President: Thaxter Tewksbury (CT) (2006-2007)

President-Elect: Lynn Whitley (CA)

Past President: Sarah Schoedinger (NC)

Treasurer: Don Hudson (ME)

Secretary: Beth Jewell (VA)

Membership Secretary: Sharon Walker (MS)

Administrative Assistant (National Office): Johnette Bosarge (MS)

Editor of Current: Lisa Tooker (CA)

Editor of NMEA news: Valerie Winn (MS)

Photographs by Susan Leach Snyder, unless otherwise indicated.

 

Board of Directors: Board of Directors: (2004-07) Beth Day-Miller (VA), (2005-2007) Shelia Brown (MS), (2005-2008) Tami Lunsford (DE), Amy Miller-Gollenberg (HI), Eric Simms (NJ/CA), (2006-2008) Mellie Lewis (MD), (2006-2009) Amy Holt Cline (NH), Padgett Kelly (TN), Craig Strang (CA). (2007-2010) Joy Wolf (CA) , Diana Payne (CT) , Howard Rutherford (FL)

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Chapter Representatives:

• CARIBWA (Caribbean and Western Atlantic): Martin A. Keeley (Cayman Islands)
• FMSEA (Florida Marine Science Educators Association): Julie Childers/ Jim Wharton
• GAME (Georgia Association of Marine Education): Maryellen Timmons
• GLEAMS (Great Lakes Educators of Aquatic and Marine Science): Elizabeth Hinchey Malloy (IL)
• GOMMEA (Gulf of Maine Marine Education Association): Justine Glynn
• MAMEA (Mid-Atlantic Marine Educators Association): Amy Sauls (NC)/ Adam Frederick
• MME (Massachusetts Marine Educators): Sue Nourse/ Pat Harcourt
• NAME (Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators): Julie Hahn (WA)
• NJMEA (New Jersey Marine Education Association): Barbara Boyd/ Barbara Kelly
• NYSMEA (New York State Marine Educators Association): Hugo Freudenthal/ Sarah Richards
• OCEANIA: Sylvia Spalding (HI)
• SAME (Southern Association of Marine Educators): Shelia Brown/ Joan Turner (AL)
• SCMEA (South Carolina Marine Educators Association): Colette Dryden
• SENEME (Southeastern New England Marine Educators): Diana Payne (CT)/ Lauren Rader
• SWMEA (Southwest Marine Educators Association): Elizabeth Keenan (CA)
• TEAMS (Tennessee Educators of Aquatic and Marine Science): Courtney Kroll Thompson
• TMEA (Texas Marine Educators Association): Pam Stryker

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Committee Chairs:

• Awards Committee: Vicki Clark (VA)
• Bylaws Committee: Rick Tinnin (TX)
• Chapters Committee: Lynn Whitley (CA)
• Conference Committee: Paula Keener-Chavis (SC)
• Conservation Committee: Amy Miller-Gollenburg (HI)
• Executive Committee: Thaxter Tewksbury (CT)
• Finance Committee: Don Hudson (ME)
• Grants/Funding Committee: Sharon Walker (MS)
• History Committee: Susan Snyder (OH/FL)
• International Committee: Peter Tuddenham (VA)
• Long-Range Planning Committee: John Dindo (AL) and Wendy Allen (SC)
• NSTA Liaison Committee: Beth Jewell (VA)
• Ocean Literacy: Craig Strang (CA)
• Outreach Committee: Bill Hastie (OR) and Carmelina Livingston (SC)
• Publications Committee: David Niebuhr (FL)
• Scholarship Committee: Ann Coopersmith (HI)

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Awards: The following awards were presented by President Thaxter Tewksbury at the business meeting at the NMEA National Convention on July 27th in the Abromson Center at the University of Southern Maine in Portland. To read more about these awards, click on the name of each award.

