Tournament will tee-off at the Morgan Run Club & Resort in Rancho Santa Fe with a shotgun start at 7:30 AM, which will allow participants to also take part in the afternoon Electric Boat Sea Trials. Morgan Run Club & Resort is located just three miles from Del Mar and offers remarkable and challenging play for every level of player. The $119 tournament fee includes green fee, cart, range balls, drink tickets and food voucher, and the “best ball scramble” format will make this a fun event.

• Later in the day, an Electric Boat Sea Trial will be held at Safe Harbor Sunroad Marina giving participants an opportunity to experience this emerging technology first-hand and learn more about the myriad of opportunities and potential challenges facing the marine industry. Reservations are required and transportation to the marina is not provided, but car-pooling is always an option.

• The Conference Welcome Reception will be held Monday evening in the Conference Trade Show pavilion at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines conference center. Trade Show exhibits will be set up and the evening is always a wonderful opportunity for attendees to meet and mingle in an informal and fun atmosphere.

The regular Conference sessions will start early Tuesday morning with breakfast in the Trade Show pavilion, the President’s Welcome, and Keynote speaker, followed by two days of seminars and roundtable discussions covering a broad range of key industry management, operations, and marketing concerns. The Marine Trade Show will feature the latest technology, products, and services from leading industry vendors and contractors focused on innovation, growth, and profitability as the marine industry evolves in today’s rapidly changing world.

Registration and event information for the

2023 MRA Educational Conference & Trade Show is

posted now on the MRA website at www.marina.org or

go directly to the Conference website at

https://marina.swoogo.com/2023conf/begin

The Marine Recreation Association is a professional organization that represents marina owners, operators, and industry professionals located throughout the western United States with additional members in Canada, Mexico, and Australia. Created more than 50 years ago, the MRA actively promotes and represents recreational boating interests while providing educational management and operations seminars, and information for marine industry owners, operators, and staff.

For additional information about the MRA and all of its activities and interests, please contact Mariann Timms by phone at (209) 334-0661 or email at mra@marina.org.

• • • • • • • • • • MRA GOLFERS • • • • • • • • • • 

Register TODAY for the

28th Annual MRA Golf Tournament!

The 51st Annual Marine Recreation Association (MRA) Educational Conference and Trade Show, is set for October 16th through the 18th at the beautiful

Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines in La Jolla,

including this year’s annual MRA Golf Tournament to be played at the spectacular Morgan Run Club & Resort.

The Morgan Run Club & Resort is the perfect destination for this year’s annual MRA Golf Tournament. Located just three miles from Del Mar and the Pacific Ocean, in the heart of Rancho Santa Fe, the 27-hole championship golf course is the centerpiece of an unrivaled golf experience for every level of player. Developed in 1965 Morgan Run Club & Resort has continually evolved as a private country club, boutique hotel / resort, conference center and destination location. The course was most recently redesigned in 1996 by Jay Morrish and features an inspiring combination of beauty and challenge.

This year’s MRA Golf Tournament will tee-off with a shotgun start at 7:30 AM, Monday October 16th, in a “best ball scramble” tournament format, which will make this a fun and exciting event for all. The early start will also allow participants to take part in the afternoon Electric Boat Sea Trials at the Safe Harbor Sunroad Marina in San Diego. 

Register TODAY for a really FUN event! The $119 tournament fee includes green fee, cart, range balls, drink tickets, and food voucher. Transportation is not included and car-pooling is encouraged . . . Winners will be announced Monday evening at the MRA Conference Welcome Reception.

Share Your Feedback on

Marine Protected Area Management Priorities



OPC, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission), and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) are seeking your feedback on a draft prioritized list of the 28 adaptive management recommendations included in the Decadal Management Review (Review) of California’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network and Management Program. 

At the request of the Commission, CDFW drafted the priority list after considering all public comment received after the early 2023 release of the Review. Hundreds of comments were received from a diversity of entities and individuals, including tribes, government agencies, NGOs, the fishing community, MPA researchers, and members of the public. 

While all the recommendations in the Review are important, CDFW prioritized the list based on identified need, expected timeframe, input received, and level of information and resources available to advance the recommendations. Prioritizing the recommendations will help CDFW, the Commission, OPC, California Native American tribes, and partners focus efforts to achieve near-term, mid-term, and long-term priorities.  

The Commission asks for your feedback on the draft prioritized list to inform the July 20, 2023 meeting of the Commission’s Marine Resources Committee. For your written comments to be included in the July meeting materials, they must be submitted to the Commission by 5:00 p.m. on July 7. Visit the Commission website for instructions on submitting written comment and upcoming meeting information. The public is also welcome to join the meeting virtually or in person to provide public comment verbally. 

