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EcoAir Odorless Toilets and Systems
Elmore Electric
Jeff Brown Yachts
Lightship Maritime
Mackay
MazOcean Pacific
North Cascades Bank
Paddle North
Sugiyo USA Inc
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April 29 - Annual Meeting (Registration Coming Soon)
May 21-22 - Anacortes Boat & Yacht Show Open House (Registration & Details Coming Soon)
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Since 1947, NMTA has been working hard to promote, preserve, and grow the Northwest's recreational boating industry. To this day, our mission stays the same. If there is anything we can do to help your business, please reach out to us.
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NMTA Boat Show Committee needs your feedback!
After concluding that an in-person boat show was no longer feasible in January 2021, NMTA produced Seattle Boat Show Connected. This boating promotion and sales event embodied the drive of the NMTA that, “the show must go on,” despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
We value all member’s feedback and would greatly appreciate EVERYONE’s participation in this simple 5-minute survey created by the Boat Show Committee. Your contribution will help the Boat Show Committee make more informed decisions and produce better shows — a win for everyone.
Do your part! START THE SURVEY HERE or by clicking the red button below.
Sincerely,
NMTA Boat Show Committee
P.S. You can read a detailed recap of Connected with member quotes that appeared in the Feb 4 Trade Only Today at this LINK.
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PRESIDENT'S REPORT
March 2021
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 Washington new boat sales were up an impressive 12.4% in 2020 with the highest number of new registrations we have seen in 12 years. In an ordinary year, this headline would be enough good news to have every NMTA member grinning from ear to ear. Instead, our boat dealers, manufacturers, brokers, and all the businesses that make up the recreational boating ecosystem are still gritting their teeth as we continue to navigate uncertainty and uncharted waters. I’ll continue the navigation metaphor by saying it does appear calmer water exists in front of us with the roll out of the vaccine, relaxed COVID-19 restrictions for businesses, and recognition that our storm was not nearly as bad as other industries. You can read a more detailed recap of 2020 new and brokerage boat sales, as well as hot off the press January and February 2021 registration data HERE.
Speaking of uncharted waters, NMTA made the decision in early November to produce a virtual Seattle Boat Show, January 28 - 31. NMTA was just one of three organizations to attempt a major virtual show and I believe we set the bar in terms of quality, scale, and promotion with our 74th iteration of the Seattle Boat Show. I appreciate the trust, investment of dollars, and time by 218 NMTA members. Also, special thanks to the NMTA staff, Boat Show Committee and Board of Trustees for having the vision and courage to maintain the Northwest’s most important boating promotion. I firmly believe the show content (964 featured boats and products, 83 pre-recorded seminars and 34 hours of live Boat Show TV), advertising, and earned media increased sales for all NMTA member businesses. Norm Schultz, a weekly contributor for Trade Only, wrote a detailed recap of the show and you can read it HERE. I hope we never need another 100% virtual boat show. That said, we learned much from our virtual effort that we can incorporate into future in-person shows. Once again, NMTA leaned forward to embrace change and a changing market.
With the show in our rearview mirror, I would like to pivot to the current legislative session underway in Olympia. While it’s headquartered in Olympia, it’s taking place on - you guessed it - Zoom. Please read the legislative updates in this edition of WaterLife.
Lawmakers are just a little past the half-way point of the 105-day session, and I’m pleased to report momentum and success on this front. First, the momentum: House Bill 1107 passed the House of Representatives 97-0. This bill permits out-of-state vessels to charter in our state when the skipper is provided. Now, this bill heads to the Senate as it winds its way through the legislative process.
I would also like to share a few other wins scored by NMTA’s government affairs team. There was a movement afoot to introduce a luxury tax, which we have quelled. Also, Department of Revenue had requested a bill to raise taxes on boats. We beat that measure back, too.
Outside of the legislative session, the Department of Ecology (ECY), Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) are all working on policies, guidelines and permits that as written have significant negative impacts on our member businesses. Specifically, there is a draft version of the new 5-year boatyard permit issued by ECY on March 3 that lowers the copper benchmarks by 90%. Looking at WDFW, Puget Sound salmon fishing seasons for 2021-2022 are currently being negotiated by this state agency and Washington’s treaty tribes and in early April we will learn to what extent WDFW supports mark-selective fishing in Puget Sound. Finally, NMTA is fully engaged with NMFS, Department of Natural Resources and our congressional delegation to clarify NMFS guidance that has stalled the repair and construction at nearly 40 Puget Sound marinas for three years. NMTA is not advocating for your business alone. We have an impressive list of members, lobbyists, consultants, attorneys and partner organizations supporting our efforts for tough but fair regulations to protect Puget Sound water quality. Interested members should contact Peter at peter@nmta.net for upcoming Boatyard, Marina, Government Affairs and Superyacht Committee meetings.
