Welcome to WISTA USA!June 2010
Dear WISTA Members and Visitors:
The past two years at the helm of WISTA USA have been a whirlwind of exciting, exhausting, and - on occasion - challenging experiences. That said, I'm delighted to have been re-elected for another two-year term at President of WISTA USA at our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Florida in April.
2009 was a very exciting year for WISTA USA. In May, we had a terrific AGM in Petaluma, California, followed by a WISTA Women's Wine-Tasting Weekend in Sonoma. Later that year, our presence at the September 2009 Annual Conference in London was nothing short of spectacular: we boasted a 24-member delegation, second in size only to the UK - the host country! Even better was the election of WISTA USA's nominee, Pamela C. Conover, President/CEO of The Yachts of Seaborne, as the WISTA Personality of the Year. In this capacity, Ms. Conover was our keynote speaker at the ever-popular WISTA USA luncheon that kicked off the Connecticut Maritime Association's Shipping 2010 Conference on March 22, 2010. Her inspiring, irreverent, and entertaining speech was lauded by all. Click here to see pictures of the event and to read the text of Ms. Conover's speech.
Our 2010 AGM was held in Fort Lauderdale on April 15th. Based on participation at the AGM, this year is shaping up to be just as or more exciting than 2009. 57 WISTA USA members attended the AGM, and 24 of those stayed for the follow-on "shipboard environmental familiarization tour" aboard the Carnival Imagination. The educational and networking opportunities during the AGM were outstanding, which is what WISTA is all about. Click here to see photos and presentations from the AGM, as well as a few choice pictures from the cruise. At the meeting, we reaffirmed our principal goal of networking and the advancement of women in the marine industry. We have also made a commitment to mentoring young women interested in developing a career in this industry, and our efforts will include working closely with the maritime academies to mentor the female cadets. We will also be actively participating in the annual Women on the Water (WOW) Conference, which will be held this fall in Galveston.
Our commitment to raising WISTA USA's profile within the US maritime industry and worldwide remains steadfast, as does our ongoing goal of energizing our current membership and increasing our numbers. At the AGM, we also made a commitment to sustainability and have challenged our Chapters to develop their own sustainability projects focusing on one or more of the three main components: environmental, social, and economic.
Further, our membership continues to increase at a dramatic pace. We currently have about 240 members in good standing - that's more than any National WISTA Association! And we now have seven Chapters to better serve the needs and interests of our membership: (1) New York / New Jersey; (2) Connecticut; (3) Washington, DC Metro area; (4) Florida; (5) New Orleans; (6) Houston; and (7) West Coast.
Now, if you are not yet a member, it's time to become one! To join, simply click on "Join Us," which appears on the top of this page in the red banner. This will take you to our online application form. Just follow the instructions and you'll be on your way. Our membership dues for 2010 are $100. If you have any questions regarding membership generally or the application process in particular, please contact Parker Harrison, our Membership Secretary, at parker.harrison@american-club.com.
Finally, please mark your calendars for the 2010 Annual Conference in Greece, which will be held at the Divani Apollon Palace and Spa outside Athens from September 29 - October 1. To read about the preliminary agenda and activities, or to register for the conference and book a hotel room, please visit www.wistaconference.org. We hope to see you there!
Jeanne M. Grasso
President, WISTA USA
Jeanne is a partner at Blank Rome LLP in Washington, DC. She can be reached at Grasso@BlankRome.com or by phone at (202) 772-5927.
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