Read the Draft Prioritized List

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for more information on California’s MPA Network and Management Program or want to make sure you stay informed?  

• Take a deep dive into California MPAs and the Decadal Management Review on CDFW’s website 

• Sign up to receive CDFW’s Marine Region News 

• Get an overview of the MPA Management Program on our website 

• Subscribe to our announcements for the latest updates



Discover Boating Collaborates

with The Root on Video Focused

on New Boater FAQs



Discover Boating recently partnered with The Root, a national African American online magazine, to produce an educational video that answers frequently asked questions and provides helpful insight to new boaters. 

Presented by Discover Boating, the video titled, I Own a Boat: Ask Me Anything, features Bashon Mann, a Navy veteran and third-generation boat owner. Mann shares his expertise by answering 10 frequently asked questions about boat ownership, boat rentals, maintenance, and other popular boating topics.

Discover Boating will be releasing a series of shorter versions of The Root’s I Own a Boat: Ask Me Anything video through its social channels, highlighting FAQs throughout the summer.

Stay updated on the latest Discover Boating video and social content by following @DiscoverBoating on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.

To learn more about Discover Boating's strategic media partnerships, contact NMMA Vice President of Marketing, Kevin Williams at kwilliams@nmma.org. 



Grant Applications for the

Clean Vessel Act Education and

Outreach Program

DUE ON August 10, 2023

The California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is accepting grant applications for the Clean Vessel Act Education and Outreach Program. A maximum of $ $276,937 of federal funding per targeted region is available to organizations for educating coastal

and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta boaters about proper vessel sewage disposal, the use of pumpout facilities, and to monitor pumpout and dump stations in the identified regions.

The deadline to submit applications is August 10, 2023 at 10 am.

Information on the Grant Program, is available here

The 2023 grant application and complete guideline packet is available here

Submit hard copies to: 

California State Parks 

Division of Boating and Waterways 

Clean Vessel Education and Outreach Grant Program 

Attn: Ethan Tratner 

P.O. Box 942896 

Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 

Email submittals shall be sent to 

Vivian.Matuk@coastal.ca.gov and ethan.tratner@parks.ca.gov

As part of DBW’s commitment to provide clean, safe, and enjoyable recreational boating in California, DBW serves as the state CVA Program Grant Coordinator. This grant program serves as an important educational opportunity for organizations to inform the recreational boating community about sewage related issues, impacts, resources available to them, and proper vessel sewage disposal practices to encourage the use of pumpout facilities and mobile pumpout services.

The program targets the following two geographic regions in California (inland work performed beyond the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta area does not qualify for grant funding):

• San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary: San Mateo, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Sacramento, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Marin, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. 

• Southern California Coastal Counties: Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and San Luis Obispo counties.

Proposals that cover a portion of the above regions will be considered if, over time, the agency can expand program(s) to the entire region.

DBW will fund two grants (one for each targeted California geographic region) to develop and implement a 12-month Clean Vessel Act Education and Outreach Program. Each regional grant must include education and outreach efforts, and 

a pumpout / dump station monitoring program. Applications will be evaluated and ranked according to how each application proposal demonstrates comprehensive and proven methods for meeting grant program goals. The deadline to submit applications is Thursday, August 10th, 2023, by 10 a.m.

Grant funded by the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways with funding provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.

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Division of Boating and Waterways

Now Accepting Grant Applications for

Boating Infrastructure from Marina Operators

California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is now accepting applications from public and private marina owners for federal Boating Infrastructure Grants (BIG) for 2024. A total of $18 million is available for BIG projects nationally and the grants can fund up to 75% of total project costs, with a maximum available grant award of $1.5 million. Applications will be accepted through Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023.

Funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, BIG is a competitive program open to both publicly and privately owned marinas to renovate or construct visitor docks, restrooms, gangways, and dockside utility hook-ups to serve transient recreational boaters with vessels 26 feet or greater in length, staying fewer than 15 days.

Approved grant projects would provide the following resources to the recreational boating community:

• Enhance access to recreational, historic, cultural, and scenic resources.

• Strengthen community ties to the water’s edge and increase economic benefits.

• Promote public/private partnerships and entrepreneurial opportunities.

• Provide continuity of public access to the shore.

• Promote awareness of transient boating opportunities.

