MOTN News February 19, 2008

 
Dear MOTN Members and Friends; feel free to pass this on to your colleagues whom you think would be interested. Also pass it along to potential members of MOTN! As always, keep sending along news items for MOTN.org to info@motn.org. Also, bear with us as we  (Maggie)  teaches herself how to use Constant Contact for MOTN  communications. The next issue  should  look  a lot better.

 The year has started off with a flurry of activity. First of all, thanks to all who took the time to vote on our slate of officers and board members. Many thanks to those who agreed to stay on the board and to those who agreed to join us!  We also hope and expect those of you who have been standing in the wings waiting to be asked to chair a committee or serve on a committee to SPEAK UP! WE CAN'T HEAR YOU!

 

 This year should be a good one. Now to the news.

 Ocean Observing Sub-Committee: The sub-committee was formed to strengthen industry involvement in various regional, national and international ocean observing activities. Participants to date include Bob Hamilton (Chair) and Bruce Magnell from Woods Hole Group; Mike Mathewson from McLane Research; Dan Webb from Webb Research; Eoin Howlet of ASA; Doug McGowen of Teledyne Benthos; Jim Feeney of Horizon Marine; and John Trowbridge of WHOI. The initiative was kicked-off in the Fall of 2007 and the mission statement and action plan are near final (to be posted on the MOTN web site soon). The fundamental goal is to provide an industry voice and secure a market position (ie funding) for MOTN member companies within IOOS, OOI (formerly ORION) and GOOS. To participate contact Bob Hamilton at: bhamilton@whgrp.com.

 

Port Security Sub-Committee:  We have reason to believe that Marianne Mulchan of Mulchan Marine Sciences and Harlan Dolinar of Pepe Hazard will be formulating a plan for this committee in the next month or thereabouts. Stay tuned. To participate in this sub-committee contact: molchanm@comcast.net

 

Ocean Technology Expo: The OTE that was held in Providence this past fall and was a great first year run. OTE will be bigger and better for 08 bringing back industry leaders from around the world to Providence, RI., this October 1-3, 2008. As a sponsoring organization of OTE, MOTN has secured discounts for its members, sign up NOW to receive the 15% MOTN Member Discount or 20% to MOTN members advertising in Marine Technology Reporter. (To get the 20% discount you must make your reservation no later than June 1st, 2008). Contact Rob Howard for details at howard@marinelink.com.

 

NE Regional ROV Design Contest:"The annual regional MATE ROV competitions will be  held at Mass Maritime Academy on Saturday, April 26th.   MOTN members  are encouraged to support the event by mentoring teams, providing hardware, and with funding support for prizes, logistics, food,  and travel expenses for winners.  The two top teams will go to the international competition at Scripps Institute in La Jolla. Volunteers are needed for judges and staff.  At this writing twenty teams have signed up to compete.  MOTN companies will be offered the opportunity to provide gifts or prizes (shirts, hats, key chains, other promotional items ) for the expected 150 students.   An area for a table display is available for sponsors. Please contact  Bob Lobecker, if you would like to help at Robert.Lobecker@verizon.net.  

 

Marine Industry Cluster Development project: Maggie Merrill worked with a team from South Coast Development Partnership to create the November 1, 2007 event;  Marine Science and Technology Business Opportunities: A Forum for Partnering. Over 125 individuals from industry, academia and government attended the full day forum. Many MOTN members attended and participated in the panels which focused on business opportunities in offshore energy, port security and ocean observing. MOTN was one of 12 sponsoring organizations.

 One of the many outcomes of the event and the project in general is an acknowledgment by various state economic development groups that the marine technology industry needs to play a stronger role in advocating for growth in the region. To that end, MOTN President, Cheryl Zimmerman has been talking to MA Tech.Collaborative staffers and project consultants about collaborating to conduct a strategic plan for MOTN to move ahead and to grow with the industry and the local economy. Stay tuned for more on this as it develops.

 

Membership

Membership Tally: We have 34 members paid up for 2007. We'll send out invoices for 2008 membership by the end of February. We hope that you all will renew your memberships and convince your colleagues to step up and support MOTN

 

Member News: Maggie Merrill, of Marine Marketing Services, is in charge of our newsletter which will be emailed directly to you. She is also temporarily in charge of membership. Send contact updates and company news to her at martrep@aol.com.

MOTN Web site: WWW.MOTN.ORG  Paul Whelan has updated the MOTN website. Please send your company information and job descriptions to Paul at info@motn.org.

 
Member-Only Discounts:

Allied Electronics a supplier of electronic components wants to offer MOTN members a discount if they purchase a certain amount of components on a regular basis. Thirteen of our members already purchase from Allied. We'll update you on this as details emerge.

Publications and Trade Shows:

Marine Technology Reporter offers 20% discounts (not in conjunction with agency or other discounts) to all MOTN members in good standing for advertising contracts.

Exhibit Space discounts at OceanTech Expo: 15% & 20% thru June 1st, 2008 and 15% thru August 1st, 2008. Contact Rob Howard, New Wave Media to discuss (howard@marinelink.com)

 

Networking Events: The MOTN board of directors would like to announce dates and chairs for some of the following networking events. Contact Cheryl Zimmerman to volunteer your site and your assistance.

Port Security and Webb Gliders: Webb Research has offered to host  host an evening with a talk  and a tour of the expanded Webb Research facility. Event Chair: Marianne Molchann

Annual Dinner Meeting: A proposal to ask Anthony Tarantino of WHOI to update us on the New Alvin project was floated. This must be scheduled and organized for May or June. We need someone to step up and chair this event.

 

2008 Officers, Board Members, and Committee Chairs

 

MOTN President: Cheryl Zimmerman (2008 President);President, FarSounder, Inc., Providence, RI  

Vice President: Eric Takakjian (2008 Vice President);President, Quest Marine Services, Fairhaven, MA

Treasurer:Steve Withrow (2008 Treasurer); Principal, Trinity International Consultants, Inc., North Falmouth, MA

Secretary: STILL OPEN

 

2008 MOTN Board Members:

Hugh Murphy ; Purvis Systems, Inc. Middletown, RI

Bob Hamilton (Chairman, MOTN Ocean Observing sub-committee); VP Business Development, Woods Hole Group, East Falmouth, MA

Chris Casagrande,President, Sea Sciences, Inc., Arlington, MA                                                      

Mike Matthewson, General Manager, McLane Research Laboratories, Inc., East Falmouth, MA

Maggie Merrill, President, Marine Marketing Services, Hingham, MA

Bob Lobecker, President, Technical & Marketing Services, Newport, RI         

Marianne Molchan (Chair) Port Security Committee, 2008 - NEW Board Member)          President, Molchan Marine Sciences, Inc., Pawcatuck, CT

Harlan Doliner (2008 - NEW Board Member);        Partner, Pepe & Hazard LLP, Boston, MA

Rob Howard (2008 - NEW Board Member); VP Sales, New Wave Media, New York, NY

 

Please volunteer to be on a committee and/or to chair a committee!

See you soon! Cheryl Zimmerman, Cheryl.zimmerman@farsounder.com and Maggie Merrill at martrep@aol.com.