How You Can Help YMTA Succeed

Listed below are a variety of ways you can help the Youth Maritime Training Association reach our Mission, Vision and Goals. Our partners and "Friends of YMTA" offer additional opportunities for you to "give back" to our wonderful industry.

Become a member of YMTA and make a financial contribution.  Approximately 98% of every dollar contributed goes directly to helping kids learn about the maritime industry. If your company has a matching gift program ask to see if the Youth Maritime Training Association can be included.

Ask your employer to make a yearly financial commitment to YMTA.

Talk with your company about making an annual gift to YMTA’s Scholarship Program. Each dollar collected will assist students graduating from YMTA sponsored programs continue their education.

Grant Writing Committee – Do you have a talent locating and writing grants? You are the person we are looking to find.  For YMTA to move to the next level requires a paid staff person.  This could be an officer manager or executive director.  If you can help us find funding for this project contact Gary Stauffer 206-300-5559

Case Statement Committee – A case statement describes the mission of an organization, its goals, objectives, programs, staff, and future plans, all in one cohesive document. YMTA’s case statement will be used to provide information to possible donors, part of an application for grants and as an advertising tool.

Three characteristics of an effective case for support include, external relevance (what’s going on in the community that the organization is responding to), targeted and focused fund raising goals that clarify how a donation will meet the donor’s interests in creating a stronger community and serving as a “change-maker” and finally, not limiting itself to the organization but rather, emphasizing societal issues.

This committee will require the expertise of an individual or individuals skilled in development of budgets.

Update:  Case Statement completed October 2007.  This document will be reviewed annually.

Educational Partner’s Needs Committee – Ken Passe’ and Norm Manly  will interview current YMTA Educational partners to determine how YMTA can best help them succeed. Join this important committee to assist Ken and Norm develop a plan from information provided by educators.

YMTA Community Partner Program Involvement Committee – This group will work with existing YMTA Community partners and future Community partners developing programs sponsored by both organizations. Example is YMTA, Center for Wooden Boats and Seattle School AS #1. This program allowed students to spend one day a week at CWB where they built pond boats and learned to sail. This committee will recommend programs worthy of YMTA support to the Executive Board.

YMTA Scholarship Committee – Work with Carleen See and review YMTA’s Scholarship program. Committee to elect new chairperson for the coming year. YMTA gave away $10,000 in funding this past year.

YMTA Website Committee – Work with Chris Manly in all aspects of the YMTA website.  We look forward to a more “interactive” site in the future.  The YMTA will become “the place to stop” when looking for information about training, education and careers in the maritime industry.

To volunteer or learn more about YMTA Committee duties and responsibilities contact Gary Stauffer or 206-300-5559.

Board of Directors - YMTA is governed by a Board of Directors who each serve for a three-year term. Board members are citizens from the community with a strong interest in youth maritime training, and the future of the maritime industry. Board membership requires a strong commitment, not only to attend monthly meeting, but also to participate in a number of related activities necessary to help chart YMTA’s future course.

Advisory Board - Advisory Board members are the link between YMTA and the community. We encourage every company and organization to appoint an individual to be their representative at YMTA meetings. Input from the maritime community is crucial in developing maritime programs. Input of their needs and requirements for future employees will be the guiding light in the development of programs and curriculum.

Guest Speakers - Guest Speaker help bring the sea to the classroom for students in all YMTA supported programs. You may contact one of our schools direct or volunteer your services through Learning for Life. Simply contact Janae Ras with Learning for Life and she will add your name to the Guest Speaker database.

Internship program - Between the 11th and 12th grades all Ballard Maritime Academy students will serve a paid or unpaid internship with a maritime company. We will be looking for direct links to maritime companies in our area.