Looking ahead here are some events and activities NMTA is working on now.
Annual Meeting
The NMTA Annual Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 29 at 4:00 p.m. This will be a virtual livestreamed event that will follow our traditional format of awards, my annual report to members, and a keynote presentation. This year’s keynote speaker will be Frank Hugelmeyer, President of the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
Board Elections
Every spring, the NMTA membership elects three new trustees to serve 3-year terms on the NMTA Board of Trustees. All NMTA members should have received a self-nomination form recently which is the first step to appearing on the election ballot that will be emailed to all members on May 1. If you have questions about the nomination process or would like to know what is expected of board members please contact me directly at george@nmta.net or Katie Groseclose, katieg@nmta.net. NMTA’s strength is it’s 13-member board of trustees and their commitment to NMTA’s mission of growing boating in the Northwest. You can see the current list of trustees at this LINK.
Anacortes Boat & Yacht Show
Working hand in hand with Gov. Inslee’s office, I’m optimistic NMTA can facilitate a small, in-person boat sales event at Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes this May. Recently, NMTA received guidance from the Governor’s office and Skagit County on how we could have up to 60 boats on display in the water. This is great news, and I’m confident an event in May could be done safely and an appropriate first step back to promoting boating with events. The Anacortes show committee is meeting regularly to discuss options. If you’re company would be interested in participating or has thoughts about an in-person event in May, please contact Boat Show Director, Katie McPhail at katiemc@nmta.net.
All of us at NMTA appreciate the trust you put in us every day to make decisions, big and small, on your behalf. Thank you for your membership and continued support. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us during these turbulent times if there’s anything we can do for you or if you just feel like having a chat.
Sincerely,
George Harris
NMTA President & CEO
Email me!
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Save the Date for the NMTA Virtual Annual Meeting!
Registration coming soon.
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Boating Means Business
Peter Schrappen, NMTA Dir. of Government Affairs
Did you know that boating and outdoor recreation in general make up 2.1% of the United States gross domestic product? As we like to say around the office (back in the old days when the NMTA staff would congregate in an office) that boating means business.
An d you don’ have to take my word for it, as the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable likes to shout it from the mountaintops on their homepage:
“In 2020, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released updated national and state-level statistics that formally recognize the critical role the industry plays in supporting economic growth in the United States. In addition, the BEA found that the outdoor recreation industry is growing rapidly, eclipsing the average increase in overall U.S. GDP.”
While that is all well and good, how does that relate to boating?
Never fear. Just as with the rest of the country’s numbers, Washington has built on our impressive story that boating means business. With the most recent numbers, boating continues to lead the pack of outdoor economic impact by adding $718 million of value to the state’s economy. Expect these numbers to rise next year as boating continues to shine in what’s turned out to be an upside-down year of normalcy.
Rest assured that NMTA is seen as an indispensable voice on issues affecting maritime. Whether it’s a shutdown of the Montlake Bridge for repairs, which is still getting fleshed out, the logjam that remains on the National Marine Fisheries Service inability to issue permits on existing marine improvements (no news to write about there), or recreational fishing and whale-watching issues, we are at the table. More than that, we are sought out if we aren’t at the table and hurried to the main course to ensure that our voice is heard before policies are crafted.
This success reflects the generous PAC dollars that you have shared through the years and the desire to not just “check the box”, but to get involved throughout the year, meeting with lawmakers, getting your voice heard by responding to action alerts and weighing in when asked. These little touches unleash powerful results, yielding a bounty of better policies for all of us.
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Welcome New Members!
EcoAir Oderless Toilets and Systems - Odorless Toilets and Systems based in Meridian, ID
Elmore Electric - Electrical service work in the commercial marine industry based in Seattle, WA
Jeff Brown Yachts - Yacht brokerage serving with new luxury brands and used listings based in Seattle, WA
Lightship Maritime - Marine insurance brokers based in Bothell, WA
Mackay Marine - Marine electronics & satellite communications sales & service for all vessel class/size worldwide, Northwest office based in Tacoma, WA
MazOcean Pacific - Marine electrical, electronic boat systems, maintenance based in Bellingham, WA
North Cascades Bank Marine Lending - Boat Financing based in Edmonds, WA
Paddle North - Ultralight paddle boards, kayaks, utility docks, paddle gear & accessories based in Columbia Heights, MN
Sugiyo USA Inc. - Seafood Manufacturer based in Anacortes, WA
Thank you to all members who participated in Seattle Boat Show Connected, sponsored by Union Marine and to all our sponsors: Union Marine, Sundance Yacht Sales, Lindell Yachts, Basta Boatlifts, Boat Insurance Agency, Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, Boat U.S. and Waggoner Cruising Guide! The show was a tremendous effort for all involved.
