MRAA Urges Army Corp to Address Invasive Species Threat in the Great Lakes

MRAA, along with several other recreational boating and conservation partners, signed a joint letter to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, R.D. James, requesting expedited consideration of the Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP) at Brandon Road Lock and Dam – an important measure to prevent the spread of Asian carp to the Great Lakes region. The letter is one of the first actions taken by the recently formed Boating and Fishing Aquatic Invasive Species Coalition, which is comprised of stakeholder organizations from around the country to present a united front on Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) policies at the federal level.

The letter states that, “Recreational boating and angling is embedded within the Great Lakes history and economy. In 2015, the Great Lakes region accounted for 26.5% of all registered boats throughout the country, accounting for more than 3.1 million registered recreational boats. In the Great Lakes region, the recreational boating industry contributes $36.4 billion to the economy, provides nearly 195,000 jobs and supports more than 7,150 businesses. The fishing industry in the Great Lakes is also a robust economic driver with 1.95 million anglers, adding $5.6 billion annually to the Great Lakes regional economy and nearly 45,000 jobs.

“As you know, Asian carp were discovered last year just nine miles from Lake Michigan. If they were to infiltrate into the Great Lakes, it could be devastating for the region’s citizens and economy.

“Our organizations believe that the TSP at Brandon Road Lock and Dam is the most feasible current option for protecting the Great Lakes region from Asian carp. However, we are concerned with the current USACE timeline outlined in the TSP, specifically the February 2019 Senior Leadership Panel and inclusion in the August 2019 Chief’s Report. This timeline would delay Congressional approval and authorization until 2020 and 2021 respectively. Our organizations respectfully urge you to conduct the Senior Leader’s Panel this coming fall, so that the TSP process can continue quickly.”

To read the full letter, click here.

DOI Releases Video On Improving America’s Recreation Infrastructure

It’s time to get serious about the maintenance backlog in America’s Great Outdoors.  That’s the message of a striking new video from the Department of the Interior.  The video was premiered at a Capitol Hill event hosted by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and featuring Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Steve Daines (R-MT), Angus King (I-ME), Rob Portman (R-OH) and Mark Warner (D-VA) July 31. To see the full video, click here.

America’s public lands and waters host nearly 900 million recreation visits every year, providing significant economic benefits to communities across the country.  But major problems still remain.  The combined deferred maintenance and repair backlog of the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service – which amounts to $18.62 billion and includes trails, campgrounds, roads, visitor centers, bathrooms, staff housing, water systems, thousands of historic buildings and more – hampers access to, and enjoyment of America’s public lands and waters by visitors everywhere.

“Last year, more than 300 million people visited America’s national parks.  Unfortunately, many roads and bridges, visitor centers, historic buildings, trails and campgrounds in our parks need critical repairs and upgrades to meet the needs of today’s visitors,” says the video.  “The national parks are special places of wonder.  We must meet the challenge of preserving them for our children and grandchildren.”

Public-private partnerships hold the potential to augment public financing of maintenance and repair projects.  Federal land management agencies should submit request for proposals to the public to operate, maintain, improve, or fund outdoor recreation assets with insufficient funding before they’re forced to close, unless there is an imminent health or safety threat. This would provide opportunities for current businesses, non-profit organizations, volunteers, concessioners, and other governmental and private entities to weigh in on increasing access and improving infrastructure on public lands and waters.

To learn more about how public-private partnerships can help overcome the maintenance backlog and improve visitor experiences, click here. To learn more about the United State Senate’s “Restore Out Parks Act,” click here. To learn more about action in the U.S. House of Representatives, click here.

Tell Congress to Restore The Everglades

Restoring the Everglades’ historic water flows is a huge task that requires sustained forward progress on numerous projects. 

One such project is the new Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir. The reservoir plan was recently submitted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to Congress for approval. This must happen in 2018 if we expect real progress to be made and avoid a costly two-year delay before construction can begin.

This month, the full Senate is expected to vote on this year’s Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). This legislation will determine the future of Everglades progress for the next two years. While a “placeholder” for the Reservoir is in the current bill, the Senate must replace it with specific language to actually authorize the project now that the U.S. Army Corps has signed off on it.  

