Hullwork -July, 2025

Hullwork - July, 2025

Hullwork is a monthly digest from the Coalition's Executive Director on the work that goes on 'beneath the waterline'  of our programming to maintain it, and keep it all afloat.

Hullwork – July 2025

During the summer months, many of us get out on the water for work and play, and the Coalition has a little of both for June and July.  The Coalition is gearing up and preparing during June, July, and August for what could be a very busy fall! We’ll keep this Hullwork short – highlights from June, and upcoming for July, include:
 

1. Our Government Relations team is actively planning events specifically aimed at you, our membership, for fall. These will include events with elected officials, local Port officials, and others. We’re excited to offer these to membership, so stay tuned for more information as they are announced.
2. Our Membership Committee has also been hard at work, and continues to brainstorm and bring new ideas to help make your membership more meaningful. This goes hand in hand in some cases, with our Government Relations and Outreach committees.
3. Our Outreach and Fundraising Committees are also building ideas to help further our messaging and generate funding so that we can continue to increase our programming, from advocacy and lobbying with local and state organizations, to connecting our community even more with the waterfront that works for them.
4. Regional Connections – the Working Waterfront Foundation & Coalition staff are making a quick visit to San Francisco this month, to connect with the Working Waterfront Coalition in the Bay Area. They’re also running a workforce development program and doing advocacy for their trades, and they’ve offered to host our staff in an effort to continue building regional friendships and momentum for the policies, regulations, and programs that keep our waterfront trades thriving.
5. We’re connecting with the new Interim Director, Tiffany DiSimone, of the Port of Bellingham, and continue an open dialogue with the Port on your concerns.  We’re following the current candidate race for the commissioners as well, and will be helping to share information on candidates later in the summer and into fall.
6. Engagement Opportunity: At the upcoming Port of Bellingham Commissioner’s meeting on July 15^th, the Commissioners have directed staff to prepare a ballot proposal for expanding the commission to 5 seats. If you’d like to share your comments, you can show up to the meeting at 4pm at the Port’s Roeder offices. You can also share those thoughts and comments with our staff, and we’ll carry those comments forward for you to the Commissioners. Please reach out to me with those comments at Dant@whatcomworkingwaterfront.org. Please let me know if you’d like to remain anonymous in any comments we pass along.

I’d like to remind all of our members that our next Board meeting will be September 10^th, 9:00am, at our Working Waterfront Offices at 708 Coho Way. As a member, you’re welcome to attend and there are comment periods for you to participate.

I’d also like to remind you of the member portal on our website, where you can see news and information that may be relevant to you, and manage your Coalition membership information. Simply click on the top-right ‘Member Access’ button on the website and follow the prompts.

Finally, come out and help us celebrate the waterfront community with the 1^st Annual LFS Squalicum Block Party, July 23^rd, from 11am-3pm. This will be a similar format to their regular Customer Appreciation Day (happening August 20), with vendor booths, hot dogs, deals, and fun. We’ll be hosting a booth that day in the parking lot, so please drop by and say hello if you’re in town!

I hope you’re all having a safe, fun, and productive summer,

Dan Tucker
Executive Director
Whatcom Working Waterfront Coalition