James Centorino Award: Dr. Rick Tinnin (TX)

 

Outstanding Teacher Award: Mellie Lewis (MD)

 

Marine Education Award: Gary Kreamer (DE)

 

President's Award: Howard "Mickey" Weiss (CT)

 

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Honorary Member: Dr. Sharon Walker (MS)

 

 

 

 

Conference Highlights

Portland, Maine was the site of the 32nd Conference of NMEA.  Conference Co-chairs were Justine Glynn of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and Don Hudson of the Chewonki Foundation.  Under their leadership, the conference was a tremendous success.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most activities at the conference took place at the University of Southern Maine campus (USM), the Eastland Park Hotel, or at Southern Maine Community College (SMCC). The locations of these sites are shown below:

On Sunday, July 22nd the NMEA Board dinner took place at DiMillo’s floating restaurant on the Portland waterfront.

 

 

Left: DiMillo's floating restaurant.

 

 

 

 

 

On Monday (July 23rd) morning, the Board met from 8:00 A.M.- 2:00 P.M. at the Abromson Center at the University of Southern Maine. 

Below: Sign for the University of Southern Maine and the Abromsom Community Education Center. Standing outside the Abromson Center are Dr. Bob Stewart (TX) and Jim Snyder (FL).

 

President Thayer Tewksbury presided over the board meeting.  Treasurer Don Hudson reported that assets had increased by almost 15% and that we had switched insurance companies. This new company will also insure chapters.

 

Right: Sitting: Diana Payne (CT) (Chapter Rep of SENEME), Lynn Whitley (CA) (President- Elect) , Thaxter Tewksbury (CT) (President), and Sarah Schoedinger (NC) (Past President); Standing: Justine Glynn (ME) (Chapter Rep of GOMMEA and Co-Chair of the Conference). All seem to be enjoying the interactions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left: Johnette Bosarge (MS) (Administrative Assistant National Office), Beth Jewell (VA) (Secretary), Peter Tuddenham (VA) (International Committee Chair), and Sheila Brown (MS) (Board Member) are concentrating on the discussion.

 

 

 

 

 

Left: During one of the Board's breaks, Peter Tuddenham and Don Hudson (ME) (Treasurer of NMEA and Co-Chair of the Conference) shared ideas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Among the committee reports presented at the meeting, Craig Strang (CA) shared that the Ocean Literacy work on the K-5 Scope and Sequence is completed, as is a Powerpoint presentation on the NMEA COSEE website.  New goals for the committee include: continuing looking for funding for committee work, continuing work on the Scope and Sequence, looking into including the humanities in Ocean Literacy documents, and continuing the development of a CD about the seven principals of Ocean Literacy by the Banana String Band. COSEE Great Lakes, COSEE California, and the College of Exploration will be meeting soon to discuss whether the Ocean Literacy documents, as written, fit for Great Lakes and other freshwater education. 

Paula Keener-Chavis (SC), Chair of the Conference Committee shared that the 2008 Conference will be sponsored by GAME, the 2009 will be sponsored by SWMEA, and TEAMS will sponsor the 2110.  Next year’s conference will be dedicated to Millie Graham, a past president and life member of NMEA, who passed away several years ago.

The Board discussed increasing the monetary amounts for scholarships.  Continued discussion was planned for the Strategic Planning meeting that would take place after this conference.

 

Below Left: Anne Lindsay Frick from the UGA Marine Extension and Cathy Sakas from NOAA Gray's Reef in Savannah, co-chairs for next year's national conference in Georgia presented information to the Board. President Tewksbury demonstrated one use of the scarf for next year's conference. At Right: Another co-chair for next year's conference, Mare Timmons, showed off next year's conference bag and the many goodies it will contain.

 

From 2:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M., committees met. 

The Ocean Literacy and International meetings piggybacked on one another.   More than 30 participants from as far away as South Africa, Australia, and Micronesia joined in the discussions.  One of the discussion points of the meeting was how to include traditional knowledge in Ocean Literacy.