We need your help to tell Congress to authorize the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir in the upcoming 2018 Water Resources Development Act. 

Click Here To Take Action Now!

Brunswick Establishes Boating Services Network, New Name Reflects Expanded Mission

Brunswick Corporation announced the establishment of Boating Services Network. Formerly known as Brunswick Financial Services, Boating Services Network embraces a new brand name along with an expanded mission of leveraging its current category leadership in marine dealer and consumer finance and related operational services, to offer a wide array of unique and differentiated services that will drive growth with consumers, dealers, marinas, and other marine service providers by enhancing the boater experience.

“Over the past 16 years, we have built a strong foundation of services to help marine dealers across the industry deliver world-class, boat-buying experiences every single day,” said Cecil Cohn, vice president – Boating Services Network. “We see new and significant opportunities, where our well-established service portfolio can help attract and retain more boating customers. We welcome all partners to help create new benefits that will be good for boaters, the industry, and for Brunswick.”

According to Cohn, Boating Services Network will grow in several ways.

  • First, it will continue to partner with dealers in delivering a superior purchase
    experience by innovating and growing its current services offering.
  • Second, it will create “upstream” services that help attract the next generation of
    boaters, capitalizing on evolving consumer trends and emerging business
    models.
  • And third, it will create new “downstream” services that improve consumers’
    peace of mind and enhance the overall boat ownership experience.

“We are committed to servicing the entire boating value stream to better deliver unique and highly valued services to boaters. This new brand effectively communicates our expanded mission, which extends well beyond financing to the marine community,” Cohn explained.

Today, among its current array of services, Boating Services Network offers comprehensive retail financing, extended product protection, and boater insurance services in cooperation with boat and engine dealers nationwide. In addition, the company creates private label warranty and promotional financing programs for leading boat and engine OEM’s, as well as helps more than 2,500 dealers in the U.S. and Canada build their businesses with marketing, employee motivation and operation- enhancing services. Additionally, competitive boat and engine inventory financing programs for dealers are also available through Brunswick Acceptance Company, a joint venture with Well Fargo.

“From the strength and momentum of this industry-leading services platform, we see Boating Services Network as a key element in Brunswick’s strategy for growth in the marine space, where we are forging new ground by offering innovative, technology- enabled services and solutions that make boating easier for the consumer,” said David Foulkes, president – Brunswick Marine Consumer Solutions.

“As part of our recently announced Marine Consumer Solutions organization,
Boating Services Network’s ability to support dealers and other industry partners with a comprehensive set of services that drive satisfaction and peace of mind is unmatched,” Foulkes continued. “We expect to announce several exciting initiatives in the coming months that leverage these unique strengths to bring more boaters to our industry, and further contribute to the growth and success of our marine partners.”

MRAA Seeks Talent for Awards Celebration

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announced today that it has opened the Call for Nominations and Applications process for the “Fork It Over” Marine Industry Talent Show. This event will be held during the second annual MRAA Opening Night Awards Celebration at the 2018 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, Dec. 9-12 in Orlando, Fla.

The MRAA Awards Celebration will not only shine a spotlight on marine industry workforce efforts, showcasing a series of awards and scholarships to be presented by both the MRAA and the MRAA Educational Foundation, but it will also wow the audience by unveiling the hidden talents of several marine industry professionals throughout the evening’s activities. Attendees will be able to vote for their favorite Marine Industry Talent Show acts through their donations, which will benefit the MRAA Educational Foundation.

Those interested in supporting the workforce development efforts of the foundation by applying for the opportunity to share their talent with attendees or nominating a colleague or partner can fill out a short form.

“The workforce challenges faced by our industry are very serious,” explains Jeff Siems, President of the MRAA Educational Foundation, “But the MRAA Educational Foundation is thrilled to be able to inspire so much fun while raising money to fund scholarships and awards that combat those challenges.”

