spring 2010 newsletter
DESCRIPTION
Bi-annual newsletter for The Boat Company, Spring/Summer 2010 edition.TRANSCRIPT
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PAGE 09:
Earth Echo International
PAGE 16:
PartnerSHIPS At Sea
PAGE 18:
2011 Schedules
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We’ve Joined the Credit Card Crowd.
Shortly before the end of 2009 we began thinking it might be time to consider taking credit
cards (over the years a number of customers had asked about it). So late in December we
approached our bank, Wells Fargo (that connection started over 40 years ago with the Bank
of Palm Beach & Trust, which was bought by First Union, which was merged with Wachovia,
which was then bought out by ...). Wells Fargo was willing if (1) we gave them a $1.2 million
guarantee (about half our annual income) and (2) total control over all our assets. Then in
mid-February while Wells Fargo negotiations were still dragging on we called PayPal (eBay).
They gave us a quick yes and then, after two weeks of doing business together, cancelled
but said that if we met a series of conditions, they might reconsider their decision. In the
meantime they also informed us they were going to keep some of our money even though
they had suffered no losses. I’d add that dealing with them was made more difficult by the
fact that all communications had to be either by email or fax (the new age!). We preferred
being able to talk with those we’d dealt with so we moved on. Since then we have found a
third party to handle Visa and MasterCard transactions.
American Express? God bless them. In the midst of all this, they broke away from the banks
and now handle us direct. Perhaps we are a bit naive but we like to think their decision is a
testament to our 30 years of uninterrupted good relations with our customers.
What’s the Latest on the Tongass.
First, we would like to thank those who were kind enough to help us fund our attendance at
the Tongass Futures Roundtable Meetings dealing with the U.S. Forest Service’s plans and
policies for the future.
While those discussions have been ongoing, another player, Sealaska, has entered the scene.
Sealaska is Southeast Alaska’s Regional Native Corporation. In 1971 Congress passed the
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and Sealaska was given the rights to 375,000
acres. They received 290,000 and are now pressing for the remainder.
The land they originally chose (primarily the 1,000-year-old trees) has essentially been clear-
cut and sold to foreign buyers. With the help of Alaska Senators, they now are proposing a
Congressional bill to gain the remaining 85,000 acres (mostly the last of the best) plus land
for 50 odd enterprise zones (Bays and Coves for lodges) and land for over 200 cultural sites
(“hallowed” Native burial grounds). Interestingly enough, development isn’t excluded on
these cultural sites (includes some choices in federally designated wilderness areas).
The environmental community is split. Some (The Alaska Wilderness League, The Wilderness
Society, Audubon and Trout Unlimited) want to come out of the negotiations with Sealaska
with 800,000 acres set aside for non-development. Presumably the rest, several million
acres, could be cut. A majority of the other conservation organizations (Sierra Club,
Defenders of Wildlife, NRDC, EarthJustice, Greenpeace et al) feel that time is finally on the
side of conservation, so giving up further lands is not necessary. Some seem to forget that
Southeast Alaska timber operations, unless it’s old growth and sold to overseas customers,
has to be federally subsidized.
It will be interesting to see how this situation plays out over the next 6 to 9 months.
Notes by Michael McIntosh President, The Boat Company
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Notes
The Boat Company can
be reached at:
Corporate Office
The Boat Company
1200 Eighteenth Street NW
Suite 801
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 338-8055 phone
(202) 234-0745 fax
www.theboatcompany.com
Conservation Programs
and Reservations
Street Address:
18819 3rd Ave. NE, Ste. 200
Poulsbo, WA 98370
Mailing Address:
PO Box 1839
Poulsbo, WA 98370
(360) 697-4242 phone
(360) 697-5454 fax
email: [email protected]
Staff:
Michael McIntosh, President
Hunter McIntosh, Vice President
Bob Vey, Comptroller
Kathy Nissley, Reservations Manager
Ken Gerken, Operations Manager
Mary Ann Confar, Office Manager
Joel Hanson, Conservation Director
Board of Directors:
Michael McIntosh
Winsome McIntosh
Hunter McIntosh
Colin McIntosh
4 TheBoatCompany
PO
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My travels have taken me diving, rock climbing, trekking,
and snowboarding around the world, from expeditions
in the highlands of Papua New Guinea to war-torn
Sarajevo. Alaska is one of the few places that I have yet
to visit. I have learned that exploring the connections
between humans and the environment are as important
as exploring nature itself... I look forward to exploring
those connections with our friends at the Boat Company
in the Tongass in July 2011.""
- PHILIPPE COUSTEAU
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TheBoatCompany 9
Over the years we have spent cruising to
Alaska, we have learned that water is the single
mostimportantsubstanceontheplanet–itisthe
one element that connects each and every being
onearth tooneanother. It isalsoexpectedtobe
the cause of the greatest crises of our century.
EarthEcho Internationalhasalso learnedthis…and
isinthebusinessofmobilizingthenextgeneration
todosomethingaboutit.
