Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/467551
March 2015 | Boating Industry | 29 [ Storming the hill ] www.BoatingIndustry.com Congress that we're definitely looking toward … trying to find new advocates that are favoring the recreational boating industry. We have a new co-chair of the Congressional Boating Caucus, Rep. Patrick Murphy from Florida, so that's a re- ally exciting thing to have some new blood in the caucus and somebody from Florida, which is so important for our industry. He'll be joining Rep. Candice Miller of Michigan, who's been a great advocate of ours for several years. Trade continues to be a really important issue for this industry and it seems like there is going to be some progress on trade agreements. Boating Industry: What's the best way for our readers to make sure they are heard on these issues? It's almost too simple – contact your member of Congress. We're also encouraging people to sign up for BoatingUnited.com. That's our grassroots tool for the whole industry. That enables your readers and boaters around the country to learn the issues and contact their representatives directly. That allows them to self-identify with recre- ational boating issues. It allows us to have direct communication with them, and hopefully they can engage on these issues. We'll continue to communicate through that medium on issues as they come up. FOR MORE INFORMATION For more on the American Boating Congress and governmental issues, be sure to read the April issue of Boating Industry and visit BoatingIndustry.com Visit www.nmma.org/abc, where you can sign up for email updates. On Twitter, follow @therealnmma and hashtag #abc2015. ABC 2015 SCHEDULE Partial tentative schedule of events for this year's ABC. For the latest updated schedule, visit www.nmma.org/abc. Monday, May 11 Noon-5 p.m. Recreational Boating Leadership Council Meeting 3:30-5 p.m. Government Relations and PAC Committee Meetings 7-9 p.m. Welcome reception at National Portrait Gallery Tuesday, May 12 9-9:30 a.m. Effective Lobbying Techniques session 9:45-11:45 a.m. Topic discussions 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. Networking lunch and Eddie Smith Award presentation 1-6 p.m. Hill visits available Wednesday, May 13 8:15 a.m. – Noon Legislative speakers 1-6 p.m. Hill visits available 5:30-8 p.m. National Safe Boating Council reception