Fast & Half-Fast

Please note that Capt. Rick will be taking a much needed and well deserved (he says) vacation beginning Thursday, June 5 through Sunday, June 8.  However, if anyone has any questions, I will be available during business hours on those days - except Sunday; I’m not insane.  I can be reached via e-mail, through posting here, via AOL Instant Messenger, screen name MrsLoBianco or, of course, via traditional means: the ‘ol telephone. 

June 1 is the deadline for those of you wishing to Test-Out in lieu of the NJ Safe Boating Course for Certification.  Capt. Rick will be giving his last Test-Out this evening.  If you want in, you’ll have to call ASAP!

Capt. Rick and I had the pleasure of attending on April 24th.  It’s our second member year with the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey, and our second installation shindig. Where does the time go?

Last year’s was new ground for both Capt. Rick and me. Not being much of a schmoozer, myself – to Capt. Rick’s professional grade – I was out of my element to the nth degree. So, as soon as I got my open-bar door prize, I began holding up the table at the west end of the dance floor, in my comfort zone. I was greeted there by Nikki, from Soundings, and we discussed her pending nuptuals, a home remodel and, eventually, we ventured into the business. I exchanged a single card that night.

This year, the atmosphere was different. I held up the same table, but I didn’t exchange even a single card, didn’t shake more than a couple of hands. We kept company at our table with a good bunch of folks, and spoke at length with some of them. But not much business was done, not much networking. And though it was a delightful evening out with Capt. Rick – who, for those of you not aware, also holds the distinction of being my father – I felt guilty for not having schmoozed more. Though, this year, I have to say, I did manage to booze more, so I guess in that sense I’ve grown as a person.

Then Melissa Danko, who sits in the Executive Director’s chair for the MTA/NJ, took the podium to discuss the Public Access issue. She’s an eloquent speaker, and I envy her her command of respect – excepting those few guys sitting at the table behind us who had to be asked to shut up. Still, when she spoke of the work so far, and that so convoluted as yet to be conceived regarding this DEP Regulation that is having such a vast impact on the marine industry – I never realized just how far reaching the issue was. Also, we were all treated to information never before available, which will prove to be of immeasurable value in terms of combating the issue: registered NJ boaters spent $2.1 Billion (how many zeros is that?) on in-state recreational boating activities in 2006. Read the press release, here, and the analysis, here. Can that be right? Doesn’t that mean, uh, that the state economy might, uh, suffer if we allow this Public Access regulation-thingy stand as written?

Well, hearing that, I suddenly felt redeemed. I took so much damn information (as well as a splitting Di’Sarronno headache) away from that dinner: I felt as though I had, indeed, gotten work done. More so, possibly, than the exchange of reams of cardstock could have afforded us.

The MTA/NJ is an invaluable resource for our New Jersey marine services. If you’re not a member, please consider joining.

We’ll see you at the next installation dinner!