NMMA ADDS FOUR EVENTS TO BOAT SHOW LINEUP
Association purchases General Sports Shows

National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has acquired General Sports Shows, Inc., and the four annual Midwest shows the company produces, the two organizations announced today.
Joining NMMA’s Boat Shows calendar are the Minneapolis Boat Show, Northwest Sportshow, Kansas City Sportshow and Des Moines Sportshow. NMMA now produces 22 boat shows across North America every year.
“David Perkins and his team have done a tremendous job at developing these four shows into successful events, and they are great additions to NMMA’s boat show calendar,” says NMMA president Thom Dammrich. “With our popular Chicago Boat, RV & Outdoors Show and the St. Louis Boat & Sports Show, we now have six great events to introduce boating to consumers in the Midwest.”
The Kansas City and Des Moines Sportshows will be produced out of NMMA’s St. Louis office, led by NMMA Mid-South Regional Manager Mark Adams and Show Manager Gerry Mulcahy. NMMA’s headquarter office in Chicago will produce the Minneapolis Boat Show and Northwest Sportshow, under the supervision of Central Regional Manager Jennifer Faulk. Regional sales offices will be maintained in Minneapolis and Kansas City.
“"I'm excited for the NMMA. They are a strong organization with a long history of producing boat and sport shows across the country. The NMMA will bring new ideas to the Boat Show and Sport Shows, while maintaining the rich traditions that have made these events so great for the exhibitor and visitor alike,” says Perkins.
The dates and locations for NMMA’s four new shows are:
• 33rd Minneapolis Boat Show - Minneapolis Convention Center - January 19-23, 2005
• 73rd Northwest Sportshow - Minneapolis Convention Center - March 29 - April 3, 2005
• 51st Kansas City Sportshow - Bartle Hall - January 4-9, 2005
• 63rd Des Moines Sportshow - Iowa State Fairgrounds - February 16-20, 2005
General Sports Shows is a 72-year old Minneapolis-based consumer show management company specializing in producing premier outdoor recreation product and services expositions.
National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is the leading association representing the recreational boating industry. NMMA member companies produce over 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers in the United States. The association is dedicated to industry growth through programs in public policy, market research and data, product quality assurance and marketing communications.

Sailor’s World is Newest Dealer for Island Packet Yachts

Island Packet Yachts is pleased to announce Sailor’s World of Wayzata, Minnesota as their newest dealer. Sailor’s World, founded and owned by Gary and Cheryl DeSantis in 1977, is located on Lake Minnetonka, just west of Minneapolis/St. Paul, with operations in Marinette, Wisconsin on Lake Michigan and in Bayfield, Wisconsin on Lake Superior. They have specialized for over 27 years in highly personalized service, and offer charter opportunities at both locations on the Great Lakes.
“We’re pleased to be able to offer our customers the ultimate cruising yacht, whether their dreams take them across the Great Lakes, or across the oceans of the world,” said Gary DeSantis.
“Having known and worked with Gary for almost 15 years, I can’t be more delighted to have him and Cheryl aboard as a dealer, representing both our sail and powerboat products in the Great Lakes,” added Bill Bolin, VP of Sales and Marketing for Island Packet.
The first Island Packet, a new 370, will arrive in Wayzata towards the middle of July and will be featured in an Open House and Launch scheduled for later in the summer.
For more details contact Gary or Cheryl at sscenta@aol.com or through www.sailorsworldinc.com.

Island Packet Yachts is celebrating their 25th Anniversary this summer, and builds cruising sailboats from 37 to 52 feet in length and the Packet Craft Express powerboat. Located on a nine acre site in Largo, Florida, with over 125,000 square feet of enclosed production space, the company has won numerous awards and become renowned worldwide for their yachts’ high level of safety, seakeeping, performance, and trouble-free service.
For more information visit www.ipy.com.