 

 

While Peter Tuddenham, Chair of the International Committee, was conducting his portion of the meeting, he was online with several persons using Marratech technology.  Peter had a ball camera on his computer and the online guests could hear and see the other committee participants.

Peter would like to meet online with all committee members in real time throughout the year using Marratech software.  The unifying focus of the committee is “One Ocean with multicultural listening.”  The goals are to first learn about all not-for profits, educators, and outreach programs around the world and their issues; next, assemble profiles and get them involved.  Peter wants a federation organized that can share, listen, learn, and connect.  He is going to ask next year’s conference committee to include an international strand… perhaps having a longitude/latitude theme.

 

Registration , Presenter Check-In, and Buddy Sign-up began at 9:00 AM. At registration, each person received a blue bag filled with items including: the conference notebook, name tag, cup, button, and tickets to the events.

 

Below: Conference Committee workers answered questions at the check-in desk, while Sharon Meeker (NH) advertised the auction. The Ocean Literacy Seven Essential Principles banner was displayed near the registration table.

 

 

 

 

 

From 5:30 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.  Conference attendees enjoyed a “Downeast Welcome Dinner” in Abromson Center.  Everyone enjoyed the delicious lobster rolls.  Buddies checked in at the Buddy table.

 

Left: Speaking of buddies.... these four just keep returning to these conferences over and over and over. Left to Right: John O'Connell (TX), Steve Stewart (MI), Randy Colton (WI), and Jim Snyder (FL).

 

 

 

 

 

Left: An aerial view from the second floor of the food line.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following dinner, welcoming remarks were made in the Hannaford Lecture Hall Auditorium at the Abromson Center. Jeff Sandler introduced the Interim President of the University of Southern Maine, Joseph S. Wood. Dr. Wood welcomed NMEA conference participants to his campus. 

 

Far Left: Jeff Sandler ("Mr. Fish"). Left: Joseph S. Wood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following his welcome, Alan Lishness (Chief Innovation Officer for Gulf of Maine Research Institute), Don Perkins (President of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute), Joe Payne (Casco BAYKEEPER), and Joan Samuelson (Maine native and Olympic athlete) shared their passion of the oceans.

Below Left to Right: Alan Lishness, Don Perkins, Joe Payne, and Joan Samuelson.

 

 

 

At 8:00 P.M. the crowd was entertained by the Stegner Memorial presentation, the outstanding music of Schooner Fare.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, July 24th, began with a continental breakfast on campus at the Abromson Center. 

After the morning announcements and introductions, the morning’s keynote speaker, Dr. Bob Steneck from the University of Maine, informed and entertained us with tales of the Gulf of Maine’s unique environment by linking current research on population ecology with archaeological information about early residents.

 

Left: Don Hudson made the morning announcements, while Jeff Sandler introduced Dr. Bob Steneck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below Left: Dr. Bob Steneck. Right: Screen shot from Dr. Steneck's presentation. Dr. Steneck explained that historically lobsters weren't that common around Maine in the past; now they are. He suspects the reason for the increase is large predator fish aren't there any more and the ecosystem has changed in favor of the lobsters.

 

Four different sets of concurrent sessions at the Abromson Center kept attendees busy throughout the day.  Topics for sessions included traveling trunks, Maine lobsters, ocean literacy, ocean currents, and aquaculture.  In addition, 20 poster sessions were available for viewing during the lunch break.

 

 

 

 

Left: Four generations of New York marine educators: Sarah Richards was taught by Jackie Webb, who was taught by Lou Siegel, who was taught by Anita and Hugo Freudenthal. This picture was taken after Lou and his brother Bob presented '80 Years of Teaching Marine Science' (one of the concurrent sessions) at the Portland conference.

 

Photograph: Courtesy of Sarah Richards (NY)

 

 

A group of conference participants (those who signed up early) were transported to the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) to take part in a special program in the Sam L. Cohen Center for Interactive Learning.  “Mystery of the X Fish” is a half-day immersion multi-media program that is available to all 5th and 6th grade classes in Maine, free of charge.  The lucky NMEA members focused on a keystone species in the Gulf of Maine food web and used scientific equipment and investigative methods to identify that species.

