Sail America’s General Members Meeting Draws Strong Crowd

The Sail America General Members Meeting held on Friday, Oct. 10 in Annapolis focused on Sail America’s new direction and how industry members can navigate an economy that’s no longer just “business as usual.” 

A video of the Members Meeting can be viewed at www.sailamerica.com/annapolis/chapter1.asp.

Discussion Topics & Speakers included:

• The New Shape of Sail America – Sail America President Bill Goggins described Sail America’s new business model and encouraged companies to sign up and get involved.
• Membership Services and Benefits – Executive Director Jonathan Banks outlined Sail America’s five key goals:

1. Help create the best sailboat shows.
2. Introduce new people to sailing through outreach programs.
3. Provide members with relevant business tools: e.g. market intelligence, mailing lists, education, conferences, etc.
4. Provide a collective voice and represent members’ best interests.
5. Help members save money.

• Boat Show Plans – National Show Chair Wayne Burdick emphasized the importance of boats shows in a down market and introduced Dee Newman and Ed Hartman from the Annapolis Sailboat Show, Dane Graziano from Show Management, and Kevin Murphy from NMMA.
• The Sailing Industry Conference – Sail America Association Chair George Day described the positive feedback from the inaugural Sailing Industry Conference and outlined plans for an even better conference in 2009.
• Marketing Update – Sail America Marketing Chair Sally Helme filled in at the last minute for NMMA’s Carl Blackwell to give an update on the Discover Boating and Discover Sailing campaigns.
• Business Turnaround Strategies – William J. Ash, Senior Managing Director with the Tron Group, discussed business turnaround strategies and the steps companies need to take when business slows down. Bill’s experience includes a decade in banking, working as a venture capital manager, investing in regional manufacturing companies, and turning around numerous businesses.

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