MRAA, Wisconsin Marine Association Host Successful Educational Session for WMA Members

Last week, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Marine Association, hosted a successful one-day educational session for WMA members. A total of 34 people representing 24 companies attended the eight-hour, information-packed day to learn about the latest industry trends and gain insight into a variety of hot-button topics currently impacting Wisconsin marine businesses specifically and the marine industry in general. The event took place Tuesday, April 15 at Gordy’s Lakefront Marine on Lake Geneva in Fontana, Wis. Gordy’s is a member of both MRAA and WMA.

The day’s event kicked off with a continental breakfast at Gordy’s Cobalt Lounge, followed by a series of informative and diverse sessions on subjects affecting marine businesses in the current marketplace: “Digital Marketing & Social Media,” presented by Dominion Marine Media’s Courtney Chalmers; “The Hidden Dangers of Electric Shock Drownings,” presented by Chris Dolan of Eaton Corporation, a leader in the field of marina light and power; and “The Latest Trends in Marine Insurance,” presented by Norman-Spencer’s Mark Yearn, who addressed several key areas of concern related to marina and dealership business insurance, including workers compensation, the Longshoreman’s Act and pollution-related liabilities.

After a break for lunch, the afternoon sessions resumed with a presentation by MRAA president Matt Gruhn titled “The Most Important Question,” where Gruhn encouraged attendees to consider “why” they do what they do at their specific dealerships and build their business model around this philosophy; followed by a presentation about and update on the Marine Industry Certified Dealership by program director Sonja Moseley. WMA president Jon Kukuk, owner of Nestegg Marine in Marinette, Wis., concluded the day’s speaker lineup by facilitating an open conversation on Wisconsin-specific matters affecting marine businesses in the state.

“We had a stellar turnout for this event, and MRAA couldn’t be more pleased with the enthusiasm and vigor members of the Wisconsin association showed for the health and continued success of their individual businesses and the industry as a whole, ” says MRAA’s Gruhn. “The idea behind these sessions was to give dealers the tools they need to be successful and competitive in today’s market. Attendees walked away with an excellent base on which to build and grow their businesses, in a format that was structured enough to be effective, yet casual enough to let dealers interact with presenters and easily ask questions. Gordy’s was an excellent host, and we appreciate them holding this incredible event at their facility, which is among the very best in the marine industry.”

On the evening of Monday, April 14, an informal networking session/dinner was held at The Abbey Resort, the host hotel for WMA’s event. Here, attendees and members of WMA and MRAA were able to gather in advance of the following day’s educational sessions and mingle with peers. It got event attendees talking about some of the key issues impacting marine businesses.

“I’ve been chairman of the WMA since the association’s inception five years ago, and this was probably the best meeting we’ve ever had for our membership,” says Kukuk. “The curriculum was really dedicated to learning and education. An overwhelming majority of session participants left with more educational content then they could possibly comprehend and put into action immediately. The subject matter discussed affects all of us on a daily basis, and the sessions were designed to address some of our most pressing concerns as Wisconsin-based marine businesses, helping us tackle problems and make our lives easier. We already gained some new WMA members as a result of the meeting.”

To inquire about MRAA hosting an educational session for your state or regional marine trade association, contact Matt Gruhn at 763-333-2421 or matt@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

How do I handle press inquiries regarding my MICD status?

Here are three great tips for talking to/working with media outlets when they call to inquire about your MICD status or have general questions about the MICD Program:

1.) Designate a spokesperson. Make sure that when media calls — because you never can be sure who will call or when — you’re prepared. Decide ahead of time who will speak to media on behalf of the dealership, and inform the entire dealership staff of the designated individual’s name and contact info. That way, when someone calls and asks “Who handles your media inquiries?,” dealership staff is prepared to funnel the call to the appropriate person. This keeps the process consistent and professional, and media are directed to the right person each and every time.

2.) Be prompt and patient. Media typically have tight deadlines. Often, writers and reporters need something the very day they make contact in order to stay ahead of the curve and on top of publication dates. Yes, it can be inconvenient to drop everything to attend to a media phone call/interview request, especially during the height of boating season; however, it’s essential that you make media inquiries a priority. Respond to media promptly and with enthusiasm. If you’re having a rough day, try and tuck those feelings in your back pocket and put on your “game face” for the call. Be willing to answer all questions thoroughly and don’t rush reporters off the phone (or, if responding via e-mail, read responses for spelling and grammatical errors prior to hitting the “send” button). At the end of the interview (via phone or e-mail), always ask if you can help with anything else. Open the door for follow-up questions. “Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. I’m always happy to help!,” is a perfect way to close the communication. Leave a great impression so they’ll want to call you back and talk more about your dealership and Certified status for their next assignment!

3.) Offer photos and logos. Excellent and relevant photography is always of the utmost important to media outlets, especially print publications. On the next nice, sunny day, or during an upcoming dealership-sponsored event, take good quality photos. Show customers interacting with staff at the dealership, sea trialing the boats or enjoying themselves at a dealership barbeque or open house. Make sure photos are shot with a good quality camera at a high resolution setting (this is critical for print outlets like newspapers and magazines). Try and include the MICD logo whenever possible (on background signage, employee logoed clothing, etc.) to hammer home its importance to your business. This not only demonstrates your ongoing commitment to the program, but also the value you ascribe to Certification in general and providing exceptional service to your customers.

ABC Set for May 5-7 in Washington, D.C.

The American Boating Congress (ABC) is the industry’s annual legislative conference that brings recreational boating leaders to our nation’s capital to formulate public policy and present a unified front on issues that impact the health and profitability of marine businesses. This year, 38 organizations are endorsing ABC as co-hosts – including the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) – summoning an excellent cross-section of boating industry support for the event.

Attending ABC gives marine businesses an opportunity to learn how to grow in the current challenging economy; understand the status of key federal legislation concerning the marine industry; realize legislative and regulatory trends that impact business; and network with other leaders across all segments of the marine industry.

The key conference day is Wednesday, May 7. The morning kicks off with a number of guest Congressional speakers and an industry panel discussion, leading up to an afternoon of Hill visits. May 5 and 6 are primarily reserved for board and committee meetings.

MRAA and the Young Leaders Advisory Council (YLAC) will each hold Board of Directors meetings as part of the event. Members of both boards will walk the halls of Capitol Hill May 7, visiting the offices of their state delegations to discuss their businesses and the local economy, as well as key issues important to boat dealers, marina operators and boatyards. MRAA encourages its members to attend ABC and participate in the Hill visits.

MRAA has identified six issues that it considers high priority at this year’s ABC. We created six “leave-behinds” that outline these issues and their relevance to/potential impact on marine retailers. MRAA asks that you review this material. Copies of these leave-behinds will be made available to all marine retailers and state marine trades associations at ABC.

For more information on attending ABC, click here.

We look forward to seeing you in Washington next month!

MRAA Opposes E-15

Increasing ethanol content in gasoline is bad for boats and the boating business. The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) opposes attempts to increase the Renewable Fuel Standard, which would enable the level of ethanol in gasoline to reach 15 percent (E-15) or higher, and asks Congress to support legislation reducing the ethanol content in gasoline to just 10 percent (E-10) by co-sponsoring S. 334 and H.R. 1462.

S. 334, introduced by Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and David Vitter (R-LA), along with five co-sponsors, prohibits the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from approving gasoline containing ethanol levels greater than 10 percent (E-10). MRAA likewise supports H.R. 1462, introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and 59 co-sponsors, which requires a comprehensive assessment by the National Academy of Sciences of the effects mid-level ethanol blends have on engines of all kinds and suspends the current EPA waiver that permits the sale of E-15.

Serious and well-documented safety problems, technology breakdowns and environmental issues result when gasoline is blended with more than 10 percent ethanol in recreational marine engines, outboard motors and marine fuel systems. Tests conducted by marine engine manufacturers under guidance of the U.S. Department of Energy have demonstrated that for marine engines designed to run on gasoline at E-10 by volume, higher concentrations of ethanol (such as E-15) will pose serious problems, including damage to valves, push rods and bearings; performance issues, such as problems with starting and stalling; increased water absorption and phase separation in the fuel tank; fuel tank corrosion, resulting in leaks; increased emission of Nitrogen Oxide, causing smog; and passenger safety issues when breakdowns occur underway and out of port.

MRAA Supports Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) is asking Congress to reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund with some recommended amendments to the allocation of program funds.

The Trust Fund, which is funded by $600 million collected annually from taxes on fishing tackle, import duties on boats and equipment, and a federal excise tax on motorboat gasoline, was created in 1950 and has been amended and expanded several times since. It serves as the backbone for fishery conservation and is a critical tool for a diverse set of state and national recreational fishing and boating programs.

MRAA supports reauthorization of the Trust Fund with some recommended improvements. These include the following increases in fund allocation: Coastal wetlands from 15.36 percent to 18.5 percent; Clean Vessel Account and Boating Infrastructure Grant program from 2 percent to 2.1 percent; Outreach and Participation from 2 percent to 2.2 percent; Sport Fish Restoration from 57 percent to 57.2 percent; and Recreational Boating Safety from 18. 5 percent to 18.7 percent. In addition, MRAA supports an allocation of $300,000 from the 15 percent allotted for angling and boating access to address specific access concerns, and allocating a certain portion of the Clean Vessel program funds for capital improvements to minimize pollutant introduction into our nation’s waterways.

MRAA Meets with Rep. Miller on Asian Carp

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), BoatUS and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) met with key staff members in Rep. Candice Miller’s (R-MI) office March 28 to discuss the history and potential impact of the expanding Asian carp threat in the Great Lakes. Miller introduced H.R. 4001, the Defending  Against Aquatic Invasive Species Act, February 5. The bill currently has four co-sponsors.

(Note: Washington Watch reported on H.R. 4001 in the March 2014 edition)

According to Miller’s staff, H.R. 4001 will most likely not be enacted this year; however, Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) is expected to introduce a compromise bill in the coming weeks that would authorize the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to install two additional electronic barriers near the first lock on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. These new barriers would be in addition to the three electronic barriers already in place.

Camp’s bill demonstrates continued support for an engineering solution to prevent further proliferation of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.

Participate in Pre-ABC Webinar April 23

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is inviting American Boating Congress (ABC) attendees to attend a pre-conference issues briefing webinar on Wednesday, April 23 from 2 to 3 p.m. ET.

During this one-hour webinar, NMMA government relations staff will review the recreational boating industry’s most important policy issues and how to best communicate them to your legislator during the Capitol Hill visits portion of ABC, taking place May 5-7 in Washington, D.C. (Hill visits are primarily scheduled for May 7).

Policy issues and ABC updates will include:

  • An introduction to NMMA’s new smartphone app, keeping you up to date on ABC events
  • The state of the U.S. marine industry; how economic conditions affect marine jobs, sales and production
  • Developments on ethanol policy
  • The Sport Fish and Restoration Boating Trust Fund and plans for reauthorization
  • Details on NMMA’s work surrounding access issues, including the spread of invasive species and coastal dredging
  • Tax policy and its potential impact on your business.

To register for the April 23 webinar, click here.

MRAA Launches “I Am MRAA Social Media Video Contest

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) is launching a members-only social media contest that encourages dealerships to create a short video about the impact of MRAA membership on their business and post it on their respective Facebook pages. The winner will receive two full-conference passes to the upcoming Marine Dealer Conference & Expo (MDCE), valued at approximately $850. MCDE is being held Nov. 16-19 in Orlando.

To enter, interested MRAA members can create a video no more than two minutes in length that addresses their return on investment in MRAA membership. Videos will be uploaded to the dealership’s Facebook page, and entrants need to “tag” MRAA in the post. Each video entry should conclude with the tagline “I am [insert individual’s name and dealership name] and I am MRAA.”

“This contest is about a lot more than giving away a pair of MDCE tickets,” says Michael Geatz, MRAA marketing coordinator. “MRAA’s mission is to contribute to the growth and improvement of the marine industry. We fulfill that commitment by serving those businesses that are on the front lines, bringing the boating experience to life for consumers. The grand idea behind this endeavor is to raise awareness of the results MRAA is helping its 1,100 dealer members achieve in hopes that this will allow us to serve even more marine businesses. As an added bonus, the contest will generate engaging, interactive content on dealerships’ social media pages. Not only is this an opportunity for dealers to tell their peers why MRAA membership matters, but it’s also a way to share with their customers what sets them apart from the competition.”

MRAA staff will evaluate contest entries and select a winner. The winning entry will be announced May 2, and MRAA plans to post the video on its website, click here. Dealerships interested in joining MRAA should contact MRAA membership coordinator 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 ###

Get Ready for New DB Campaign Launch Friday

The industry will unveil its brand-new Discover Boating (DB) campaign this Friday, March 28, and it’s important that Marine Industry Certified Dealerships are primed to take full advantage of the benefits that come with it. The new campaign’s objective is simple: To grow awareness of and build a positive perception around boating.

The plan for achieving said goal is to reach prospective boaters through inspirational boating content, including online videos, advertising, social media, public relations and DiscoverBoating.com. This spring and summer, the DB campaign is going to tell boaters’ stories, in their own words, of how time spent on the water has enriched their lives. DB is calling these “Stories of Discovery,” and it will market them as documentary-style short films shown in various media outlets.

With the new DB program launch just around the corner, Certified Dealerships should position themselves to take advantage of the building momentum. Make sure you know your Grow Boating password, and determine whether or not your leads through DiscoverBoating.com are set up to automatically feed into your e-mail inboxes.

The referrals and leads that come through DiscoverBoating.com are most likely not folks that are ready to buy today; they are longer-term prospects that require nurturing and guidance to become the boaters and boat owners of tomorrow.

Certified Dealerships are in the best position possible to turn these interested individuals into actual buyers, through the superior sales and service experience they provide customers. Don’t get left behind in 2014; make sure you’re ready to help cultivate the next crop of up-and-coming boat buyers.

Meet the New MICD Content Manager

Welcome Lindsey Johnson, the new content manager for the MICD Program. Johnson will be responsible for helping raise awareness of MICD for industry and consumer audiences alike. She comes to the program with more than 13 years professional experience in the marine industry, as both a journalist/editor and communications/PR professional, having worked for trade and consumer media outlets like Soundings Trade Only and Lakeland Boating magazine, and industry organizations like the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).

Johnson has written numerous articles, press releases and related marketing materials for the previous iteration of the MICD Program launched back in the late-2000s as part of the industry’s Grow Boating Initiative. She looks forward to helping the new-and-improved MICD thrive and grow under the revamped program structure and increasing consumer awareness and appreciation of the value of the MICD program.

Say “hi” via e-mail if you get the chance: lindsey@mraa.com.