SEAKEEPERS
PROFESSIONALS
Society opening its membership to yacht captains and
crewmembers
Working in concert with a broad spectrum of yachting industry firms
and executives, the International SeaKeepers Society announces a major
expansion of its ocean-monitoring mission by extending membership to
include yacht captains and crew.
The new membership category, called SeaKeepers
Professionals, will be
kicked off at a charitable dinner, the SeaKeepers Soiree, to be held
on October 20, 2007 just before the Fort Lauderdale International
Boat Show in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The dinner, which is envisioned as
the first of many yachting professional events to be held around the
world, is expected to raise more than $75,000 (USD) to cover the cost
of the installation of a SeaKeeper 1000™ ocean and weather monitoring
station. The first system funded by SeaKeepers Professionals will be
deployed in the southern region of Florida, while international locations
will follow future events.
 Professional
yachtsmen will be able to join the SeaKeepers Society in two membership
categories. In addition to regular membership at a cost of $150 per crewmember,
full-time, Class 4 or US Coast Guard equivalent licensed yacht captains
will be invited to join the Captain's Circle for $500 annual dues. The
SeaKeepers Society will invite the first 12 members of its Captain's
Circle to join a Captain's Advisory Board to assist its Board of Directors
on issues regarding the professional side of yachting. Membership fees
for SeaKeepers Professionals include discounted tickets to the SeaKeepers
Soiree. Other benefits of membership include pins and polo shirts designating
membership, dedicated chat rooms on the SeaKeepers website, subscriptions
to the "SeaKeepers
Report" newsletter and advance invitations to SeaKeepers and SeaKeepers
Professionals events.
Impetus for the formation of SeaKeepers Professionals came from the
industry itself. “We have to
give a lot of credit and thanks to Graeme Lord and his colleagues at the International
Yacht Collection," said Jim Gilbert, Board President of the SeaKeepers
Society. "We had been talking about expanding our membership to include
the professional segment of the yachting community for several years and never
had the time or resources to pursue this objective. When Graeme approached us
several months ago offering to spearhead this initiative we jumped at the opportunity."
Response to the concept of a professional yachtsmen's event to support
the cause of marine conservation has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic,
Lord said. "Everyone we have approached in the industry, from crew
outfitters to fellow members of the brokerage and management community
has eagerly agreed to help," he said. "Nobody is more
aware about the deteriorating marine environment than yacht crew," he
added. "Not only are they passionate about the sea, but they clearly
see the link between healthy oceans and the professional advancement
they seek during the course of their careers."
John Englander, CEO of the SeaKeepers Society, said professional yachtsmen
can make a big impact in protecting the seas. "Our monitoring mission
has expanded significantly in recent years from our initial objective
of using yachts to monitor the sea. Coastal monitoring has grown significantly
in importance due to increasing pollution, red tides, and even effects
from global warming such as ocean acidification. By underwriting the
cost of fixed monitors in critical locations around the globe, yacht
crew will add significantly to the scientific understanding of the major oceanographic
and climatological changes now taking place everywhere in the world."
Seating at the first SeaKeepers Soiree will be
limited to 250 people. The $150 ticket price includes cocktails, dinner, and door prizes. SeaKeepers
Professionals are entitled to discounted tickets. Captains joining the
Captain's Circle will be recognized at the dinner.
Patronage and sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information
and tickets please contact Whitney Diedericks at the International Yacht
Collection at wdiedericks@iyc.com or +1 (954) 769-9255.
“Nobody is more aware about the deteriorating
marine environment than yacht crew.”
GRAEME LORD
International Yacht Collection
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