MBNMS: SEP Meeting Minutes

SEP Minutes – Sept. 16, 2002
Elkhorn Slough NERR

Attendance:
Jamie Alanzo, MESA; Jen Jolly, MBNMS; Jill Zande, MATE; Michelle Templeton, MBNMS; Kenton Parker, ESNEER; Dawn Hayes, MBNMS; Pat Clark Gray, State Parks; Rita Bell, MBA; Dave Schaechtele, State Parks; Anna Cummins, SOS

SAC Update
The Cambria meeting encompassed two days, an evening session for public comments and the next day going through the latest distillation of the priority issues. The idea of Education not holding a spot as a primary issue, but as couched as a tool for planning and addressing the issues was discussed. Jamie raised the point that education needs to be seen in the general terms as well as issue based. Chris Harrold echoed this idea and was concerned that research was being approached similarly. Stephanie Harlan proposed that a new “bin” be created to address this seeming omission.

MBNMS Staff Report
Monterey’s Oceans Fair activity schedule was distributed. Saturday, Sept 21st is jam packed with activities, entertainment and exhibitors. We will see many of you there as exhibitors, others we hope will stop by the Customs House Plaza between 11 and 5 p.m.!

The education team is working on a comprehensive interpretive signage plan for the coastline. MBNMS is working with a variety of partners to create a plan for signage, interpretive facilities, boardwalks and harbor signage as well as the “Sanctuary Scenic Trail” new marketing plan and community workshops. Interpretive working group meets regularly, if interested, please contact Jen Jolly for information (831) 420-1630.

America Reads Program – Panetta Institute has approached several member of the SEP to participate in programming. The Slough and State Parks, along with the Sanctuary have done some brainstorming on program opportunities. The institute is asking for suggested titles to read for K-2 students.

Action Item: If you have a list of ocean related books for K-2, please forward to Pat Clark Gray at pgray@parks.ca.us.

MERITO piloted at the Slough last Wednesday, with students from Pajaro Valley Middle School. Karen Grimmer and Michelle Templeton are also working on outreach into the adult Latino community, inviting parents to attend the restoration and field activities their students are doing. Follow-ups are also in planning stages with parents on the weekends.

Dawn shared the small change in philosophy for the Sanctuary’s Education Team in terms of resource issue education. The new focus will be to provide educational information, programs, products and fact sheets pertaining to the myriad of resource issues affecting the sanctuary. This may not seem to be a large change, but it will hopefully produce more public awareness of issues and reach highly targeted groups. For more info, call Dawn at (831) 647-4256

Jamie Alanzo, SEP Co-chair, will now be the Currents symposium representative for the SEP along with Dawn.

Announcements
Dave shared the new State Parks brochures on Snowy Plovers and discussed the workshop all permanent and seasonal parks staff are receiving on the topic. Pat encouraged the participation of other agencies in the snowy plover training. Pat has a schedule of classes. Big Basin State Park celebrated its 100th anniversary and Pat shared pictures and postcards created especially for the event.

Rita shared that MBA received the AZA Education Award for Splash Zone. Their new temporary exhibit will focus on sharks and the cultural perceptions of sharks. They are in the beginning stages on the remodel of the entrance of the Aquarium. SORAC program is in need of space, there is a possibility of moving to Santa Cruz in partnership with Long Marine Lab. They are trying a new program schedule for the Discovery Labs and tours, offering classes in the beginning of October to teachers who signed up in spring, in lieu of going through the lottery process.

Jill shared MATE’s invitation to participate in Discovery Channel’s Robot Wars. This particular episode was for underwater Robots. A team of more than 20 students from Middle School, High School, Monterey Peninsula College, California State University, Monterey Bay and the Naval Post Graduate School built the robot “Bot Matrix.” They beat out the NPS team, University of South Florida, Texas A&M and the NAVY! The Discovery Channel really highlighted the combination of ages and talents. Please share this info, MATE is making this a “Special Topics” course out of the robotics course.

This year’s national ROV competition winners will be invited to participate in the robot creation for next season. The New Media Group “Walden” is creating the film documentary “Ghosts of the Abyss,” and is involved in the sponsorship of next year’s events. The titanic will be used as a model for the competition, which is tentatively scheduled for MIT.

MATE has been selected as a COSEE Center along with main partners Lawrence Hall of Science and Scripps. This is one of 7 centers of excellence nation-wide. One of SEP’s next meetings will have COSEE as a topic of discussion and introduction.

MATE and the Sanctuary are taking on the National Ocean Science Bowl and have hired Mary Welsh.

Anna shared Save Our Shores is also undergoing a major philosophical change in education programs. All but the bilingual programs are scheduled for reduction. The program is looking to return to its roots as a policy group. There is an event on Oct 12th, an evening discussion with Carolyn Casey. SOS is looking for an admin assistant.

Kenton echoed the excitement for MERITO and its pilot at the slough. Reminder for Coastal Cleanup at Kirby Park and October 5th is National Estuary Day!

NEXT Meeting is Monday, November 18th from 3:30 – 5:30 at Monterey Peninsula College with the MATE Program as host. More details to follow. Please mark your calendars to attend. NOTE: SEP meetings are now on the third Monday of every other month, a change from the third Thursday of every other month. The change was made to accommodate individuals who could not attend on Thursdays.