2008 Continued

 

Additional Highlights of 2008:

Highlights of the February 21st NMEA Board Conference Call include:

  • Three new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were discussed and approved: SOP-2: defined the disbursement of the proceeds from the NMEA conference and Auction. SOP-3: described the decision in 2008 to shift NMEA News from print to online. SOP-7: explained that voting Board members may apply for travel funds to attend board meetings and the annual mid-winter retreat of the Executive Committee.
  • President Lynn Whitley announced that The International Youth Coastal Conference in Townsville, Australia scheduled for October 19-22 is a "kid-to-kid" teaching and learning opportunity. In the past, it has been very successful.
  • There are 1052 members in NMEA. SAME and OCEANIA chapters have 100% of their chapter members as NMEA members.
  • President Whitley stated that the Strategic Plan was reviewed and updated at the NMEA Executive Board Winter Retreat.
  • Amy Gollenberg, Conservancy Committee Chair, reported that her committee has been focusing on the Conference Guidebook and the manner in which regional and national conferences can use recycling when hosting a conference.

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The Mid-Year Board Meeting took place March 26th from 8:30 AM- 5:00 PM at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, Massachusetts. This preceded the 2008 NSTA National Conference. Highlights from the meeting include:

  • President Lynn Whitley shared that she had been in communication with Japanese educators about creating a Japan National Marine Education Association. She also shared that the Association for Science Teacher Education and the American Sail Training Association have expressed interest in potential affiliations with NMEA.
  • Treasurer Don Hudson stated that NMEA's total assets have almost doubled in the last 5 years. Money for scholarships for 2009 will be $10,000.
  • Membership Secretary Sharon Walker shared that as of March 4, 2008, there were 1052 members in NMEA.

Left: Sharon Walker presents the membership report. (Photo by Johnette Bosarge)

Right( Left to right): Treasurer Don Hudson, President-Elect Eric Simms, President Lynn Whitley, and Past President Thaxter Tewksbury. (Photo by Johnette Bosarge.)

  • Administrative Assistant of the National Office, Johnette Bosarge, explained that a digital database is being developed of Current journals. In the future, this data base can be searched by author, year of publication, volume/issue, key word or category.
  • On a Strategic Plan Update:
    1. Sharon Walker explained that the COSEE ad hoc committee is working on compiling daily messages about why the ocean is important. These messages will be sent to NOAA’s Office of Education as the keeper of these messages, and then sent on to the Smithsonian’s Natural History Ocean Hall team. Eventually, these messages will be delivered via TV during weather reports and other means to the public. 2. Several action items for the strategic plan including “Influence Education Policy and Practice” and “Cultivating Diverse Relationships” were updated.
  • The Outreach Committee asked for an additional $6,150 to develop the promotional DVD.
  • Chapters Committee Report: Chapter reps are developing a list of key people to influence the development of science standards.
  • Executive Committee Report: Lynn Whitley is working on guidelines for board of director’s responsibilities.
  • Upcoming conferences were announced: International Pacific Marine Education Network and International Coastal Conference will both be in Townsville, Australia in October 2008.


During the NSTA Conference, NMEA had a very successful Share-A-Thon, as well a NMEA Strand. Photographs below are courtesy of Johnette Bosarge:

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The first issue of NMEA News for the year (Volume 24, Issue 1, Spring 2008) was the first to be posted on the web as a pdf file. This issue included the following:

  • "From the Pilot House" by Lynn Whitley: President Whitley shared some of the decisions that were made by the NMEA Executive Committee in Mississippi, January 27-29. 1) Beginning in 2009, NMEA News will be available only online. This will help save trees and please the Conservation Committee, and it will save approximately $7,000 of our annual budget. 2) Scholarships to NMEA's Annual Conference will be increased to $500. 3) Action Plan Items in the Strategic Plan were reviewed, deadlines were updated, and members or committees were added in areas where they were needed in the Action plan. 4) The NMEA website has a new design.
  • "BRIDGE" by Chris Petrone: This article referred to summer opportunities for professional development for teachers, summer marine-world experiences for students, and curriculum materials available at the BRIDGE website.
  • "NSTA 2009 Call for Proposals" by Beth Jewell: The NSTA conference in New Orleans will take place March 18-22. Proposals are due April 15.
  • "2008 NSTA/NMEA Track of Sessions:" listed the sessions presented in the NMEA Strand on March 27, 2008.
  • "Conference Update" by Maryellen Timmons: For 2008 conference information http://www.nmeaweb.org is a "one-stop shop" for NNEA members. It will answer your questions about registration, lodging, field trips, speakers, and schedules.
  • "Traditional Knowledge Committee Update" by Sylvia Spalding: The committee is working to acquire experts in traditional knowledge for participation in the 2008 NMEA Conference.
  • "NMEA Conference Committee Update" by Justine Glynn: This and future conference websites can be visited at http://www.nmeaweb.org.
  • "By Committee' :" This new column features NMEA committees. This issue featured the Chapters Committee. Eric Simms (Chair) and Justine Glynn (Vice Chair) described the function of the committee as a vital link between the NMEA leadership and the regional chapters. Chapter Committee members meet with the NMEA Board during the annual Conference and Mid-Year meetings as well as by quarterly conference calls.
  • "Gamming:" This month's author, Gene Williamson, titled his column "Experience in a Shoebox." Williamson shared some of his experiences during his 30 years teaching students along the Oregon coast. His philosophy is that tidepools, sea urchins, and sand are meant to be experienced in the first person singular... not to be read about from someone else's experience on some distant website. To read his column in its entirety, click here.
  • "Opportunities for Students" and "Opportunities for Teachers" listed a wide variety of spring and summer activities, complete with descriptions and web links.
  • "Chapter Reports:" Ten chapters described chapter activities.

