Welcome to WISTA USA!

January 21, 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.  Like 2008, 2009 was a very exciting year for WISTA USA.  Since we hosted the Annual Conference in New Orleans in October 2008, our membership has been increasing at a dramatic pace.  We now have six Chapters:  (1) New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut; (2) Washington, D.C. Metro; (3) Florida; (4) New Orleans; (5) Houston, and (6) the West Coast.

Further, WISTA USA's presence at the September 2009 Annual Conference in London was nothing short of spectacular:  we boasted a 24-member delegation, second only to the UK's delegation in size!  And even more exciting was the selection of Pamela C. Conover, President/CEO of The Yachts of Seaborne and WISTA USA's nominee, as the winner of the WISTA Personality of the Year Award at the London Conference.  Ms. Conover will also be our keynote speaker at the ever-popular WISTA USA luncheon that kicks off the Connecticut Maritime Association's Shipping 2010 Conference on March 22nd.  Finally, based on initial expressions of interest, it seems we may have an equally impressive showing in Greece this fall.  Please mark your calendars for the 2010 Annual Conference in Greece, which will take place at the Divani Apollon Palace and Spa outside Athens from September 29 - October 1.  We hope to see you there!

While 2009 was a great year, there's still a lot to be done in 2010.  Our goals for this year include raising WISTA USA's profile within the U.S. maritime industry, updating our organizational structure, and energizing and increasing our membership.  Please pencil in Thursday, April 15, 2010 for our next Annual General Meeting in Miami.  Following the meeting, members are invited to attend an optional weekend cruise as part of an extended AGM.  Tentative plans are to board the cruise ship on Friday, with a welcome dinner that evening, followed by demonstrations and tours of the ship on Saturday and Sunday.  More details will follow, so stay tuned!

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.

We look forward to working with you to build WISTA USA even further over the next year, and hope to see you at the Annual General Meeting in April 2010!

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.