During the February Regional Meeting of AMTRAK, CMTA, DEEP, DOT and the USCG, AMTRAK announced a winter repair schedule for the Mystic River Rail Bridge.  Initially a full closure to marine traffic was requested, but that was modified so there would be periodic access for marine traffic throughout the repair period.  The Schedule of Bridge closures is as follows:

• Eight weekends beginning February 21^st the Mystic River Rail bridge will be unable to open for marine traffic.  Timing will be from midnight on Thursday through overnight on Sunday.
• • Feb 21 – Feb 24 
  • Mar 1 – Mar 3
  • Mar 15 – Mar 17
  • Mar 22 – Mar 24
  • Mar 29 – Mar 31
  • April 5 – April 7
  • April 12 – April 15
  • April 19 – April 21 – deadline for completion
• The bridge will open for marine traffic Monday – Thursdays during this entire period.

We are pleased to welcome these new members to CMTA!  Please click on the link to visit their websites and get to know your colleagues.

Motorsports Nation

Nautopedic Custom Mattresses

Hale Propeller

Navico

Canadian Electric Boat Company

Carefree Boat Club

Pequonnock Yacht Club

CT Yacht Rigging

Premier Marine

CMTA's 50th Hartford Boat Show kicked off within a beautiful new venue, new dates leading the major show northeast schedule and new energy with record crowds pouring through the gates of the Earth Expo Hall at Mohegan Sun.

A great week for the industry and the Association.

The Boat Show Committee, Logistics and HQ Team worked tirelessly to move the Show to the new venue, working with new partners and new building specifications. 

"Like anything new, we learned an awful lot to improve set up, logistics and activities for next year," said Kathleen Burns, "but overall feedback has been very, very positive from exhibitors and guests alike".

It was not all about that which was "new" at HBS50.  At the celebration event on the eve of the Show's opening, the Association surprised the attendees with a video that looked back on its 50 years highlighting photos provided from exhibitors through the year.  We're pleased to share that here.

For a look back at the whole show, please find the post-show press release here.

We all know Al Valente!  And if you don't you need to - a great business man, kind, patient and a wonderful volunteer for so many CMTA activities!  Beyond his "good guy" status, as our agent for over 10 years, he and his company JetPay have maintained a long standing financial partnership with CMTA whereby Jet Pay profit-shares any revenues they receive from our members that credit card process with them.

JetPay specializes in the marine trades industry with extremely competitive pricing providing substantial savings to many of our members.  Read their testimonials Here!

In commemoration of this long term partnership, JetPay is now offering CMTA an additional payment above and beyond the norm for every member that signs on!

The major benefits for you:

• Lower rates than you are paying now.
• Local, on site, support.
• Fuel dock special low pricing.
• Affordable marine store POS systems that run on iPads.
• As an additional service, Al will handle those nagging PCI security requirements.

In summary, JetPay will minimally match your current pricing and most probably will beat it. It’s a great way to increase your company’s bottom line and to help the CMTA stay financially healthy.

So, please consider a free, no obligation price analysis. You can contact our offices or contact Al directly.  Help yourself while helping CMTA .

Al Valente:  (860) 961-4987 cell phone | Al.valente@jetpay.com | www.jetpayup.com

January 17 - 20, 2019!  The New Dates in the New Venue with a New Tax Rate for the 50th Anniversary of the Hartford Boat Show powered by our friends at Evinrude BRP!

 

What an exciting time for CMTA Members!  Here's a rundown of opportunities and due dates for the event only 82 days away!  With earlier Show dates, of course there are earlier Due Dates!

Program Advertising - the Program is distributed to all guests at the Show and will also be inserted into 10,000 Wall Street Journal copies, targeted to optimum addresses just prior to the show!  Relevant content and the show guide are included!  This is open to Exhibitor's Only, but the deadline is next Friday!  Contact Tracy today!

Exhibitor Checklists - Kathy will be contacting you beginning today to make sure we have all of your information to make move in and out and exhibiting as seamless as possible.  Your checklist includes:

• Sales Tax Certificate
• Current and Up-to-date Certificate of Insurance
• Your Credential List - Who will be Working your booth
• Product Information - for all Exhibitors - Let us know what you'll be highlighting so we may include press and pre-show information
• Booth Layout - for all Boat Exhibitors, this helps our Logistic's Team get their plan together so we may give you accurate Move In timing information
• Door Prize Information - if you'd like to donate to the Door Prize drawing, please provide us a product description so we may begin promoting your exhibit!

If you have any questions on what you need to provide, contact Kathy today!

50th Anniversary Celebration - all Members, please mark your calendars for the Boat Show Kick Off party!  Wednesday, January 16th from 5:30 - 9:30!  At this time we'll celebrate the rich and successful history of CMTA Boat Show!  Please watch for your invitation soon! 