After the concurrent sessions were completed for the day, Lisa Harrow and Roger Payne entertained us with a performance entitled “Sea Change: Reversing the Tide.”  Payne, world-renowned for his work with the songs of the humpbacks, shared his own words with the audience, interspersed with beautiful prose and poetry read by Ms. Harrow.

The evening was filled with gorgeous images at the Portland Museum of Art, from an auditorium show of images from National Geographic photographer Bill Curtsinger to our own observations of the Museum’s impressive collection.  Food, music, and dancing rounded out the evening.

 

Below: Buses delivered some to the Museum, while others just had to walk across the street from where they were staying, The Eastland Park Hotel.

Photographs by Sylvia Spalding (HI)

 

Left: Paula Keener-Chavis (SC) and Charlene Dindo (AL) approached the entrance to the Portland Museum of Art.

Photographs by Sylvia Spalding (HI)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left: Ticket to the Portland Museum of Art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left: A delicious buffet dinner was provided.

Below: Mary Cerullo (ME) introduced Bill Curtsinger.

 

 

 

Left: Bill Curtsinger showed his images and discussed his new book Extreme Nature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below: Left: Justine Glynn (ME) discussed events with Blondell Tolliver (SC) Middle: Kathleen Heidenreich (WA) and Laure Brooks (WA) admired the art on display. Right: Bill Curtsinger signed one of his books.

Below: Ann Reid of GOMMEA enjoys a turn on the dance floor. Photographs by Sarah Richards (NY)

Below: Lisa Breslof, from the American Museum of Natural History in NYC, relishes the opportunity to dance the night away, while Padgett  Kelly (TN) and Karolyn Braun (Samoa) seems to be having a good time.  Photographs by Sarah Richards (NY)

 

Left: Merryl and Bob enjoy some social time together.  Photograph by Sarah Richards (NY)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Wednesday (July 25th), following breakfast, participants listened to Keynote speaker Ron O’Dor, who is with the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education in Halifax and is currently the Census of Marine Life Senior Scientist .  He talked about the development of the Ocean Tracking Network (OTN) to monitor marine animals and the Census of Marine Life. The Census of Marine Life is a decade long program 2000-2010. Ron explained that 81,000 species have been identified and he expects that number will double. He said there are no deserts at the bottom of the sea... we just keep finding life. There are three kinds of life in the oceans.... the known, the unknown, and the unknowable.

 

 

 

 

Next came concurrent sessions.  In one session titled “Take a Closer Look:  Inquiry and Experiential Based Activities.  Nicole Scola from New England Aquarium talked about live animals (snails) to stimulate inquiry. When asked about the sessions, Gayle Bodge (ME) said “I like seeing how everything is connected – every session I’ve gone to . . . it all seems connected”.

 

 

 

Right: Howard Rutherford and Dawn Miller-Walker looked at snails in the "Take a Closer Look" workshop.

Photograph by Kathleen Heidenreich (WA)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before lunch, Keynote speaker Kaiulani Lee performed “A Sense of Wonder,” bringing to life the story of marine biologist and zoologist Rachael Carson, best know for her book Silent Spring. When asked to respond to his impressions of this presentation, Gene Willliamson (OR) stated:

"I almost hate to admit it, but I have been going to NMEA conferences since 1974.  Over the years my conference experiences have included some highly forgettable bumps in the road as well as some outstanding and unforgettable experiences.  The first time I heard Schooner Fare in Maine, and Irving Johnson sharing his adventures aboard the Peking come immediately to mind, but nothing in my experience rivals the presentation of A Sense of Wonder by Kaiulani Lee at the Portland conference of 2007.  This one-actress play explores that latter part of the life of Rachel Carson.  Years of research and study have given Ms. Lee a real sense of the struggles endured by the woman who, against all odds, warned us against the dangers of chemical pesticides in her classic Silent Spring. 