The MRAA Educational Foundation will present several life-changing scholarships, worth a total of more than $30,000, including Technical Scholarships, the Marine Industry College Scholarship, the Kevin Lodder Scholarship, and the Duane Spader Leadership Development Scholarship, during the MRAA Opening Night Awards Celebration. Additionally, the Foundation will recognize the Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year. The MRAA itself will recognize Marine Industry Certified Dealerships, in addition to honoring a MRAA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

The MRAA Opening Night Awards Celebration has already generated the sponsorship support of Barletta Boats, Correct Craft, Priority One Financial Services, and Protective Asset Protection. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Allison Gruhn.

To be held Sunday, Dec. 9 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Rosen Plaza Hotel, the MRAA Awards Celebration will immediately follow the MDCE’s regular opening night poolside reception. That reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., after which the doors to the Awards Celebration will open to all MDCE attendees for entertainment, awards and scholarships presentations.

About the MRAA Educational Foundation
As part of its mission to create a strong and healthy boating industry, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is committed to offering training, education and professional development opportunities to its members and the entire marine dealer community. In 2004, the association launched the MRAA Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 corporation, to provide financial support for education, training and professional development in the recreational marine trades. For more information or to donate to support the foundation’s mission, visit MRAA.com/foundation.

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.

MRAA History: Shirtsleeve Sessions

MRAA’s Shirtsleeve Sessions, which launched in 1977, represented the earliest days of MRAA’s Annual Conference. Leading dealers discussed and provided insights and solutions on the leading challenges and opportunities facing the marine business.


#MRAAhistory #dealerfocused #throwbackthurday

Yarmouth Boat Yard Becomes Dealer for Cutwater Boats

Yarmouth, Maine — New boat offerings at Yarmouth Boat Yard have grown once again. The dealership recently signed on to become a dealer for Cutwater Boats.
 
Cutwater Boats produces four models, each a contemporary interpretation of the classic downeast style, offering exceptional interior volume, a long list of standard features, and a revolutionary new hull form that combines a range of hydrodynamic design elements to deliver superior ride comfort, speed, economy, range and handling characteristics. And for all their onboard attributes, each Cutwater model is trailerable, making these boats perfect for exploring Maine’s many waterways.
 
“Expanding our offerings here at Yarmouth Boat Yard to include the Cutwater line fits perfectly into our business model. We already sell Ranger Tugs at our Moose Landing Marina location so logistically, it’s a pretty simple addition,” explained Steve Arnold, owner of Yarmouth Boat Yard, Moose Landing Marina, and Freedom Boat Club of Maine. “With Maine’s extensive shoreline and frequently changing weather patterns, cruiser style boats are very popular with our customers. These functional cruisers deliver performance, comfort and style that we believe our customers will love.”
 
“We were extremely impressed with how well Moose Landing Marina has done representing Ranger Tugs in Maine so when we were looking for a new dealer for our Cutwater Boats line, it made sense to reach out to their sister location Yarmouth Boat Yard,” stated Jeff Messmer, Vice President of Cutwater Boats. “Steve excels at building strong teams of professionals and we are confident they will excel at representing, servicing and promoting our boats in the northeast market.”
 
About Yarmouth Boat Yard
Yarmouth Boat Yard has been servicing and selling new and quality used boats since 1948. The full-service marina offers over 100 slips and both outdoor and indoor heated winter boat storage. Our expert technicians can handle everything from painting and detailing to engine overhauls, routine maintenance, or preparing your engine for the season. Our certified electronics specialists can assist with service and installation of all your marine electronics. For more information on Yarmouth Boat Yard, visit YarmouthBoatYard.com or call 207-846-9050.
 
About Cutwater Boats
As a division of Fluid Motion, LLC, manufacturer of the popular fleet of Ranger Tugs, Cutwater Boats offers complementary styling and performance, built to the same high standards of quality that have earned Fluid Motion a position of leadership in the boating industry, to provide cruising families a broad spectrum of choices in size, style and configuration. Count on the experience and resources of Fluid Motion to drive the emergence of Cutwater Boats as a favored choice among those who recognize an exceptional value when they see it.

MRAA to Host Second Annual Opening Night Awards Celebration

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announced today that it will host the second annual Opening Night Awards Celebration at the upcoming Marine Dealer Conference & Expo.