EarthEchoInternationalisanonprofit501(c)3
organization founded by siblings Philippe and
AlexandraCousteauinhonoroftheirfatherPhilippe
CousteauSr.,famoussonofthelegendaryexplorer
JacquesYvesCousteau.AsasupporterofEarthEcho
International, the Boat Company contributes to
EarthEchoInternational'smissiontoempoweryouth
totakeactionthatrestoresandprotectsourwater
planet. This includes supporting the development
ofpioneeringeducationalresourcesforournation's
middle and high school students through such
what is yourearth echo?
Ifwetrulywanttosaveourwaterplanet,youtharethesolution. -PHILIPPECOUSTEAU"
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programs as the Water Planet Challenge, Leader-
shipOceanFellows,andGoingBlue:AKids'Guide
toSavingOurOceansandWaterways.
In 2011, EarthEcho International
co-founderandCEOPhilippeCousteau
will begin hosting premium trips for
The Boat Company. Guests will have
theopportunitytoexploretheAlaskan
Wildernesswithoneoftheworld’smost
engaginganddynamicexplorers,who
willsharestoriesofhisadventures,as
wellofthoseofhisfatherandgrand-
father.A percentage of the proceeds from these
exclusivetripswillbedonatedbacktoEarthEchoIn-
ternationaltoaidintheirnationwideprograms,while
continuingtobringmoreawarenesstoOceanissues
facedinSoutheastAlaska.Bothorganizationsgain
fromthemarketabilityof the jointventure,while
the communities that we visit and youth across
the country gain from the increased awareness
broughttotheregionregardingOceanhealthand
sustainability.
PhilippeCousteauisthrilledabouttherelation-
ship with the Boat Company and what this means
forhiswork.“Mytravelshavetakenmediving,rock
climbing, trekking, and snowboarding around the
world, from expeditions in the highlands of Papua
New Guinea to war-torn Sarajevo. Alaska is one of
thefewplacesthatIhaveyettovisit.Ihavelearned
thatexploringtheconnectionsbetweenhumansand
PH
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ON
E O
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12 TheBoatCompany
theenvironmentareasimportantasexploringnature
itself. I lookforwardtoexploringthoseconnections
withourfriendsattheBoatCompanyintheTongass
inJuly2011.”InadditiontohisworkwithEarthEcho,
PhilippeistheChiefSpokespersonforEnvironmental
EducationforDiscoveryEducation—the#1provider
ofK-12broadband-deliverededucationalcontentto
U.S.schools—andtheChiefOceanCorrespondentfor
boththeAnimalPlanetandPlanetGreenchannels,
whereheworksonvariousoceanandwater-focused
documentary programs. He is currently a host for
Oceans, a new High Definition Discovery Channel/
BBCserieswhichpremiered intheUK in2008and
willpremierintheUSonDiscoveryChannelin2010.
Hewillbesharingmediaandexperiencesfromhis
expeditions—includingthatwithTheBoatCompany—
atwww.EarthEcho.org.
Learn more about Pilippe Cousteau
and EarthEcho International:
www.EarthEcho.org
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part·ner·ship – noun
1. the state or condition of being a partner; participation;
association; joint interest.
2. Law.
a. the relation subsisting between partners.
b. the contract creating this relation.
c. an association of persons joined as partners in business.
When my father started The Boat Company 30 years ago, it was started on several
principles or ideas. Not least of which was the idea of partnerships. Since The Boat
Company's incorporation, we have partnered with more groups, organizations or
individuals than I can remember. From the local mom and pop stores in Wrangle,
Alaska, one of our first ports of call in the 80’s, to some of the largest environmental
groups in the United States.
As The Boat Company has evolved, so to have our partnerships. As many of you know
we have been involved in bringing members of Congress up to Southeast Alaska, to
“educate” them on the environmental dangers faced by deforestation and over fish-
ing, and have done this in partnership with more than half a dozen local, state and
national conservation groups. We have also branched out our portfolio of relation-
ships to include leading providers of fly-fishing and kayaking equipment, to include
Orvis, and our most recent partnership with Confluence Watersports/Wilderness
Systems Kayaks.
This topic is of particular importance to us at The Boat Company heading into the
summer and fall of 2010. The Boat Company has been invited to participate in a major
conference covering ecotourism and sustainable tourism.
partnerSHIP by Hunter H. McIntosh
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TheBoatCompany 17
In September 2010, The International Ecotourism Society will hold the Ecotourism
& Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC) in Portland Oregon. The conference is
sponsored by one of the most successful eco-adventure outfitters in the world,
GAP Adventure, as well as GAP’s nonprofit off shoot Planeterra.
ESTC 2010 is North America’s largest and only conference focusing on sustainability
in travel and tourism. ESTC brings together innovative minds from across the industry
to discuss practical ideas and solutions that inspire positive changes. Together with
the help of The Boat Company's partners, we submitted a proposal for a panel
discussion that was not only accepted by the planning committee, but also given one
of the prime time locations in the agenda for the event.
