ABC participants contribute record amount to PAC

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Marine Manufacturers Association Political Action Committee raised a record amount of contributions during the 2006 American Boating Congress held last week in Washington, D.C., the association reported in a statement today.

NMMA PAC reported that it had raised a total of $55,125 from ’06 American Boating Congress attendees, a record amount compared to previous conferences. Of this amount, some $29,125 in contributions were raised from the NMMA PAC auction during the May 1 Gala Dinner and Awards Presentation.

“This record amount of contributions to the NMMA PAC is at the top of the many successes of this year’s American Boating Congress,” said Monita Fontaine, NMMA vice president of government relations. “Our industry leaders clearly understand the importance of the NMMA PAC, and its ability to focus attention on our industry’s concerns and overall economic contributions. I appreciate their strong support.”

The NMMA PAC auction offered ABC attendees the opportunity to bid on several donated trips and boating-related items, with proceeds going the NMMA PAC. Moorings Signature Vacations donated a sailing trip to the British Virgin Islands that received a $4,000 winning bid; The Cove Lodge donated an Alaska fishing trip which was won by a $4,000 winning bid; Green Turtle Bay donated a luxury condo vacation on the Kentucky and Barkley Lakes in western Kentucky which received a $1,000 winning bid; a Westrec Marinas cruise on Lake Las Vegas was won by a $1,600 bid; Clean Water Solutions donated a house for a week in Southwest Harbor, Maine and a house for a week in the Bahamas which brought $12,000 in combined winning bids; XM WX satellite radio’s WM Water Premium mobile weather system was won by a $535 bid; and a flat panel TV donated by ASA Electronics fetched a winning bid of $1,550.

“I want to thank our ABC NMMA PAC auction donors for their generosity,” said Thom Dammrich, NMMA president. “Thanks to their support, and the support of our members, NMMA PAC continues to grow and impress political watchers. Our members realize that their best interests in Washington are served by a unified voice.”

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