Don’t miss the next member event! The NMTA Annual Meeting will be held virtually on Thursday, April 29 from 4pm – 6pm featuring Frank Hugelmeyer, NMMA President. Thanks to Wells Fargo Advisors & Capital Benefit Services for sponsoring this event. Please look for registration information in the coming weeks.
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Calling all Boatyards!
Are you a boatyard? Do you have an interest in this lynchpin of the working waterfront? If so, we encourage you to visit this Department of Ecology website and review the changes to the upcoming Draft Permit (Draft Permit Redline)
In particular, pay attention to the drop in copper numbers for each sample from 147 parts per billion to 15 parts per billion. Plus, there is an additional month to sample and several more items getting sampled like hydrocarbons.
As for the timeline, Ecology is accepting comments on the draft permit until April 16, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. After the close of the comment period, we will review all comments and will publish a Response to Comments as an appendix to the fact sheet to address comments submitted. Ecology prefers comments to flow through “our online comments form”
Key Dates:
Monday, April 12, 2021 at 5:00 pm: The first of two Ecology webinars on the new permit (Join the Webinar) with a chance to comment by the public.
Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 10 am: The second of two Ecology webinars on the new permit (Join the Webinar) with a chance to comment by the public.
April 16: Comment period on the draft permit ends
July 1, 2021: New Permit is scheduled to take effect
Would you like more info or do you want to be added to Peter’s distribution list on this important topic? Drop Peter a line at Peter@nmta.net
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Seattle Boat Show Sets Mark for Virtual Success
Written by Norm Schultz for Trade Only Today
The Northwest Marine Trade Association’s Seattle Boat Show ended Sunday, January 31, but this year’s “Connected” edition was unlike any previous version. It was one of the most ambitious virtual events yet produced in the marine industry.
By every measure, Seattle Boat Show Connected succeeded in drawing a wide range of consumers, good media coverage and business for many exhibitors, all by employing the latest in digital techniques. Here is one of six videos that explained the virtual show to prospective attendees.
“While we contend nothing will replace the power and success of the in-person show, our success with this show has met or exceeded all our hopes for it, given today’s circumstances,” NMTA president George Harris says. “Our entire team is deservedly pleased by what we accomplished for our members and the boating public.”
The road to the show began last June when NMTA had its initial foray into the virtual realm with the Anacortes Boat and Yacht Show. “Compared to what we just produced, Anacortes was small, with limited success,” Harris says. “But that success gave us the encouragement and momentum to dive much deeper into our Seattle show. The results speak for themselves.”
The numbers for the four-day show are impressive. More than 5,000 visitors bought tickets in four levels ranging from $5 to $89, each offering a bigger package of features. Tracking revealed that the overwhelming majority attended every day, and, unexpectedly, attendees came from 52 states and Canadian provinces. Overall, they racked up more than 300,000 page views. And if you like numbers, here are more.
The show was open for 34 hours during the four-day run, plus an additional seven days for attendees to rewatch seminars. There were 218 businesses that displayed 578 boats and 364 products by uploading 7,500-plus images, videos, and 3-D Matterport scans. Exhibitors featured boats and products that included everything from insurance and services to wakeboards and accessories. And the attraction didn’t end there.
The show included 83 prerecorded boating, fishing and “Boat Show University” seminars covering topics from cruising to crabbing. Another big attraction was 34 hours of live Boat Show TV, which is available for online viewing through Feb. 7.
For exhibitors, there were four levels of participation. NMTA members received a free basic listing. Additional levels up to $15,000 provided more show “space” for products and other promotional benefits. Like the traditional in-person show, this event was promoted with a $250,000 ad budget of traditional and digital media, and garnered its share of press coverage.
Click here for a report by KOMO News.
“One added benefit for our dealers in the show has been learning how to create better videos for greater impact,” Harris says. “For example, using a 3-D platform like Matterport enables viewers to enjoy 360-degree scans of boats and a dealership,” as Zillow does for house sales. “Exhibitors generated scans on boats in the show up to 112 feet.”
The final test of success was leads and sales. Here are some exhibitor takeaways from the show.
Nick Buck-Niehaus, Sundance Yachts and Marinas: “While I'm hopeful and excited to have an in-person show in January 2022, I'm impressed and pleased with the results of Seattle Boat Show Connected. We received good, qualified leads that resulted in virtual connections and in-person visits to our locations, and a steady flow of sales every day of the show. Looking forward to the next NMTA show — hopefully in person, but if it's virtual we'll be there, too.”