Interested applicants should first review the federal guidelines to determine if they meet the necessary requirements. Grants are available to qualifying projects on a competitive basis. The USFWS ranks and scores grant requests according to need, access, cost efficiency, matching funds, and innovations that improve user access to the waterways.

DBW, as the pass-through entity for the grant application process, reviews each application and sends the most eligible projects to the USFWS to compete against applicants from other states and territories. If awarded a USFWS grant, the DBW will manage the project through completion to ensure it meets federal requirements.

Marina operators eligible to compete in this program can receive an application packet by contacting Ethan Tratner at

ethan.tratner@parks.ca.gov or (916) 902-8823.

Ethan Tratner

Park and Recreation Specialist

California State Parks

Division of Boating & Waterways

http://dbw.parks.ca.gov

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Rest is a Weapon

Fighting through a training injury is never easy, and it was particularly frustrating last year when a pulled muscle halted my marathon preparation. My irritation resulted in a complaint about the setback to one of our Correct Craft teammates, Brie Carter, a waterski world champion who at 27 is wise beyond her years.

Brie looked at me and said, “You know, Bill, rest is a weapon.”

“What?” was my response, asking her to repeat it. She went on to explain how her trainer, who is her dad Chris Carter, taught her the importance of rest when she was preparing for competitions. Framing rest as a weapon could change my life.

Rest has already changed the world. Most people know Sir Isaac Newton as a great scientist, but few realize the degree to which his discoveries laid the foundation for our modern world. His work in math and science makes him one of the world’s five most influential people. Surprisingly, many of Newton’s most impactful discoveries happened not when he was working, but when he was on his family farm, out of work because the plague closed his university, Cambridge. Because Newton had downtime, we now enjoy technology beyond what the most visionary people of his time could imagine.

Leaders often tell me how busy they are. It makes them feel good to be busy, and they believe it is impressive. Busyness has become an important part of their self-identity. However, the same busyness that forms many leaders’ self-identity also drives down their productivity.

Self-identity is powerful. Some leaders view working six days or 50-plus hours a week as “who I am” and take great pride in their busyness. They don’t understand that more hours don’t necessarily equate to better results. That may be counterintuitive, but it is true. Identifying as someone who is busy may cost you a lot.

Our team tackles this problem intentionally and directly. One of our fundamental values is “Results > Activity.” Many of us at Correct Craft have a placard with this on our desks, and a sign with this phrase greets our team each morning when they walk into the office. We understand that our effort is wasted if we don’t get positive results. And if we get great results with less activity, it’s a sign that we are effective.

We can do several things, some of which may seem counterintuitive, to help us get better results.

Mindset

The most important mindset is to focus on results, not activity. This alone can transform your life. Another important mindset is to be a learner. Part of being a learner is acknowledging that you could be wrong. Needing to always be right takes a lot of energy, is stressful and reduces creativity. Finally, focus on what you can control. Focusing on what you cannot control is a waste of time and a chief culprit of driving busyness without results.

Self-Care

Self-care is how we ensure the goose that lays the golden eggs — you — stays healthy and productive. It includes rest, exercise, eating well and hydration. An important part of self-care is rest, which starts with getting a good night’s sleep. Last year, I took a master class on sleep that emphasized how important sleep is to productivity. It was eye-opening. Exercise is another important element of self-care. I love to exercise, and my experience is that exercise does not cost time; it gives me time by providing energy, mental clarity and emotional benefits.

During my marathon training, I was surprised to learn how much a proper diet impacted my ability to run; and eating well positively impacts our thoughts, as well as our energy levels. Finally, hydration may seem unimportant, but a couple of years ago, I started drinking 100 ounces of water daily, and the impact was very positive. On days when I am not drinking enough water, I can feel the difference physically, as well as in my energy level and mental clarity. Making self-care a priority will make you feel better and improve your ability to lead.

Unplug

This is the hard part. We are all so connected that it can be difficult to get away. But getting away from constant connection is essential. I am not particularly good at unplugging, but I do keep my phone in a different room than where I sleep. It is not smart to have the phone next to you while sleeping, and waking up to check your phone first thing in the morning or in the middle of the night is unhealthy.

I had a technology-free weekend a couple of years ago, and told my team and family I would not be connected. I told people how to reach me in an emergency, but other than that, I was unplugged. Another time, I unplugged inadvertently. Our family was vacationing in a houseboat on Lake Mead, and I didn’t realize until we were off the dock that the houseboat would be out of cell service. On both occasions, the world kept spinning with me unplugged, and after some initial withdrawal, it felt good not to be connected.

As I wrote about in the last issue, allow yourself to have fun.

Feeling pressured to work all the time is not good for you, your long-term productivity or your creativity.

