Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Protect Small Businesses From Natural Disasters

U.S. Reps. Joe Morelle (D-NY-25), Jack Bergman (R-MI-01), Sharice Davids (D-KY-03), Pete Stauber (R-MN-08) and Julia Brownley (D-CA-26) introduced the Providing Resources for Emergency Preparedness and Resilient Enterprises (PREPARE) Act, landmark bipartisan legislation that would give small businesses the opportunity to access much needed capital to invest in disaster resilient infrastructure — a top priority for the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. This bill would allow the Small Business Administration to make low-interest, fixed rate loans of up to $500,000 to small businesses to invest in their properties to protect their facilities, real estate and contents from natural disasters.

“According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2020 was the sixth consecutive year (2015-2020) in which 10 or more billion-dollar weather and climate disaster events have impacted the United States,” said Marine Retailers Association of the Americas government relations manager Chad Tokowicz. “This increase has a direct impact on small businesses throughout our nation which help drive economic recovery and now, more than ever, it is imperative they are a equipped to protect themselves from the existential threat that disasters pose. The PREPARE Act will allow small businesses to make investments in resilient infrastructure to assure they can weather natural disasters and continue to fuel job growth and prosperity in communities across the nation. We hope this sees swift consideration by the House, and are thankful for the leadership of Representatives Joe Morelle, Jack Bergman, Sharice Davids, Pete Stauber, and Julia Brownley on this critical issue.”

This will preserve small business job gains in communities that depend on them and prevent against the existential threat of permanent business closure. According to FEMA, roughly 40-60 percent of small businesses never reopen following a disaster.

“Our community knows all too well how devastating flooding can be to local businesses—many of which are already struggling with the severe financial impacts of COVID-19,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “It’s more important now than ever that we take preventative action to prepare for future flooding and protect our small businesses from additional economic hardship. Strong mitigation efforts are the key to our resiliency, and that’s why I’m so proud to introduce this much-needed legislation to help strengthen coastal communities.”

“Kansas is one of the most vulnerable states to flooding, and it’s only gotten worse in recent years. My district has seen both the damage that flash floods can inflict and the benefits that preventative measures can bring,” said Rep. Sharice Davids. “Resilient infrastructure can mean the difference between staying open and going under. I’m proud to support the PREPARE Act in providing funds for Kansas’ small businesses to plan for and mitigate the impacts of disaster.”

“As a small business owner, I understand businesses often face obstacles that are outside of their control,” said Congressman Pete Stauber. “While small businesses work to recover from the impact of a year of lockdowns, it is imperative that we take preemptive steps to protect them from additional obstacles that could cause further harm. That’s why I am proud to help lead the PREPARE Act, bipartisan legislation that will help businesses strengthen their infrastructure and guarantee their resiliency for years to come.”

“The PREPARE Act will provide a key mechanism to small businesses, like marinas, boatyards, and other recreation businesses, so they can upgrade their infrastructure and increase resiliency to natural disasters, said Eric Kretsch, U.S. Legislative Manager, Association of Marina Industries. “Thank you to Representatives Morelle, Bergman, Stauber, and Davids for their leadership on this critical issue.”

“Small, family-owned recreational boating businesses are among the most susceptible to the devastation of erosion, rising water levels and many additional effects of climate change,” said National Marine Manufacturers Association’s director of government relations, Callie Hoyt. “Authorizing this Small Business Administration’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation Loan program would make these businesses and communities better prepared to weather the increasing number of natural disasters and we applaud Representatives Joe Morelle (D-NY-25), Jack Bergman (R-MI-01), Sharice Davids (D-KS-03), Pete Stauber (R-MN-08), and Julie Brownley (D-CA-26) for their leadership on this critical issue.”

This program would be the only SBA program focused solely on small business disaster prevention, and would complement rebuilding efforts through the government agency’s disaster loan programs. Research shows that every $1 the government spends on disaster mitigation, such as improving existing infrastructure or elevating homes and businesses, saves taxpayers an average of $6.

