International Shipmasters' Association

135th Annual ISMA Convention

Ramada - Wyndham Hotel; Alpena, Michigan

Hosted By Northeast Michigan Lodge No. 19

The 135th annual convention of International Ship Masters’ Association (ISMA), held in Alpena, Michigan concluded on Saturday, February 1, 2025.

Newly-elected officers were installed on Friday, January 31:
Grand President: Patrick W. Hart of Rogers City, Michigan
Grand 1st Vice President: Christopher J. Edyvean of Hurley, Wisconsin
Grand 2nd Vice President: Paul C. LaMarre III of Newport, Michigan
Grand Secretary-Treasurer: Thomas Foster, of Kingston, Ontario

ISMA encourages the development of new licensed maritime officers by offering annual scholarships. This year’s recipients were:
Erin Carey, cadet from Great Lakes International Marine Training Centre, Owen Sound, Ontario.
Jeff Jaeger, cadet from Great Lakes Maritime Academy, Traverse City, Michigan.
Tyler Giblin, hawsepipe officer candidate from Millersville, Maryland.

At its discretion, ISMA bestows awards recognizing mariners for their roles in at-sea rescue and other acts of heroism on the waters of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. The crew of Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry Wyandotte received the Grand President's Award for rescuing two people and a dog near Mackinac Island on August 9, 2024.

The crew of the J.W. Westcott Company of Detroit received the Grand President’s Award for a rescue, in which Captain Neil Schultheiss and deckhand JC Sharp saved a man who was attempting to swim from Windsor to Detroit on September 23, 2024.

At the convention, ISMA members heard from a variety of industry and government representatives, and received updates on current issues facing mariners and the maritime industry. Since its beginning in 1886, ISMA has utilized its members’ professional experience in a cooperative role with the US and Canadian Coast Guards, and various other maritime organizations, to promote safety on the Great Lakes and Seaway.

2025 Grand Lodge Officers
Standing (L-R): Sentinel Mike Loescher; Marshal Beth Fernandez; Chaplain Mary Ann Schallip; Warden Scott Reynolds;

Seated (L-R): Secretary-Treasurer Tom Foster; Grand President Patrick Hart; 1st VP Christopher Edyvean; 2nd VP Harold Dusseau

Click on the Images Below to Enlarge

Outgoing Grand President Todd Taylor calls the Grand Lodge to order	Incoming Grand President Pat Hart	Tom Foster, Chris Edyvean, Greg Stamatelakys, George Haynes
Cary Ketelhut; George Lisner; Bill Bratton	Brian Eickel; Mike Loescher; Rick Scott; Phil Knetchel	Ken Gerasimos & Lee Barnhill
John Wellington, Mark Mather, Beth Fernandez, MaryAnn Schallip	Past Grand Presidents	Grand Lodge in Session
Secretary Treasurer Tom Foster gives his report	Scott Skryzypczak gives US NELC report	Seann O'Donoughue gives Canadian NELC report
Mike Loescher gives report on Newsletter	Incoming Grand Lodge officers prepare for installation	George Haynes presides over the installation of new officers
Ray Oset & Mark Mather play the Canadian & US National Anthems	installation ceremony underway
Grand President Pat Hart prepares to take the oath of office	Taking the oath of office	Newly elected Grand President Pat Hart and his family
Taking the oath of office	Marshal, Warden and Sentinel are sworn into office	14 Past Grand Presidents were in attendance - including Capt. John Wellington, 93, who has attended 56 consecutive Grand Lodge Conventions.
Tom Foster presents the Grand President's Award to J.W. Westcott Co. and Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry	Jim Hogan accepting the Grand President's Award	John Wellington accepted the Grand President's Award on Behalf of Shepler's.
Jim Hogan, President of J.W. Westcott Company, Holds the Grand President's Award presented presented to him and his crewmembers.	Mark Mather (L) and Seann O'Donoughue (R) present scholarships to cadets Jeff Jaeger and Erin Carey.