Joining us on the panel will be Philippe Cousteau, co-founder and CEO of Earth Echo
International, famed wildlife photographer Robert Glenn Ketchum, Dave Parker of
Orvis Travel, and Scott Paul of Greenpeace USA. The topic of the discussion will be
Effective Strategies for Cross-Sector Partnerships Benefiting Sustainability of the Lo-
cal Communities. The "threads" that pull the very diverse group listed above togeth-
er, are not only their individual and unique relationships with The Boat Company but
also the common goal of protecting our natural environment. This session will discuss
how these relationships evolved, how they are impacting the operation of our seg-
ment of the industry in Southeast Alaska, what the benefits are to all involved, and
how the relationships benefit sustainability in the local communities.
For more information on the conference visit www.ecotourismconference.org. As we
begin to broaden our outreach into the speaking community, our hope is that we will
begin to strengthen our place in an ever-growing segment of the travel industry.
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20
11 S
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Dates Boarding Disembarking May 21 – May 28
May 28 – June 4
June 4 - June 11
June 11 – June 18
June 18 – June 25
June 25 – July 2
July 2 – July 9
July 9 – July 16
July 16 – July 23
July 23 – July 30
July 30 – August 6
August 6 – August 13
August 13 – August 20
August 20 – August 27
August 27 – Sept 3
September 3 – Sept 10
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
2011 Southeast Alaska
MOTORVESSEL MIST COVE
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Dates Boarding Disembarking May 21 – May 28
May 28 – June 4
June 4 - June 11
June 11 – June 18
June 18 – June 25
June 25 – July 2
July 2 – July 9
July 9 – July 16
July 16 – July 23
July 23 – July 30
July 30 – August 6
August 6 – August 13
August 13 – August 20
August 20 – August 27
August 27 – Sept 3
September 3 – Sept 10
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
Juneau
Sitka
2011 Southeast Alaska
MOTORVESSEL LISERON
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PO
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The itinerary of The Boat Company trips is flexible and
spontaneous. With a skilled and capable crew on the Liseron and
Mist Cove – featuring a ratio of two guests per one crew member
– the needs and wishes of each guest can be accommodated
without difficulty. Hikers can spend as much time off the boat
as they like – hiking the forest service trails, beachcombing the
tide flats, walking the stream beds and taking leisurely strolls
along the beaches in the company of our trained naturalists.
Fishermen can stream fish or take out skiffs with guides and
try their luck. Canoes and kayaks can explore hidden coves and
scenic shorelines. One doesn’t just view the magnificent land
from afar... one gets out and experiences it!
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ED
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LCruisingIntothe21stCentury By Hunter H. McIntosh
When The Boat Company was incorporated in 1980, technology was very different. In school I
was learning how to type on a typewriter. Playing “video games” meant dropping a quarter into
the pinball machine and hoping that I could keep the ball out of the “gutter” as long as possible,
or playing pong on Atari. Needless to say, I got pretty good at pinball.
Business ran much differently as well. Back then, a handshake and a phone call was confirmation
enough. For 30 years, we have operated the same way. While technology passed us by, our busi-
ness model remained the same, primarily because it worked. However, as a business, we have
had to evolve over the past decade, in the face of a global war on terror, a crumbling economy
and a technology sector that comes up with the “latest and greatest” every six months.
As you reacquaint yourselves with The Boat Company, you will notice some subtle, and some not
so subtle changes that we have made to propel us to another 30 years of providing exceptional
experiences for your family.
Two of the biggest changes that have taken place directly impact how we communicate and do
business with you, our loyal guests. If you should ever need to call on us, we can now be reached
toll free at 877 MISTCOVE (647-8268), and further, should you care to book another voyage with
The Boat Company, we now accept American Express, MasterCard, Visa and Discover credit
cards (if you would still like to pay by cash or check that’s fine too).
We have also entered into the realm of social media networking. You can now find The Boat
Company on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. And improvements are constantly being made to
our website to provide you with the most current information we have as it relates to availability
as well as conservation efforts. We can also be found blogging quite frequently on the issues
that face not only the Tongass National Forest, but also issues that relate to how we operate and
“news flashes” for upcoming events.
There are many exciting things happening in our world and we hope to continue to share them
with you in the years to come.
CONNECT WITH US:
www.facebook.com/theboatcompany
www.twitter.com/McIntoshTBC
www.linkedin.com/McIntoshTBC
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PREPARATION
Heat oven to 375°F
Combine all ingredients except oats, flour and raisins.
Slowly add oats, flour and raisins until blended
On ungreased cookie sheet, drop dough by rounded
tablespoonfuls, about 2 inches apart
Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until light brown
Immediately remove from cookie sheet to cool
Enjoy cookies on the deck of the LISERON or the
MIST COVE while cruising through Southeast Alaska
By Hunter H. McIntosh
RECIPESFROMALASKANWATERS
INGREDIENTS
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
3 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup raisins
ON THE MENU:OrcaOatmeal-RaisinCookies
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