James Baker, Seattle Boat Co.: “We had a steady stream of digital traffic throughout all four days of the show and a steady stream of in-person appointments. Our team is still following up on leads, but I’m projecting that our sales will be
on track with 2018 and 2019 numbers. Hats off to the NMTA crew. Their effort has been incredible and drove our success.”
Tim Klontz, 3 Rivers Marine: “We were very happy. We had people who contacted us through all the new features of the virtual show — Calendly, instant message, chat — and scheduled virtual and in-person appointments that have resulted in sales. We also had a number of new customers that we wouldn’t have seen without these marketing efforts of the NMTA.”
Finally, a good example of a video created for the show comes from 3 Rivers Marine. Indeed, Seattle Boat Show Connected also motivated exhibitors to expand their thinking and use of video. Check out “My First Boat,” which 3 Rivers Marine produced.
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Never a Dull Moment
Peter Schrappen, NMTA Dir. of Government Affairs
 How about a case study to lay out all of the different aspects that go into successful legislation? Let’s start with the ingredients of any successful legislation: equal parts of a concept that’s a priority and consensus around that priority.
The organizational priority this has to go around has to do with easing restrictions around boating as they relate to chartering skippered boats (House Bill 1107). Countless meetings with lawmakers, ports, chambers, staff, rinse, repeat ensure that there are no surprises throughout the current legislative session. Just as with weekend boating plans with a bunch of people, it’s easier to kill an idea (“But I don’t want to go back there.”) than actually getting something accomplished.
I am pleased to report that this bill continues to make it’s way through the legislative process. After the unanimous support in the House 97-0 (Who says that Republicans and Democrats can never agree?), the bill heads to the Senate in March when they take up bills from the other chamber. Stay tuned on this exciting development.
What else is going on in boating? Snohomish County has the makings of a classic conflict between neighbors and boaters. Their parks department called a community meeting to hear from all sides on an issue involving loud music and waves coming from wakesurfing boats. Over one-hundred people attended this Zoom meeting. It was the first of several of these meetings so we shall see how their parks staff and county elected officials balance the needs of boaters and neighbors. A contingent of NMTA members, national boating leaders and me, are attending these meetings on your behalf. That said, let me know if you would like to get plugged in here as now’s the time to impact these future policies.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see more of these types of issues come to the forefront. While COVID has changed how we interact, it also has brought more people into boating. Of course, that’s what the industry has long sought but with these new faces come new (younger) ways of boating. Plus, they are not as street smart as they need to be, yet.
And you don’t have to take my word for the new boaters out there. By August, new boat retail sales were up 8 percent from 2019, marking the highest sales volume in 13 years, according to Vicky Yu, senior business intelligence director for the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
As we look nationally, first-time boat buyers made up 31 percent of new boat sales through September, a figure that represents about 90 percent of 2020’s increase in sales. The percentage of first-time buyers was up from 26 percent the year prior. 2020 is tracking to see roughly 25,000 more new boat purchases compared to last year — and more than 24,000 of those can be attributed to first-time buyers.
Whew, that’s a lot of boaters. With new boaters come more interactions and chances for things to go sideways. We shall see how this one plays out in Snohomish County. If nothing else, the conflict in the Andrews Bay near Seattle will give me practice as I approach the Snohomish County lakes issue, too. After all, it’s the same recipe: Priorities and Consensus. This time, unfortunately, we are on the wrong side as it’s the priority of the neighbors who have consensus that the current state of boating is untenable on a few of the lakes in Snohomish County.
Never a dull moment!
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Washington New and Brokerage Boat Sales
2020 was a tale of two halves for new boat sales in Washington state. Q1 and Q2 saw registered new boat sales (units) decrease by 1.8% and 5.1% respectively, while Q3 and Q4 posted the most registrations for new boats the state has seen since 2007 -- up 36.4% and 31.3% respectively.
At the end of 2020, Washingtonians registered 6,805 new boats, the highest number of new registrations in a year since 2008, compared to 6,053 in 2019 for a 12.4% increase. This is above the national total industry increase of 6.4% and the national main powerboat segments increase of 9.5% as reported by Statistical Survey through October 2020. The value of all new boats registered in Washington for 2020 was $402 million, a 16.0% increase over 2019.
Used boats registered in Washington that were sold by brokers finished the year with an increase of 7.8% in units and a total value of $268 million dollars, a 23.0% increase from 2019.
2021 new and brokerage registrations for January and February show continued strong interest for all types of boats with a 4.8% and 10.4% unit increase for new and brokerage boats, respectively. Used boats sold by brokers in February saw an 81.5% increase. New registrations in February increased by 16.9% for dealers.
“The 2020 and 2021 registration data is great news for all NMTA members and is above what is being reported nationally. January 2021 registrations were down compared to January 2020, but strong sales in February easily made up the difference. Brokers saw an eye-popping 81% increase in registrations in February and a nearly 200% increase in the value of those registrations. I suspect January became a boat shopping month for many buyers with the late Seattle Boat Show dates and the significant amount of Seattle Boat Show advertising in January”, said NMTA President, George Harris.
