Annual Meeting Friends and Foundation Sector Agenda

We are finalizing plans for the Annual Meeting next week and look forward to seeing all of you who will be able to joins us!  On the resources and document page you will find the Friends and Foundations sector agenda.  This is the agenda for the time we have together as a group. To view the overall meeting agenda - which includes an overview of plenary or non-sector time, please visit the Annual Meeting web site. 


For those of you who are unable to join us - please let me know if you would like to join us virtually for any of the sessions during our sector time.  We will have conference call capabilities for most of our sessions.  Just send me an email and I will respond with more information on how to link in.  Please note that we will not be able to provide virtual connections for non-sector time (sessions outlined in the overall agenda).  

Restoration Sign On Letter

We would like to pass on the request to have organizations sign onto this letter, which asks our federal leaders to reject further funding cuts to restoration programs that provide the critical funding for the on-the-ground restoration of our environment and economy. (habitat support letter is also listed on our resources and documents page).

The request and information is provided by Diane Hoskins, Director of Government Relations, Restore America's Estuaries.  Diane urges organizations to sign on before COB Friday (November 8th).  

For more information, please read below and follow the link to the  letter, ---

Restoration funding is at risk.  Last year's Budget Control Act put in place decreasing budget caps that over time eliminate billions of dollars for non-defense discretionary programs. In addition,  the threat of across-the-board cuts in January - the sequester - only deepen these cuts over the next ten years.

As the letter says: "A sustained investment in restoration funding is required to keep projects on track to achieve long-term restoration goals and sequestration spells disaster for the communities, waters, and economies that rely on these programs."

We're working with Restore America's Estuaries to try to get hundreds of national, regional, and local organizations and businesses signed on.  We hope you will help promote this sign on opportunity through your networks. The letter will stay open for 4-weeks with a sign on deadline of Friday, November 9.  The letter will be sent to Capitol Hill and the Administration the following week, just as Congress returns for the post-election, lame duck session.  We are accepting organization or business level signon, not individual people.  

To sign on, please visit: www.estuaries.org/signon

 Current signers:

·         American Rivers

·         American Whitewater

·         Ducks Unlimited

·         National Audubon Society

·         National Parks Conservation Association

·         National Wildlife Federation

·         Outdoor Alliance

·         Outdoor Industry Association

·         Restore America's Estuaries

Last day to register for the Annual Meeting.

Today is the close of registration for the 2012 NERRS/NERRA Annual Meeting.  If you are planning on joining us but just haven't registered yet - please register today!   Check out the Annual Meeting web site for more details. 

If you would like to join us but need more time to commit - please contact us to let us know.  

Looking Forward to our Meeting in November!

We are working on a draft agenda for the time we will share together as a group next month. We hope to have a draft agenda ready for viewing soon.  Ih the meantime, please check out the resources and documents page for our meeting objectives.  

While we focus our planning on this concentrated meeting time - we will not be holding our monthly webinar meeting for October. We look forward to meeting with you in November! 

We are happy to see representatives from NERRS Friends and Foundations around the country registered to join us for the 2012 NERRS/NERRA Annual Meeting!  If you haven't had a chance to register yet - there is still time.  Check out the event web site for all the details.  

Please note that there are options for 1-day and multi-day registrations if you are unable to join us for the entire week.  

For those of you who will not be able to join us - we will keep you posted on any opportunities to join us virtually.  We may be able to provide access to portions of the meeting.  Please stay tuned!  

Register Now for the Annual Meeting

We hope to see you all at the Annual Meeting this year.  This is a great opportunity to meet up with others from friends and foundations around the country, to  learn more about what is happening throughout the NERRS, and to learn about specific topics relevant to the work of your organization.  We are currently working on the agenda  for the friends and foundations sector time.  In the meantime, please see the Resources and Document page for the sector objectives.  

Please check out the 2012 NERRS/NERRA Annual Meeting web site for all of the meeting details including a draft agenda, site information, and lodging and transportation options.  Rooms at NCTC will be limited this year and will be offered on a first come first serve basis based on when you register.  We strongly suggest you register early!

NERRS/NERRA Award - Nominations Due October 5th

It's once again time to help decide who will be the 2012 recipient of this prestigious NERRS/NERRA award!  Let us know who you feel has demonstrated exemplary leadership and sustained commitment to the mission of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. The recipient can be anyone who meets the criteria for the award and is not limited to Reserve staff members. 

If you would like to nominate someone, please complete a nomination form and return to NERRA no later than  Friday, October 5th.  The form and more detail on the award is available on the Resources and Documents page on this blog and will also be available on the Annual Meeting web site as well.  All nominations will be reviewed by the award committee and the winners will be announced at the Annual Meeting in November. 

September webinar – an opportunity to get help in your community from NERRA

Join us for this month’s webinar meeting next week – Tuesday, September 18^th from 2:00-3:00PM ET.  

This month’s webinar is an opportunity to get help in your community from NERRA to gain greater political support.  With input from your reserve, NERRA is developing statements that show the economic importance of each reserve.  Come prepared with one idea (or more!) of how we can use the economic impact statements in your community/state.  We will share in a roundtable discussion your ideas on how we can work together to help spread the word of the economic importance of each reserve as well as the system as a whole.  Please contact cindy if you will be able to join us and we will forward meeting materials to you.