At one point in the play Rachel Carson, suffering from the effects of cancer, painfully moves across the stage only to declare, “Oh, I’ve forgotten my tea.”  Several members of the audience agreed that they had to resist the urge to hop on stage and take the tea to her.  It was that kind experience.  Maybe I spent too much time around middle school kids, but I am inclined to borrow of bit of their overused vernacular.  This experience was awesome."

Photograph above by Kathleen Heidenreich (WA)

 

 

Lunch, poster sessions, more concurrent sessions, and the NMEA Traditional knowledge Committee meeting took place in the afternoon.

In a Session at 3:00 P.M.  Veronique Robigue from the University of Washington talked about deep sea research at hydrothermal vents in the Pacific Ocean and the implementation of the ocean observatory on the Juan de Fuca plate.

 

In the late afternoon the Presidents' Circle met at the home of Jeff and Deb Sandler.

Right: Bill Hastie (OR) had a point to make at the Presidents' Circle meeting.

Below: Past Presidents of NMEA posed for a picture. Front Row: Jeff Sandler (1984-85) and Rosanne Fortner (1988-89) , Second Row: Sharon Walker (1992-93), Joy Wolf (1998-99), Vicki Clark (2001-02), Wendy Allen (2002-03), Sarah Schoedinger (2005-06), Third Row: Paula Keener-Chavis (2000-01), Mike Spranger (1995-96), Nora Deans (1994-95), Rita Bell (2004-05) Fourth Row: Rick Tinnin (1987-88), Lundie Spence (1983-84), and Bill Hastie (1997-98). Photographs by Gene Williamson (OR)

 

 

After sessions, busses transported everyone to the Southern Marine Community College. The evening began with a stroll along the beach, admiring the boats, playing in tidepools, and talking with friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The main evening Event was a lobster bake. Conference participants enjoyed the bounty of the ocean and land:  lobster, clams, mussels, potatoes, corn, dessert. The evening culminated with a friendly chapter competition of Twister.

Below Left: Ticket to Lobsterbake. Right: Susan Snyder (FL) caught in the act of eating her corn-on-the-cob by Kathleen Heidenreich (WA)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left: Willie Younger (TX), Donna Younger (TX), and John O'Connell (TX) look hungry.

Below: Boy, this lobster tastes great! (Photograph by Kathleen Heidenreich (WA))

 

Below: Left: Clyde Roper (VA) and his friends enjoyed the evening. Photograph by Kathleen Heidenreich (WA) Right: Facing the camera are Lynn Whitley (CA), Beth Day-Miller (VA), and Charlene Dindo (AL). Photograph by Kathleen Heidenreich (WA)

 

Below: Members of SCMEA (South Carolina Marine Educators Association) posed for a picture. Later, they realized some members were missing and had another picture taken.... of course now some people from the first picture were missing.

Below: The twister game was exciting; only the young and flexible participants did well in the competition. Right: Ben Namakin (Federated States of Micronesia) and Liko Hoe (HI) did pretty well in representing OCEANIA, but they didn't win. MAMEA won the twister contest.

 

 

Thursday, July 26th was field trip day.  Field trips departed from the Eastland Park Hotel.  Participants picked up box lunches before climbing aboard buses or vans that headed toward various destinations.

  Below: The Eastland Park Hotel was the site of lodging for many who attended the conference. It was also the site of the evening events on Thursday.

 

Below: Terri Kirby-Hathaway, Jane Brown, Amy S., and Sarah Richards in the Eastland Park Hotel's lobby.  Photograph: Courtesy of Sarah Richards

 

 

 

The field trip choices included 1) “Land & Sea Tour with Mainely Tour and Gifts”, 2) “Lucky Catch Cruises,” 3) “Portland Schooner Company,” 4) “L. L. Bean Kayak Touring Essentials,” and 5) “Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve.”

