Ambitious Tax Reform on Deck for 2014

Tax reform will be hotly contested in Washington this year, as groups campaign to retain valuable tax breaks for their clients and respective industries. Partisan divide over the goals of tax reform may be even more controversial in 2014, with Democrats seeking to raise revenues and Republicans advocating for a revenue-neutral reform bill.

MRAA remains concerned that 2014 tax reform will include elimination of (or a significant reduction in) the second-home mortgage interest deduction that’s often used to validate the cost of boats purchased by many middle class Americans.

Tax-writing Congressional leaders Rep. Dave Camp (R- Michigan) of the House Ways and Means Committee and Sen. Max Baucus (D-Montana) of the Senate Finance Committee worked on a major tax reform bill last year that closed several loopholes and deductions — including consideration of the second home mortgage deduction. But Congressional gridlock prevented the bill from being presented for a vote.

Rep. Camp is pushing forward in 2014 to complete the tax reform. He does not support the budget-busting tax extender bill, and both Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington) omitted reauthorization of tax extenders from their two-year budget bill passed in December 2013.

MRAA is monitoring the issue of tax reform closely and will provide updates as new information becomes available throughout the year.

The 411 on Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization

MRAA supports this year’s reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the primary law governing U.S. commercial saltwater fisheries.

The, named after former U.S. Senators Warren Magnuson (Washington) and Ted Stevens (Alaska), was originally enacted in 1976 and has been reauthorized several times. It’s due for reauthorization again in 2014.

Over the years, most Magnuson-Stevens Act amendments have been in response to overfishing. Fish management in the United States is controlled through eight regional fish councils that set per annum catch limits. Generally, the law does not address concerns of recreational anglers.

Recognizing the strong connection between recreational fishing and boating, MRAA is closely monitoring progress of the Magnuson-Stevens bill through Congress. MRAA supports a more localized fish management program that’s community based and voluntary, where the economic needs of a local community are considered in any fish management decision; the implementation of science-based catch limits to rebuild fish populations; and the avoidance of weak fish stocks (and subsequent targeting of more robust stocks).

MRAA believes certain regulations that apply to commercial fishing, such as designated fishing zones and mandates that dictate where or when to fish, should not apply to recreational fishing.

MRAA Signs Regulatory Reform Letter

MRAA joined several other pro-business trade associations under leadership of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce by signing a letter of support for H.R. 2804, the Achieving Less Excess in Regulations and Requiring Transparency (ALERT) Act. The letter was sent to all members of the House of Representatives.

H.R. 2804 includes major principles of accountability, transparency and fairness drawn directly from several bills. The bill passed the House by a vote of 236-179, with the support of 10 Democrats.

Taken together, reforms of the ALERT Act would allow Congress and the public to reassert control over a federal regulatory bureaucracy that is unaccountable and unfair to business. Specifically, provisions of the bill would: (1) Require federal agencies to submit monthly and annual reports of planned new rulemakings, including estimated costs and benefits to the public; (2) Ensure greater transparency during rule development by allowing public access to data on which an agency relies and requiring agencies to consider lower cost options; (3) Allow stakeholders to receive notice of draft settlements and be given an opportunity for involvement in the drafting process; and (4) Expand the required scope of regulatory impact analysis.

Bill Takes Aim at Great Lakes Invasive Species

On February 5, Rep. Candice Miller (R-Michigan) introduced H.R. 4001, the Defending Against Aquatic Invasive Species Act, to authorize swift preventive action to stop Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes. The bill has been referred to the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, where no action has yet been scheduled. H.R. 4001 has four co-sponsors.

At an estimated cost of $16 billion, Rep. Miller’s bill would authorize the Corps to completely seal the boundary between the Illinois River and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal by building a barrier to keep the invasive carp out. Miller maintains it’s the most foolproof way of stopping advancement of this destructive species.

Since the 1970s, our nation has been working to stop Asian carp from migrating up the Mississippi River watershed. MRAA has previously sought protection against carp migration by asking the Corps to install electronic barriers at the northern end of the Illinois River and along the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (to date, three have been built); promoting fish processing plants to prepare for exportation of Asian carp (two have been built on the Illinois River); promoting fishing tournaments aimed at catching Asian carp; and authorizing a study examining how to further curtail the advancement of Asian carp form the Great Lakes. Today, the canal is the only link between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River.

MRAA is working with the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) to develop a position on the bill.

MRAA Hires Membership Coordinator

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) today announced the hire of Hannah Muerhoff as MRAA membership coordinator. Muerhoff assumed the role in late January and now serves as the primary contact for all MRAA membership-related inquiries from both current and prospective members.

“Hannah comes to MRAA with a solid background in fundraising,” says Matt Gruhn, MRAA president. “She has an excellent understanding of association management, and her skill set as it relates to member outreach and development will be of tremendous value to association members moving forward. We’re excited to have Hannah on the team and look forward to her leading the charge of maintaining and growing the current MRAA membership base.”