The table below shows the 2019 and 2020 new and brokerage registrations by month, quarter and year. To view a larger version, click here or Download the PDF. Special thanks to the University of Washington Sea Grant for maintaining vessel sales data since 2003. More information can be found at the Sea Grant website at https://wsg.washington.edu/community-outreach/boating/
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Lights, Camera, Action!
One of my favorite TV sitcoms is Last Man Standing. The main character, Mike Baxter (played by Tim Allen) is the co-owner responsible for marketing his store Outdoor Man. In most episodes, he creates a humorous short online video that goes to customers and prospects, enticing them to buy a product.
Of course, it’s just entertainment, but it reflects the fact that video should be a major part of any marketing strategy, including those of boat dealers. Indeed, the recent successes of some virtual boat shows documents the effectiveness of video. So it’s time for dealers using social media and digital marketing to take videos seriously.
According to content marketing agency Three Girls Media, it takes just a little creativity and a well-conceived plan to produce good video content. Videos can help any dealership stand out and hold a viewer’s attention while providing useful information.
And there’s other evidence that using video can be a powerful marketing strategy. In general, people watch an average of 90 minutes of video a day. Further, most people (72 percent) claim they would rather watch a video about a product or its use than read about it.
Video can be distributed in several ways. At the top of the list is social media because people gather online to engage with others, as well as learning products and brands. Just as important, a dealer’ website can effectively include video to provide new and potential customers a unique look into the showroom. Add a short welcome video that visitors can watch as they land on your home page, and define what sets you apart.
How about producing a video newsletter for customers? Videos that focus on a major activity that customers engage in, such as fishing tips, can be popular. Make a short video that offers maintenance pointers. Introduce a new member of the sales or service team. Offer occasional special deals only to existing customers. Use video to promote a customer-only preview night of new models. Any video gives you the chance to get in front of your base without waiting for them to approach you.
In addition to your website or newsletter, YouTube has become a very popular video platform for consumers and businesses. It’s free, widely used, compatible with a range of applications and user-friendly.
Another hosting site, Vimeo, has customizable features, a great analytics panel and a tighter-knit community of viewers. Some perks come at a cost, but they do offer a free service option that’s nothing extremely fancy or exciting but gets the job done.
Producing video can seem daunting, especially when you get in the weeds with the technical terminology. The good news is you don’t need an engineering degree to create great videos. Here some tips to get started.
Keep the camera simple — don’t drop big bucks. In fact, your video camera might be in your pocket. Chances are your smartphone or tablet is all you’ll need to create videos for your website, newsletter or YouTube.
Sound is important. Mic selection will depend on your camera setup. If you’re just talking to the audience at a desktop webcam, a Blue Yeti USB mic is more than adequate and costs less than $150. A simple lavalier mic is even cheaper and easier to hide for video interviews, such as the Rode smartLav+ for about $75.
Editing video is not daunting. WeVideo is a good program. It’s simple, affordable and user-friendly for any skill level. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re on a Mac or a PC because it’s online. You can even start for free and upgrade to a paid plan.
Lastly, there’s the content. A video can cover anything from a chat about a new product or tips for customers from the service department. Really good subjects are brief customer stories about that big fish or days of family fun beaching or wakeboarding. It really boils down to using some imagination, and it can be fun for the whole dealership team to come up with ideas and participate.
A great way to start would be to bring in some pizzas and have a team brainstorming lunch in which everyone can throw in their ideas. It’s a sure bet you’ll have more possibilities than you could ever actually video.
Norm Schultz writes the “Dealer Outlook” blog that appears in Soundings’ TradeOnlyToday.com every Tuesday and Thursday. He served as president of the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association for 34 years during which he directed production for over 130 boat shows in the Great Lakes region.
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Featured Finance: What can market volatility teach investors about the fundamentals?
Amyna Karmali - Sr. Vice President, Wells Fargo Advisors
While market volatility can be painful, it can remind investors of the importance of sticking to the fundamentals.
Market volatility, painful as it can be, can actually provide an important lesson for investors about why it’s important to stick to the fundamentals, such as having an asset allocation strategy and regularly reviewing your plan. With that in mind, here are suggestions for these turbulent times that may help you turn today’s worries into tomorrow’s good habits.
Remembering asset allocation
When market volatility occurs after an extended period when the economy and markets have been on the rise, as they were over the last 10 or so years, investors have the opportunity to get back to fundamentals they may have forgotten. This is especially true for asset allocation—the strategy financial professionals return to time and again when investors want help dealing with volatile markets.
