WASHINGTON (Jan. 27, 2025) — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) announced today that the Advisory Council of Marine Associations (ACMA) approved a new Coalition Agreement, establishing a set of principles to which members of the coalition will adhere. ACMA comprises both state and national marine trades associations, and the newly approved agreement ensures that all ACMA members agree on policy priorities in order to facilitate collaboration and coordination on advocacy efforts nationwide. Click here to view the ACMA Coalition Agreement.
Previously, ACMA met annually to approve a detailed set of policy resolutions; however, the group has adopted a Coalition Agreement in order to create a more durable, long-term solution that provides a more robust framework for the coalition and its members. Unlike policy resolutions, which address specific issues with specific policy prescriptions, the new coalition agreement aims to provide a comprehensive set of principles to guide long-term cooperation and strategic decision-making.
“Moving from annual Policy Resolutions to this Coalition Agreement marks a major evolution of ACMA and highlights coalition members dedication to investing in the long-term success of the coalition,” said Mike Sayre, MRAA Director of Government Relations. “As we continue to grow and build ACMA, one of our goals is to continue to be a resource for state marine trades associations, and with the adoption of the Coalition Agreement, we can spend more time working on overlapping policy priorities and supporting MTA’s advocacy efforts.”
In addition to working with ACMA members on the Coalition Agreement, MRAA leads bi-weekly calls where ACMA members provide updates on state and federal policy priorities as well as other relevant industry news in their region. These calls provide an opportunity to discuss legislative and regulatory actions impacting the industry and updates on the work any ACMA member is doing in their region. The MRAA began leading calls in late 2019 to increase collaboration among ACMA members and ultimately create a tight-knit network of marine trade associations that engage together on legislative and regulatory priorities.
“The MRAA is looking forward to another busy and successful year working with ACMA members throughout the country on policy priorities and we are excited to do so guided by our new Coalition Agreement,” said Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager. “Working with state marine trades associations on state and federal legislative and regulatory issues is crucial in ensuring that we are advocating for comprehensive solutions supported by all stakeholders in the recreational marine industry.”
State marine trade association involvement allows for direct stakeholder input, providing MRAA staff a comprehensive understanding of the issues impacting dealers throughout the country. Furthermore, collaborating with regional stakeholders ensures that local voices are leveraged where possible and provides an opportunity for those who stand to be impacted most to get engaged and provide meaningful input.
As the MRAA and ACMA continue to work together to advocate for marine retailers and the recreational marine industry at large, look for any updates on our social pages. Visit our bill-tracking page to see what we are monitoring in real time or our Advocacy Toolkit for ideas on how you can get engaged.
Should you have any questions or want to learn more about ACMA or MRAA Government Relations efforts, please reach out to Tokowicz, at Chad@mraa.com.
About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.