Muerhoff is a recent graduate, with honors, from Minnesota’s St. Cloud State University and earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Political Science and International Relations. She brings with her to MRAA more than three years experience in association development and outreach, including an internship with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota at which she helped secure donations for several association initiatives and participated in regular member outreach.

In her role as MRRA membership coordinator, Muerhoff will be responsible for all member relations, outreach and solicitation efforts. She will serve as the main contact for member-related questions, including helping current members learn and understand the myriad benefits MRAA offers as a perk of membership, as well as working to recruit new members to the association. Muerhoff will likewise serve as a liaison to the MRAA Membership Committee and maintain the MRAA membership database.

Among her goals as membership coordinator, Muerhoff plans to make the MRAA membership renewal process more efficient for existing members and will work to engage and interact with both new and renewing members on a more personal level. With 30 tangible benefits available to both U.S. and Canadian MRAA members at present, she also seeks to further expand these offerings and ensure members throughout North America are able to take full advantage of their association benefits.

“These are exciting times for MRAA, as the association is growing at an impressive pace, and I’m thrilled to come on board and be a part of that continued growth and success,” says Muerhoff. “I look forward to sharing my enthusiasm for this new role with both current and prospective MRAA members in the hopes of delivering them a rewarding membership experience.”

To learn more about becoming an MRAA member or discuss current MRAA member initiatives or benefits, contact Hannah Muerhoff at 763-333-2420 or hannah@mraa.com.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the companies that interact with the boater in their community must thrive. Those businesses determine the boater’s experience and are the leading factor in the industry’s success. MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those businesses, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit ###

American Boating Congress Draws 36 Industry Organizations as Co-hosts

In 2013, the American Boating Congress (ABC) was co-hosted by 31 industry organizations who worked together to create a dynamic and engaging program, that met the needs of the entire recreational boating industry. This year, driven by 2013’s success, 36 industry partners have agreed to co-host ABC, answering the call to strengthen the industry’s collective advocacy impact. ABC will be held in Washington, D.C. on May 5-7, 2014.

This year’s co-hosts are an integral part of planning ABC by contributing their time and expertise to develop the overall ABC program, and by encouraging their members to attend and participate in ABC. Co-hosts include:

• American Boat Builders & Repairers Association
• Association of Marina Industries
• Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association
• Boating Industry Magazine
• BoatUS
• Boy Scouts/Sea Scouts
• Boating Trades Association of Metropolitan Houston
• Center for Coastal Conservation
• Connecticut Marine Trades Association
• Florida Yacht Brokers Association
• International Boat Industry Magazine
• Lake Erie Marine Trades Association
• Marina Dock Age
• Megayacht News
• Michigan Boating Industries Association
• Marine Recreation Association
• Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
• Marine Trades Association of New Jersey
• National Boating Federation
• National Marine Lenders Association
• National Marine Distributors Association
• National Marine Manufacturers Association
• National Marine Trade Council
• National Safe Boating Council
• North Central Marine Association
• Northwest Marine Trade Association
• Professional Boat Builder Magazine
• Rhode Island Marine Trades Association
• Sail America
• Soundings Trade Only
• South Carolina Marine Association
• States Organization for Boating Access
• U.S. Superyacht Association
• Wisconsin Marine Association
• Yacht Brokers Association of America
• Water Sports Industry Association

NMMA President Thom Dammrich says “NMMA is thrilled to once again see a growing number of organizations from across a broad industry spectrum partnering for this important event. Advocacy opportunities like ABC begin with each one of us. By joining forces we can use ABC to reach a much broader Congressional representation, educating them about the significant impact that recreational boating has on the U.S. economy and other important issues affecting our businesses, employees and customers.”

While the complete agenda is currently in development, ABC will once again feature prominent policymakers to discuss industry specific issues. Registration is now open this year. When registering two or more people at the same time, registrants will receive a $25 discount off each registration. For more information or to register, visit nmma.org/government/abc/registration.aspx.

For questions or media inquiries, please contact Lauren Dunn at 202-737-9752 or ldunn@nmma.org.

Interested in becoming a co-host? There’s still time! Contact Laura Genovese at lgenovese@nmma.org or 202-737-9764. For live updates on ABC, follow @therealnmma, #ABC2014.

 

About the American Boating Congress
ABC is the industry’s premiere legislative conference, bringing industry leaders together to help influence public policy and present a unified front on issues that impact the recreational boating industry. ABC offers attendees a unique opportunity to discuss and learn about state and federal legislation, get first-hand insight from policymakers and network with other industry leaders. To learn more about ABC please visit http://www.nmma.org/abc.

