Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 324 NOVEMBER 2016 • FOGHORN All the Ways PVA Serves You The Passenger Vessel Association prides itself on the services provided to its members. In fact, meeting and exceeding customer satis- faction is one of the tenets of PVA’s mission. There are a myriad of ways that PVA strives to work closely with its membership. Early each year, just after the PVAAnnual Convention at MariTrends concludes, a survey is sent to every Vessel member and Associate member who attends the event in order to gauge the attendee reaction and learn what worked and where improvements are needed in PVA’s biggest educa- tional and networking event of the year. The results are then scrutinized by the staff, PVAConvention Committee, and the Associate Council to plan future events. PVA Region Meetings are another example. In an era where many orga- nizations are hosting online webinars in place of in-person meetings, PVA is committed to delivering instruc- tion on the most pressing issues facing vessel operators by allowing members and regulators to meet face- to-face. We firmly believe that establishing relationships is paramount to effective problem solving for mutual benefit. And, the PVA Annual Congressional Fly-In is a unique opportunity to express the concerns relating to the passenger vessel industry to elected officials, and their staff, on Capitol Hill each spring. This function is critical for representatives in Washington, DC to hear firsthand the issues facing small business owners and operators in the commercial maritime sector. This event has proven to be beneficial to achieving the Association’s legislative agenda in favor of our industry. Many of you have already taken advantage of PVA’s number-one benefit: interacting with PVA’s staff to work through situations where their expertise is required. PVA’s General Counsel Steve Bers is available through the PVA Legal Hotline to offer guidance on a wide spectrum of legal matters. As retired Coast Guard captains, both Eric Christensen and Peter Lauridsen know the ins and outs of regulatory issues related to safety and the Coast Guard. Ed Welch’s knowledge base is exceptional on a wide variety of issues and can offer expert advice on legislative concerns that impact vessel operations. Jen Wilk works closely with the Environmental Protection Agency on the Vessel General Permit as well as many security-related issues. Karen Rainbolt is happy to assist members with the PVAGreen WATERS Program and all things having to do with FOGHORN. And, of course, Executive Director John Groundwater is always ready to work with members in every possible way. PVA is exceptional in many arenas, but one of its most unique qualities is its focus on serving its membership in ways other associations would never do. Consider the following: This year alone, PVA Director of Regulatory Affairs and Risk Management Eric Christensen visited more than a dozen members at their facilities, worked on more than 110 separate issues on members’ behalf, and attended eight Coast Guard Industry Days from Maine to Hawaii. In fact, Eric and PVA’s Director of Public Affairs and Development Jen Wilk traveled to Hawaii to personally meet members at their work sites to discuss the issues that impact them most. Again, this level of service is unheard of in other member-based organizations. Along with in-person contact, PVA also has several other ways to communicate with members, and vice versa. FOGHORN Magazine is prime example of a key resource that provides members and industry stakeholders with valuable infor- mation and offers the opportunity for vessel operators, industry suppliers, and regulators to pen articles to share pertinent information with others. Even better, FOGHORN can be read online at www.foghornmaga- zine.com, a service introduced to members in early 2014 in response to requests to have access to the information 24/7. Furthermore, Member Updates offer up-to-the-min- ute information on fast-breaking news and is delivered at least twice a month to your email inbox. Finally, one of the most important elements of PVA is that it is comprised of individuals just like you who strive to add to the passenger vessel industry’s body of knowledge and maritime’s safety/security’s exemplary reputation by volunteering countless hours in innumer- able ways. These tireless volunteers who sit on PVA Committees and the Board of Directors are working on your behalf to make your operation safer, more secure, cleaner, profitable, and moving forward. Members are always welcome to attend any committee or board meeting or share your thoughts with any of us. We’re here to serve you. Sincerely, Sincerely, Margo Marks President n LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Margo Marks PVA is exceptional in many arenas, but one of its most unique qualities is its focus on serving its membership in ways other associations would never do.