 

Participants on the first field trip took a 90-minute scenic cruise through Portland harbor and a 90-minute trolley tour through Portland.

 

There were two “Lucky Catch Cruises”, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.  On this field trip, participants joined Captain Tom as he demonstrated the daily routines of a Marine Lobsterman.

Below Left: This is an example of an older-type wooden trap. Captain Tom shows the path the lobsters take once inside the trap. Right: This one is undersize.  Photographs by Sarah Richards (NY)

Below Left: This is the part of the lobster that you measure. Middle: Fresh bait!  Right: Merryl Kafka demonstrates how to hold a lobster. Photographs by Sarah Richards (NY)

Below Left: Sarah Richards (NY) baits a new bag. Photograph Courtesy of Sarah Richards Right: Carmelina Livingston (SC) and Elizabeth Joyner (SC) enjoyed their P.M. lobster adventure.  Photograph by Merryl Kafka (NY).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below: Sarah Richards never met a lobster she didn't like! Photograph Courtesy of Sarah Richards

 

 

On the Portland Schooner Company field trip, participants sailed on an authentic historic sailing vessel.

Below: Photos taken on the Portland Schooner Company field trip by Gene Williamson (OR)

 

 

The L. L. Bean Kayak Touring Essentials fieldtrip provided the opportunity for paddlers to get out on the protected waters of Casco Bay.

 

 

 

Participants on the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve field trip visited a 1600-acre research, education, and recreation facility.  They participated in a saltwater marsh ecology program, toured the buildings, and learned about their programs.

 

 

Below: Ellen McCann led NMEA visitors through the marsh. Along the way, a researcher was seen checking her traps for green crabs, an invasive species.

 

In the late afternoon, everyone reconvened in the Eastland Park Hotel to enjoy the Exhibitors' Reception.

 

Left: Mary Cerullo (ME), author, discussed some of the books she is exhibiting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next were the silent auction, a buffet dinner, and the live auction.

Below Left: Meghan Marrero's  silent auction bid won her the stuffed lobster. Below Right: Meghan Marrero, Keira Lam, Merryl Kafka, Sarah Richards, and Shinagawa Akira avoiding the dinner line (see background). Photographs by Sarah Richards (NY)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left: Flo and Lou Siegel (NY) Photograph by Sarah Richards (NY)

 

 

 

Below: After a delicious dinner and dessert, everyone waited for the live auction to begin. Jeff Sandler (ME) was the auctioneer. Jeff liked to squid around with others during the auction.

Below: Humuhumunukanukaapuaa (Charles Kaaiai- HI), Flounder (Deb Sandler-ME), Butterfly fish (Vicki Clark-VA), Parrot fish (Martin Keeley-(Cayman Islands) and others did a skit on the virtues of vertebrates (fish). Sea urchin (Deb Sandler-ME), Sea Star (Pam Stryker-TX) and others were part of an skit on the virtues of invertebrates (echinoderms.) The crowd was asked to vote on which group did the best job in convincing the audience that they were superior in their singing and dialog performance.

 

 

Friday, July 27th started with a continental breakfast at the Abromson Center, followed by the morning announcements and introductions. The keynote address was delivered by author and lobsterman Linda Greenlaw, whose books (“The Hungry Ocean,” “The Lobster Chronicles,” etc.) offer insight into her worlds of swordfishing, lobstering, and living on an island.  An eloquent and unpretentious speaker, Linda amused the audience with tales of her life as a fisherman in the North Atlantic.

Left: Don Hudson made the morning announcements. Jeff Sandler introduced Linda Greenlaw pictured below.

 

Concurrent sessions focusing on plankton, crabs, sushi, math, and ocean literacy kept the morning going.

Below: Left: Anne Lindsay Frick for the University of Georgia Marine Extension Service presented her session on "CRABECOLOGY: Habits and Habitats of the Crustacean Nation." Right: Anne dressed one of the session participants in a crab costume.

