One of SCI’s priorities is to maintain an active presence within the maritime community, raising visibility within the industry of the personal support, education, and legal advocacy services we offer to river mariners and seafarers. To that end, conference attendance is important and this August, SCI has attended three conferences:

• Senior Chaplain Thomas Rhoades, Chaplain Associate Howard “Doc” Whitaker, and Center of Mariner Advocacy (CMA) Director Phil Schifflin were part of a panel discussion on Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) at the Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association (GICA) conference in New Orleans (August 3-5).

• SCI Executive Director Mark Nestlehutt, Chaplain James Kollin, and CMA Director Phil Schifflin —along with representatives from our sister mariner welfare organizations—attended the North American Maritime Ministry Association conference (NAMMA) in Baltimore (August 9-11).

• CMA Director Phil Schifflin (who seemed to be everywhere this month) and Chaplain David Shirk attended the American Waterways Operators (AWO) Summer Safety meeting in Chicago (August 17-18).