|
|
|
INDEX For May 2000 TradeWinds Newsletter
Marine Fisheries Commission Requests Halt to Coastal
Marina Permits The Secretary of the NC DENR has been requested
by the NC Marine Fisheries Commission to “hold in abeyance all applications to
develop marinas in coastal waters including or near Primary Nursery Areas until
a more effective comprehensive marina siting policy is prepared and implemented
by the Department”. This request, from the Water Quality Habitat sub-committee,
is going to the DENR head next week. The next scheduled meeting of the Marine
Fisheries Commission is July 20 – 21. Commission members, additional meeting
dates and related information can be found at http://www.ncfisheries.net/ncmfcom.htm
or contact Jess Hawkins 800-682-2632. Don’t Get Left Out – NC Coastal Boating Guide and Highway Map 2000 Update Marinas and Boatyards will soon be receiving a fax or letter requesting an update on their facility information. It is essential that this form is completed and returned to guarantee a listing in the 2000 NC Coastal Boating Guide. This guide has become one of the most widely used information sources for boaters cruising through North Carolina waters. If you do not receive this request for information by the end of May and want to be included in this valuable marketing tool, please contact our offices. Hurricane Season Approaching – Our Plans Available Once again NC Marine
Trades Services is
offering our hurricane plan for use by marinas. You can access this plan on our
website at www.sbtdc.org/sbtdcmar.html
and click on “Talks, Papers, Articles and
Miscellaneous Information”. You can also request a copy by phone, fax or
e-mail. If you already have a plan, it’s time to pull it out and review it with
your staff. Don’t start this season unprepared. Electrical Troubleshooting Workshop from ABYC Coming to Wilmington American Boat and Yacht
Council is holding one of its technical workshops at the Holiday Inn in
Wilmington on August 1. The topic is electrical troubleshooting geared towards
marina and boatyard personnel. All NCMTA members can attend this one-day
workshop at the discounted price of $125. This price is only available if you
register before July 3. Come get hands-on experience and technical advice on measuring circuit parameters, troubleshooting
steps, test instruments, tools and
electrical standards. Harry Cunningham
of Electric Controls Inc. will be the presenter. This is a great way to boost
your skills and also find out more about membership advantages in ABYC. For
more information and a registration form contact ABYC at (410) 956-1050 NC Lakes Likely to Benefit – National Recreation Lakes
Act In April, legislation was
introduced in the House that would make recreation a priority on federal
man-made lakes. The National Recreation Lakes Act would set aside funds for a
recreational facility modernization program to upgrade boat ramps, roads and
bathrooms at lakes nationwide. This program could potentially help all or any
Corps of Engineer managed lakes in NC. A council will establish
the criteria for lakes to be designated as demonstration lakes and be eligible
for funding. If the lakes are chosen for this designation they will receive
funding of up to a million dollars to upgrade facilities and implement fee
programs, concessions agreements, and innovative management structures. COE Nationwide Permits Being Replaced The Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide Permit (NWP) 26 is being
replaced by five new NWP’S, while six other existing NWP’s are being modified.
NWP 26 was issued to permit some discharges into the nation’s waters, and
regulate the impacts on wetlands from certain dredging and filling operations.
The new permits will be activity-specific to minimize adverse effects on the
aquatic environment. One example is that the Corps now must be notified of any
project that impacts one-tenth of an acre instead of one-third of an acre of
wetlands, and the maximum acreage allowed for development is one-half an acre,
reduced from 3 acres. For more information, go to www.saw.usace.army.mil/wetlands/regtour.htm. Then click on the RAMS site.
NC/SC MarineEXPO 2000 – Designed for Networking / Buying
Opportunities Exhibitors and participants are really
going to like this year’s trade-only event. The location is North Carolina’s
newest Convention Center, located on the waterfront in downtown New Bern. This
“under-one-roof” venue is perfect for the trade show, workshops, seminars and
our famous “Walkabout Buffet”. Right next-door is the New Bern Sheraton where
additional events will be held and where NCMTA member and host marina, the
Sheraton Marina, is offering slips so you can come to the EXPO by boat.
