Page 17: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (March 1993)

AWO ANNUAL

Serving the towing and barge industry as the leader of its national voice, The Ameri-can Waterways Operators (AWO), Joseph Farrell will re- tire at the end of 1993. Mr. Farrell brought many things to the AWO in 1983, including a varied career history which included nine years of service on the nuclear subma- rine, USS Sea Dragon, and five years of service in the Peace Corps in Honduras. But perhaps the big- gest thing Mr. Farrell brought to the AWO was unity.

The modest president denies credit, instead pointing to the end- less hard work of the association's membership. But the fact remains, during his term, the AWO trans- formed from a disjointed, finan- cially-beleaguered organization into the national power it is today.

Here, Mr. Farrell talks to Mari- time Reporter about the AWO past, present and future.

MR/EN: Looking back on your years as AWO president, please comment on the major changes the association has undergone during your tenure.

Farrell: There has been only one major change. When I came to

AWO in early 1983, it was a fairly beleaguered organization. There were a number of satellite groups around the country (serving the towing and barge industry) and the AWO was weakened by the

Structural Changes Among Topics For 1993 Spring Convention

Anew President and Con-gress greets the American Waterways Operators as the national trade associa-tion of the inland and coastal tug and barge industry holds its An- nual Meeting and Spring Conven- tion, Tuesday, March 30 to Thurs- day, April 1, at the Madison Hotel in Washington, D.C. Major fea- tures of the meeting will be elec- tion of the association's 1993 offic- ers and a board of directors deci- sion on recommendations by an

AWO Task Force on ways to im- prove AWO's existing committee structure.

The three days of meetings will draw from AWO's 300-plus mem- ber companies and will include di- rectors, committee members, af- filiates, directors emeritus, and other representatives from AWO member companies, all of whom have been invited to attend the

Spring Convention, which is tradi- tionally the largest single gather- ing of AWO members each year.

Qualified representatives of tug and barge industry companies or shipyards who are interested in membership in AWO may attend the meeting by special arrange- ment by contacting AWO head- quarters.

Several hundred key towboat and barge industry leaders are expected to attend the annual meeting, which will provide an excellent opportunity for members to be briefed on perti- nent issues confronting the associa- tion and the industry.

At such hands-on meetings, AWO members can more deeply involve themselves in the ongoing efforts of

AWO as the association implements plans to work closely with new con- gressional leaders and key adminis- tration officials in what promises to be an active year on the legislative and regulatory fronts.

Several important events are planned for the AWO Spring Conven- tion, including an economic forecast- ing seminar, meetings of AWO's standing committee, a reception, a special session of the AWO Board of

Directors and the annual meeting itself. Founded in 1944, AWO repre- sents an industry that operates over 7,000 coastal tugs and inland river towboats and over 32,000 barges.

AWO members companies are located along the banks of all major U.S. waterways and on the shores of the

Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts. For (Continued on page 20)

ONE ON ONE WITH JOE FARRELL

AWO President Retiring, Calls 10 Years Challenging, Su«essful

Joseph Farrell turf battles of these groups. Today,

AWO is the national association, and the satellite organizations have fallen by the wayside.

MR/EN: How did this change come about?

Farrell: Everyone (the members) realized they needed to work to- gether to build a strong national association.

There was virtually a complete staff turnover in the first two years, yet most of the staff here today has been here the last eight years. The change was member-driven. The

AWO provides one voice for the en- tire industry, and it is very respected in the Executive and Legislative branches of the government. (Continued on page 21)