• CARIBWA (Caribbean and Western Atlantic): Steve Pionteh (Curacao, Netherlands Antilles)
• FMSEA (Florida Marine Science Educators Association): Lex Waters (FL)
• GAME (Georgia Association of Marine Education): Naomi Thompson (GA)
• GLEAMS (Great Lakes Educators of Aquatic and Marine Science): Rachel Gross (IL)
• GOMMEA (Gulf of Maine Marine Education Association): Lura Lubelczyk (ME)
• MAMEA (Mid-Atlantic Marine Educators Association ): Beth Jewell (VA)
• MME (Massachusetts Marine Educators): Sue Norse (MA)
• NAME (Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators): Pat Williams (OR)
• NJMEA (New Jersey Marine Education Association): Eric Simms (NJ)
• NYSMEA (New York State Marine Educators Association): Hugo Freudenthal (NY)
• OCEANIA: Mary Gullickson (HI)
• SAME (Southern Association of Marine Educators): Sonya Wood Mahler (AL)
• SCMEA (South Carolina Marine Educators Association): Carmelina Livingston (SC)
• SENEME (Southeastern New England Marine Educators): Diana Payne (CT)
• SWMEA (Southwest Marine Educators Association): Joy Wolf (CA)
• TEAMS (Tennessee Educators of Aquatic and Marine Science): Courtney Kroll (TN)
• TMEA (Texas Marine Educators Association): Jack Clason (TX) / Pam Stryker (TX)

   

  ---

Committee Chairs:

• Awards: Kathleen Heidenreich (WA)
• Bylaws: Rick Tinnin (TX)
• Chapters:Jean May-Brett (LA)
• Conference: Paula Keener-Chavis (SC)
• Conservation: Julie Childers (FL)
• Executive: Wendy Allen (SC)
• Finance: John Trowbridge (LA) / Don Hudson (ME)
• Grants/Funding: Sharon Walker (MS)
• History: Mike Spranger (FL)/ Susan Snyder (OH)
• International: Vicki Osis (OR)
• Long-Range: John Dindo (AL)
• NSTA Liaison: Jean May-Brett (LA)
• Outreach: Bill Hastie (OR)
• Publications: David Niebuhr (VA) and Lisa Tooker (CA)
• Scholarship: Ann Coopersmith (HI)

Awards:

President Wendy Allen made award presentations at the conference.

 

 

James Centorino Award: Valerie Chase (MD)

 

 



 

 

Outstanding Teacher Award: Patricia Cahill Williams (OR)


 

 

 

 



 

Marine Education Award: Margaret Davidson (SC)

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

President’s Award: John Trowbridge (LA) (Photographer is unknown)

 

 

 

 

 

Conference Highlights:

Psst....2003! The Mid Atlantic Marine Education Association (MAMEA) and conference co-chairs Andy Wood and Terri Kirby Hathaway welcomed NMEA to Wilmington. Even before the conference began, a detailed schedule of events, description of featured speakers, housing information, and abstracts for more than 150 concurrent sessions were available on the conference web site for everyone to peruse.

Terri Kirby Hathaway and Andy Wood co-chaired this wonderful conference.

Prior to the actual beginning of the conference, NMEA Board Members, NMEA committee members (History, Chapters, Publications, International, Conservation, Outreach, and NSTA Liaison), and the National Sea Grant Educators convened for meetings.

 

 

President-Elect Jean May-Brett and President Wendy Allen are very organized leaders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the Board Meeting, Rick Tinnin (TX) and John Dindo (AL) held up the "Year in the Life of NMEA" calendar as Vicki Clark (VA), Terri Kirby Hathaway (NC), and Johnette Bosarge (MS) took notes.