There are times that require us to work extra hard. However, if you are doing it all the time, year-after-year, give yourself a break and see if it doesn’t make you a better leader. To sustain great leadership, you need to take care of yourself. Rest is a weapon.

Bill Yeargin is CEO of Correct Craft and the author of five books,

including the bestseller Education of a CEO.

Marine Development Inc. Expands Wave Attenuator Product Offering

Standard Lite-Duty, Heavy-Duty Max and Heavy-Duty Super Max Structures Are Designed to Protect Marinas and Boater’s Investments

Eufaula, OK. – Marine Development Inc. (MDI), a decades-long industry leader specializing in new marina construction, expansions, restoration and repair, wave attenuators, fuel docks and more, announced today it has expanded its wave attenuator offerings with three new product lines – Standard Lite-Duty, Heavy-Duty Max and Heavy-Duty Super Max.

Designed and manufactured to be the first line of defense against wind and vessel driven wake, MDI wave attenuators use proprietary frames and components configured for maximum energy absorption, with the built-in strength to stand the test of time in the harshest marine environments.

“MDI built Lakeway Marina a heavy-duty breakwater and installed it during low water when we needed it the most,” said Jodi Allen, Lakeway Marina. “Since we are currently in our low water configuration on Lake Travis, we needed another breakwater. They built it on time for us and we had it installed when moving our docks out to the main body. I would highly recommend MDI for any dock projects you may have.” Lakeway Marina is located in Austin, TX on Lake Travis and has 300 covered slips and 16 uncovered slips.

“Our marina sits on the south side of Lake Texoma and has approximately seven miles of wind and wave exposure to the north,” said Kaleb Rice, High Port Marina. “The strong north winds we see during the winter are fierce and relentless. Without our wave attenuators from MDI, our boathouses would take a beating and our time spent repairing and maintaining our docks would consume resources needed to focus on our customer experience. We have had other wave attenuators in the past, but nothing has handled the extreme conditions that we see quite like our current wave attenuators from MDI. Their reliability, customer focus and quick response when service is needed sets the standard for the industry. Thank you for protecting our docks and members’ boats!” High Port Marina is located on Lake Texoma and has more than 800 slips.

“We are pleased to be able to offer our customers a full line of wave attenuators capable of meeting the specific needs of almost any marina location,” said Scott Mauldin, president, MDI. “Every marina location presents its own challenges and conditions and at MDI, we listen to our customers to provide exactly the products that are appropriate for them. We don’t believe in cutting corners and are confident that our products will outlast and outperform anything on the market.”

Marine Development Inc. was founded by Steve and Roger Otis with a commitment to producing outstanding and sustainable marina and dock solutions for its customers. Over the past 40 years, the company has sought and achieved a reputation for superior products and exceptional customer service in marine construction. MDI’s seasoned and expert staff designs, builds and installs floating docks for commercial marinas, pump stations, wave attenuators, fuel docks and ship's stores. Examples abound on lakes across America.

For more information about Marine Development Inc., visit www.marinedev.com. 

About MDI: Marine Development Inc. designs, builds and installs floating docks for commercial marinas, pump stations, wave attenuators, fuel docks and ship stores. Their experience in the industry spans over 32 years, and their projects can be found in lakes waterways all across the United States. Seasoned experts in marine construction, MDI has developed and maintained a reputation for superior products and exceptional customer service, promising products delivered on time and on budget, guaranteed. For more information, visit www.marinedev.com.

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:

Boat Ops

Marsh McLennan Agency

Pittsburg Marina



To Our MRA Members

and Future Members

To date, I have received a little over 50% of the 2023-24 membership dues renewals. You should have received an email in Mid-May for your 2023-24 MRA dues renewal which are due on July 1st. There have also been reminder emails about every 15 days that have gone out. If you did not receive any of these reminders, please contact me and I will send an email to access your account.

SAVE THE DATE for the 51st Annual MRA Educational Conference & Trade Show which will be held October 16 -18, 2023 at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines. Registration is now open. The schedule of events is coming along nicely and looks to exceed last year’s. Registration is open, so register now before early registration ends on August 19, 2023. If paying by check, it will need to be postmarked by that date.

I am always looking for articles for the newsletters. If you have anything to share, or find an article you think our membership would like to see, please send it to me.

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 us to highlight. There will be one each month and will be placed according to the 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.

Our FREE Educational Series webinars are still available for viewing and can be accessed at: https://www.marina.org/cpages/mra-educational-series-seminars. 

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 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

Email: timms@marina.org