Date: September 24-26, 2024 in Newark, NJ

Theme: “Serving Seafarers: First Things First”

Introduction: Seafarers’ welfare organizations have displayed remarkable adaptability in addressing ever-evolving challenges. NAMMA’s upcoming 2024 conference – September 24-26, 2024 – aims to empower these organizations in their mission to serve effectively. The event anticipates hosting over 100 delegates from both local and international seafarers’ welfare groups, while also extending its welcome to partners within the broader maritime community. Falling on September 26, 2024, World Maritime Day carries the theme “Navigating the Future: Safety First!” A novel perspective emerges when we emphasize the word “First.” This shift encourages profound discussions and presentations, touching upon spiritual and inspirational aspects, preparation, core tenets of maritime ministry, professional growth, recruitment, and vision alignment. Panels and workshops addressing institutional priorities in line with the WMD theme remain pivotal. Exploring what takes precedence, our top priorities, may rejuvenate individuals and organizations who feel stuck in routine and foster innovation.

Conference Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel – Newark Airport, 128 Frontage Rd, Newark, NJ 07114, USA. Room rate: $169USD+tax/night.

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Registration: $399 Registration Member. $449 Registration Non-Member.

Register as Member ($399) (click here)

Register as Non-Member ($449) (click here)

Schedule (developing)

Tuesday 24 September
- 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Registration Booth Open
- [1 p.m. – Conference Begins]
- 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. – Sessions 1 and 2
- 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Off-site group excursion – Port Tour with Sandy Hooks Pilot boat
- 7:30 p.m. – Dinner (in hotel)
Wednesday 25 September
- [7 a.m. – denominational prayer]
- 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Sessions 3 and 4
- 12 p.m – 1 p.m. – Lunch (in hotel)
- 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. – Sessions 5 and 6 (NAMMA AGM and Updates)
- 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Dinner (in hotel)
- 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Excursion to Newark International Seafarers Center, Daily Prayer, and Reception
Thursday 26 September (World Maritime Day)
- [7 a.m. – denominational prayer]
- 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Session 7 and 8
- 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Lunch (in hotel)
- 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. – Sessions 9 and 10
- 5 p.m. [Conference Ends]
- 5:30 p.m. – Dinner (in hotel)
Friday 27 September
- Departures or denominational meetings

Confirmed Speakers

Stephen Lyman, Executive Director, Maritime Association of the Port of NY/NJ
Mayte Medina, Chairperson, IMO Maritime Safety Committee and Chief, Maritime Personnel Qualifications Division, US Coast Guard
Dcn. Paul Rosenblum, President, NAMMA and Regional Director, Stella Maris, North America and Caribbean
Dr. Jason Zuidema, Executive Director, NAMMA
Phil Schifflin, Center for Mariner Advocacy, SCI
The Rev’d Mark Nestlehutt, President and Executive Director, The Seamen’s Church Institute
Pastor Marsh Drege, Executive Director, Seafarers’ International House
Simon Grainge, Executive Director, ISWAN
Keynote presenter – Sr. Monica Claire is a nun at the Community of St. John Baptist, an Episcopal religious order based in Mendham, New Jersey. She is the Superior of the convent and will soon be an ordained priest. She is a trained spiritual counselor specializing in religious trauma, mental illness, and addiction. Before becoming a nun in 2012, she worked as a photo editor in Los Angeles and was a member of the Groundlings Sunday Company. She started her TikTok account, @nunsenseforthepeople, in June 2021, to make people laugh and to demystify life as an Episcopal nun. To her great surprise, the popularity of her TikTok channel has continued to grow and she now has over 179K followers and 1.7M likes. Her forthcoming memoir, A Change of Habit, will be released in September 2024 by Crown and Sugar23 Books at Penguin Random House.

Contact: executivedirector@namma.org

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