 

 

Some of the action items from the NMEA Board Meetings included:

• Rita Bell (CA) will develop a format for the NMEA annual calendar for Chapter Representatives to insert chapter functions and distribute to their respective chapter membership.
• Don Hudson (ME) will meet with John Trowbridge and the Finance Committee to develop a more definitive cost for Current. He will present a detailed budget to the Executive Committee during the 2004 Winter Executive Board Retreat.
• Sharon Walker (MS) will outline the NMEA services provided by the family membership category to be included in the By-Laws or SOPs, as appropriate.
• The NSTA Liaison Committee will draft the NSTA position paper on marine education.
• The Awards Committee will update the Honorary Membership category on the Awards nomination form so this category conforms to the NMEA Bylaws. The Committee will make a recommendation regarding the number of letters of recommendation required for award nominations.
• The Bylaws Committee will investigate the Standard Operating Procedure referring to the number of Committees on which Board members may serve.
• The NMEA National Science Education Standards Ad Hoc Committee will send a letter and its recommendations to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy.

At the Board Meeting, Rita Bell (right) (CA) and Lynn Whitley (CA) experienced THE PIKE up close and personal. You can tell, Rita was thrilled.

 

 

 

 

During the NMEA History Committee meeting, Ann (Frannie) Coopersmith (HI), Wes Batten (VA), and George Duane (MA) were among the members who met to help document early NMEA history.

 

 

 

 

The conference bag (far left) , conference magnet (left) and conference program (below) identified the conference theme: "Taking Marine Education by Storm."

 

 

Following registration, one of the first events of the conference was a First Timer’s “Meet and Greet,” where 36 new comers were matched with their “experienced” buddies. Following that event, folks enjoyed drinks and hors d’oeuvres as they were welcomed to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington by Dr. Dan Baden, UNCW professor of marine science. A dress-up Pirate Party topped off the evening, complete with a performance by Blackbeard. He held our attention with his dramatic presentation of his experiences on the Queen Anne’s Revenge.

 

Pirate Alan Rammer (WA) presented a ring to each of these wenches at the Pirate Party.

Day two of the conference began early with the Keynote Address by Dr. Steve Lyons, tropical weather specialist with The Weather Channel. His presentation titled, “Forecasting Hurricane Impacts At Landfall, More Than Meteorology,” emphasized all the variables involved in planning hurricane evacuation along the coast. Following his enlightening talk, we set off for our first set of concurrent sessions. Special tracks for the day included: Climate and Weather, Conservation, Culture, Elementary, Marine Research Update, National Initiatives in Ocean Science Education, Program Management, Technology Applications, and Research Data in the Classroom. Lunch on our own was followed by a Dessert Reception in the Exhibit Hall, where we could see the latest in curriculum materials available from the vendors. The afternoon was filled with more concurrent sessions; the Presidents’ Circle, where past NMEA presidents gathered to chat; and more committee meetings. The evening event was an Eco-Reception and Fun Fish Mixer at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.

 

Left: Cathy Sakas of NOAA presented an outstanding concurrent session on "Troubled Waters, Crabby Crabs and Burned Grass: The Domino Effect of El Niño."

Right: Jay Barnes, author of NC’s Hurricane History presented “Our Hurricane History: Storm Stories.”

 

 

 

 

On the first and second days of the conference, exhibitors displayed their wares. Exhibitors ranged from private, non-profits to government agencies to commercial vendors. The NMEA Display Board was prominently displayed for all to see.

 

Below: Attending the President’s Circle were the following former officers of the organization: Standing (Back row, left to right): John Dindo (AL) (President: 1993-94), Wes Batten (VA) (Board Member: 1977, 1980), Jeff Sandler (ME) (President: 1984-85), Bill Hastie (OR) (President: 1997-98), Rick Tinnin (TX) (President: 1987-88), Gene Williamson (OR) (Board Member:1989-1991, 2003-2005). Standing (Middle row, left to right): Valerie Chase (MD) (President: 1989-90), Rosanne Fortner (OH) (President:1988-89), Sitting (left to right): Lundie Spence (NC) (President 1983-84), Vicki Osis (OR) (President: 1990-91). At this meeting of the President's Circle, Wes Batten suggested that NMEA set up an endowment fund. The proposal was later made to the Board. (Photograph: Courtesy of by Eugene Williams)