A study by the MRAA and AMI found that marine business need significant funding to protect from flooding, requiring an average of $260,000 to invest in projects like elevating buildings, bulkheads, constructing flood barriers or levees, dry and wet floodproofing, yard regrading, and sewer back up protections. This is an issue that transcends industries where all small businesses across the country face similar needs to mitigate damages caused by an increase in frequency and severity of natural disasters, costing the U.S. over $800 Billion in the last decade.

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, contact us at 763-315-8043.

Facebook Marketplace to Discontinue Free Business Marketplace Postings

Facebook has just announced that starting September 13, 2021 they will be discontinuing their inventory partner catalogs. Meaning, third party providers will no longer be able to post ads on behalf of the dealer free of charge. With this announcement, Facebook will follow and join similar sites like eBay and Craigslist in the paid marketing space. With many dealers utilizing these services, here’s what you need to know for the coming months ahead.

What’s Changing: 
This change comes as a surprise to some and an opportunity for others. This fall you can expect to see the removal of any posts published through business profiles from third parties. Dealers who currently post to Marketplace as their business page will no longer be able to do so in the same fashion. To expand on that, the platform plans to begin charging per listing to post to Marketplace as a business. Currently Marketplace users can only post as their personal profile unless utilizing one of these partnered services.

Automotive Inventory Ads or AIA will be what most users switch to once the changes are adapted. AIA functions like current free business listings do but come with the added benefit of targeting users most likely to convert or make a sale. The new AIA will show inventory ads to relevant shoppers based on recent website, app, or marketplace visits and user interactions. Furthermore, these ads will be easier to set up and maintain, more effective across different devices, and deliver more ads to interested users.

In addition to the changes coming to third party providers, Facebook also announced that they will be shifting their resources from largely supporting vehicle distribution to expanding features for shipped goods and onsite checkouts via the platform. While these features haven’t been detailed out yet, we are looking forward to learning more about what the social giant has in store for us. 

What’s Staying the Same:
While it feels like a lot is changing, there are a few things you can count on to remain the same in the coming season. The Vehicles tab for example, associated with catalogs, will remain unchanged and functional on your Facebook’s business page. User’s can easily visit your page and click the tab to see available product offerings just as they do now. Additionally, users who manually post to Marketplace will not experience any service changes and may continue to post without any additional charges added on. 

What Comes Next: 
The next few months will be crucial for any dealers wanting to stay ahead of the game. Connect with your provider to ensure they are aware of the change and have a plan for what is to come in the next few months. This change presents a huge opportunity for dealers leveraging the next generation of Marketplace tools to position themselves ahead of competition on the platform. Make sure your provider has a plan to provide AIA specific tools that benefit you and prevent disruptions to your dealership’s marketing efforts. Start preparing the necessary tools to maintain effective marketing on the platform this upcoming September.

Additional Resources: 
https://www.facebook.com/business/help/1510143265745613?id=378777162599537

 

BoatUS Commits to Platinum Partner Membership with MRAA

MINNEAPOLIS — May 13 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announces Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) has joined as a Platinum Partner Member.

“Our partnership gives MRAA members the exclusive opportunity to promote their business to more than 800,000 qualified boat owners, locally and nationally,” said Bryan Dove, BoatUS Membership Coordinator. “Plus, as the nation’s recreational boating advocacy, services and safety group, we can also help make a customer’s boating lifestyle better by getting more out of boat ownership.”

BoatUS logo

Since its founding in 1966, BoatUS has been looking after the interests of recreational boaters and become the nation’s largest recreational boating association providing a single-source of exceptional service and savings for boaters. It remains dedicated to educating and protecting boaters and their rights; making boating safer, more affordable and accessible.

