1997

22nd NMEA Conference

August 4-8, Chicago, Illinois (DePaul University)
Theme: Land of the Inland Seas: A Journey to the Great Lakes

Executive Committee

President: Maureen Wilmot (DC) (1996-97)
President-Elect: Bill Hastie (OR)
Membership Secretary: Sharon Walker (MS)
Treasurer: E. Bruce Carlsten (NY)
Secretary: Pam Stryker (TX)
Editor of Current: Nora Deans (CA)
Editor of NMEA news: Tina Shoemaker
Administrative Assistant (National Office): Tina Shoemaker/ Frank Green

Board of Directors:

(1994-97): Roberta Dean (CA), Jeanne Meggison (MN), John Trowbridge (LA),
(1995-98): Linda Maxson, Sharon Meeker (NH), Rob Moir (MA),
(1996-99): John Dindo (AL), Terri Kirby Hathaway (NC), Gene Williamson (OR),
(1997-00): Vicki Clark (VA), Robyn Dobyns (NC), George Duane (NH)

Chapter Representatives:

FMSEA (Florida Marine Science Educators Association): Jackie Fletcher (FL)
GAME (Georgia Association of Marine Education): Gail Joiner (GA)
GLEAMS (Great Lakes Educators of Aquatic and Marine Science): Bill Simpkins (OH)
GOMMEA (Gulf of Maine Marine Education Association): Ann Reid (NH)
MAMEA (Mid-Atlantic Marine Educators Association ): Andy Wood (NC)
MME (Massachusetts Marine Educators):Joe LaPointe (MA)
NAME (Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators): Karen Blyler (WA)
NJMEA (New Jersey Marine Education Association): Mary Masterson (NJ)
NYSMEA (New York State Marine Educators Association): E. Bruce Carlsten (NY)
OCEANIA: Mary Gullickson (HI)
SAME (Southern Association of Marine Educators): Belinda Duke
SCMEA (South Carolina Marine Educators Association): Paula Keener-Chavis (SC)
SENEME (Southeastern New England Marine Educators): Cathi Lepore (CT)
SWMEA (Southwest Marine Educators Association): Diane Sweeney
TEAMS (Tennessee Educators of Aquatic and Marine Science): Diane Nelson (TN)
TMEA (Texas Marine Educators Association): Rick Tinnin (TX)

Awards:

James Centorino Award: Michael Spranger (WA) and Megan Jones (HI)
Outstanding Teacher Award: Cindy Renkas (SC)
Marine Education Award: James Kolb (WA)
President’s Award: Vikki Spruill (DC)

Conference Highlights

This conference was organized by the Great Lakes Educators of Aquatic and Marine Sciences (GLEAMS), and was co-sponsored by the Shedd Aquarium, Sea World, and Sea Grant.

Below: Conference Pin.

Conference Registration was followed by the opening of the exhibits, committee meetings, and an evening at the Brookfield Zoo with the keynote address by Admiral James D. Watkins, President of the Joint Oceanographic Institutions.

Right: Admiral Watkins delivered the keynote address, as dolphins played in the background at the Brookfield Zoo. Below: In the exhibit building, Rosanne Fortner discussed Sea Grant.

Photographs by Susan Leach Snyder

Bill Simpkins, President of GLEAMS and Co-chair of the conference, took a well-deserved break to visit with Cindy Stong, former GLEAMS President.

On day two of the conference, members attended the general sessions that focused on the history of the Great Lakes. The sessions were titled, “Sea Lamprey: A History of Invasion and Control” by Denny Lavis and “Native American Culture of the Great Lakes” by James De Nomie. Next, was the beginning of concurrent sessions, followed by the NMEA President’s Reception, and a dinner and awards ceremony at the Field Museum of Natural History.

Left: NMEA President Maureen Wilmot (DC) presented Cindy Renkas (SC) with the 1997 Outstanding Teacher Award .

Right: Bill Hastie (OR), President-Elect, presented the James Centorino Award to Mike Spranger (WA) (on right) and Megan Jones (HI) (below.)

Day three of the conference began with general sessions about life in the Great Lakes. John Janssen talked about “Lake Michigan Food Webs” and Doug Beard discussed “The Multi-State Aquatic Resource Information System (MARIS). Following these sessions, more fantastic concurrent sessions filled the day. In the late afternoon, it was off to the Shedd Aquarium via trolleys, where delicious food and a Pat Daily Concert capped off the evening. Pat Daily, Great Lakes Troubadour, delighted the crowd with laughter and song.

Right : Mary Masterson, Rob Moir, and the rest of the "gang" enjoyed the Trolley ride to the Shedd Aquarium.

Left: Pat Daily entertained the crowd with original Great Lakes’ songs.

Day four began with breakfast and Sea Faire/Sea Swap, followed by two general sessions that described human impact on the Great Lakes. Judy Beck talked about “Partners for the Future: Government, Ecosystems and Environmental Ethics” and John Gannon discussed “Zebra Mussels: Biological and Economical Impacts.” After lunch, some conference goers went to see the Chicago Cubs play the San Francisco Giants, while others went to the Lincoln Park Zoo. That evening was the long-awaited arrival of THE PIKE at the NMEA Auction...and after that....the Lincoln Park Pub Crawl.

Above Right : Joy Wolf (CA) couldn’t wait to stick you with a sticker at Sea Faire.

Below Left: At the auction, Robin Goettel (IL) and her pal Zebra Mussel greeted the crowd.

Below Right: It took a lot of dough to buy THE PIKE! Shown here with PIKE are the high bidders: members of SAME (Southern Association of Marine Educators.)

Treasurer Bruce Carlsten (NY) looked on as Ann Reid (NH) wrote a big check to NMEA for the auction items she purchased.

The last day of the conference was “Field Trip Day.” As with all conferences, participants got to experience the local attractions. Some went sailing on Lake Michigan, while other enjoyed walking into Volo Bog, canoeing the Fox River, exploring Indiana sand dunes, strolling among antique and craft shops in the city of Geneva, taking a river cruise on the Chicago River, visiting the Little Red School House Nature Center, observing waterfowl at Powder Horn Marsh, hiking through Buffalo Rock State Park, or diving Wells Burt Shipwreck.

Who are these people canoeing the Fox River?

In 1997, NMEA published two issues of Current: The Journal of Marine Education. The first was a focused and in depth issue on coral reefs, and was sponsored by The Henry Foundation. The second issue was a general issue, with an assortment of articles.