For the fifth year in a row, the CBC will bring the marine industry and boating

community together at the California State Capital to meet with state legislators and regulators to remind them of the importance and economic impact of the marine industry and recreational boating in California.

This year's CBC will kick off Monday evening, March 30th at 5:30 PM, with the Opening Night Legislative Reception for attendees at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 1209 L. Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, giving attendees an opportunity to meet and mingle before the main event on Tuesday.

MRA President, Scott Robertson, will welcome attendees to the CBC at 8:30 AM on Tuesday morning at the Hyatt Regency Conference Center, and review the day's activities and objectives with attendees.

Robert Newsome, Senior Vice President, Operations for the National Marine Manufacturers Association, will be the Keynote Speaker, and will provide an important overview of the Economic Impact of the Marine Industry and Boating in California. As one of the top boating states in the nation, the recreational boating and fishing industry in California delivers more than $13 billion in economic impact, accounting for 40,000 jobs in the state each year. Mr. Newsome will be discussing boating participation, boat sales statistics and other important trends in the industry resulting from Californian's passion for boating and fishing.

Three other morning presentations will follow, including discussions about reforming recreational fishing license programs, the impact of California income, sales & use taxes on the industry, and the potential for creation of a new state department for boating and outdoor recreation. Beau Biller from Platinum Advisors will also provide a summary of legislative and regulatory issues affecting recreational boating in the state, and will review the schedule, along with guidelines and instructions, for the afternoon meetings with legislators.

Lunch will be served at the Hyatt Conference Center, and then attendees will proceed to the State Capital for scheduled meetings with individual legislative representatives throughout the afternoon.

This year's Congress is being co-hosted by the MRA and eleven other boating related groups, including the National Marine Manufacturers Association, California Marine Affairs and Navigation Conference, Boat U.S., Personal Watercraft Industry Association, California Sportfishing League, California Delta Chambers & Visitors Bureau, Recreational Boaters of California, Sacramento Valley Marine Association, California Association of Harbor Masters & Port Captains, California Yacht Brokers Associations, and the American Boat Builders & Repairers Association.

The Marine Recreation Association is a professional organization that represents marina owners, operators, and industry professionals located throughout the western United States with additional members in Canada, Mexico, and Australia. Created more than 49 years ago, the MRA actively promotes and represents recreational boating interests while providing educational management and operations seminars, and information for marine industry owners, operators, and staff.

For additional information about the MRA, and all of its activities and interests, contact Mariann Timms by phone at (209) 334-0661, email at mra@marina.org or go online at http://www.marina.org.