At its most basic level, asset allocation is how you diversify your investments across different asset classes (stocks, bonds, cash alternatives, etc.). This varies based on a number of factors, primarily:
- What you want your investments to help you achieve (objectives)
- How comfortable you are with market volatility (risk tolerance)
- How long it will be before you will need to access your investments (time horizon)
The asset allocation model that best suits any given investor depends on where they land in regard to the three factors above.
It’s important to remember that asset allocation offers investors a trade-off. During good times, a diversified portfolio’s return will lag the best performing asset class. On the other hand, during down periods, it will do better than the worst performing asset class. It’s up to each investor to decide what’s more important—participating more in the good times by holding more stock or avoiding the worst of the bad by holding less.
Reviewing your plan regularly
If you have an asset allocation plan and still find yourself lying awake at night, this is a chance to revisit your plan for possible adjustments.
It’s possible you overestimated your risk tolerance when creating your plan. Due to their potential for providing growth and, sometimes, income, stocks have an important role to play in many plans. But with that potential comes the likelihood for greater price volatility than is typically seen with other investments, such as bonds. If concern about your investments is causing you stress, this may be your opportunity to see whether it’s time to scale back on how much you have allocated to stocks.
It’s also possible that market activity shifted your allocations away from your targeted amounts. Say you started with a hypothetical portfolio of 60% stocks/40% bonds. The rise in the stock market over the last several years may have shifted it to, for example, 75% stocks/25% bonds, which means you would experience more of the market’s volatility than you intended.
You may also want to consider rebalancing your portfolio regularly. Rebalancing is simply checking your investments to see whether market activity has caused them to drift. If they have, you can decide if you want to sell investments that have increased in value and use the proceeds to buy others that may have decreased. Doing this at least once a year – or allowing your investment platform to do that for you -- can keep your allocations—and risk level—where you want them.
Asset allocation and diversification are investment methods used to help manage risk. They do not guarantee investment returns or eliminate risk of loss including in a declining market. All investment involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. This article was written by/for Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Amyna Karmali, Senior Vice President – Investment Officer in Bellevue, WA at 425-467-4633.
nvestments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANK-GUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE
Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. © 2020 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Reminder to give Southern Resident killer whales extra space
With the recent news of a calf among the endangered Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW) population, NMTA and partners at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife want to remind recreational charter operators of the importance of giving these whales extra space on the water, supporting their survival. 
“This is great news, while I recognize we still have a ways to go,” said George Harris, NMTA president and CEO and Southern Resident Orca Task Force member. “If boaters continue to follow the Be Whale Wise guidelines and regulations we have supported from WDFW, we can play an important role in turning the tide on the survival of our Southern Resident killer whales.”
Winter has been an increasingly important feeding time for Southern Resident killer whales. Their ability to catch prey during this time is critical to maintaining their health until Chinook salmon, their preferred food, becomes more plentiful later in the season.
Boat traffic can interrupt echolocation clicks the whales use to track and capture fish. A key finding from research that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries published earlier this year indicated this is especially prominent in females, which often give up foraging when boats approach within 400 yards. Research shows this may be most concerning in pregnant or nursing mothers that must support calves.
Further emphasizing the cause for concern, only about one-third of the SRKW population is actively breeding. Of those breeding, not many pregnancies result in live calves, and even when they do, not many calves survive.
The current SRKW population of 75 whales includes multiple pregnancies, with calves in both J and L pods. However, photogrammetry research by SR3 SeaLife Response Rehabilitation and Research indicates there are still whales of concerning condition in both pods.
Regulations in place
With boating season right around the corner, officials ask boaters to know and abide by regulations and best practices that support the whales’ ability to move about,Top feed and socialize. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed new killer whale viewing regulations into law in 2019 that requires vessels to stay at least 300 yards from Southern Resident killer whales and at least 400 yards out of their path or behind the whales. Vessels must also reduce their speed to seven knots within a half-mile of a Southern Resident killer whale.
Boaters are encouraged to watch for the Whale Warning Flag, an optional tool from the San Juan County Marine Resources Committee, that lets others know that there might be whales nearby. If you see the flag, slow down and follow guidelines.
For more details about steps recreational boaters can take to keep the whales – and themselves – safe, visit BeWhaleWise.org.
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Health Care Corner
Brought to you by the NMTA Health Trust
Getting enough Vitamin D in the Pacific Northwest is always challenging with the gray weather and shortened hours of sunlight. But with Coronavirus safety protocols keeping us at home even more than usual, it might be feeling downright impossible these days.
Many of us know Vitamin D as the “sunshine vitamin” due to the fact that our bodies can absorb it through sunlight. It plays a vital role in keeping us healthy by promoting calcium absorption in order to keep bones and teeth strong, supporting our immune systems, and reducing inflammation.