BoatUS provides a diverse offering of marine services for the recreational boater including the nation’s largest on the water towing fleet with TowBoatUS, affordable and specialized boat insurance, local and national discounts, representation of boaters’ interests on Capitol Hill, quality boat graphics and letteringand the most widely circulated boating publication — BoatUS Magazine. As the BOAT OWNERS AUTO CLUB®, BoatUS provides many resources for dealers’ customers, while also offering expert advice on maintaining a boat, equipment recommendations and safety requirements. The nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water supplies tools such as online safety courses, to keep boating safe and water clean.

Marine manufacturers, suppliers and service providers, through Partner Membership, commit to aligning their brands with the programs and opportunities that MRAA works to provide the dealer body in order to help fuel the success of the industry. Support from Partners allows the Association to expand its offerings and create a positive, long-term impact in the business of MRAA members.

“We are excited to have BoatUS as an MRAA Platinum Partner Member,” said Allison Gruhn, Director of Business Development. “We respect the benefits, service and advocacy work BoatUS delivers to dealers, its customers and the boating industry. Its devotion to education, safety and industry preservation is extraordinary.”

About the BoatUS
Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is the nation’s largest recreational boating advocacy, services and safety group making boating better for America’s recreational boaters. BoatUS provides a range of benefits and services, representation for boaters’ rights, and offers many savings opportunities to more than 800,000 Members. With our nonprofit BoatUS Foundation, we work to educate new boaters, keep boaters safe and our waters clean through our Boating Safety and Education programs. For more information, visit BoatUS.com or call 800-395-2628.

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.

Massachusetts Updates Workplace Safety and Reopening Standards for Recreational Boating Businesses

On Monday, May 10, 2021 The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs updated their workplace safety and reopening standards for recreational boating businesses. These updated standards as part of Phase IV, Step 1 for Massachusetts re-opening plan. The updated standards provide guidance on Social Distancing, Hygiene Protocols, Staffing and Operations, and Cleaning and Disinfecting. Furthermore, as part of the Phase IV re-opening Massachusetts has also made changes to safety standards and recommended best practices for restaurants, indoor and outdoor events, retail, and more which also may apply to recreational boating businesses.

Some notable requirements include limiting the capacity of launch boats to 50% of their vessel capacity, the exemption of safety boats from social distancing requirements in the event of an emergency, and that paperwork should be handled electronically to the maximum extent possible.

As spring kicks into full gear and summer is right around the corner, we are hopeful to see updates and changes to workplace safety and reopening standards for recreational boating businesses. As vaccines ramp up and disease numbers go down, we hope that restrictions will continue to loosen to the benefit of our members and recreational boaters. In the meantime, please visit our COVID-19 Resources Page to get advice on various topic such as how to work from home, sell boats safely, and on the remote closing process.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Chad Tokowicz at Chad@mraa.com.

Learn (and Eventually Earn) from Your Service Comebacks

By Valerie Ziebron, President, VRZ Consulting

“When you don’t get what you want, you get a lesson.” 

The silver lining of almost every dealership failure is the opportunity to learn from it and improve
your business practices. 

When a boat has to come back to the shop, chances are good the reason is not unique to that one customer visit. The quicker your
dealership can identify, share and fix the issues, the better it is for your customers, your team and your bottom line.

Identify Where the Problem Stemmed From 

Notice it said “where” the problem stemmed from, not “who.” When you identify the root causes for service failures, it can be tempting to point fingers
and assign blame. 

“Joe was the tech, and it’s back in for the same complaint. It must be his fault.” 

Not so fast! Maybe there wasn’t enough information
on the work order or maybe the customer withheld important information.

“Then it’s the service advisor’s or the customer’s fault!”

Maybe it is, and maybe it isn’t, but pinning blame rarely gets improved teamwork and results. It’s a lot more productive to start by looking at where it went
wrong and what needs to be adjusted in the process.

Is your shop experiencing issues with any of the common culprits that create comebacks, such as:

  • Not enough good communication at write-up?
  • Wrong information on the work order?
  • Dispatched to a non-qualified tech?
  • Part failure or correct parts not available?
  • Unable to properly duplicate or diagnose the issue?
  • No quality control of the boat or of the ticket?
  • Special tools or diagnostics not available or not working properly?
  • Or is it something else?

