MINUTES OF February MEETING OF MEMBERS

ON FEBRUARY 4, 2026

CHAIRMAN: JOHN CROWLEY recording secretary: joan roback

ATTENDING:

Mansour aly world shipping

CURTIS DAVIS WORLD SHIPPING

LARRY DEL REGNO WORLD SHIPPING

JOHN DUNN WORLD SHIPPING

TONY DUNN WORLD SHIPPING

TOM GIERSZAL COLUMBUS SHIPPING

IAN HIRT BENCHMARK MARINE

MATT JACKSON WORLD SHIPPING

RICK LAURION BENCHMARK MARINE

JACK PIETCH WORLD SHIPPING

JON WOLF INTERSHIP

  1. I. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER – APPROVAL OF MINUTES

JOHN opened the meeting AND IN ATTENDANCE Were BENCHMARK MARINE, COLUMBUS SHIPPING, INTERSHIP, and world shipping – CHICAGO, CLEVELAND and DETROIT. THE JANUARY MINUTES WERE APPROVED.

  1. II. FINANCIAL REPORT

OUR BANK BALANCE AS OF FEBRUARY 2, 2026 WAS $657,198.17. our 2025 ship calls WERE 728 which INCLUDES 347 cruise ships.

ian reported that THERE WON’T BE MUCH INCOME UNTIL THE SHIPS START COMING INTO THE SEAWAY AGAIN. oNLY EXPENSES ARE PAYROLL. our ship calls were up by 25% MOSTLY DUE to THE cruise SHIP calls. treasurer’s report was approved as presented.

  1. III. PRESIDENT’S remarks

no report presented.

  1. IV. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S report

JOHN REPORTED THAT THE WEBSITE IS UP AND RUNNING. hE SUGGESTED EVERYONE SHOULD LOOK AT IT AND MAKE ANY COMMENTS NEEDED. THERE IS A “MEMBERS ONLY” ON THE HOME PAGE AND JOHN GAVE US THE PASSWORD TO GET INTO THAT LINK. WE CAN PUT OUR FINANCIAL REPORTS AND MINUTES IN THE AREA. HE IS ALSO GOING TO START DATING THE NEWS ITEMS SO THEY CAN BE REMOVED WHEN THEY ARE OLD. JOHN IS PLANNING TO ADD ITEMS DAILY TO THE NEWS LINK. HE IS ALSO GOING TO GET A LINKEDIN ACCOUNT FOR THE WEBSITE. LARRY ASKED IF THERE IS A SECTION THAT SHOWS HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE USING THE WEBSITE. jOHN SAID THERE IS AND HE WILL TRY TO GET THAT UP AND RUNNING TOO. JOHN D. ASKED IF THE MEMBERS GO INTO THE “MEMBERS ONLY” SECTION WILL THAT COUNT AS USAGE OF THE WEBSITE. jOHN WASN’T SURE AND WILL CHECK INTO THAT POINT. iAN ASKED IF JOHN WOULD BE PUTTING IN NEWS ITEMS NOT NECESSARILY USGLSA NEWS AND JOHN IS PLANNING ON DOING THAT.

JOHN SAID IF ANYONE SEES AN ITEM THAT SHOULD BE REMOVED OR RE-WORDED TO LET him KNOW RIGHT AWAY.

John was leaving shortly to go to the glpac meeting in covington. he is going to give a short presentation on the abilities of OCEAN-GOING masters which is the same as getting the mmc from the coast guard for the pilots. if the masters or pilots lose their mmc they have to be removed from the “wait list” which then makes it harder to get their credentials back. the mmc deals with items from docking/undocking vessels to navigating a route in emergency situations. the pilots have the advantage of knowing the local routes and ports.

john has set up the annual meeting for march 31st and april 1st. we will be in the marble room at the vault for dinner on the 31st, stay at the marriott in downtown cleveland, and have our meeting at the marriott on the 1st. cost should be about the same as last year.

  1. V. old business

ian commented that the duluth superior maritime club is setting up an endowment scholarship fund with the university of wisconsin at superior for their maritime logistics program. he suggested that any funds we recommend should go to that endowment fund for the next five years. the goal is to have an enddowment of $20 to $30,000 and there has already been some funds collected. ian recommended that we donate to this endowment and perhaps look for other great lakes schools that will be doing the same thing. he made a motion that we contribute $2,000 this year and make it in memory of aaron bensinger and $1,000 for the next five years. rick wanted to know what classes will be taught and what would happen if the endowment scholarship is cancelled. ian said that there are 8 graduates working on the waterfront that graduated from this program. once the endowment is established only the interest will be used and the university of wisconsin will manage it. john suggested the course catalog should be easy get.

After some discussion the motion was seconded and approved.

  1. VI. new business

NO DISCUSSION

nEXT MEETING WILL be WEDNESDAY, march 4th AT OUR USUAL TIME.

meeting adjourned

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