b'LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORAn Exciting Line-Up of PVA AT THE HELMEvents and Activities on the HorizonJOHN GROUNDWATER // EXECUTIVE DIRECTORA s we turn the corner and ease into fall, PVA members can ex- AHOY NEW ADVENTURES UPDATEpect a variety of valuable association activities in which to par- PVAs new digital marketing program has received a great deal of atten-ticipate. Leading this full agenda are five face-to-face regiontion in recent months. If you will recall, this exciting new PVA member meetings, two of whichthe PVA Southeast Region Meeting and thebenefit was created to assist PVA members in enhancing their market-PVA Great Lakes Region Meetingwere held this month.ing reach. The program provides a website, Ahoy.us, where travelers can locate and book travel on PVA member companies throughout the If you have never attended a PVAU.S. In addition to making significant Region Meeting, I heartily encour- improvements to the Ahoy website to age you to do so. Each meeting of- Each meeting emphasizesmake it easier to navigate, all PVA ves-fers a strong program of seminars,sel members have been added to the topics,androundtablediscussionsthe importance of sharingsite with a basic listing. All PVA vessel covering region specific and nation- members get their own company page al topics that focusing squarely onknowledge, expertise, for their listing and we encourage you yourbusiness.Eachmeetingem- to access your companys page to add phasizes the importance of sharingand ideas. Open discussionscontentsuchasphotosanddescrip-knowledge,expertise,andideas.tions of your operation. To update or Open discussions prevail and PVAprevail and PVA memberadd content to your page, click on the memberattendeesalwaysbenefitchange link located on your companys from these free exchanges by gainingattendees always benefitlanding page.new ideas and solving pressing oper- from these free exchanges ational problems. Following are justClick here for a brief PowerPoint pre-a few of the topics that are plannedby gaining new ideassentationdescribingtheAhoyNew for each PVA Region Meeting: and solving pressingAdventures program.Roundtable: Successful PVAassociatemembersarealsoin-Strategies to Attract and operational problems.cluded in the Ahoy New Adventures Retain Employees digitalmarketingprogramandare listed in the partners section of the State Legal Cannabis and the Impact on Passenger Vessel Operators Ahoy website. Contact PVAs Katie Hill at khill@passengervessel.com if you would like to add or change your URL or listing.Effectively Managing SafetyTools and Best PracticesPVA ANNUAL CONVENTION AT MARITRENDS 2023 Active ShooterHow to Prevent and How to Respond IS JUST AROUND THE CORNERStaffishardatworkplanningthePVAAnnualConventionat Regional Coast Guard Priorities and Activities MariTrends 2023, scheduled February 2-5, at the Long Beach Conven-tion and Entertainment Center in Long Beach, Calif. We are pinningMerchant Mariner Credential UpdateHow You Can down details for a spectacular MariTrends 2023 exhibit floorwatchMinimize Delays your email for information when exhibit booths go on saleand we are starting work on the MariTrends 2023 seminar program. Roundtable: Strategies to Control Costs and Cope withSupply Chain Issues You may have noticed that a call for presentations was emailed to you this month. This is our way of encouraging you to participate I hope that you will attend a PVA Region Meeting this fall. Go to theas a speaker in the convention. PVA members have a great deal of PVA website and click on meetings and events to access schedules, pro- knowledge and expertise in a variety of operational areas and their grams, and registration information. contributionsasspeakersareextremelyvaluable.Weencourage seminar suggestions that offer how-to information and that are in-PVA REGION MEETING SPONSORSHIPS STILL AVAILABLE teractive in nature, recognizing that roundtable discussions foster If you have not reserved your sponsorship for PVA Region Meetingsin-depth and meaningful discussions. Topic areas focusing on sales there is still time to do so. A sponsorship will give your company vis- and marketing, new technology, regulations, operations, as well as ibility throughout each event. Click here to lock in your region meet- business management are welcomed. I hope that you will participate ing sponsorship.as a MariTrends 2023 speaker. Click here to enroll as a speaker. Continued on page 407 SEPTEMBER 2022'