1994

19th NMEA Conference

August 7-11, Knoxville, Tennessee (University of Tennessee)
Theme: Science and Public Policy

Executive Committee:

President: John Dindo (AL) (1993-94)
President-Elect: Nora Deans (CA)
Treasurer: Valerie Chase (MD)
Secretary: Pam Stryker (TX)
Membership Secretary: Michael Rigsby (CA)

Board of Directors:

(1991-94): Mike Spranger (WA), Rhet Wilson (SC), (1993-94): John Trowbridge (LA)
(1992-95): Deborah Coulombe (NH), Barbara Lee (HI), Michael O’Shea (NJ)
(1993-96) Mark DeCrosta (FL), Rick Tinnin (TX), Maureen Wilmot (DC), Joy Wolf (CA)
(1994-97): John Trowbridge (LA), Jeannie Meggison (ME), Roberta Dean (CA)

Contracted Staff:

Editor of Current: Lisa Brown and Michael Rigsby (CA)

Chapter Representatives:

FMSEA (Florida Marine Science Education Association): Susan Carston (FL)
GAME (Georgia Association of Marine Educators): Donna Stewart (GA)
GLEAMS (Great Lakes Educators of Aquatic and Marine Science): Bill Simpkins (OH)
GOMMEA (Gulf of Maine Marine Education Association): Jeanne Meggison (ME)
MAMEA (Mid-Atlantic Marine Education Association): Joanne Powell
MME (Massachusetts Marine Educators): Peg Collins (MA)
NAME (Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators): Laurie Usher (WA)
NJMEA (New Jersey Marine Education Association): Mary K. Masterson (NJ)
NYSMEA (New York State Marine Education Association): Susan Chiesa/ Bruce Carlsten (NY)
OCEANIA: Ann Coopersmith (HI)
SAME (Southeastern Association of Marine Educators): Kathy DeLisle
SCMEA (South Carolina Marine Educators Association): Margaret Howell (SC)
SENEME (Southeastern New England Marine Education Association): Pam Sears
SWMEA (Southwest Marine Education Association: Diane Sweeney(CA)
TMEA (Texas Marine Education Association): Jack Clason (TX)

Awards:

James Centorino Award: Terri L Kirby (NC)
Outstanding Teacher Award: George “The Sandman” Duane (MA)
Marine Education Award (Individual): None
President’s Award: Mary Masterson (NJ)
Honorary Lifetime Member: None

Conference Highlights:

Stegner Artist: None

Originally this conference was to take place on a cruise ship to Alaska. But in the winter of 1992, NMEA Board Members learned that that was not feasible. Instead, it was decided to join a compatible organization at their 1994 conference. The American Institute of Biological Sciences, with the help and hard work of Valerie Chase (MD) and Sharon Walker (MS), organized the conference which included the American Bryological and Lichenological Society, the American Fern Society, the American Society of Plant Taxonomists, the Association of Ecosystem Research Centers, the Botanical Society of America, the Ecological Society of America, the International Society for Ecological Modeling and NMEA. NMEA members were able to choose from a wide array of sessions. Although an exact count of the number of NMEA members in attendance was impossible to determine due to the AIBS registration process, estimates were from 150 to 200.

Because of the number of organizations at the conference, some NMEA members did not feel as “at home” as they had at past NMEA conferences, but for others it was a great chance to meet, mix, and mingle with a new group of scientists. It was certainly an opportunity for other organizations to see what NMEA does and appreciate the importance of science education.

The NMEA auction, in particular, attracted a crowd of newcomers, who wondered, “Who are these people?”, and, “Do they always have this much fun???” Before the start of the auction, Mr. and Mrs. Fish (Jeff and Deb Sandler) presented the wildly successful world premiere of “The Adventures of A Pike.” The Supremes made a guest appearance complete with mustaches! (Does anyone have pictures????) One of the items raffled at the auction was an all-expenses paid trip for two to the next year’s conference in San Diego (donated by Sea World, San Diego). Fifty tickets at $20 each were sold. The lucky winner was Betty Edwards (MA). The auction was the only source of funds for NMEA that came from the conference and it was a record $5,800.

One of the conference highlights was that Dru Clarke (KS) brought her STREAM TEAM from Manhattan High School (Manhattan, Kansas) to present their experience with monitoring a local stream’s water quality over a four year period. The data had been previously sent to the EPA and a state agency (Kansas Department of Health and Environment), which resulted in practical conservation changes in the watershed. This was one of the first times students had conducted a presentation at NMEA and was an early example of ‘service learning’ in water-related issues.

Dru Clarke's STREAM TEAM members look for macroinvertebrates in their seines. As a way of buying some of their collecting equipment, they sold T-shirts with their own design: "We all Live Downstream. Photographs by Dru Clarke

The conference ended in Chattanooga with a wonderful evening at the Chattanooga Aquarium, the largest freshwater aquarium in the world. NMEA Awards were presented at the annual membership meeting that evening.

Additional Highlights of 1994:

On January 1, 1994, Active Membership changed from $25/ year to $40/ year. A new designation for membership, Chapter Affiliate, was created. This membership is for any person who is both a national and a chapter member; the cost: $35/year.

NMEA was represented at the 1994 Coastal Society meeting in Charleston and the Marine Technological Society in Washington D.C. The education section of the MTS meeting was the largest section and the National Marine Educators delivered the majority of the presentations.

In NMEA news (Autumn 1994), President Nora L. Deans (CA) stated, “To help make it even easier for members to network with other individuals and organizations, we’re going to produce a membership directory and skills bank. Along with the skills bank form, you’ll also receive a survey asking your opinion about adding the word aquatic to our name, making us the National Marine and Aquatic Educators (NMAE).

NMEA was a participant in developing the 4-H curriculum used across the nation titled, “Give Water A Hand.”

Current Journal:

In 1994, NMEA published two general issues of Current: The Journal of Marine Education.

An article in the first issue of 1994 (Vol. 12, No 3, page 32), summarized the results of the 1993 NMEA Survey, tallied by John and Charlene Dindo (AL). The article explained that over 212 people responded to the survey sent out in the spring of 1993. More than 150 belonged to regional chapters. The results showed that a majority of the members are high school and university teachers and professionals working in the education field, followed by others working specifically for nature centers, aquariums, museums, and Sea Grant. Members were asked to rate NMEA’s publications, make suggestions about what they’d like to see more of in the publications, and make suggestions as to how NMEA can reach more teachers. Photographs by Susan Leach Snyder.