Greetings friends!
I hope that 2019 is treating you well as it winds down (or up?) into the holiday season. We have a few things over here to share with you, starting with the Women On the Water conference that took place last weekend at Texas A&M University in Galveston, TX. Unfortunately it seemed that quite a few women who sail were at work offshore this year and were unable to make it to WOW, including myself and many friends, but I hope that the number of maritime academy cadets who attended found the event to be beneficial! Our contributor, Captain Lindsay Price, was in attendance and was gracious enough to do a quick instagram takeover during the conference, and she got some great photos and provided some information on key presenters which you can check out below.
Upcoming: She Sails
Once the year comes to a close and everyone recovers from the holidays, we have a special treat for you. The third annual (!!) She Sails retreat will be taking place in Fall City, Washington, presented by our dear friend Megan Rycraft. It's no secret how much I love this event, and much to my chagrin, I won't be able to make it this year BUT this means that there is now more room for newbies to experience the life-changing magic of a cozy retreat in the woods with a group of maritime women. If you will be on the beach this January 17-19, 2020, and you're not against making new friends while enjoying good food and sipping wine around a roaring fire, please think about buying a ticket to She Sails! I have met some of my best friends at this event, and maybe you will, too.
Upcoming: #GivingTuesday Donation Drive
Last year, we asked for help in the form of donations to allow us to form a company and apply for 501(c)(3) status, and boy did you deliver! We had everything we needed to support the website, and enough to process all the paperwork to become a public benefit corporation and send our Form 1023 to the IRS, none of which is cheap. We were able to do this thanks to your generosity.
Now it's that time of the year again: in a couple weeks we will send out our donation drive emails and ask for your support to cover general expenses in 2020. Please save some room in your pocketbooks for Sea Sisters! Grassroots support for our community is what allows us to thrive.
*We Are 501(c)(3) Pending: What Does That Mean For You?
We are currently awaiting our letter of determination from the IRS, however our application was received and processed on September 18, 2019, which means that as soon as we are officially declared a tax-exempt organization, our status backdates to September 18, 2019, and all donations given from this day forward can be submitted for a tax write-off for you! We will let you know when we receive this status, which we hope will be by the end of 2019.
That's all I've got for now! Best wishes for a lovely autumn season.
Elizabeth
Women On The Water 2019, Texas A&M University, Galveston, TX
Sea Sisters contributor Captain Lindsay Price with venerated Columbia River Bar Pilot (retired) Captain Deborah Dempsey, pictured in front of a tug at G&H Towing Company in Galveston, TX, where Lindsay had the opportunity to give Deb a tour of the boats she works on!
Saturday's opening speaker, Tracey Murrell, is a graduate of Texas A&M University at Galveston. Tracey was appointed director of the National Transportation Safety Board’s Office of Marine Safety. She is an accomplished leader with more than 20 years of experience in the maritime safety industry. She has worked for several shipping companies, including Arco Marine, Maersk Line, Ltd., and SeaRiver Maritime.
Pictured with Lindsay is Phyllis Saathoff, Executive Director/CEO Port Freeport. Phyllis is an accomplished executive with over 25 years of service in the port industry. With a strong accounting and finance background combined with her operational leadership, Phyllis brings a proven track record to Port Freeport.
Upcoming Events
She Sails | January 17-19, 2020
Fall City, WA
In Megan's words: The Saltchick Retreat’s goal is simple. Get to know other female mariners. Ask the questions you haven’t had a chance to ask someone. Ask for career guidance. Or don’t. Just enjoy the company of some seriously bad ass women.
This year's theme: Emotional Intelligence. How to become better listeners, how to navigate difficult conversations and how to assert yourself effectively.
Click here to register.
Women In Maritime Leadership Conference | February 28-29, 2020
California Maritime Academy, Vallejo, CA
Now approaching its ninth year, Cal Maritime's Women in Maritime Leadership Conference supports the success of women in maritime. The 2020 conference will deliver a leadership development curriculum specific to the goals of professional women in the maritime industry. The 2020 program will feature tracks for "Developing Self" and "Developing Others," and structured networking opportunities throughout the two days. The conference will leave participants with applicable, industry-relevant, and effective leadership strategies to add to their toolkits and inspiration to effect positive change within their own careers and the maritime industry.
Click here to register; registration opens soon.
Thank you for reading, and fair winds to you,
The Sea Sisters