Do you have historical photos or video from shows gone by?  We'd love to get a copy of those for a special presentation!  Please Submit Here

Also are you in touch with retired members?  Retired Officers?  Please forward any address information as we'd love to include them in these festivities!  Please Email Us Here.

Sponsors - We are once again grateful to Evinrude BRP for their long-running sponsorship agreement with CMTA!   As the "powered by" sponsor, Evinrude will be included in all marketing materials, signage, press etc., as well as to have a strong product presence on the floor!

This year we welcome back Helly Hansen to the CMTA Sponsor family.  Working with their local partner Landfall Navigation, CMTA members will have the opportunity to take advantage of 30% off member discounts for Helly Products.  To view the catalogue of products, click here.

If you are interested in the many smaller sponsorship opportunities, it's not too late.  Contact Tracy today!

# # #

With the new tax rate on boats, motors and trailers, questions have arisen regarding the completion of the Sales & Use Tax Return OS-114. 

Note there is no separate column for the 2.99% rate.

DRS recently provided this guidance:

• Boat seller enters the gross receipts
• Click on Line 8 to enter the deduction amount to account for the 2.99% (Line 84)  See Hard Copy of the Return Here
• See Updated Instruction Guidance Here

The CMTA Foundation Board held it's inaugural call on August 16th completing the adoption process of the new 501(c)(3) Foundation that is committed to real growth in the boating industry workforce.

"We all recognize the problem.  We know there is a workforce shortage" said new Foundation Chairman Randy Jennings.  "But we simply can't create mechanics out of thin air, we must have a plan and a coordinated effort to increase the visibility of careers in the boating industry."

The Foundation's Board is looking for input from members recognizing that real change MUST come from within the organization.  Please submit your ideas and suggestions - action items - for the Foundation to tackle.

Please EMAIL your thoughts by August 31st.  The Foundation Board will again meet on September 4th to strategize with your input.

Foundation Board of Directors:

Chairman:  Randy Jennings, Beacon Point Marine

V. Chairman:  Shannon McKenzie, Mystic Seaport Museum

Sec/Treasurer:  David Crocker, Crocker's Boatyard

Member:  Scott Bowden, Port Niantic Marina

Member:  Ron Helbig, Noank Village Boatyard

Member:  Lynn Oliver, Brewer/Safe Harbor Marinas

CMTA Golf18 will be the first fundraising effort for the Foundation's work.  For information and to register to play or sponsor, please find the LINK HERE.

Members of CMTA met with the Regional AMTRAK team, DEEP and USCG Officials on August 8th as part of the quarterly meeting schedule of the Moveable Bridge Advisory Board to discuss specific issues related to the moveable bridges and their impact on boating traffic.

AMTRAK provided a time table for the repair of a gear box on the Mystic Bridge scheduled for an over-night in the late fall.  Later in the winter, February time frame additional work will be done on Mystic.

AMTRAK described the situation on August 4th when both the Mystic and Shaw's Cove bridges were stuck in the down position by unrelated events.  An overload on the electrical system impacting Mystic's delayed opening and a mis-aligned shear pin forced a shut down of the Shaw's bridge.  The lengthy closures, which delayed boaters getting through, spurned discussion of putting a communication's plan in place to notify boaters of the delay and to provide direction to temporary tie-ups.

In addition, each bridge operator will be provided a call schedule to notify key people in each area.  CMTA will be putting these communication messages together this month to provide to AMTRAK.  We anticipate this improved communication network will help to alleviate some of the stress these interruptions may cause for the traveling boating community.

Attending from CMTA:  David Crocker - Crocker's Boatyard, Doug Domenie - Brewer/Safe Harbor Marinas, Kathleen Burns - CMTA.  The next meeting will be held on Wednesday November 14th at 10:00 am at the DEEP Marine HQ in Old Lyme.  For questions, concerns or topics to bring up, please email Kathleen Burns HERE.

Recently, it was announced that the USEPA has started a new eManifest system.  Generators of hazardous waste are now able to register with the system to create, sign, document, edit and track waste shipments electronically.

Some specific things to note:

1. If a facility currently uses a state-specific generator ID Number, such as "CTCESQG", it will need to obtain a new EPA ID number before using the eManifest system.

2. The eManifest system will serve as the record retention process for manifests if a facility has access to it.  Paper copies of manifests will no longer need to be saved on site for the three year period.

3.  Facilities are not required to use the new eManifest system, but a goal of the program is to phase out paper manifests over time.

A Link to the Site is HERE.

A shout out of thanks to Matt Reiser, CHMM of CMG Environmental, Inc for his guidance on this topic.

On August 8th, DEEP's Karen Abbott and Helen Robbins presented a workshop on proper stormwater monitoring and reporting under the guidelines of the General Permit.

A copy of the Power Point Presentation can be found HERE.

Thank you to the Environment Committee Chairs, Cindy Karlson and Ted Sailer for organizing the presentation.