 

 

 

 

At the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, an alligator swapped smiles with Phyllis Dermer (NY), while a frog was just hangin' 18 (toes).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day three began with the Keynote Address by Dr. Stan Riggs, a coastal and marine sedimentologist and stratigrapher. In his presentation titled, “Collision on the Not-so-fragile Barrier System,” Dr. Riggs discussed the colliding forces associated with a very dynamic coastal system and an extremely rigid system of economic development. Dr. Riggs stated, “Change is the only constant in dynamic coastal systems.” Following Dr. Riggs’ address, there was a special presentation made by NOAA. It was titled, “Aquarius...Live... It’s America’s Inner Space Station.” During this live-feed presentation, Aquarius was located at a depth of 63 feet in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Inside Aquarius, and talking to us, was Dr. Mark Patterson. Dr. Patterson explained what it is like living inside Aquarius and how his team of scientists is studying coral bleaching. More concurrent sessions followed this exciting experience. The tracks included: Conservation, Elementary, Maritime History and Marine Archaeology, Monitoring the Marine Environment, National Initiatives in Ocean Science Education, Program Management, Technology Applications, and Research Data in the Classroom.

The evening events included dinner, the Annual Membership Meeting, the NMEA 2004 Conference Preview, awards, and the silent and live auctions. The Florida Marine Science Education Association (FMSEA) bought THE PIKE for $800.

 

 

At the annual meeting, President Wendy Allen explained the "Year in the Life of NMEA" calendar to the membership as Board Members and other officers held up the calendar.

 

 

 

 

Lex Waters and Julie Childers teased the crowd with information about the 2004 National Conference to be held July 18-22 in St. Petersburg on Boca Ciega Bay, Florida. The theme will be "Bridge the Gulf: Marine Science in the Sunshine."

 

 

 

Below: At the Silent Auction, it was difficult to decide what to buy. There was an assortment of beautiful aquatic jewelry, innovative curriculum materials, T-shirts, and of course other things...... like that special jellyfish hat, Mare Timmon’s (GA) tried on for size.

 

Left: At the live auction, Pike, held by Andy Wood (NC), was dressed in his finest lei.

 

Below: Can you tell that FMSEA members were a bit excited about winning the bid?

 

Sea Faire and Sea Swap were the beginning events on the fourth day of the conference. At Sea Faire, folks became acquainted with marine and aquatic education organizations and filled their conference bags with marine activities, resources, and other materials. During Sea Swap, participants shared, bartered, and exchanged items they’d brought from home. Next came concurrent sessions. This day the tracks included Conservation, Elementary, and Research Data in the Classroom. Following these sessions, NMEA chapters had meetings. Following lunch, the new Board met.

 

In her session titled, “Murder on the Beach or Predation at the Shore”, Helen Cook (NC) discussed how moon snails drill into other mollusks and how ghost crabs snack on turtle hatchlings. She suggested that elementary students might want to create wanted posters for these “criminals.”

In the early afternoon, everyone boarded busses that took them to the pier where they went aboard the Henrietta III, the largest riverboat in North Carolina. The boat cruised down the Cape Fear River as people listened to local historian Harry Warren, storyteller/musician John Golden, and naturalist and fellow NMEA member Andy Wood. That evening, at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside, people enjoyed drinks and hors d’oeuvres and listened to the Stegner Concert by King Mackerel & the Blues Are Running.

Exploring the Cape Fear River aboard the Henrietta III was a relaxing way to learn about the human history and natural history of the region.

 

 

 

 

Below: The King Mackerel & the Blues Are Running band had the whole NMEA crowd singing, stomping their feet, and clapping their hands in time with the music.