Comebacks can creep into unlikely places beyond those listed, so it’s important o look at each rework visit and identify what happened and why. Changes in
seasons, staffing and countless other things can make identifying the cause of the rework a moving target. 

This is why it’s so important to rely on facts, not
gut feelings.

You want to determine what team members were involved with the write-up, dispatch, diagnosis, parts procurement, repair and quality control, and where
it went wrong.

If your service team can put their heads together to agree on how it could have been prevented, it’s a lot less likely it will be an issue moving forward. For
this to happen, we have to bring it to their attention.

Share the Information with Your Team

They need to know what has been creating comebacks and why it’s hurting customer satisfaction and shop efficiency. If they don’t know about it, they
can’t fix it.

It starts with surveying your service customers. Then, most importantly, is that information being shared in a constructive way with the people who can use it
to improve the customers experience?

Often, in service, bad habits are formed and enforced over time because no attention is paid to how they are impacting our results. Why change if everything
seems okay? After a while, it becomes “how we’ve always done it.”

If your team currently acts defensive when negative feedback is being shared, you might need to change your tactic on how you share the info or who is doing
the sharing.

One dealership found that it was more effective to put their service advisors in charge of reviewing and sharing the service feedback with the team. The
dealer explained: 

“We used to have a manager share the survey results, but the advisors were the ones who knew the back stories on what happened. The
whole shop seemed to take more ownership of it when it came from one of their own. They didn’t want it to need management intervention.”

The more we share tangible results on shop numbers and customer feedback with the team in an empowering way (rather than an accusatory way), the
better that information will be received and acted upon.

Fix the Process

The big question is: “What can we do to prevent this in the future?” No one is better suited to answer that question and to make the needed adjustments
stick than the people who do the actual work, day in and out.

Service and parts workers can fix a lot more than boats. They can improve and fix processes, if they see the need to change and are given the opportunity to
make the adjustments.

The more the frontline service and parts workers are involved in creating the process adjustments needed to fix the issues, the more ownership of it they
will take and the easier it will be to make the changes.

Time for a reality check. Many dealerships avoid looking too closely at comebacks. Instead, they fix them one at a time. If this is your approach, it is
costing you in both customer loyalty and shop profitability.

When we lose a boat sale, most good dealerships and sales pros want to find out why. Did someone beat us on price? Did we not have what they were
looking for?

Finding out the “why” in sales is important; but unlike service, sales didn’t lose their inventory! Every time a boat has to come back for something the
customer perceived to not be fixed properly, we are losing shop hours and resources – our “inventory” – forever. Clearly, identifying, sharing and fixing
the issues at the root of these comebacks is critical to our dealerships’ success.

It has been said that every complaint is a gift that we should receive with gratitude. And truly, every comeback is an opportunity to not only make it right
for the customer who brought it to our attention, but also to strengthen our ability to make it right for many of our customers.

When the customer says: “Hey, you guys didn’t fix it right,” what we really could be hearing is:

“Hey, I know how you could make more money and raise your customer loyalty.” 



The more we value and use that feedback, the better it is for everyone.

———————————–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––—————————————-

About the Author
Valerie Ziebron, president of VRZ Consulting, has spent more than two decades helping businesses “fire on all 8” through education and motivation.
She makes it a point to uncover best practice “golden nuggets” that help people flip the switch from reactive to proactive for greater profitability and
customer loyalty.



Through studying and comparing hundreds of dealerships across North America, VRZ Consulting specializes in what stores can do to maximize their
resources, specifically their people, processes, space and location. Learn more at: www.vrzconsulting.com.

100 percent of MRAA Board contributes to BoatPAC

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announced today that 100 percent of the MRAA Board of Directors has contributed to BoatPAC, the federal political action committee representing the recreational boating industry.