Exhibitors mark your calendars for Thursday and Friday, November 9th and 10th. We have a
block of rooms reserved at the Sheraton, and there are 500 additional rooms
within a couple miles of the Convention Center. The exhibition hall will be the
most accommodating yet for vendor displays, and New Bern’s central location to
North Carolina’s marine businesses assures active participation. New Bern is
within 100 miles of 80 boat builders, 85 marinas and boatyards, 15 communities
with waterfront expansion plans, and over 1,500 other marine businesses from
marine contractors to boat and motor repair services. MarineEXPO 2000 features an Exhibitor’s Reception sponsored by local and regional economic development agencies. Additional exhibitor incentives include access to the dozen or more workshops, tours and a Friday end-of-event exit by 3:00 PM. Exhibitor booths are $350/single and $600/double and can be reserved with a $100 deposit. Contact Wendy Larimer by phone (910.962.3351), fax (910.962.3014) or email (Wlarimer@SBTDC.org) and you will receive an exhibitor package as soon as they are available.
Bringing the Price Down – MarineEXPO Activity Sponsorships
Simple math: The lower the individual’s cost for seminar and event participation, the higher the EXPO attendance. This year’s list of events – seminars, workshops, forums, receptions, breakfast, luncheon, dinner, coffee breaks, refreshments, tours, busses, and both NC and SC trade association meetings – all have sponsorship opportunities. We ask NC and SC business owners to encourage your primary vendors to participate in the trade show and consider sponsoring one or more events. For information, call Mike Bradley at (252) 728-2144. Boat Builder and Marina/Boatyard Forums
At 4:30 on Thursday afternoon, November 9th,
marine business owners and representatives from both North and South Carolina
will have an opportunity to voice and hear strategies that will be critical
politically and in the conduct of business over the next several years. Marine
trade businesses in the Carolinas are facing upcoming uncertainty on a number
of fronts. These include: numerous regulatory and permitting issues that are
too frequently based on misconceptions by regulators, legislators and the
public; manpower shortages that often pit builder against builder and repair
service against boatyard; a proliferation of promotional efforts that are less
and less effective and increasingly costly; and
missed marketing opportunities that could be collectively pursued to benefit
regions and specific trades. And, importantly, attendees will discuss how to
support and promote the industry’s collective strengths and importance as to
employee numbers and economic impact to predominantly rural counties. Seminars – Workshops – Product Introductions and Demonstrations By attending this two-day New Bern event, participants will be able to choose among topics that include: advanced fiberglass repair methods; yacht docking considerations; urban waterfront issues and answers; series vs. parallel plumbing systems; what’s new in resins, adhesives and gels; small business advocacy – how to use your size; impact of zoning, regulations, etc. in locating drystack and slip boat storage; new boat-bottom treatments; update on boatbuilding MACT, ergonomics, air quality, styrene and other regulatory issues; OSHA training packages for compliance; change management – growth management for your small business; loan packages and business plans by the numbers; web marketing and web startup assistance; manpower and new employee training programs that are working; new three-dimensional weave and its use in boatbuilding; and more. And for Entertainment and Education – Hatteras Yachts & Tryon Palace Tours, Dinners and
Receptions At the request of last year’s attendees, we will be having tours of either Hatteras Yachts or Tryon Palace. We will also have an All Industry Reception and Dinner on Thursday evening and the annual Walkabout Lunch on the trade show floor on Friday. Costs for event will be determined following sponsorships solicitation. Watch your mail for registration information and a
full schedule of events. Have marine trades related question or problem? The NC Marine Trades Services is a service of the Small Business and Technology Center and available to all small businesses without charge. Marina related - call (910) 962-3351. Boatbuilding and Boatyard related - call (252) 728-2144. The headquarters of the SBTDC is located in Raleigh and can be contacted by calling (800) 258-0862.
|