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Sail America’s General Members Meeting Oct. 10 in Annapolis, MD, Focuses on Economic Trends and Industry Updates

 

Middletown, RI (Sept. 30, 2008) – This year’s Sail America General Members Meeting on Oct. 10 in Annapolis, MD, will feature an interactive panel discussion to encourage lively discussion about Sail America’s future plans and the current economic challenges facing the sailing industry.

The Sail America General Members Meeting will be held at Phillips Seafood Restaurant at 12 Dock St. overlooking Annapolis Harbor, and will kick-off with networking and a Continental Breakfast from 8:00-8:30 a.m. Sail America Executive Director Jonathan Banks will then moderate a discussion with a panel of Sail America Board Members and other sailing industry leaders that will run from 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m.

“We feel the panel discussion is the best way to present the new direction for Sail America and will give members the opportunity to raise questions and make suggestions,” said Banks. “The meeting will be fast-paced, informative and interactive. Members will learn of our plans for boat shows, marketing outreach, new membership services, and the 2009 Industry Conference, and they will have a chance to ask questions. The meeting will wrap up with a lively discussion on successful business strategies with one of the nation’s leading business turnaround consultants, William J. Ash, The Tron Group’s Senior Managing Director.

The General Members Meeting is open to members and non-members. The speakers and topics that will be covered at the Sail America General Members meeting include:
  • Introduction and Overview - Sail America Executive Director Jonathan Banks
  • The New Shape of Sail America - Sail America President Bill Goggins
  • Membership Services and Benefits - Jonathan Banks
  • Boat Show Plans – National Show Chair Wayne Burdick
  • The Sailing Industry Conference – Association Chair George Day
  • Grow Boating Update – NMMA V.P. Marketing Carl Blackwell
  • Business Turnaround Strategies – The Tron Group’s Senior Managing Director William J. Ash., national business turnaround expert
Sail America has recently announced several significant changes that will create greater value for members and bring financial stability to the organization, including a new partnership agreement with the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and an agreement with Show Management to create the St. Petersburg Boat Show and Strictly Sail show. Earlier this year, Sail America introduced a new, wide-ranging membership benefits package and completed in June its first Industry “Growth Through Innovation” conference and Industry Regatta, which was well-received, with 89% percent of participants surveyed saying they would attend the conference again next year.

With all the recent changes at Sail America, members are encouraged to attend the General Members Meeting and to submit questions in advance to Banks at jbanks@sailamerica.com

“The meeting is open to both members and non-members, and includes a free breakfast,” said Banks. “I’m looking forward to what promises to be a highly informative meeting and a chance to answer members’ questions.”

For further information about the Sail America General Members Meeting, please contact Sail America Executive Director Jonathan Banks at 401-841-0900 ext. 12 or at jbanks@sailamerica.com.

About Sail America:
Sail America is the trade association for the U.S. sailing industry and plays a vital role for all companies that provide sailing-related products and services. Established in 1990 by members of the U.S. sailing industry, Sail America now has over 400 members representing all segments of the sailing market; from manufacturers to sailing schools and from charter companies to publishers. Sail America is based in Middletown, RI, and has a full-time professional staff and a dedicated Board of Directors. Sail America’s mission is to promote the health and growth of sailing.

In 2008 and 2009 Sail America will endorse and promote some of the country’s best sailboat shows – Strictly Sail Chicago, Strictly Sail Miami, Strictly Sail Pacific, and the brand new St. Petersburg Boat Show and Strictly Sail – as well as SailFest events at the Virginia In-Water Boat Expo and SailFest and the Baltimore Boat Show.

In addition to promoting Strictly Sail® Boat Shows and Sail Fests, Sail America promotes the sailing lifestyle, introduces thousands of new people to sailing, generates qualified sales leads, distributes industry and market information, provides valuable business education, facilitates networking events and supports industry-wide initiatives, such as Discover Sailing and Grow Boating.

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