The second issue of NMEA News for the year was Volume 24, Issue 2, Summer 2008. This most recent NMEA News newsletter is available to view at (http://www.marine-ed.org/docs/nmeanews.pdf. ). This issue included the following:

  • "From the Pilot House" by Lynn Whitley: President Whitley reviewed some of the accomplishments of the NMEA board at its Mid-Year meeting in Boston. One accomplishment was to review and update the action items for focus areas of the Strategic Plan. In her column, Ms. Whitley shared that the Chapters Committee has developed Chapter Guidelines for new Chapter Representatives. She also shared that there have been some changes in the leadership of several NMEA Committees.
  • "BRIDGE" by Chris Petrone: This article referred to the fact that the Bridge is celebrating 10 years of bringing the Internet’s top, teacher-reviewed ocean science resources to educators world-wide. The new Bridge website will be introduced at the national conference in July.
  • “Polar Discovery Website Offers Exploration”: From July 7-24, a team of scientists who are investigating glacial lakes on the Greenland Ice Sheet will report their findings at polardiscoverer.whoi.edu
  • “History Committee” by Susan Snyder: Ms. Snyder described the history of the NMEA History Committee, posted the current url for the history website , described the history chair’s position, and encouraged members to become involved in the committee’s leadership.
  • "Conference Update" by Maryellen Timmons: For 2008 conference information http://www.nmeaweb.org is a "one-stop shop" for NMEA members. It will answer your questions about registration, lodging, field trips, speakers, and schedules. The final countdown has begun!
  • “NOSB Travels to Alaska” by Christine Hodgdon: In this column, Ms. Hodgdon described the 11th Annual National Ocean Science Bowl conducted April 25-27 in Seward, Alaska.
  • "Gamming:" This month's author, John Dindo, titled his column "Passing down the rewards of teaching.” Dr. Dindo shared tidbits of his career establishing a K-12 marine science program at a collegiate research lab, the rewards of seeing the fruits of your passion coming home in a young teacher/student sharing the excitement of a coastal adventure with his or her students, and the NMEA family of “like-minded educators who have the passion of sharing their knowledge, experiments, success, and failures with anyone who will listen.” To read his column in its entirety, click here.
  • "By Committee' :" This issue featured the Conference Committee. Chair Justine Glynn described the function of the committee as providing support and guidance to chapters hosting or considering hosting a national conference.
  • “Conservation Committee”: by Amy Gollenberg: MS Gollenberg discussed the Conservation Committees role in helping make conferences Blue-Green.
  • “Diversifying NMEA” by Tami Lungsford and Mellie Lewis: This column asked the membership for suggestions on ways to recruit populations underrepresented in the ocean sciences, to enhance NMEA memberships, and to increase the number of members who represent formal education outside the classroom.
  • “Reports Needed!!!” The history committee requested volunteers to assist in the role of NMEA reporters.
  • "Chapter Reports:" Ten chapters described chapter activities.

 

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Issue one of Current, The Journal of Marine Education (Volume 24, No. 1, 2008) was titled “National Marine Sanctuaries ...Our Ocean & Great Lakes Treasures."

This special issue addresses the purposes of the National Marine Sanctuary Program: to

  • be a leader in marine conservation
  • be a world-class science informing management
  • educate the American public
  • preserve our nation's historically significant shipwrecks and marine artifacts
  • protect our coastal areas; 150,000 square miles of America's ocean and Great Lakes waters are in this system of 14 marine protected areas.

The Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument was featured in this issue. The Managing Editor was Lisa M. Tooker, and the Issue Editors were Michiko Martin and Claire Fackler.

 

 

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Please check back during the year for more updates !

 

 

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

 

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