 

 

 

 

Day five was field-trip day. Field trip choices were titled: “Scuba dive to wrecks in the Graveyard of the Atlantic,” “Scuba dive to local ledges and barges,” “Zeke’s Island N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve site kayak/canoe,” “Green Swamp,” “Center for Marine Science,” “Bald Head Island,” “Sea Turtle Hospital and Topsail Island,” “A day at the Fort Fisher Aquarium,” “Fun offshore boat trip with optional fishing,” “Masonboro Island National Estuarine Research Reserve site,” “Fossil hunting at a local quarry,” “Barrier Island exploration,” and “Birding and nature exploration at Carolina Beach.” Unfortunately, due to stormy weather in the morning, the dive trips had to be cancelled.

 

 

 

 

Despite the weather, the fossil hunters (including President Wendy Allen) thoroughly enjoyed finding their echinoid and nautiloid treasures. Along for the trip was Lilly Loughner, who was writing an article for Coastwatch Magazine, a publication of North Carolina Sea Grant. In the winter of 2004, Lilly’s article about the experience appeared in the magazine. For details, scroll down to “Additional Highlights” of 2003.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That evening, there was a farewell Beach Party at the Blockade Runner resort at Wrightsville Beach. The fish dinner was delicious and the desserts were outrageous. Following dinner on the beach, some played volleyball, while other talked with friends, or participated in the 1st ever Chapter Twister Tournament.

By evening, the storms had cleared and the beach party had begun.

 

 

The setting was fabulous and the seafood was some of the best we’ve ever had at a conference. Just ask Willie and Donna Younger (TX), Jim Snyder (OH), and the others seated at these tables.

 

 

Above: Sand volleyball on the beach was enjoyed by many and (Below) FMSEA relished in their win of the first Twister Tournament.

 

When all the numbers were counted, 421 people had attended the 2003 conference, 98 were new members. The auction profit was approximately $11,000 and the proceeds from the NMEA 2003 conference were roughly $70,000.

---

Following the conference, in the Fall issue of NMEA news, Bill Hastie (OR) wrote an article titled, “The Bag from the Black Water Swamp--NMEA 2003, Wilmington, NC.” In the article, he summed up the conference, as only Bill could do.... “For a lad from Oregon, North Carolina is a wonder. I never thought I would be hiking through pine savannas or canoeing the black waters of the Cape Fear River--where alligators and cottonmouths live. To me, these are places in movies where convicts try to escape the authorities, not natural wonders and pristine waters. But there I am, sampling yet another landscape that the people of NMEA call home. Attending these conferences over the years exposes me to places I’d never go, things I’d never learn, and people I’d never meet. And it would be the missing people that would make the biggest hole in my life...”

 

Additional Highlights of 2003:

In January, the Executive Committee, headed by Wendy Allen, had an intense 2-day planning retreat at the J. L. Scott Marine Education Center in Biloxi, Mississippi.

---

NMEA officers, Board members, and committee chairs met during a mid-year Board meeting held in conjunction with the NSTA Convention in Philadelphia in March. At the meeting, the following occurred:

• NMEA was presented with a $5,000 check from Jack Ringleberg of the Ocean Technology Foundation for scholarships to help teachers from urban areas participate in the 2003 and 2004 NMEA Conferences.
• NMEA Board Members voted to endorse Mike Spranger’s proposal to broaden NMEA international visibility with NMEA serving as lead organization for the proposed International Marine Education Congress to be held in 2005 in Hawaii. The Congress will precede the 2005 NMEA National Conference in Hawaii.
• Board Members voted to support the NMEA International Committee’s idea of establishing a Sea Exchange Project with other nations. The International Committee moved forward with a “Sea Exchange” project between NMEA members and marine educators in Australia.
• A National Science Education Ad-hoc Committee was established to address the lack of marine and aquatic science in national standards.
• NMEA planned to submit a resolution to NSTA to develop a position paper on marine and aquatic Education.
• The Grants/Funding Committee reported that it was working on getting funding for Current. The cost of one issue of 28-40 pages was $12,000, plus additional cost for color printing.
  

  Jack Ringleberg presented Wendy Allen with a check for $5,000 for teacher scholarships. (Photographer: Unknown)

  Also during the NSTA Convention, NMEA sponsored a very successful “Whale of a Share-a-thon,” followed by a full day of marine education workshops. Several hundred teachers enthusiastically participated in the NMEA sponsored sessions.

