In our last newsletter I outlined three points the board will be focusing on this year and one of those was increasing educational opportunities for the membership. I’m happy to announce that we will kick off the BWI Continuing Education Series with new funds donated by Dometic Marine who generously provided $1,000 last week to improve the lives of our writers.

Based on the member survey that was conducted last year, our journalists are interested in mastering social networking and new technologies, improving existing websites and blogs or learning how to launch a new site, and creating more material for online audiences. The business climate is also reflected in our interest in copyright laws, contracts, and legal issues like setting up an LLC to both protect our work and our assets.

Although the first topic is still up for debate, we have decided that we can probably create 2 webinars to start, with the first one debuting in late spring.

The beauty of webinars is twofold: 1) Once a webinar is created, members can log in to participate on their own schedule and/or view the material more than once, and 2) it gives us a chance to highlight a presenting sponsor like Dometic who also sponsors a category in our annual writing contest.

Dometic Marine is delighted to support this project,” says Doug Curtis, Director of Marketing. “The marine journalist community is experiencing a sea change due to electronic media and we wanted to lend a helping hand to help everyone navigate this new digital world.”

Continuing education must be a hallmark of any responsive professional organization and we plan to introduce new topics and possibly even podcasts as a delivery mechanism. Thus far, we’ve had “in person” educational efforts like the appearance of intellectual property and copyright attorney Leslie Lott at the Miami show a couple years ago. Now we plan to expand the topics and the way we communicate them to our members.

We need to keep two things in mind. First, we rely on the expertise of our members to create the content and the delivery of each educational presentation. So please, if you can help with any of the topics above (or others) contact me or any board member to discuss.

Second, we have a lot more topics than we have funds so please help spread the word to potential sponsors who would like to have their message highlighted in front of almost 400 marine journalists.

I’m glad we’re on our way with our first goal and I look forward to your feedback on our efforts.
In our last newsletter I outlined three points the board will be focusing on this year and one of those was increasing educational opportunities for the membership.

I’m happy to announce that we will kick off the BWI Continuing Education Series with new funds donated by Dometic Marine who generously provided $1,000 last week to improve the lives of our writers.

Based on the member survey that was conducted last year, our journalists are interested in mastering social networking and new technologies, improving existing websites and blogs or learning how to launch a new site, and creating more material for online audiences. The business climate is also reflected in our interest in copyright laws, contracts, and legal issues like setting up an LLC to both protect our work and our assets.

Although the first topic is still up for debate, we have decided that we can probably create Read more »

Marine Marketers of America (MMA) announced two new initiatives for the boating industry – a  marketing program to support dealer-based women’s boating education and a new online resource center – at the organization’s annual meeting at the Miami Show.

The “Boating Education and Safety Training (B.E.S.T.) Course – Just for Women,” was developed by MMA to help retail dealers offer training to give women the knowledge, skills and confidence to operate a boat safely.

MMA has created a marketing toolkit that can be used by dealers to implement local training courses. The package includes logos, advertising slicks, brochures, direct mailers, radio scripts, a sample press release and other elements, which can be tailored as needed. It also provides helpful hints for establishing and conducting local courses based on successful women’s boating training programs implemented by other dealers.

It can be downloaded from MMA’s website. “We developed this dealer-based women’s training program to foster boating safety, and to give dealers a selling tool to build qualified leads and close sales,” said Jim Rhodes, pro bono committee co-chair. “As marketing professionals, we set out to create a branding umbrella and marketing tools that will enable dealers to launch their own training courses reaching out to women.”

MMA has also redesigned its website – www.marinemarketersofamerica.org – to become a major Internet portal for all who market recreational marine products, causes and services. It has been developed in cooperation with Mad Mariner, which provides creative and technical support.

The marine marketing group’s evolving site seeks to bring together the up-todate news, opinions, statistics, links, and blogs from throughout the industry plus provide forums, professional development, a job bank, speakers’ bureau, and member directory.

A number of BWI members are active in the MMA. Wanda Kenton Smith was recently reelected president and Michael Sciulla a vice president. New board members elected to serve a three-year term include Glen Justice of Mad Mariner and Bentley Collins of Sabre Yachts. Returning board members completing terms through 2010 include Sally Helme, Jim Rhodes, Bill Lindsey, Greg Proteau and Bill AuCoin.

This summer, industry organizations are coming together to grow the boating and fishing lifestyle and get more people out on the water.

To kick off boating and fishing season, the Association of Marina Industries (AMI), Marine Retailers Association of America, NMMA, the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and several others will host “Boat. Fish. Live. At National Marina Day” on Saturday, June 12.

To celebrate Marina Day, along with National Fishing & Boating Week, National Get Outdoors Day and other June events during Great Outdoors Month, ten marinas across the country will engage consumers in boating and fishing demonstrations, test driving boats, educational activities and more. Read more »

Each year after presentation of the BWI Writing Contest Awards, a number of requests come from those who want to see the winning entries. Many are available, though some can’t be shared due to contractual issues.

The links below will take those interested to the 2009 stories (and websites) that have been submitted to date.  If the link doesn’t connect, paste the entire url address in a browser and retry. Read more »

Early in 2010 Dick DeBartolo celebrated a couple of milestones. February marked the fortieth year of his Powerboat Magazine column. And he set a new record at MAD Magazine where he is known as its Maddest Writer.

The January 2010 issue marked a streak of being in MAD for 400 consecutive issues! (It was rumored he had to give THEM a gold watch.) Read more »

During the Miami boat shows, Boats.com and YachtWorld.com announced a long-term agreement that will connect their boat listings with editorial content from 12 noted marine journalists. Read more »

Anglers itching to get out fishing can start looking at the BoatUS.Angler Fishing Guide and Charter Locator.

Whether it’s a trip for steelhead on the Great Lakes, fishing for bass in Texas, or seeking snook in the Florida flats, the locator allows anglers to search by region, state, fresh or saltwater. Read more »

“Plastiki,” a one-of-a-kind sailing vessel manufactured almost entirely from recycled plastic bottles, is embarking on a 100-day, 10,000-nautical mile journey to spread its environmental “message in a bottle.”

CMAP by Jeppesen electronic charts will help guide the journey on this ocean crossing. To follow the ongoing voyage of the craft visit www.theplastiki.com.

For details contact Ron Ballanti, 818/349-4608, strikezne@earthlink.net.

After enrolling nearly 200 megayacht captains in its inaugural year, Island Global Yachting has updated its loyalty program for 2010.

The IGY Anchor Club is a dedicated program for vessels over 80 feet which rewards captains and crew for their continued patronage of IGY’s network of marinas. New reward opportunities include special offers, complimentary dining at area restaurants, private crew parties, gift cards, lottery drawing for upscale cars and toys, iPods, unique sailing-inspired merchandise, and more. Read more »

Pettit Marine Paint is offering a new rebate, economic recovery package boaters can take to the bank.

Through May 31, 2010, the company is offering rebates up to $20 per gallon on select antifouling paint. This initiative follows the successful 2009 stimulus rebate program, which saved American boat owners over $300,000. Read more »