The MRAA Awards Celebration will shine a spotlight on marine industry workforce efforts, showcasing a series of awards and scholarships to be presented by both the MRAA and the MRAA Educational Foundation. Other recognitions will include Marine Industry Certified Dealerships, as well as the second annual MRAA Lifetime Achievement Award.

“In bringing this exciting event back to the marine industry for a second year, we’re looking to not only top the energy, laughs and celebratory vibe of last year’s event, which kicked off our annual conference in style,” explains Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA, “but also to recognize the men and women who work tirelessly to make our industry such a great place to work.”

The MRAA Educational Foundation will present several life-changing scholarships, worth a total of more than $30,000, including Technical Scholarships, the Marine Industry College Scholarship, the Kevin Lodder Scholarship, and the Duane Spader Leadership Development Scholarship. Additionally, the Foundation will recognize the Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year. The MRAA itself will recognize Marine Industry Certified Dealerships, in addition to honoring a MRAA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

In addition to the recognition of these outstanding individuals, the event will feature a Marine Industry Talent Show. Attendees will be able to vote for their favorite acts through their donations, which will benefit the MRAA Educational Foundation.

“Last year’s event not only celebrated the incredible passion and hard work that fuels our industry,” says Liz Walz, Vice President & Director of Education at the MRAA and Executive Director of the MRAA Educational Foundation, “but it also was a ton of fun. We can’t wait to learn more about the hidden talents within the marine industry community as part of this year’s event.”

The MRAA Opening Night Awards Celebration has already generated the sponsorship support of Barletta Boats, Correct Craft, Priority One Financial Services, Protective Asset Protection, Boating Industry and Soundings Trade Only. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Allison Gruhn.

To be held Sunday, Dec. 9 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Rosen Plaza Hotel, the MRAA Awards Celebration will immediately follow the MDCE’s regular opening night poolside reception. That reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., after which the doors to the Awards Celebration will open to all MDCE attendees for entertainment, awards and scholarships presentations.

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.

Track customer experiences at your dealership

It’s been 19 years since Joseph Pine and James Gilmore authored their groundbreaking book, “The Experience Economy,” which boldly predicted that “future economic growth lies in the value of experiences and transformations — goods and services are no longer enough.”

Whether Pine and Gilmore were premature in their prediction or it’s simply that their insight has multiplied over the last two decades, it’s become extraordinarily clear that their speculation has never been more accurate than it is today.

Experiences matter more now than ever before, and everywhere we turn, experts and businesses alike are preaching on the power of experiences. And please note: Customer experience-focused approaches for businesses are far different than the rather bland thinking that surrounds customer service and customer satisfaction.

As author, consultant and speaker Theresa Syer noted in her Dealership Certification Course, “Improve Loyalty With A Customer Experience Mindset,” customer service is defined as the most basic of interactions between a customer and a company. Its core focus is a single transaction that takes place at a specific time. “The customer asks for something. The employee provides it. Transaction complete,” Syer notes.

The customer experience, on the other hand, is the sum total of every interaction a customer has with your business. It includes the customer’s overall perception after every moment of contact throughout their relationship with your business. It’s the net result of your website, your phone greeting, your in-person meet and greet, your sales process, all the way through to interactions with the delivery person, service team and the yard staff. Customer service is a part of the experience, but it doesn’t define it, Syer explains.

In this scenario, you might provide outstanding customer service, but one other touchpoint — as small as it may be — could destroy the customer experience. Do you know for sure, how well your employees are focused on providing an outstanding customer experience?

Here’s a tool for you, courtesy of the Continuous Certification Course Theresa created for MRAA and its Certified Dealers. It’s just an introductory experience log that introduces participants to this course, which is rich with many other tools and resources to help you provide your customers with a much more rewarding experience. Print this form and use it to log the experiences you’re having every day when interacting with other businesses. And then use again to think through how your customers are interacting with your business. I recommend you have some of your customers log their experience with you so you can learn from it.

As Pine and Gilmore predicted back in the late 90s, customer experiences are the currency we deal with today. They matter more than we ever could have expected. Over the next few weeks, you’ll hear stories in this blog about some incredible experiences our staff members have had, and you’ll hear stories about some horrible experiences we have had.

Let’s start working today to ensure your customers are having only incredible experiences.