Request for Proposal – FLIBS 2009 Informative Seminars

Consider this! We need your opinions!!!!!!!!!

Friday, October 30, 2009 – the second day of FLIBS

An all-day event of informative seminars at Bahia Mar

For the concentration of superyacht personnel in town during FLIBS

All levels of experience – from fundamental to intermediate to advance topics

Timely, informative and educational seminars. 45 minutes. A/V available

Closing with a Captains Briefing & Reception, an advocacy presentation followed immediately by a networking reception. Presented jointly by the ISS, the MIASF and the USSA.

We are accepting proposals, from the members of all three organizations, for seminar topics. (Documents were sent in email notification) Read more »

2009 Newport Spring Charter Show – Captains Briefing

If you’re planning a trip to the Northeast,
plan to be in Newport on Monday June 22!

The USSA has planned a “Captains Update & Reception” on Monday afternoon, June 22, 2009. The speakers will be informative and knowledgeable. We “serve as a voice” – advocating for the superyacht industry in the United States. Our goal is to educate and inform.

The audience is the captains and senior officers of all the large vessels that are in the region, not just those in the charter show.

We are also inviting regional superyacht businesses and leaders. We want to strengthen our regional alliances and engage new members.

The Captains Update will be in the main tent at the Newport Spring Charter Show in The Newport Shipyard at 4:00 on Monday, with a mini-trade show opportunity during the event and throughout the charter show (June 23-26).

The networking reception follows immediately from about 5-7:00. We are planning a Specialty Drink Station and Cash Raffle Prizes!

The Newport Spring Charter Show hosts their crew party, 5:30-7:00, in the same tent, on the same evening. More energy, more networking, more exposure!

Support the USSA event!

Use June 22 as a planning date, a focal point, a home base during your trip!

Most of the charter show activities are in the evening, the Welcome Dinner on Tuesday, yacht-hops on Wednesday and Thursday – you know the drill.

During the day, visit customers, shipyards, vessels, distributers!

Work the region, returning in the evenings for the networking and the Newport nightlife.

Your shared table space ($450) in the main tent at the charter show gives you exposure, even when you’re not there.

Participating USSA members will be welcome on the charter show vessels and at the events.

Member support is critical.

The 2009 Newport Offerings and Sponsorships are attached.

Host, Specialty Drink and Raffle Sponsorships include the mini-trade show, shared table space. Consider all the options!

Fax (or email) the completed Member Agreement (attached) to 954-206-9180. Do it now!

Deadline: June 1.

Marketing, Networking and Advocacy!

Captains Briefing & Reception St. Maarten January 2009

The annual Captains Briefing & Reception, held in St. Maarten in January, gathered nearly 100 industry captains (who were berthed there) to discuss such issues as visas & immigration, foreign-flagged vessel entry into U.S. waters, doing business with U.S. refit yards and piracy.

A delegation of over 20 member companies traveled for a mini-trade show and two days of networking with the

attending senior officers and the many vessels in port.

Networking Event May 14th, 2009

Come join us! It’s the 2nd Thursday again!

Monthly USSA Networking Event April 9th,2009 LMC Hosts

In April, Lauderdale Marine Center hosted a 2nd Thursday USSA Networking Event in Fort Lauderdale, where the newly-elected mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Jack Seiler, addressed a group of nearly 150 superyacht industry leaders, stakeholders and advocates. His continued support for the dredging of the ICW and the New River were complemented by his commitment to help facilitate the upgrade and expansion of the boat show facilities at Bahia Mar in order to accommodate large yachts. “The mayor’s remarks were heartening in his acknowledgment of the issues and his support of local initiatives affecting superyachts,” commented John Mann, chair of USSA’s Advocacy Committee.

Gallery: 2009 Miami Boat Show

Here are a few photos from our Miami Boat Show booth.

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Gallery: 2009 St. Maarten Captains Briefing

Here are a few photos of our St. Maarten Captains Briefing 2009

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Networking Event March 12th, 2009

Come join us for the USSA Member’s Networking Event, on Thursday, March 12th, 2009! It’s the 2nd Thursday again!  We missed seeing everyone last month.  We were “networking” at the Yacht & Brokerage Show in Miami.  Now it’s time to gather the clan again!

When:
Thursday, March 12, 2009

Where:
Seventh Street Wine Company
701 S. Federal Hwy.,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

When:
6:00 – 7:00, light snacks

Why:
This is a great opportunity for you to meet & greet your fellow USSA members, perhaps to bring a new potential member-company to learn about the USSA or maybe to hear some insider tidbits from an industry professional.
This month, Mike French, a member of the USSA, International Yacht Training, will share his perspective on the changing marketplace regarding “crewing.”  In these times of unprecedented change, crew (like all of us) are struggling with how to market themselves, to re-invent themselves and stay in the marketplace.

Mike also promises to tell us more about IYT’s Boat Handling Competition, even promising to bring an 8′ boat.  Can’t wait to see what he’s got up his sleeve.

Join us for sure! March 12th!

Wine and Cheese with the USSA, 6-7 PM.

USSA visits Seattle February 2009

Members of the USSA, including several of the Board of Directors, went to Seattle in late February to support the North West Captain’s Association and the Pacific NW Yachting Association for a monthly captains meeting. They toured several local shipyards, learned about the local (Pacific NW) issues affecting the superyacht industry and set groundwork for future cooperative projects. Dan Wood, President of the North West Captain’s Association, commented, “The USSA’s presence was responsible for the event’s largest gathering on record, as well as the largest contribution to our chosen charity, The Forgotten Children’s Fund. We work all year long to raise money to purchase, wrap and deliver Christmas gifts to the needy children of Washington State.”

Captains Briefing St. Maarten January 2009

The annual Captains Briefing & Reception, held in St. Maarten in January, gathered nearly 100 industry captains (who were berthed there) to discuss such issues as visas & immigration, foreign-flagged vessel entry into U.S. waters, doing business with U.S. refit yards and piracy. A delegation of over 20 member companies traveled for a mini-trade show and two days of networking with the attending senior officers and the many vessels in port.