---

In 2003, chapter web sites were improved, thanks to mini-grants provided by the BRIDGE project.

---

In 2003, a history of NMEA web site was developed and connected to the BRIDGE.

---

The Research, Education, and Marine Operations group of the National Ocean Commission asked NMEA to do a membership profile . The intent was to document what makes people marine educators. Of the 1,182 surveys mailed out to NMEA members, 516 (44%) were returned. The following are the results of the survey:

• 60/40 ratio females to males
• 46% had over 26 years experience in marine education
• ethnicity was overwhelmingly Caucasian
• 71% lived in coastal areas
• 53% are informal educators, 47% are formal educators, 17% are both;
  within the informal group: 21% work at aquariums, 13% in science centers, 5% in museums, another 50% are non-government organizations, extension, etc.
• 46% use textbooks for information, 42% use the web, 14% use kits
• 47% use state standards, 26% use national science education standards, 13% use benchmarks
• issues that are important (in order of percentage): global climate change, environmental stewardship, economic issues, social structures, human health

  ---

As of July 2nd, Sharon Walker (Membership Secretary), reported there were 1064 NMEA members. Sharon stressed that we need to try harder to keep new members who join during conferences and then don’t renew. Also, there is a need to get more chapter members to be national members.

---

In 2003, NMEA had a VISA Credit Card machine that could be used for membership and other payments.

---

In 2003 for the very first time, the NMEA National Office handled conference registration. The University of North Carolina Wilmington handled campus housing. At the “New Board Meeting” in Wilmington, an action item was to have Johnette Bosarge at the National Office continue to conduct NMEA Conference Registration, unless the Conference Committee requests and receives Executive Committee approval for an exemption.

---

Thirty-one NMEA members applied for scholarships to the NMEA National Convention.
Twenty scholarships were presented. Ten were sponsored by NMEA and the Rammer Scholarship Fund. An additional ten were sponsored by the Ocean Technology Foundation. Each scholarship was $250.

---

The National Marine Educators Association Annual Report for the operational year July 25, 2002 - July 22, 2003 was printed in the Volume 20, Issue 1, Spring 2004 edition of NMEA News. The Annual Report stated that the NMEA 2002 budget covered the NMEA fiscal year, January 1-December 31, 2002. The Board approved a budget of $72,252 for 2002.

Wendy Allen (NMEA President; 2002-2003) reported, “This was a very exciting and productive year for the NMEA. A dedicated and hard-working Board, committees, National Office staff and volunteers, and an engaged membership worked together to continue the NMEA tradition of excellence and further the organization’s primary goal ‘to make known the world of water, both fresh and salt.’ This year, the Board defined how it achieves this mission and also developed a graphical representation of a typical ‘Year in the Life of NMEA’ that lists activities over a calendar year. This information was shared with NMEA members at the Annual Meeting in July 2003 and is also included in this report.” (Click on the Annual Report Image to read the entire report.)

 

Allen stated that NMEA achieves its mission by:

• facilitating the exchange of marine and aquatic information and materials between educators, scientists, and public audiences (e.g. Current, NMEA News, web site, conferences)
• providing opportunities for professional growth and personal renewal
• serving as a bridge between marine and aquatic educators and scientists
• continuing to be at the forefront of marine and aquatic education
• empowering people to become responsible stewards of the environment and its resources

  President Allen explained that some of the highlights during her term (in addition to the annual conference, web site, and publications) were that NMEA:

