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Lend your voice to a growing chorus of businesses and organizations that are promoting Florida’s maritime industry
The goal of the Florida Maritime Leadership Coalition is to promote the importance of Florida’s maritime industry with state and federal leaders, the media and the public to gain support for public policies and spending that help Florida’s seaports compete with ports in neighboring states and nations. We accomplish this by issuing news and commentary, generating media coverage, hosting seminars and conferences, providing the resources to our members that help them easily communicate with their elected leaders, and through direct advocacy. We do not take positions on issues internal to Florida’s maritime industry but instead focus on the issues that move the entire industry forward.
The FMLC was launched in January 2009 – just a little more than a month before the start of the Florida Legislative Session – with the financial support of a small but broad-based segment of the maritime industry dedicated to eliminating Florida’s duplicative seaport security requirements and to promoting economic stimulus spending at Florida’s seaports. Within three months more than 100 people had subscribed to FMLC’s website for news and other information and more than 200 had registered at FMLC’s on-line advocacy site “Make Waves.” During the 60-day Session, FMLC participants generated more than 3,460 messages to state legislators.
Though Florida’s seaport security requirements were not eliminated, compromise legislation was passed that should provide some relief of the time, energy and money that those individuals and businesses working at Florida’s seaports spend to gain access. In addition, Congresswoman Kathy Castor of Tampa filed federal legislation that would preempt states from passing separate seaport security laws without a demonstrated national security need.
If we could accomplish this in just a few short months, imagine what we could accomplish by growing the FMLC into a grassroots advocacy force for the maritime industry.
Obviously we need to stay active and vocal in the security debate. But from a broader perspective, world trade patterns are changing and Florida has no statewide vision for an efficient transportation system that moves both people and cargo. Without vision, planning and funding, the maritime industry is in danger of losing jobs to ports in neighboring states that have both the necessary on-port infrastructure and intermodal connections to move freight in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. This is another area in which the Florida Maritime Leadership Coalition can make a difference; by demonstrating to our elected leaders that there is an educated and interested voting bloc who cares about and pays attention to the decisions that are made on the issues impacting maritime trade.
We were fortunate to receive early and generous seed money from just a few of the largest members of the maritime industry. But if we are to grow and realize our goals, we need everyone whose job depends upon a Florida seaport to support the coalition. Please join today.
For more information, select a membership:
Navigator: $5,000*
The Florida Maritime Leadership Coalition was formed by four members of Florida’s maritime industry, each of whom contributed a minimum of $10,000. They were our founding sponsors and serve as our first Board of Directors. Foundation sponsorships continue the leadership of those founding members but seek to broaden the representation on the board of other segments of the maritime industry.
*Non-profit membership organizations, such as associations and clubs, may become Foundation Sponsors by raising their $5,000 membership through recruiting members of their organizations to join the FMLC as Members and/or Corporate Sponsors. The organization will designate one representative to serve on the board of directors.
First Mate: $500
Membership for up to 10 company or organization designees
Crew Member: $100
* Call us to discuss custom memberships designed to meet your organization’s size, budget and goals.