The American Waterways Operators - Annual Reports 2018 | Page 10

2018 ACHIEVEMENTS
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
& COMMUNICATIONS
2018 was a successful year for telling the story of the tugboat, towboat and barge industry and the value
it provides to the nation, and for taking our case to the public for policies that allow our industry to help
drive the economy and support homeland security.
■ ■ Our goal of creating a media environment that supported our advocacy objectives resulted in positive media
attention on VIDA, the Jones Act, Subchapter M implementation, our Fatigue Risk Management Guide, and
our Cyber Risk Management Best Practices.
■ ■ The elevation of social media as a critical tool for telling our industry’s story led to a substantial increase in
the size of our social media audience and much greater reach in our messaging to the public.
■ ■ We convened a monthly webinar series to educate members on important policy and safety
developments while providing opportunities for interaction in real time with AWO
staff and other experts.
■ ■ We published the biweekly AWO Letter and launched monthly safety and PAC
newsletters to keep members engaged and informed.
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THE AMERICAN WATERWAYS OPERATORS
2018 ANNUAL REPORT A YEAR OF ACHIEVEMENT 9 n