b'2023 Region MeetingsT hisyearsPVARegionMeetingseventssawstrongattendanceineverysectorasvesselandassociatemembersgatheredtogethertodiscussthemostim-portantissuesineachareaofthecountryandthroughoutthepassengervesselindustry.PVAs long-standing partnership with the Coast GuardwasapparentwithanumberofU.S.CoastGuardmembersattendingandpresentingatthemeetings.Bothvesselandassociatememberspresentedateachevent,leadinground-tableswhichallowedmemberstolearnaboutchallengesothers in the industry have faced, hear solutions fellowoperatorshavedeveloped,andtosharestoriesoftheirown.Topicsrangedfrommarketingtasksoperatorscandointheoffseasontoprepareandbuildfortheupcomingseason,thecontinuingopportunityoftheCapitalConstructionFund,anupdateonmarineinsurance,andeffectivelyin-teractingwithyourshipyard.MembersoftheCoastGuardoutlinedtheservicesprioritiesineachregionandsharedenforcementsuccessstoriesinregardstotheireffortstoendillegalcharters.Sometopics,suchasmaintainingcrewcompetenceandbestpracticesinfiresafety,werediscussedateverymeeting.Localvesseloperatorswelcomedfellowmemberstotheircit-iesbyhostingmeetingsandreceptions.Sponsorshipsupportforthemeetingscamefrombothvesselandassociatemem-bers.Seeafulllistofsponsorsonpageeightofthisissue.Clockwise across spread from top left opposite page: Coast Guard CaptainWithhighattendance,coverageofthemostpressingissues,and Commander, Sector Upper Mississippi, Andrew Bender, addressed the attendees at lunch during the PVA Rivers Region Meeting; combinedbackingfromnumeroussponsors,andthechancetorecon-Southeast and Original Colonies Region Meeting opening night reception;nect,thePVARegionMeetingscanbecountedasahugeCoast Guard Lieutenant Jennifer Simpson presents on Illegal Charters; PVA members and Coast Guard attendee chat at the Great Lakes reception;success.WelookforwardtoseeingeveryoneatthePVACoast Guard CAPT Matt Dooris presents at the Great Lakes RegionAnnualConventionatMariTrends2024inPortland,Ore.,Meeting; PVA vessel member Lake Express hosted a reception and vessel tour at their facility on Lake Superior; Alan Blum and Interstate Power SystemsJan.2730.hosted brats and drinks after one of the welcome receptions;RADM Jon Hickey, Commander Ninth District, discusses people and partnership at the PVA Great Lakes region meeting in Milwaukee.29 NOVEMBER 2023'