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Dealers Excited About New Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program

MINNEAPOLIS — The Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program (MICD) has unveiled a new online video promoting the recently restructured program, which makes it easier and more affordable for marine dealers to get certified, and so far buzz surrounding the changes has been overwhelmingly positive.

“I like the fact that you’ve made it a bit more affordable,” Jon Kukuk, owner of Nest Egg Marine in Marinette, Wis., says of the program. “This actually could end up making you money — on top of the fact that you’re going to be a better dealer and you should be making money anyway.”

The video highlights “the next generation” of the MICD Program, which emphasizes a lower cost of entry for dealers interested in becoming certified, as well as a structural tiered approach allowing certification at three different levels based on varying degrees of cost and commitment. In addition to making the program more accessible and affordable, the value of program participation has significantly increased, specifically in the areas of marketing, education and tangible benefits aligned with the various program tiers.

“Having the baby steps getting into the program and having that incentive is like, ‘OK; it’s not costing us anything to get started and get our foot in the door,’” says David deAndrade, general manager of White Lake Marine in White Lake, N.C.

Changes to the MICD Program were unveiled at the 2013 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, held in Orlando this past November. The video provides a brief, easily digestible overview of the new program and what dealer reaction has been to the rollout thus far.

“Excitement and enthusiasm for the new MICD Program is palpable throughout the industry,” says Sonja Moseley, director of certification and benefits at the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, which manages and markets the MICD Program on behalf of Grow Boating. “Dealers are not only receptive to the new three-tier approach, but many have demonstrated renewed interest in becoming — and staying — certified. Just four months after the new program was unveiled, we’ve already seen a 33 percent increase in participation.”

Watch the full MICD Program video online by visiting mraa.com/cert_testimonials.

About the Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program
Managed by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), the Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program (MICD) is dedicated to improving the customer experience at the retail level. The first step in the certification process focuses on establishing a high level of customer satisfaction through communication, appearance and quality. The second tier of certification continues to enhance the customer experience by implementing processes for overall dealership functionality. At the program’s Five Star level, established organizational procedures are implemented to ensure smooth operations and happy customers. To learn more about the MICD Program, visit MRAA.com/certification.

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Bradford Marine Joins My-Villages Innovation Partners

Hobe Sound, Fla. – March 6, 2014 – My-Villages, a leading provider of marine mobile technology, is proud to announce that Bradford Marine, a premier name with shipyard and brokerage facilities in Fort Lauderdale and the Bahamas, is the first brokerage in the nation to arm customers with mobile technology designed to simplify boat ownership.

Bradford Marine will use The Boat Village, a mobile platform that simplifies communication and collaboration, to make it easier for owners to coordinate service and maintain their vessels.

Bradford Marine will make The Boat Village Premium service available to all of their customers, allowing them to create a digital profile for the vessel and all of its equipment, including a custom maintenance plan based on manufacturer recommendations. Also, with The Boat Village, owners can receive reminders when maintenance is due and coordinate service online.

A leader in yacht service since 1966, Bradford Marine is already using My-Villages’ DockMaster suite of marine software, and the addition of The Boat Village will enable the company to enhance and simplify communication with customers.

“Bradford Marine has been an industry leader for decades and we are thrilled they chose The Boat Village for their customers,” said Kevin Hutchinson, founder and CEO of My-Villages. “From advanced lift and dry-dock equipment to the way they have expanded their business, this company is forward-looking, and their interest in The Boat Village takes their desire to innovate customer service and engagement one more step.”

Paul Engle, Bradford Marine’s President, said, “This product allows boat owners and captains to use the latest technology to maintain and care for their boats.”

The Boat Village Premium Service, an application that works on any smartphone, tablet or computer, functions like an electronic medical record and care coordination platform. The Boat Village keeps an inventory of all onboard equipment, which is personalized with electronic manuals and automated maintenance reminders. With the touch of a button, owners can send an online service request and communicate with their technicians. Service professionals can answer questions, provide updates on work in progress and help owners update their service history record by marking tasks complete, and it all gets done in the same application. Records are preserved electronically and the boat’s service history, usage trends, trip logs and other useful information are readily available.

Bradford Marine joins a growing list of major marine firms who have signed on as Boat Village Innovation Partners, companies committed to leveraging technology to improve how they connect, communicate and collaborate with customers. They include The Hinckley Company and Regal as well as service yards like Whiticar Boat Works, Saunders, Maine Yacht Center, Front Street Shipyard and Marine Professionals Incorporated (MPI).

Additional Innovation Partners will be signed in coming months. To inquire, visit www.my-villages.com.

About My-Villages

My-Villages is a technology company dedicated to helping people better maintain and operate the things they own. The company improves communication and coordination between product owners, manufacturers and industry service professionals, using mobile technology to simplify life for consumers and help businesses engage customers more effectively. Learn more at www.my-villages.com.

