Voices at the Valley Camp.
SAULT STE. MARIE, MI – The Voices at The Valley Camp event, held this past Saturday, July 18, aboard the Museum Ship Valley Camp in Sault Ste. Marie, raised nearly $10,000 for the International Ship Master’s Association (ISMA) Scholarship Fund.
“There were 170 people in attendance and we raised $9,435. More will be added as I sell through the remaining Voices ballcaps and the programs,” said Andrea Guerriero, the Sault Ste. Marie, ON-based ISMA member who organized the event.
The funds raised go toward four ISMA scholarships of $1,500 each that are given annually to maritime cadets and working mariners from the U.S. and Canada. Because Guerriero lined up 18 sponsors for the event, all money raised by the ticket sales and auction items will go to fund the scholarships.
Voices at The Valley Camp featured a panel of Great Lakes captains that included:
Capt. Bob Thibaudeau, retired from the Paul R. Tregurtha, the longest freighter on the Great Lakes
Capt. Joe Ruch, retired from the Hon. James L. Oberstar
Capt. Mark Mather, retired from the Clyde S. VanEnkevort/Erie Trader articulated tug/barge
Capt. Sam Buchanan, senior captain of the JW Wescott mail boat
Capt. TJ Pryor, from the Algoma Buffalo
Capt. Joe Walters of the U.S. Geological Survey Research Vessel Kiyi
Capt. Paul C LaMarre III of the tug America, and director of the Port of Monroe, and president of the American Great Lakes Ports Association
Guerriero said she plans to make this an annual event.
