106th Annual Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association Convention August 10-12, 2011

If you would like to register and pay with CHECK or CREDIT CARD by MAIL, please click HERE, download and print form and mail to:

GICA Convention
PO Box 6846
New Orleans, LA 70174 

GICA’s 106th Annual Convention is August 10 -12 at the Westin New Orleans Canal Place Hotel.  Please register, either online or by mail, and make your hotel reservations as soon as possible.

Call the Westin directly to reserve your room (888-627-8180 or 504-566-7006) or online at www.westin.com/canalplace

This year’s program will follow the same general course as previous conventions; however we'll update attendees on critical issues affecting waterways budgets, hotwash the recent high water event and engage experienced panelists on operational issues affecting our GIWW.  

Our keynote speakers will be highlighted by Congressman Steve Scalise of Louisiana's First District.  A strong waterways and marine industry supporter and advocate, he will join us for lunch on Wednesday. We'll also introduce and welcome RADM Roy Nash, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District on Thursday morning.

GOLF is back on our program! Sign up for our GICA golf outing. Tee time at the Lakewood Golf Club in Algiers will be Wednesday, August 10th at 8:00 AM.  The format will be a "shamble best two balls" where each player will hit their drive, the team will choose the best drive location and then each player will play their ball for the rest of each hole. The best two final scores will make up the team score for each hole.  We will serve coffee and donuts prior to tee off and will serve soft drinks and beer on the course during play. There is no additional charge for golf, so please join us! Contact Larry Barbish (504-584-1535, lbarbish@canalbarge.com) or Tommy Echols (713-907-1612, tommy@echomarineltd.com) for golf details.

Our Spouses' program is now set!  
Spouses will meet at 12 noon at Cafe' Adelaide for lunch (in the Loew's Hotel, 300 Poydras St). Cafe' Adelaide is part of the celebrated Commander's Palace Family of Restaurants, inspired by the Brennan's beloved Aunt Adelaide, who personified the avant-garde cocktail culture of the late 1950s and 1060s, and represents the joie de vivre of all that is New Orleans. Everything about Cafe' Adelaide is centered around her charming pursuit of the good life...from high falutin' to low-down...with great New Orleans food.

After lunch spouses will walk down the street and board the Creole Queen (Spanish Plaza, foot of Poydras) at about 1:45 pm. They'll cruise down the Mississippi River aboard this paddlewheeler, and view the French Quarter and Port of New Orleans from the river as the Captain entertains us with a detailed narration of New Orleans landmarks, history and river lore. Disembarking at the site of the 1815 Battle of New Orleans, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, spouses can tour the Chalmette Battlefield and the Malus-Beauregard House before reboarding for the return cruise. 

The Creole Queen will return about 4:30 pm, in plenty of time to make the GICA reception.

Sponsors - I’d like to ask everyone to consider expanding or continuing your support for this critical function, through a Convention Sponsorship. The financial support we gain from our generous sponsors is essential to maintaining the posture and credibility of our organization. This will be especially true as we look to improve upon excellent industry support provided by GICA to date.

There are four levels of sponsorship:

Platinum - $2,500 and up;  Gold - $1000 and up;  Silver - $750 and up;  Bronze – up to $750

All sponsors are recognized throughout the convention for their commitment to GICA.  Please respond with your level of support prior to August 1^st in order to ensure inclusion on all published materials prepared in advance of the convention.

GICA also welcomes exhibitors to the convention. Exhibitors can expect to reach an outstanding audience of waterways, maritime and industry experts during the event. Exhibitors can register using the tabs above.

Please review the current agenda for our Convention. Be sure to check gicaonline.com and this site for updates to the agenda as additional topics are developed and speakers confirm attendance.  

See you in August!

Jim Stark, Executive Director, GICA

Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association

106^th Annual Convention

August 10-12 2011

AGENDA (as of June 13, 2011)

Attire – Business Casual for all events

 8:00-12:00     Golf Tournament – Lakewood Golf Club - Algiers

2:00-5:00       Registration
3:30-4:30       GICA Board Meeting
6:00-7:00       Welcome Reception (Open Bar)
7:00-9:00       Annual GICA Awards Banquet

 Thursday, August 11

 8:00-8:30       Continental Breakfast

 8:30-10:00     First General Session, GICA President, Cherrie Felder ,Presiding

                        Welcome Gary LaGrange, Port of New Orleans Director 

President’s Remarks, Cherrie Felder

Executive Director’s Remarks, Jim Stark

                        Current Issues - U.S. Coast Guard, RADM Roy Nash, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District

 10:00-0:15      Break

 10:15-12:00   Second General Session, GICA Executive Director, Jim Stark, Presiding

                        2011 High Water Event – Operational/Coordination Review Panel

                        USACE Ops Reps - Vic Landry GIWW Ops Manager

                        USCG  Reps - LT Nick Parham, Baton Rouge, OSCS James Armstrong Morgan City

                        Key Industry Reps

                       Washington Perspective -  John Doyle, Jones Walker

 12:00-1:30     Luncheon GICA Executive Director, Jim Stark, Presiding

                        U.S. Congressman Steve Scalise, 1^st District of Louisiana

 12:00-4:30     Spouses Program - Cafe Adelaide and Creole Queen Cruise

 1:30-3:00       Third General Session GICA President-Elect, Spencer Murphy, Presiding

  GIWW Navigation Project Updates

Tim Connell - USACE Project Manager West Closure Complex

Vic Zillmer 0 USACE Resident Manager IHNC Lake Borgne Surge Barrier

John Strid - Cianbro/Brasfield & Gorrie, PM, Galveston RR Bridge Replacement

USACE Funding and Operations Perspectives Panel

                           Mark Mazzanti, USACE Headquarters - Chief, Civil Works, Programs Integration Division

     Colonel Edward Fleming, New Orleans District

                         Colonel Steven Roehmhildt, Mobile District

                           Colonel Christopher Sallese, Galveston District

 3:00-3:20       Break

 3:20-4:30       Fourth General Session GICA Secretary, Kelly Teichman,Presiding

                        Canal Operations – Panel Discussion Operating on the GIWW

                        Tow Boat Captains

                        Tow Company Operations Managers

                        Shipper Representatives

 5:30-6:30       Evening Reception (Open Bar)

                          Friday, August 12

 8:00-8:30       Continental Breakfast

 8:30-9:30     Fifth General Session GICA Director, Rob Sadler, Presiding

                        Federal Waterway – the local sponsor’s view

                                Ralph Cantu, TXDOT; Sharon Balfour, LA DOTD; Juan Flores, MSDOT;
  Clyde Mathis, Port of Pensacola, FL

 9:30-10:15     Building a Resilient Gulf Coast - Our Vulnerabilities Cannont Define Our Future

Valsin Marmillion - Managing Director, America's WETLAND Foundation                 

10:15-10:30    Break

10:30-11:15   GICA Business Meeting, GICA President, Cherrie Felder, Presiding

                        Adjourn

If you are having any technical difficulties with your registration, you can call for support: 1-800-350-8850