1. shared specific recommendations for advancing ocean science education in letters to both the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission.
2. conducted a “Membership Profile” on behalf of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy to aid the Commission in its efforts to advance science literacy.
3. took the initiative to begin working on recommendations made to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission.
4. formed a new ad-hoc Science Standards Committee and began exploring ways to integrate ocean science concepts into state and national standards.
5. sponsored a marine education share-a-thon and workshops in a special day-long track during the March 2003 National Science Teachers Association Convention.
6. leadership participated in a National Ocean Exploration Education Workshop held in the fall of 2002 to develop an education program plan for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of Ocean Exploration.
7. members were involved in many of the National Ocean Science Bowl regional competitions.
8. members are active participants in the new network of Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE) around the country.
9. received grants from NOAA in support of three special theme issues of Current that were published.
10. received a special award from the Ocean Technology Foundation (OTF) in support of scholarships for teachers.
11. recognized corporate sponsors (companies and organizations involved in the marine education market; dues of $250 or more) for their support. These sponsors include: Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, GA; Natural Environmental Aquariums, Inc., Parkland, FL; Ocean Park-Hong Kong; SEACAMP, San Diego, CA; and Two Oceans Aquarium, South Africa.

---

Appearing in Coastwatch Magazine, a publication of North Carolina Sea Grant (the winter 2004 edition) was a feature article titled, “Explorative Learning in Geologic Time.”

 

In the article, Lilly Loughner wrote about the fossil field trip taken by NMEA members during the 2003 conference in Wilmington, North Carolina to Castle Hayne Quarry. Throughout the article, Lilly described the excitement of searching for and finding wonderfully preserved marine fossils from the Eocene Epoch. Scott Taylor’s magnificent photographs of NMEAers and their discoveries were sprinkled among the descriptions. (Click on the image of the magazine cover to enlarge the pages in the article.)

---

 

In 2003, NMEA published 5 issues of Current: The Journal of Marine Education.

 

Issue one was a general issue. Examples of articles in this issue are: “Reviving the Naturalist’s Journal” by Tom Howick and Joe Dirnberger, “Communicating for Conservation: Inspiring Positive Change for the Aquatic and Ocean Realms” by Tanja Gronholm and Bill Mott, and “Minorities at Sea Together (MAST): A Model Interdisciplinary Program for Minority College Students” by Benjamin E. Cuker, PH.D.

The second issue was titled, “Satellites in Education.” Issue editors were Lundie Spence and Robert Stewart, and the issue was funded by NOAA/NESDIS Grant #NA 97-RG-0436.

The third issue was titled, “NMEA Special Report #1." This issue was a copy of the NMEA Membership Profile Data Analyses and Interpretations. Its issue editor was Sharon H. Walker (MS). Funding was provided by four sources: Alan Rammer of the Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators Chapter of NMEA; The University of Southern Mississippi-Scott Aquarium through funding generated by Drs. Sharon Walker and Howard Walters; the University of Florida and Florida Sea Grant College Program through funding generated by Dr. Mike Spranger; and the National Marine Educators Association.

The fourth issue was titled “Arctic Expedition 2002.” Issue editors were Paula Keener-Chavis (SC) and Dr. Valerie Chase (MD). The issue was sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Office of Ocean Exploration.

 

 

 

 

The fifth issue was a general one. Some of the inclusions in this issue were: “Sea Turtle Hatchling Game: An Integrated Activity for Math, Science, and Reading Instructors ” by Enid K. Sichel and Maurice A. Tivey, an article “Keeping Ocean Science Afloat in Our Schools: Reflections on Sustainability” by Rick MacPherson and Craig Strang, a poem, “Coquina” by Mark De Crosta, and an essay titled, “Choices” by Dru Clark, that described her very close encounter with a leech. In this Current,The BRIDGE contributed web site links to each of the articles and activities.

 

 

Also in 2003, the 2002 NMEA Current titled, “Estuarine and Coastal Education,” Volume 18, Number. 2, was published in Spanish.This Spanish edition was titled “Educati n de Estuario Y Costera.” It was cosponsored by a grant from the Estuarine Reserves Division, NOAA.

 

 

Click on Current to obtain a complete listing of articles in the 1976-2008 journals.

 

Homepage

© 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 NMEA This site is maintained by the NMEA History Committee (Sarah Richards, Chair; SRichards@saintannsyn.org)