The joint PAC fund of the MRAA, the National Marine Manufacturers Association, and the Association of Marina Industries, BoatPAC’s mission is to support members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, who demonstrate an understanding of the importance of the recreational boating community.

“BoatPAC is the most effective vehicle the boating industry uses to ensure that the MRAA and the boating industry at large remains at the table in all conversations that impact the well-being of our industry,” says Matt Gruhn, MRAA President. “The MRAA board wanted to demonstrate its leadership in contributing to this mission and hopes that all boat dealers and others throughout the marine industry will follow suit and keep our industry’s advocacy efforts strong.”

To learn more about BoatPAC and how you can get involved, please contact MRAA Government Relations Manager Chad Tokowicz at chad@mraa.com or 202-737-9779 or NMMA’s Senior Director of Political Advocacy and Engagement, Erica Crocker at ecrocker@nmma.org or 202-737-9776.

Members of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Board
Rob Soucy, Port Harbor Marine (Chairman of MRAA Board)
Jeff Strong, Strong’s Marine (Vice Chairman of MRAA Board)
Joe Lewis, Mount Dora Boating Center (Secretary/Treasurer of MRAA Board)
Joe Hoffmaster Hoffmasters Marina
Craig LeBlanc, Allen Harbor Marine
Don MacKenzie, Boats Incorporated
Jason Murphy, Norfolk Marine
Stacy Greenwood, Cleveland Boat Center
Darren Plymale, Galati Yachts
Chad Taylor, Taylor’s South Shore Marina
Jason Shallcross, Reed’s Marine
Jeff Siems Blue Springs Marine
Martin Boyer, Austin Boats and Motors
Craig Brosenne, Hagadone Marine Group
Carly Poole, Buckeye Marine
Bob Bense, Superior Boat Repair & Sales
Dave Briggs, Wayzata Marine

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 contact us at 763-315-8043.

MRAA Supports Administration’s Commitment to Boating Access in ‘America the Beautiful’ Report

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announced its support for the Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful report. The report outlines how three Federal Agencies and the Council on Environmental Quality will achieve the conservation goal of conserving 30% of America’s land and water by 2030 — also known as “30 by 30.”

This goal was first set on January 27, 2021, in President Biden’s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, which required the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the Chair of the Council of Environmental Quality, and the heads of other relevant agencies to submit a report within 90 days of the executive order. Throughout the process of developing this report there was substantial input from members of the outdoor recreation industry. Specifically, Hunt Fish 30×30 and the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, coalitions of which MRAA is a member, helped advocate for recreational access as a pillar of conservation strategy. Additionally, this aligns with MRAA’s 2021 priorites, which can be found here.

“We are ecstatic to see recreational access included as a major theme throughout the America the Beautiful report,” said Chad Tokowicz, Government Relations Manager for MRAA. “This inclusion highlights that the recommendations of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, Hunt Fish 30×30, as well as other groups in the recreational boating, hunting and fishing industry, were taken into serious consideration.”

The report initiates a decade-long conservation challenge that will equitably restore and conserve U.S. natural resources. This locally led but nationally scaled effort will conserve, connect and restore the land, waters and wildlife upon which all Americans depend. This challenge will be met through collaboration, leveraging relationships with boaters, sportsmen and women, industry, local businesses and other stakeholders. The report also calls for the development of the “American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas,” which will create a baseline of information on lands and waters that have already been conserved or restored within the United States. Lastly, the report specifically touts an increase in access for outdoor recreation, stating that “conservation can and should improve access for hunting, fishing, hiking, boating, and other forms of outdoor recreation.”

“We expect that this focus on equitable access and opening up opportunities for people throughout America will help grow involvement in recreational boating to the benefit of boaters and the boating industry at large, ” says Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA.

To learn more about the recommendations of Hunt Fish 30×30 and the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable please click here and here.

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, contact us at 763-315-8043.

Envision Company Acquires Pontoon Manufacturer Premier Marine

Envision Company of Elk River, MN, announced today the acquisition of Premier Marine, a leader in the luxury pontoon market, based in Wyoming, MN.