So what can you do to make sure you are getting enough Vitamin D?
- Exercise regularly – Physical activity helps with the body’s natural production of Vitamin D.
- Eat nutrient rich foods – Although diet alone typically does not provide enough Vitamin D, eating Vitamin D rich foods such as eggs, liver and salmon can be helpful.
- Take a supplement – Some people may benefit from a Vitamin D supplement, but should consult a physician before taking any new medications.
- Get outside – When the sun is shining, being outside for 20 minutes a few times a week is a great, Topnatural way to make sure you are getting enough Vitamin D.
These are just a few of the ways you can make sure you are getting enough Vitamin D to stay physically and mentally healthy during such a challenging time.
If you want to make sure you and your employees stay healthy with access to excellent health care at the best possible price, the team at the NMTA Health Trust is here to help. If you haven’t looked into the benefits of the Trust, now is the perfect time. Give our team a call at 425-641-8093 or visit us online at www.nmtahealthtrust.com
*This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician before starting a supplement or exercise program or if you have any questions regarding a medical condition.
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In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb
Peter Schrappen, NMTA Dir. of Government Affairs
 I can never remember if March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. Heck, maybe this trite expression is just a ruse by grade school art teachers to have lion and lamb projects for their students. Either way, I am planting my flag in the “in like a lion” mountain.
Actually, weren’t we all promised a mellower start to 2021?
When it comes to getting a better handle on what is meant with the word “expectations”, I have turned to best-selling author Chip Conley who has written in detail on this subject (and others). His expectation equation is that disappointment equals expectations minus reality. I like that. In fact, he writes a lot about expectations and has adopted this quote that disappointment is the result of badly-managed expectations. I would put that up against another popular TED speaker, Richard Schwartz that says, “The secret to life is low expectations.”
As for your “just the facts” expectations of the 2021 legislative session, this session is the first of a two-year cycle. It’s the long session. 105 days to be exact, including weekends. Both the Washington House and Senate are held by Democrats as well as the Governor’s mansion. That should be no surprise as Dems have controlled these branches since 2017. (Did you know that the last state to elect a Republican governor is the Evergreen State?)
Here are some more expectations. The state’s operating, capital and transportation budgets will be outcomes of this session. Lawmakers will write a balanced operating budget. There are other facts, too, like this session, like the rest of life, will live online for the foreseeable future. The public does not have access to the Capitol campus and the hearings and debate will occur on-line. TVW (TVW.org) will serve as the medium between you and the legislative session. While you are bookmarking sites, do not miss washingtonvotes.org.
We have seen a reduction in bills this year, too. When it comes to priorities, the House and Senate Dem recently listed food purchasing assistance, childcare assistance, rent relief, and government grants for no interest loans for small businesses. On the other hand, Republicans have stressed the need to advocate for small business relief and aid for Washington’s rural communities.
Closer to home, boaters and marine businesses have a role to play, too. There’s a bill to incent skipper-provided charter trips, which recently passed the state House 97-0. Plus, boaters are fatigued from footing the bill for commercial and recreational boats out there with the three-dollar tax on each registration. This is a tough issue to solve, but there is a slight expectation that this issue will get attention in 2021.
Now, let’s talk relationships and expectations. Speaking with Jeff Angers, who runs the Center for Sportfishing Policy, he said, “Peter, what I have noticed is that pre-existing relationships are more important than ever. If you want to start a new relationship, good luck, but it’s not going to happen.”
When it comes to lobbyists and legislators, I suspect the same will be true. Fortunately, for boaters on the business, user and recreational fishing side, you are well represented. The same all-star team will engage throughout session but formally (e.g. hearings) and informally through emails and texts. Thanks to these relationships and the saturation of emails and testimony that will result from the east to access hearing by the general public, legislators will curate their incoming email and prioritize the names they know and trust.
One highlight for me in 2021 (outside of the skippered, charter bill that passed unanimously in the House and now heads to the Senate) was Boating Lobby Day on February 8. We had 65 NMTA and RBAW members join the Zoom festivities. Ten meetings with key lawmakers brought volunteer boating fiends together with our elected leaders. Few things get me more inspired than creating these bonds.
If you would like to get more involved with NMTA’s government affairs committee and program in general, drop me a line, and I will add you to the NMTA Government Affairs email list. I guarantee that I will exceed your expectations.
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Launching the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area
By Washington Trust for Historic Preservation Project Manager Alex Gradwohl
Diving into Washington’s maritime culture requires picking up a few new words and phrases. Our state’s coastal communities are steeped in unique terminology, phrases, and ways of speaking. At times, navigating these distinctions can feel like learning a foreign language: the difference between a schooner and a sloop, a bowline and a clove hitch, an Olympia and a Kumamoto oyster. But other water-based phrases have fully made their way into our shared vocabulary: “learning the ropes,” “clammed up,” “a rising tide lifts all boats.”
