From the Desk of the Executive Director

Washington, D.C. is a pretty impressive place. More impressive is all the activity happening on Capitol Hill. The FYBA sent a strong delegation this year to the NMMA’s American Boating Congress (ABC). Gary Smith, Paul Flannery, Jeff Erdmann, our lobbyist Omar Franco, and I all attended. We had no fewer than 19 meetings with Florida Congressmen/women and our two Senators! That does not include all the other breakfast, lunch, and cocktail meetings the FYBA delegation attended during the three-day conference. The FYBA was once again a co-host of the ABC and considering how successful the event was, this will most likely continue next year!

Our main goal for this year’s ABC was the continuing effort to lobby for duty paid on foreign-flagged used yachts post-sale rather than pre-sale. Every one of the legislators we met with liked the idea and it seems they will give us their support. I would like to thank all of you who donate to the FYBA PAC Fund as it is one of the tools that help us to funnel needed monies to the legislators who support our industry.

Just when we think things will slow down after boat show season, the FYBA office gets in gear again with the Golf Scramble, East Coast Yacht Sales Summit, and an office move! Yes, by the time you read this issue, the FYBA staff will be settling into our new surroundings in the Harbor Shops off of SE 17th Street on Cordova Road in Fort Lauderdale. Please refer to our address change in this issue of COMPASS.

FYBA members on the Gulf Coast also will be seeing more activity from your association. The West Coast Sales Summit will be taking place on August 14th at the Hyatt Hotel in Sarasota. In addition, we soon will be putting together some Open Houses at Marina Jack in Sarasota due to the positive feedback we received during the Suncoast Boat Show. 

If you haven’t heard already, the FYBA has become a major sponsor of the “Marine Industry Day” being organized by the MIASF and co-host associations. The city of Fort Lauderdale has endorsed the official day, June 11th. A social event to celebrate industry workers and their families will take place on June 14th from 12 to 6 pm at Esplanade Park in downtown Fort Lauderdale. All FYBA members and their families are invited and encouraged to attend. There will be plenty of activities for children and adults, including live music with three fantastic bands!

For charter brokers and managers, the FYBA is supporting you by having a presence at the upcoming Newport Charter Show in Rhode Island on June 23-26th. We are working closely with the Newport Exhibition Group as many of the brokers attending that show are FYBA members and most of the yachts on display are managed by FYBA charter managers. We also will make a push to grow membership in this category during the show.

In fact, I ask that all of you who have companies to encourage your brokers/employees to join the FYBA. I can’t stress “strength in numbers” enough, especially after attending the ABC. Local, state, and federal agencies listen when they hear the numbers like “over 1,100 members and counting”!!!

With all the FYBA events coming up, there should be at least one to get you out of the office. See you there! 

Ann