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97TH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE GULF INTRACOASTAL
CANAL ASSOCIATION MEETS IN NEW ORLEANS
FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS, AUGUST 20, 2002 - The Gulf Intracoastal
Canal Association will meet Wednesday, August 21, at the Hilton
Riverside Hotel in New Orleans for its 97th Annual Convention. The
three-day event will kick off with a reception and awards banquet
at the hotel Wednesday evening. Honorees include Joel Berry, recipient
of the Dale Miller award for heroism on the waterway, and Homer
Hirt, recipient of life member status for his dedication to the
organization.
Thursday's agenda includes a presentation by Randy
Hanchey, Assistant Secretary for Coastal Restoration and Management,
on the problem of land loss in southern Louisiana. Teri Goodmann
of the National Rivers Hall of Fame will speak on effectively addressing
environmental organizations. United States Coast Guard Admiral Paul
Pluta is the featured speaker at Thursday's luncheon, and will discuss
port and waterway security issues.
The Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association meets annually
to provide a forum of exchange between various waterway interests.
Representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers will attend, as well as over 250 members representing
manufacturers, port authorities, navigation districts, suppliers,
distributors, carriers and more. The three-day meeting serves to
review progress on current initiatives, as well as set the organization's
agenda for the coming year. Caucus groups - breakout sessions held
during the event - help the GICA to prioritize its activities based
on participant feedback.
The Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association was established
in 1905, and serves the five Gulf Coast states. It is largely responsible
for facilitating construction of today's Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
- the third busiest waterway in the nation. Today, it is the only
organization whose primary purpose is to insure this waterway is
operated, maintained and improved to provide safe, efficient, and
environmentally sound water transportation.
For further information, contact:
Raymond Butler, Executive Director
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Association
Ph: 281.996.6915 / Fax: 281.992.4383
E-mail: info@gicaonline.com
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