The move represents the next chapter in an already successful manufacturing legacy established by Envision Company owner, Chris Carlson. Carlson has an extensive 25-plus year track-record of driving growth in manufacturing businesses, grounded in a commitment to quality and passion for the outdoors. This acquisition will allow Envision Company to leverage its manufacturing expertise and further build upon the world-class reputation of Premier Marine.

Founded in 1992, Premier Marine rapidly became known as a brand with fierce focus on customer satisfaction through its commitment to quality and innovation. Premier pioneered the modern, high-performance pontoon and remains a category leader with innovations like the PTX tri-toon hull, optimized designs for high-horsepower performance and elevated trim levels. With Envision Company’s experience with advanced quality-controlled manufacturing techniques, modernized assembly processes and a track-record for innovation, the future of Premier Marine has never looked brighter.

Premier Marine currently has over 90 dealers across the United States and Canada with over 200 employees, making it one of the largest family-owned pontoon manufacturers in the industry. This family-owned legacy will continue under Envision Company.

“This is really a perfect fit for us,” said Chris Carlson, Envision Company owner and CEO. “We’ve been looking for a company that would allow us to apply our extensive manufacturing experience and leverage our relationships within the industry. We also wanted to work in an industry where we had passion and experience, and we really feel like Premier Marine checks all the boxes. We look forward to meeting the entire Premier Team and to working with the amazing dealer network. We couldn’t be more excited.”

For additional information on Premier Marine visit www.Pontoons.com.

MRAA Backs Bipartisan Reef Restoration Legislation

BacksMRAA joined other organizations in the recreational boating and fishing community to support the bipartisan Restoring Resilient Reefs Act (H.R. 160) introduced by Reps. Soto (D-FL), Case (D-HI), Radewagen (R-AS), Mast (R-FL), Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR), and Plaskett (D-VI).

This legislation will reauthorize and modernize the Coral Conservation Act of 2000. for five years to better support capacity-building at the state and local levels and to expand active restoration efforts combat reef degradation caused by coral disease, bleaching, natural disasters and human activity.

The bill also establishes standards for the formation of public-private partnerships to engage in the stewardship and restoration of reefs while also authorizing the Department of the Interior to provide scientific expertise, technical assistance, and financial assistance for the conservation and restoration of coral reefs.

This legislation is crucial for supporting healthy and diverse fisheries as coral reefs are home to a multitude of species as well as forage for sought after gamefish.

View letter here.

MRAA Joins two coalitions

To continue to expand its involvement with policy related to fishing, natural resource conservation and access, the MRAA joined the Great Lakes Conservation Coalition and the Alliance for America’s Fish and Wildlife. These partnerships align with MRAA’s 2021 policy priorities and assure that we are expanding our involvement for the benefit of our members and the recreation boating industry at large.

MRAA joined the Great Lakes Conservation Coalition, is an informal affiliation of conservation groups working in the Great Lakes region and collectively represents millions of hunters and anglers. The coalition works together to advance solutions for the conservation challenges threatening our fish, wildlife, and outdoor heritage. MRAA seeks to increase our involvement in policies impacting the Great Lakes region while working collaboratively with a wider range of organizations and stakeholders to improve resources and bolster access to the benefit of recreational boaters, anglers, and the marine industry overall.

MRAA joined the Alliance for America’s Fish and Wildlife to help advance and advocate for the Recovering Americas Wildlife Act (H.R. 2773) and assure that state fish and wildlife agencies can implement science-driven fish and wildlife action plans to help bolster conservation. The coalition is comprised of a diverse set of stakeholders representing interests ranging from outdoor recreation, and the retail and manufacturing sector to private landowners, conservation organizations, sportsmen’s group and more. MRAA recognizes that supporting state fish and wildlife agencies is key to improve and maintain our natural resources that will ultimately create more opportunities for recreational boaters.