1983
8th NMEA Conference
August 2-6
South Portland, Maine (Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute)
Theme: Sights and Sounds of the Sea

 

President: Prentice K. Stout (RI) (1982-83)

President-Elect: Lundie Spence (NC)

Treasurer: Sandy Wiper (MA)

Secretary: Vicki Osis (OR)

Executive Director: Prentice Stout (RI)

Editor of Current: Fleda Jackson (DE)

Board of Directors: (1982-83) Sue Gammisch (VA), Dottie Bjur (CA), Lindy Millman (DE), Bernice “Bunny” Nadelman (NY), Jeff Sandler (ME), and Vi Lien (PA). (Historian's note: The above information was obtained from the 1983 Conference Program.) (In addition to these names, in a letter dated October 4, 1983 from Lundie Spence to the Board, the following names were included for (1984-86): Jim Hannaham (DC), Millie Graham (GA) and Susan Leach (OH).)

Chapter Representatives: Unknown: (Historian's note: This was the second year for chapter representatives, but names have not been located.

Awards:

Honorary Membership: Ronald Linsky (CA)

 

 

Conference Highlights:

Over 400 members attended this conference, hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Fish (Jeff Sandler and Deb Hall). The focus was on the arts, emphasizing the interdisciplinary nature of marine education.

Dr. Robert Watson of the National Science Foundation addressed the conference on the theme of financial aid for science education in the coming year.

Not so usual was another presentation, that of the seal hunt from a Newfoundland perspective, which questioned the methods and goals of some groups opposing the hunt.

 

Above: Conference Program. Left: Prentice Stout led a field trip.

Photographs by Susan Leach Snyder

 

Sharon Meeker (NH) ran a Sea Swap, and very spontaneously, an international sand swappers society was formed, with the first “Sand Witch” elected being Susan Leach. After the conference, Susan sent out "The Sand Exchange" newsletter so that additional swaps could be made.

At the conference, concurrent sessions included games, showcases, and hand-on activities. For example, Dr. Ray Heitzmann (PA) shared information on maritime heritage and Dr. John Butzow (ME) presented three educational games.

Special events included a Maine clambake on the beach, Stegner Memorial Concert by Schooner Fare, Gulf of Maine Fish Fry, Casco Bay Sea Chantey Cruise, North Atlantic Seafood Banquet with Maine humorist Tim Sample, and half day and full day field trips. One field trip opportunity was to sail Casco Bay aboard the 115 ft. Harvey Gammage.

 

Right: The Portland Press Herald covered the story about the NMEA Conference. (Click on the newspaper to enlarge the image).

 

At the Board of Directors meeting the following resolutions were made:

  • “Dues will remain at $10 for 1984 and will be raised to $18 in 1985. We have done away with non-member dues, and we voted to remove the by-law stating that chapter members must belong to the National.
  • The Executive Director will receive the princely sum of $1 for this coming year.
  • Our 1984 budget was presented and accepted. This year the Executive Director will handle the day-to-day finances of NMEA and will report to the Treasurer.
  • An award will be presented to an outstanding water-related science project at the International Science and Engineering Fair. This year’s fair will be in Ohio, and our Susan Leach will do the honors. (Historians note: This never occurred because the ISEF was not willing to work with NMEA. The source of this information: Letter to Susan Leach from Lundie Spence (NMEA President) March 13, 1984)
  • To honor our former member James Centorino (Jim died this spring), we will present an award in his memory. “

    At the Annual NMEA Membership meeting, outgoing President Prentice Stout presented awards to the following members: Donna Minner (DE) for handling mailings; Peg Axelsen (ME), Deb Hall (ME), Jeff Sandler (ME), and Robert Goode (ME) (on behalf of the Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute) for their hosting the conference; Tom Murray (representing The Office of Sea Grant) for Sea Grant’s continued efforts on behalf of marine education; Cynthia Hancock, President of with Week of the Oceans; and Ronald Linsky as Honorary Member.

 

Outgoing President Prentice Stout presented President-Elect Lundie Spence with the NMEA gavel and NMEA tie. Lundie used the tie as a belt. (Photographer is unknown) (Source of this photograph: Current, Volume 5, Number 1, Fall, 1983, p. 15.)

 

 

Additional Highlights of 1983:

Prentice Stout, who became executive director in 1983, reported a membership of 864, a discontinuation of our contract with Allen Press, and a “not as fancy,” less-expensive look for Current, the quarterly journal. Stout and Jackson (DE), editor of Current, reported about problems caused by NMEA’s shortage of funds for salaries. Jackson noted that Current had cost NMEA only $3,537.81 to produce for the past fiscal year, but that this included a reduction in her salary. She asked for a return of her former salary of $6,000 for the next year.

Stout reported that “The stormy years are no longer part of our discussions and in conversations with our members I sense a feeling of strength and peace.”

Suggestions were made by Executive Director Prentice Stout that a rolling membership be established. A person who sent in his/her dues on, let’s say April, would be a member for one year or until the next April. He suggested that two and three year memberships be instituted at slightly reduced rates. It was thought that these memberships would save the Association money and time.

New Services to members included: (Source of this information: Paper titled, "Executive Directors Report to the Membership August, 1983, Portland, Maine")

  • Sawyer Marine Resource Collection Bibliography: Members could write to the National Office for reprints of the Sawyer Marine Resources Collection...a large bibliography of magazine articles.
  • Marine Specimen Listing: A collector helped science teachers fill their needs for biological specimens for classroom use. These specimens were offered at a reduced fee and represented a substantial cost savings for teachers.
  • Curriculum Assistance: Teachers could write to the National Office for assistance in curriculum material for their classes. Using the Marine Education Materials System (MEMS) collection from Virginia Institute of Marine Science and the Sawyer Marine Resource Collection, the Executive Director was able to answer each of these requests quickly and efficiently.

The Executive Director’s Short Term Goals included: (Source of short term and long term goals information was a paper titled, "Executive Directors Report to the Membership August, 1983, Portland, Maine")

  • Increasing the membership by 50% in 1984.
  • Preparing and submitting to the Board for approval two grants for 1) money for the position of Executive Director and 2) money for the expansion of Current and an editor’s salary.)
  • Seeking new advertisers for Current.
  • Submitting to the Board a proposal for the establishment of an Advisory Board whose function would be to help in setting policy with regard to 1) long term goals for funding and the use of money in interest earning accounts and 2) marketing potential for getting NMEA out to people.


    The Executive Director’s Long Term Goals were:

  • Increase membership to at least 5000.
  • Seek ways that NMEA can become a viable instrument to better utilize marine science as a tool toward greater science literacy in the United States.
  • Prepare and disseminate a series of news releases on NMEA to be sent to a wide range of highly professional audiences.
  • Seek ways in which NMEA can tie into other organizations such as Sea Grant, National Education Association and the like.
  • Establish a marketing potential for NMEA. We have a lot of good material that we need to get into the schools.
  • Seek ways in which the national can better interact with its chapters.

World of Water Awards: During the 1983 NMEA Conference, Bob Watson of the National Science foundation (NSF) encouraged members to submit proposals for funding innovative education projects. Lundie Spence (NC) and Jack Wheatly (NC) responded with a proposal to present 20 awards for water-oriented pre-college student science projects and 5 undergraduate collegiate awards, and to give the winners a broad look at marine and aquatic research. This awards program was titled, The World of Water Awards (W.O.W.) The first students were recognized in 1984.

In 1983, NMEA published four general issues of Current: The Journal of Marine Education. The fourth issue presented highlights of the 1983 Annual NMEA Meeting in Portland, Maine.

Photographs by Susan Leach Snyder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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