The language of maritime heritage speaks directly to the rich, diverse, and long-standing cultures—both historical and present-day—along our saltwater shores. Their stories, like their language, are unique, but also broadly influential to our country’s development and identity.
The towns, cities, ports, villages, and other communities along Washington’s waterfronts are plentiful and complex, each with its own distinctive character and past. But there are also many threads that, like language, tie our state’s saltwater coastline together: shared histories, traditions, trades, crafts, and ways of living. The Maritime Washington National Heritage Area aims to both strengthen these connections and celebrate the many unique stories along our state’s shores.
What is the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area?
In 2019, Congress designated the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area along 3,000 miles of Western Washington’s saltwater coastline. Stretching from Grays Harbor County to the Canadian border, the heritage area includes 18 federally recognized tribes, 13 counties, 32 incorporated cities, and 30 port districts, as well as innumerable harbors, inlets, peninsulas, island shores, and parks—all connected by the nation’s largest ferry system and an extensive highway network. The connection with the sea has shaped communities here since long before roads and railroads were built, and water-based transportation, trade, industries, and ways of life continue to flourish in the present day.
National Heritage Areas (NHAs) are designated by Congress as places where natural, cultural, and historic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally important landscape. Through their natural and manmade resources, NHAs tell nationally significant stories that celebrate our diverse, living heritage. NHAs build public-private partnerships to better tell the stories of these places and support communities in maintaining and sharing their unique resources.
By working with communities to determine how to make heritage relevant to local interests and needs, NHAs can support historic preservation, economic development, natural resource conservation, recreation, heritage tourism, and educational projects on the local level. Existing NHAs across the country have organized national tourism marketing campaigns, collaborated to create region-wide visitor tours and experiences, run grant programs, offered technical support, led preservation projects, created statewide curricula, and much more.
In short, NHAs build partnerships and share stories that are important to America’s identity, past and present. The Maritime Washington NHA celebrates the water-based stories and cultures of our state’s saltwater shores—boosting tourism, strengthening maritime industries, and finding new ways to collaborate and share resources.
Who’s running this ship?
Although supported by the National Park Service, NHAs are unique in that they are locally run and completely non-regulatory. There is no change in ownership of land within the NHA, no added rules or regulations, and participation is completely voluntary. Local governments, tribes, organizations, and members of the public can join in as much or as little as they wish.
Each National Heritage Area is facilitated and implemented by a local group. For the Maritime Washington NHA, that’s the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. We’re thrilled to be embarking on this new and exciting journey for our state’s saltwater shores and can’t wait to bring you aboard.
Steering Committee
Over the past few months, the Washington Trust has convened a Steering Committee to help guide the planning of the Maritime Washington NHA. This committee includes members from across the region, representing a wide range of public agencies, private industries, heritage organizations, and other maritime groups. Meet the Steering Committee members here.
How can I get involved?
Over the next year, we’ll be working with coastal communities to chart a course for the Maritime Washington NHA. We’ll collaborate with museums, tribes, counties, cities, ports, parks, industries, trades groups, preservationists, environmental advocates, chambers of commerce, recreational guides, boating organizations, tourism agencies, individual business owners, and anyone else who helps care for and share the stories of our state’s maritime culture.
This planning process will be a bottom-up effort, with local communities shaping the future of the NHA. This themed issue of This Place features stories from some of the partners we’ve already connected with, but we know there are more of you out there, so join us! Throughout the first half of 2021, there will be lots of opportunities for you to share your views and ideas through virtual workshops, surveys, social media, focus groups, and more. These collaborative efforts will culminate in a management plan, which will serve as a framework for how we’ll work together. Our goal is to collaboratively create a plan and return it for public review by Fall 2021.
Want to know how you can help navigate the seas ahead? Current information about the heritage area is always available at preservewa.org/mw-nha, where you can also subscribe to our email updates for information about upcoming events and opportunities to get involved.
We can’t wait to set sail on this new adventure with you. Anchors aweigh!
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Tune in for Seattle Boat Show LIVE!
If you enjoyed the 100+ hours of seminars at Seattle Boat Show Connected, don’t forget to tune in to Seattle Boat Show LIVE on Thursday nights at 7pm PST. Catch your favorite hosts Mark Bunzel, Leonard and Lorena Landon of Waggoner Cruising Guide and Peter Schrappen of the Northwest Marine Trade Association as they sit down with a new guest every week to cover a variety of different boating topics. To register for the weekly reminders and to watch past episodes, head to openforboating.com/sbslive.
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