Lighthouse Media Solutions launches National Sales Initiative

Mike Alleva, Vice President of Marketing & Client Strategy for Lighthouse Media Solutions is promoted to National Accounts Manager and will be expanding Lighthouse’s reach throughout the U.S.

We are proud to announce that Mike Alleva, our VP of Marketing & Client Strategy, has now taken on the additional responsibility of National Accounts Manager. Mike will be responsible for hiring and managing field reps throughout the U.S. If you would like further information about this opportunity, please give Mike Alleva a call at 757.377.7336 or email him at malleva(at)lhmediasolutions(dot)com.

Mike Alleva said, “I am very excited about this opportunity to help my company grow. We provide solutions that can benefit every business in every market. Having field reps throughout the country will increase our exposure and get us in front of more businesses. We are unique because not only do offer digital marketing solutions, we also offer award winning publications as well as host a television series, New England Boating. This opportunity will help us bring the success we have had in New England to the entire country.

Lighthouse Media Solutions is Content Marketing and Publishing company that specializes in producing and developing across traditional and digital platforms. Lighthouse currently owns and publishes the following high-end glossy magazines: Southern New England Home, Southern New England Weddings, Home Remodeling, Golf & Leisure Cape Cod, Southern New England Living, and New England Boating. Lighthouse also owns and produces New England Boating TV , a comprehensive television show on the New England Sports Network (NESN); which is focused around the destinations and journeys accessible to the New England Boater. Finally, Lighthouse provides a wide range of marketing services to include but not limited to: eMail marketing, website and mobile application development, video and radio production, Search Engine Optimization and Marketing (SEO and SEM/PPC), Social Media Management and Consulting, Branding and Graphic Design.

MRAA partners with Jeffrey Gitomer to launch Virtual Training System

MINNEAPOLIS — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has partnered with sales, customer loyalty and personal development guru Jeffrey Gitomer to launch the MRAA Interactive Virtual Training System.

 

Boasting 297 modules, 29 in-depth webinars, 5 introductory modules, 4 bonus modules and a new Power Lesson uploaded every week, the MRAA Interactive Virtual Training System is an online training portal that Gitomer and the MRAA are making available to MRAA members at the click of a button. The depth and breadth of content has been designed to support the training needs of even the most dedicated teams and is relevant and applicable to every dealership, no matter the size or level of sophistication.

 

“Through this partnership, MRAA members can access the most comprehensive virtual training tool the marine industry has ever seen,” says Gitomer. “Not only does this system offer dealers the ability to sharpen their team’s skills 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days per year, but in it, I tackle topics that your entire staff can put to use to improve your results, whether they answer the phones, stand behind the service desk or walk the showroom selling boats.”

 

To maintain high levels of performance throughout the year, dealers need training resources that can fit into their staff’s work flow. The MRAA Interactive Virtual Training System meets that criteria. It can be quickly and easily accessed via tablet, smart phone or computer. And many of these modules are five minutes or less in length, which makes it easy for dealers to keep their team in top form year-round.

 

“It can be incredibly difficult to find the time to train, especially during the busy season,” say Liz Walz, MRAA Director of Education. “This system solves that problem by offering hard-hitting, practical advice on how to sell more and develop stronger customer relationships in small, bite-size chunks. Now, you can create a culture of training that brings your entire team together and transforms your marine business into a sales and customer service powerhouse.”    

 

This easy-to-navigate portal provides a Training Center, featuring hundreds of modules; Power Lessons that are updated every week; a Report Card, which allows you to track your progress; My Favorites, where you can bookmark sessions; and MRAA Training Recommendations, a guide to eight key topics that are key to marine dealer success. They include information on how to Get Motivated, Generate More Prospects, Set Yourself Apart, Get Away from Price, Ask the Right Questions, Overcome Barriers and Objections, Earn the Sale (aka Closing), and Keep Customers Coming Back.  

 

As an added bonus to the system, companies that subscribe can access powerful management tools that allow managers to track their employees’ training progress, view their test scores and even assign modules to help team members overcome their weaknesses.

 

“Let’s not forget the most important part,” adds Walz. “Your team isn’t going to invest much effort into their training unless they believe it will allow them to achieve better results. MRAA has partnered with Jeffrey Gitomer because we understand the challenges marine businesses like yours face every day, and we’re confident that your team will be able to put his real-world advice, strategies and ideas into place the minute they finish each module.”  

 

To learn more, inquire about pricing and subscribe today, visit www.mraa.com/virtualtraining or contact Liz Walz at liz@mraa.com or 315-692-4533.

 

 

About Marine Retailers Association of the Americas

At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the companies that interact with the boater in their community must thrive. Those businesses determine the boater’s experience and are the leading factor in the industry’s success. The MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those businesses, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit