MRAA Educational Foundation Final Call for 2022 Scholarships, Darlene Briggs Marine Woman of the Year Award

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) Educational Foundation has announced the final call for nominations and applications for the 2022 Annual Scholarships and the 2022 Darlene Briggs Marine Woman of the Year Award which will be presented December 5-8, at MRAA’s Dealer Week in Austin, Texas. Award information and applications may be found at the MRAA Educational Foundation Website.


Nominate an Outstanding Woman
Presented annually to an outstanding woman who is actively involved in the marine industry at any level, the Darlene Briggs Marine Woman of the Year Award recognizes long and devoted service, untiring commitment, and the advancement of women in the marine business.

The Darlene Briggs Award and educational Scholarships are intended to financially assist the professional development of those working in the marine industry. The deadline to submit a scholarship or award application or nomination is Thursday, Nov. 10.

Retail Members of the MRAA and their employees can now complete online applications for the Kevin Lodder Scholarship and Duane Spader Leadership Development Scholarship. Marine Trades Associations that are members of MRAA can also apply for the Foundation’s Marine Trades Association Scholarship.

“The MRAA Educational Foundation’s scholarships are ever evolving to promote a stronger workforce for our dealerships to meet the needs for our industry’s future,” said Jeff Siems, MRAA Educational Foundation President. “Scholarships are an important part of the overall effort of the Foundation as it supports expanding the marine industry workforce.”

Women from throughout the boating industry are eligible to be nominated or apply for the Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year Award. This prestigious award, sponsored by MRAA and Boating Industry, has been continuously awarded each year since 1987, to an outstanding woman in the industry who is making a difference, no matter her position in the company or industry.

2021 Darlene Briggs Marine Woman of the Year Award recipient: Roxanne Rockvam, General Manager at Rockvam Boat Yards, Lake Minnetonka, Spring Park, Minn.

Click the links below to learn more about each of these offerings and to nominate or apply:

The Kevin Lodder Scholarship covers the tuition and provides a travel stipend for the recipient to attend Spader Business Management’s Total Management 1 Workshop.

The MRAA Educational Foundation’s Marine Trade Associations Scholarship provides financial support to their members for technical training.

The Duane Spader Leadership Development Scholarship, established in 2013, covers the tuition for the recipient to attend Spader Business Management’s Leadership Development Program.

The MRAA Educational Foundation presents, annually, the Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year Award. This honor is presented to an outstanding woman who is actively involved in the marine industry.

A nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization, the MRAA Educational Foundation has awarded more than 85 scholarships and awards collectively worth more than $194,000 over the past 18 years.  Donations from independent donors and corporate partners make all scholarships provided by the MRAA Educational Foundation possible. To learn more about donating, or to find more information about the MRAA Educational Foundation, visit www.marineedfoundation.org.

Why Can’t I Find and Keep Good People?

• 6 Ideas to Help Your Dealership Improve at Employee Retention

By Dixie Morrow

Hiring people has been on everyone’s mind the past couple of years. Hiring people for a new position is exciting if it means you are growing your business, however replacing employees that you have invested time and money in training can be frustrating and costly.

As I interview people, I always ask; why are leaving your current position? Especially people who have been in their position for a while and have several accomplishments with that organization. I have received various answers, including: a more challenging position; growth opportunities; and burn out.

I think about how gaining this talented person is our gain and that company’s loss, but it also makes me concerned about our current talent and how to keep them.

How can you reduce turnover and retain talent in your business? You need to create an attractive environment that motivates and engages employees. Here are six ideas:

• Survey Your Team

One idea to find out what engages and motivates your team is to ASK them. Here are 3 basic questions that can help you get started and determine how involved and enthusiastic your associates are in their work and the business:

• I know what is expected of me at work.

Discuss the expectations for each employee with them and paint a picture of excellent performance as well as how their work helps each co-worker to succeed and the overall impact they have on the business.

• I have the materials and equipment to do my job.

It’s not just a checklist of pens, paper, computers, or tools, it can be any type of supplies, software or knowledge. Do the they have right settings or permissions to be empowered to do their best work? Ask and listen to what your team needs and advocate for them. Be creative and make the most of your teams’ talents and ideas when you can’t immediately fund their requests.

• At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day.

Given the opportunity to do what they do best, is motivating for employees and they want to stick around. A sense of purpose and adding their individual touch each day is satisfying and encourages growth. Talk to your employees and get to know their talents and skills and how to help them to excel.

• Associate Incentives

Create some incentives that keep employees feeling appreciated and having a sense of accomplishment. Here are some low-cost ideas that can have a high return on retention:

  • Giving Gift Certificates
  • A Day Off with Pay (PTO)
  • Taking Them Out to Lunch
  • Donuts on Fridays
  • An Employee of the Quarter recognition (an oldie but goodie)
  • Start a Newsletter and Feature Associate Accomplishments and Customer Comments
  • Create a reward plan “catch them doing something right” – many companies are working with third parties that offer goods or services that can be “purchased” with reward points. The Reward Plan you come up with can encourage points earned from customer comments, other employees recognizing each other, or from supervisors that recognize employees. Check out reward plans and how to get one started.
  • Remember, to also say “Thank you” and “Great Job”

When implemented well, these types of incentives can keep employees motivated and looking forward to the work they do.

• Development and Mentoring

In a Gallup poll about Employee Engagement, five key drivers were noted: “Purpose, Development, a Caring Manager, Ongoing Conversations and a Focus on Strengths.”

Don’t get me wrong a good paycheck is important too! However, the key drivers that keep people working and achieving more for your business are directly related with having a purpose and meaningful work. People want to stand out for the skills and talents that make them unique. They value relationships with a coach or mentor that can help them to continue learning and growing. Gallup also discovered: “the manager or team leader alone accounts for 70 percent of the variance in team engagement.”

Offer opportunities for on-the-job skills training. Matching up a new employee with a mentor is a great way to welcome newbies to the company. It has long-reaching benefits too! New team members learn the ropes from experienced employees, and, in return, they offer a fresh viewpoint to their mentors. Don’t limit mentorship opportunities to new employees. Your existing staff is ripe for learning more and growing with your business. Your overall employee retention and your team’s job satisfaction will benefit from mentor-mentee relationships.

• Promote from Within

As you are developing and mentoring employees within your business, you are investing in them like any other asset. You are sending the message that when they give their best, they are continuing to learn their job, and they are also growing with your business. Make it known that you recognize talent and are willing to promote from within the business instead of looking outside. This is key to employee retention, engagement and ultimately impacts your bottom line. Happy employees make happy customers.

• Open Communication

Communicating and staying in contact with your employees in critical to your business. When employees understand the businesses mission and goals, they can get onboard and truly care about the growth of the business. Make sure employees know you have an open-door policy, which helps you to keep tabs on employee concerns and conflicts. Help associates understand the changes you are making in the business because managing change or not managing change can make the difference in retaining good employees.

• Listen and Encourage Feedback

Employees are on the front line with your customers. Often, they have great feedback for you that can make a difference in your customers experience. They may offer ideas to enhance their own job satisfaction, like:

  • Flexible hours
  • Inter-department learning: Spending time in sales to learn more about their processes
  • Create events the business can sponsor and gain more community awareness

So often, business owners don’t follow up or share the reasons for company decisions and it can leave employees feeling confused and frustrated. Of course, you may not be able to accommodate every request, but it’s acknowledging the feedback that shows you are willing to listen and be open to ideas. Accepting feedback goes a long way toward employee satisfaction and retention.

Communication, mentoring and creating an inviting environment and culture will encourage employee engagement. You have invested time, money and resources in your staff, so by implementing some of these employee retention strategies you can avoid costly turnover and see the positive impact on your bottom line.

About the Author: Dixie Morrow, CDK Lightspeed Client Training Manager, is a trainer, consultant and manager with Lightspeed, with more than 20 years of experience working alongside marine, RV and powersports dealerships of all sizes. Lightspeed is an MRAA Strategic Partner.

Motivated to Work and Grow

• Using Apprenticeship as a Retention Strategy & Build Your Workforce

An MRAA blog by Wendy Mackie, Director of Workforce and Foundation Development  

Wendy Mackie
Wendy Mackie, Director of Workforce & Foundation Development

You are in competition for a workforce. Not only with those in the boating and water sports industries, but in all industries. Workers are looking for opportunities for upward mobility and the higher wages that come with it. Whether you are trying to grow your business or thinking you might need to trim back with a volatile economy, retaining those people who are good fits for your company’s culture should be a top priority.

If you Google the words “apprenticeship as a retention strategy,” hundreds of articles and statistics will appear, supporting that training programs, and apprenticeship specifically, increases staff engagement, morale and retention. It is also proven to enhance the culture of your dealership, sending a clear message regarding your company’s commitment to continuous education and its willingness to invest in the people who work there. 

To put those statistics into a real-world context, I interviewed my brother, Steven, who has spent the better part of the last 20 years staffing and training production lines in manufacturing. Steven has a very matter-of-fact approach. We talked about the notion of apprenticeship as a retention strategy and how that has played out in his experience. Though there are clear differences between the needs of your dealership and that of a manufacturer, the workforce concepts are broadly applicable – and, in fact, you may be competing with manufacturers in your local community for employees. Below is an excerpt of our conversation:  

Wendy: What have you found to be effective ways to retain workers on the shop floor?

Steven: Retention is connected directly to career path and salary. When you show people how they can earn more and provide those clear steps from the start, you get the retention.”  

Wendy: A key principle in the apprenticeship model is structured learning toward promotion and wage gain. Is that what you are talking about? 

Steven: Finding experienced talent is tough and expensive. When I am building a team, I look for those people who are motivated to work and grow. When I can show a potential hire clearly benchmarked skill attainment connected directly with wage increases, I take the guesswork out of what the applicant will earn and when they will be up for the next raise. It both helps to attract the right people and weed out those who would ultimately not be a good fit.

Wendy: It really does come down to what someone will work for and what you can afford to pay, right? What happens when the employee has learned all they can and the wage increases slow down? Will they leave? 

Steven: When people know more, they want to earn more. They might eventually leave. People don’t typically stay in one place forever, and that’s okay. When you look at the bottom line, you may not really want them to. It’s important to have a workforce that can do the job at hand at the cost that is necessary to keep the customer coming back. It is our job [as an employer] to find that balance.

Wendy: Some business owners have said they don’t want to invest in training an employee if that employee is just going to go work for a competitor. What is your experience with that?

Steven: Training is critical to our ability to deliver a good product, and it is reflected in the final price we are charging the customer. We use training as a tool for recruitment and retention. However, with technology constantly changing, it is also a necessary part of remaining competitive in the consumer marketplace. It is a part of the company’s culture and its business model.

Regarding the person who will leave for a competitor after receiving training, that does happen. If you want to keep that person, you will need to figure out how to do that. It’s not just about wages. There are often other things you can provide to engage and retain a good worker. Perhaps more time off, flexible hours, additional training or a company car. It is also important to look at your business and make sure it is a place people want to stay. 

Conclusion
By providing new hires with clear expectations for next career steps, you can build a stronger workforce for your business. Proper training through an apprenticeship program can create confidence and success for you and your new hire. Success boosts morale, leads to professional advancement and increases potential earnings. These career employees can then help you build your company’s culture; one that focuses on retaining employees vs. repeatedly rehiring new ones.

MRAA Guide to Apprenticeship

With two simple steps, you can take your apprenticeship program and your workforce to new heights.

  1. Download the MRAA’s “Guide to Apprenticeship” here (right). This step-by-step manual will help you design an apprenticeship program for your dealership’s service department or improve your existing one.
  2. Register for MRAA’s Dealer Week Conference and Expo to learn from subject matter expert and speaker Gloria Sinclair Miller, SHRM-SCP, about employee retention tactics. In “Rethink How to Engage & Hold Onto Your Employees,” Gloria shares real-world tactics for engaging and retaining your existing employees. This session also meets one of the 2023 Continuous Certification Requirements for Certified Dealers.

Discover Boating Boat Shows Kick Off in Nashville January 5 as Brand Expands to 11 Major Market Events

• NMMA Continuing its Long-Standing Relationship with Progressive® Insurance for Discover Boating® Boat and Sport Shows

Discover Boating®, powered by the NMMA and Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), announced today the re-branding of NMMA’s full lineup of consumer boat and sport shows under the Discover Boating brand, kicking off January 5 in Nashville and 10 other major markets in 2023. The expansion of Discover Boating across boat and sport shows comes as a result of NMMA’s investment in the brand as the association works in partnership with the MRAA to attract the next generation of boaters while retaining and growing the existing boat owner community.

Boats lined up and docked for Discover Boating boat show. Image supplied by NMMA.
2023 Discover Boating Boat & Sport Shows schedule announced.

“The integration of Discover Boating with NMMA boat and sport shows extends our industry’s impact, reach and marketing power to further engage attendees and attract a wider net of boating and outdoor enthusiasts, while delivering a more cohesive industry voice,” said Ellen Bradley, senior vice president and chief brand officer for NMMA. “There has never been a more opportune time to unite Discover Boating and our shows as we welcome back attendees across the country, reimagining what it means to connect our industry with customers while leveraging these industry-owned events to grow boating and cultivate the next generation of boaters.”

Discover Boating boat and sport shows will feature the brand’s visual identity both onsite and online while providing a more connected experience for attendees and exhibitors with the launch of the Discover Boating Boat Finder— a digital platform that empowers customers to begin the boat-shopping process weeks ahead of the show they plan to attend.

“The new digital Discover Boating Boat Finder solves consumers’ desire to explore the latest boat models from all of the top brands in one place, right from the palm of their hand, complementing the in-person show experience and connecting attendees directly with exhibitors and brands before, during and after the show,” noted Matt Gruhn, president of MRAA. “The industry’s lifestyle brand, Discover Boating, is a powerful tool for anyone interested in boating. Its ability to connect and educate consumers, from first-time boat buyers to tenured boating enthusiasts, about boating, operation and ownership makes it an authoritative resource for anyone seeking more knowledge.”

As NMMA boat and sport shows transition under Discover Boating, the association is continuing its long-standing relationship with Progressive® Insurance, an industry leader in boat insurance. For the next five years, Progressive will be in partnership with Discover Boating boat and sport shows. 

“We’re excited to continue our partnership with Progressive as we work together to reimagine what it means to connect the recreational boating industry with our existing customer and new-to-boating customers,” said Jennifer Thompson, senior vice president of boat and sport shows for NMMA. “Progressive will help shape and enhance certain aspects of the Discover Boating show attendee experience and further expand our collective reach to millions of boaters and outdoor recreation enthusiasts.”

“For more than a decade, Progressive has witnessed the energy, passion and enthusiasm the boat shows bring to people all over the country,” said Eric Doubler, Progressive Recreational Lines Direct Business Leader. “As a leader in boat insurance covering over one million watercrafts, we have a great desire to help continue to grow the sport, which is why it’s a natural fit for us to invest even further in partnership with the boat and sport shows.”

The 2023 Discover Boating boat and sport show schedule:

As NMMA continues to evolve its boat and sport show portfolio, and after thorough analysis alongside exhibitors and NMMA members, the association is not planning for a 2023 Baltimore Boat Show or St. Louis Boat & Sportshow; however, the association will retain these assets for future opportunities.

“The NMMA is committed to upholding a presence in Baltimore and St. Louis, and we look forward to exploring new ways to serve both the boating industry and consumers in these markets as well as others in 2024 and beyond,” said Thompson.

In addition to the NMMA’s boat and sport show investment in Discover Boating, the brand plans to work with other industry-produced boat shows and organize new boating events and activations to further amplify industry-wide efforts to engage potential, new and existing boaters.

Discover Boating boat and sport show logos and other marketing materials for dealers and manufacturers will be available and shared in early November. Contact Sarah Salvatori for more information and media requests, ssalvatori@nmma.org.

Falco Opens Offices in Boston; Offers Full Range of Smart Marina Solutions Nationwide

• After working with over 20 marinas in Europe, deploying 2,000+ sensors, and having the world’s largest Smart marina as a client, the full Falco Smart ecosystem is now available in the United States.

BOSTON, Oct. 11, 2022 – Falco Americas Corp., wholly owned subsidiary of Falco Wattson Elements, leader in the French Blue Tech, creator of the Falco Smart Marina solutions, announced on September 1st, the opening of their first U.S. office in Boston, MA, significantly expanding their global footprint.

The United States counts over 12,000 marinas nationwide and is home to one of the strongest boating cultures in the world, alongside France. The industry has gained extensive traction proved by its many stakeholders, mergers and acquisitions, and the numerous marina portfolios under management. Falco is bringing deeptech innovation to this space, via its state-of-the-art IoT and data-analytics, to connect marinas and yacht club’s physical infrastructure – docks and boats- to digital tools interconnected in a smart and flexible way.

“We are excited to expand our geographical reach in line with our strategic plan to offer our highly demanded solutions in Europe, to the U.S. market” said Elsa Nicol, CEO and co-founder of Falco.

Falco Americas offers cloud-based, API-centric Smart Marina solutions. Customer top-picks include :

  • A white-labeled Marina App, connected with your marina management software and/or your website, for your customers to access news and events, renew and pay their contracts, book and pay marina and third-party waterfront services through Falco’s in-app dedicated marketplace, with push notifications to better engage with your customers.
  • Sensors to monitor occupancy in real-time, achieve lean management of slips and enable data-driven strategy to boost yield and revenue.

About Falco Americas Corp.

Falco’s mission is to support boaters through marina-based innovation. Our ambition is to empower marinas to become the hub of connected boating. We believe the marina is more than just a place where we store and shelter vessels – it is the future of boating innovation.
For more information, please contact Jonas Schneider at 617-785-6613, or jonas.schneider@wefaclo.com, or follow us on LinkedIn.

Marine Marketers of America Accepting Entries for 2022 Neptune Award Nominations, Adds 2 New Award Categories

• New Categories – Dealer Marketing Strategy, and Influencer Collaboration / Marketing

Marine Marketers of America is now accepting entries for the 2022 Neptune Awards competition, the most prestigious recognition program of marketing communications for marine marketers in North America.

MMA logo

The annual contest, now in its 15th year, is open to any company or organization producing and publishing marine industry marketing work between January 1 and December 9, 2022. Entries will be accepted through December 10. The winners will be announced in February 2023.

Stunning, crystal Neptune awards will be presented to winners live at the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show. This year’s awards feature 22 categories, covering all areas of marketing, from social media campaigns and video creation to innovative new digital tools and app development, from PR and diversity initiatives to the use of influencers.

New for this year, the organization added two categories – Dealer Marketing Strategy and Influencer Collaboration / Marketing.

Dealer Marketing Strategy is open exclusively to dealers to recognize the creative ways their teams strategized for boat shows, promotional materials, and community outreach, to name a few. It is only open to organizations that are customer-facing marine dealers.Influencer Collaboration / Marketing, open to all for entry, to recognize collaboration with an influencer in the social media space. This could include any takeovers, repost programs or long-term content production on behalf of the brand done by an influencer.

2022 Neptune Awards

Additionally, a best-in-show “King Neptune” will be awarded to the top entry among all categories.

“The last couple of years have seen significant changes to buying behavior in our industry,” said awards committee co-chair Alisdair Martin. “Every brand has had to rethink their marketing strategy to address new challenges. Having a truly great marketing team has never been more important than it is today. Creative, innovative marketers who get things done are harnessing new technology, reshaping strategy around modern consumer psychology and driving the success of their brands. Our Neptune Awards are a great place to recognize and honor the best of these marketers.”

The submissions will be scored by panels of independent judges following established criteria. More than 88 marketing professionals from throughout the industry served as judges for the 2021 awards and found it to be a very rewarding and educational experience.If you are a marketing professional and would like to join our judging panel, please email alisdairmartin@gmail.com for more information. The rules are structured so that no one can judge in a category in which there would be a conflict of interest.A link to the new Neptune Awards entry portal and complete program details are available atwww.marinemarketersofamerica.org.

For more information about the 2022 Neptune Awards program, please contact Alisdair Martin alisdairmartin@gmail.com.

Click here to download an image of Neptune Awards logo.

About Marine Marketers of America
Established in 2007, the Marine Marketers of America (MMA) is the exclusive voice for marine marketers, and the professional association representing recreational marine industry marketers. MMA provides ongoing professional development and networking opportunities, while recognizing the outstanding achievement of marine marketing professionals through its annual Neptune Awards. For information, visit www.marinemarketersofamerica.org.

Correct Craft Recognized as one of Marine Industry’s Most Innovative Companies

• 4th Year in a Row Company Recognized as No. 1 or No. 2 in the Industry

ORLANDO, FL (Orlando, FL 2022) – Correct Craft is once again honored to be named one of the “Most Innovative Companies” in the marine industry. Correct Craft received this recognition today during a virtual awards presentation hosted by Soundings Trade Only Editor-in-Chief Gary Reich.

Reich stated, “The ability to innovate is a key component of any successful marine business. Companies with industry-leading innovations not only make life better for boaters but also inspire other companies to advance in all kinds of areas.”

Correct Craft CEO Bill Yeargin stated, “I am incredibly proud of our team. For each of the last four years, in a marine industry with 35,000 companies, our team has been recognized as either the number one or number two most innovative. This is a tribute to each of our 2,100 employees and the innovative culture they embrace.”

Yeargin added, “At Correct Craft, innovation runs much deeper than just technology. Our team embraces innovation in culture, technology, processes, and even how we serve our communities. I am honored to work with such a great group of people!”

Soundings Trade Only had a judging panel that consisted of editors, staff members, and outside industry experts. They reviewed company initiatives focusing on altruism/social awareness, development and technology, work culture, manufacturing process/supply chains, start-ups, and sustainability.

About Correct Craft: Celebrating 97 years of excellence in the marine industry, Correct Craft is a Florida-based company with global operations. Focused on “Making Life Better,” the Correct Craft family includes Nautique, Centurion, Supreme, Bass Cat, Yar-Craft, SeaArk, Parker, and Bryant boat companies, Pleasurecraft Marine Engine Group, Watershed Innovation, and Aktion Parks. For more information, please visit www.correctcraft.com.

AMI Hosting Clean & Resilient Marina Course at Annual Conference and Expo

The Association of Marina Industries (AMI) will host its Clean and Resilient Marina Course at the 2023 Annual Conference. The course held January 29 – 30, leads right into the Marina and Boatyard Tour, the kickoff event at this year’s conference.

AMI’s Clean and Resilient Marina Course, is the first step in becoming a Clean and Resilient Marina Professional (CRMP) and accessing AMI’s online Clean Marina Verification Program. AMI’s Program, allows you to self-certify your marina as clean and resilient. The course also provides foundational knowledge for those seeking state-level clean marina certification.

The course covers clean marina topics including – marina siting and design, stormwater management, marina maintenance, facilities, and habitat, vessel maintenance and repair, and much more. More importantly, the course is designed to start you on your way toward facility certification, through classroom activities.

An agenda for the course can be found here and covers one and a half days of classroom time and activities and includes registration in AMI’s popular Marina and Boatyard Study tour, where you can put your knowledge to practical use while touring multiple marinas.  Register now while seats are still available.

Please contact Eric Kretsch, EKretsch@MarinaAssociation.Org, for more information about the Clean and Resilient Marina Program, or Kayce Florio, KFlorio@MarinaAssociation.org, for more information about the Annual Conference and Expo.

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The Association of Marina Industries (AMI) is a nonprofit membership organization that provides management training, education, and information about research, legislation, and environmental issues affecting the marina industry. 

Boaters Helping Boaters Fund Established

An MIA release

The Marine Industries Association of Southwest Florida and Tampa Bay (MIA), in partnership with the Old Salt Fishing Foundation, has announced the formation of the Boaters Helping Boaters Hurricane Relief Fund, supporting Families of those making a living on Southwest Florida waters. 

“It is hard to imagine the challenges our members and all those a part of Southwest Florida’s Marine Industry have faced in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian,” said MIA Executive Director John Good. “At the same time, it is heartwarming to see the outpouring of support and the efforts being made by our industry to get back to some level of normalcy as quickly as possible. While there are many worthwhile fund-raising efforts out there, our goal is to put dollars directly into the hands of those in our industry most in need. We are thankful that our friends at The Old Salt Fishing Foundation are joining the effort with us.” 

Established in 1971, the Foundation’s mission is “To create, protect and promote recreational fishing opportunities for Florida anglers and their families.” With an all-volunteer staff and board of directors, they hold several annual fishing tournaments, have extensive youth & family outreach programs, and angler education initiatives. Over the past ten years, they have donated more than $1 million dollars to deserving regional charities. Having raised $32,800 during Covid for the fishing community, they have the experience to properly accept and distribute funds. 

Boaters Helping Boaters flyer

100% of monies collected will go directly into the hands of those in need who are a part of the marine industry, fishing industry, marine law enforcement, and others related to the waterfront. The Foundation and the MIA will work together to be sure the monies go where most needed. “We see this as an ongoing effort,” said Good. “With Ian behind us and the area beginning the long road to recovery, folks are going to have needs for a long time and will very much appreciate the support of others in our industry.” The MIA kick-started the fund with a $2,500 donation and several others jumped aboard, building the fund to almost $14,000.00 as the effort is launched. 

The Old Salt Fishing Foundation is a 501c3 not for profit. Tax deductible donations can be made on-line at www.oldsaltfishing.org/hurricane . Checks should be made to Old Salt Fishing Foundation (Hurricane Ian Relief in the notes). Send to PO Box 8564. Madeira Beach, FL 33738 

For more information, contact John Good. 954-570-7785; john@swfmia.com 

Boat Finder Launching at 2023 Discover Boating Boat & Sport Shows

As NMMA’s full lineup of consumer boat and sport shows launch in January under Discover Boating, each will feature the brand’s identity, extending digitally to provide a more connected experience for attendees and exhibitors with the launch of the Discover Boating Boat Finder. This enhanced, added-value tool – for both consumers and the industry – empowers customers to begin the boat-shopping process weeks ahead of the show they plan to attend.

Discover Boating Boat Finder

Powered by the NMMA and MRAA, 2023 Discover Boating boat and sport shows kick off in January in 11 major markets across the country, including Miami, New York and Chicago.

Key highlights of Boat Finder:

  • With modern search functionality, users can efficiently isolate brands and models that match their very specific needs, getting them to their desired product faster;
  • take a deep dive into specific boat models with detailed descriptions, videos, specs, and features;
  • connect directly to the boat brand website; and
  • know exactly where to locate their selected boat at the show and connect directly with the dealer before they arrive.

To take advantage of Discover Boating Boat Finder, NMMA members must ensure their brands are represented at a Discover Boating show. Contact BoatFinder@nmma.org to learn more.