 

 

The new board meeting coincided with sessions and lunch. At the Board Meeting, Treasurer Don Hudson suggested that perhaps some of the interest from the endowment fund could be used to increase scholarship money; the Publications Committee talked about putting Current online for members; the Awards Committee report suggested that perhaps scholarships to come to the conference could be provided for award winners. After discussions about the importance of traditional knowledge in ocean literacy, Lynn officially recognized the group working on traditional knowledge as a new Ad Hoc Committee.

Below: New Board President Lynn Whitley (CA) presided over the meeting as Past-President Thaxter Tewksbury (CT) and President Elect Eric Simms (CA) sat beside her.

 

Left: Two members of the OCEANIA chapter, Charles Kaaiai, Indigenous Coordinator, Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, Hawaii and Liko Hoe, instructor, Windward Community College, Hawaii, explained the importance of including traditional knowledge in discussions of ocean literacy. In the foreground of the second picture, Padgett Kelly (TN) listens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next was the grand finale – featuring the annual NMEA awards and a video invitation to Savannah, Georgia and NMEA 2008. 

Below: Thaxter Tewksbury presided over his last meeting as President.

The 2007 NMEA Award winners were as follows:
            Outstanding Classroom Teacher Award:  Mellie Lewis, Maryland
            James Centorino Award:  Dr. Rick Tinnin, Texas
            Marine Education Award:  Gary Kreamer, Delaware
            President’s Award:  Mickey Weiss, Connecticut
            Honorary Member Award:  Dr. Sharon Walker, Mississippi

Below: Don Hudson and Justine Glenn were recognized by NMEA for all their wonderful work as co-chairs of the conference.

Below: Justine was recognized by her committee with a copy of the Portland Press Herald article that highlighted the conference. (The article as it appeared on the Portland Press Herald website is available as a link.)

 

Below: Thaxter Tewksbury officially turned over the Presidency of NMEA to Lynn Whitley by presenting her with THE Caulking hammer.

 

Below: Next year's conference committee (Mare Timmons, Cathy Sakas, and Anne Lindsay Frick) talked about next year's conference and then presented an outstanding video.

 

 

Next, Old Salt Jeff Sandler, with help from Lobster Deb Sandler and Conch Deb Sandler added a bit of humor to the program; then Jeff introduced Humorist Tim Sample.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tim had the audience laughing out loud at his downeast stories during the closing performance.  Sample may be remembered from his 11 years as a correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt – we all enjoyed those “Postcards from Maine.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

All who participated enjoyed the evening cruises on Casco Bay whether onboard the schmooze cruise, the serenity cruise, or the boogie boat.  The cool breezes and views of the rocky coast, colorful lobster buoys, sailing craft, and iconic lighthouses were a wonderful way to bring closure to this fantastic educational conference.

Below Left: The Serenity Cruise Group gathered and boarded ship. Below Right: A ticket was needed to get aboard.

Below: Left: The Serenity Cruise prepares to take off. Photograph by Sarah Richards (NY) Below Right: What a relaxing ride. Photograph by Susan Snyder (FL)

 

 

Below: On the Serenity Cruise, Bob Cummings (NY) took full advantage of the solitude, while others enjoyed the friendship and sites.

 

Below: Now, the schmooze cruise was for those who wanted a bit more excitement, but not dancing. I believe you can see Anita and Hugo Freudenthal (NY) on that boat.

Below: Jeff Sandler (ME) and Sarah Richards (NY) on the Schmooze Cruise. Photograph: Courtesy of  Sarah Richards (NY)

 

Below: Padgett Kelly (TN) held the sign for the Boogie Boat people. How could these folks still have energy left to boogie after this busy conference?

 

Below: Sites on Casco Bay.

 

To find out about more about the 2008 conference in Savannah, Georgia, go to http://www.gamarine-ed.org/nmea.html.

 

More 2007 history is available on next page.

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