Call for 2012 Walter B. Jones Memorial Awards due

Nominations are due no later than February 15, 2012

For more information look for the link in "news" at.... http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/welcome.html

About the Awards

Innovation, resourcefulness, leadership and a commitment to balancing the human use of America’s coastal and ocean resources with the needs of the resources themselves - these are the hallmarks of the Walter B. Jones Memorial Awards.

The Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) of 1972 created a unique and voluntary partnership of federal and state governments to provide a balance between land and water uses and resource conservation along America’s 95,000 miles of coastlines, including the Great Lakes. In 1990, as part of the reauthorization of the CZMA, the late Congressman Walter B. Jones provided NOAA with the authority to honor the people and organizations of America for their dedication and outstanding contributions in helping the nation maintain healthy coastal and ocean resources and balance the needs of these resources with human use. At that time, Congressman Jones identified three award categories as particularly important–

Excellence in Coastal and Marine Graduate Study - recognizes graduate students whose academic study promises to contribute materially to the development of new or improved approaches to coastal or ocean management. Up to ten winners may be selected in 2012.

Coastal Steward of the Year - honors an individual who has exemplified strong, sustained leadership in finding a balance between the human uses of the coast and ocean and the needs of that environment.

Excellence in Local Government - given to local governments that have inspired positive change in the field of coastal management by developing or implementing principles embodied by the CZMA. Up to five winners may be selected in 2012.

The awards program is open to individuals, organizations, and state and local government agencies and their employees. Individuals, organizations and agencies cannot nominate themselves; they must be nominated by others. Candidates can receive an award in a category only once. For a list of previous winners, please visit http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/programs/ocrm/jones-noaa-awards.html. Federal employees and officials are not eligible for the Walter B. Jones Memorial Awards.

A Message from NERRA President - David Ruple

Friends of NERRS:

As the years pass I seem to get more reflective, especially this time of year. Thinking back to the NERRS/NERRA Annual Meeting in Jacksonville, we had the opportunity to share what is happening at your Reserve and across the NERRS with our colleagues, at NOAA, the various Reserves and with our Friends organizations. There is so much exciting work going on that is supported by our Friends and volunteers. I, personally and on behalf of NERRA want to take this opportunity to thank you for your dedication and support over the past year.

As we discussed in Jacksonville, your Friends group was organized to support your local Reserve, in many cases for several years now. While we came together in October, we are now again back in our local communities, supporting our Reserve. As we look forward to the new year, please take an opportunity to think about innovative ways by which your actions can serve to support the broader System. The strength and health of the entire System and ultimately your Reserve relies on us all, and support from our local communities. Please bring those innovative thoughts to NERRA if we can be supportive and please respond to NERRA requests for assistance on the national scene as you can. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance.

Please pass my appreciation along to your members.

Have a safe and wonderful Holiday Season!

Outreach for educating and embracing in our communities

We were recently able to partner with a local organization called Senior College. Members of the community who have expertise and enthusiasm volunteer to teach classes to enrolled participants who are typically, but do not have to be, retired persons. In the course of other volunteer work in my town nearby called Anacortes, I was lucky to strike up a meaningful conversation with one such instructor, a former classroom science teacher. By having her come visit the Reserve, which she bashfully admitted she had yet to visit, I was able to give her a full tour, and direct her to our education coordinator to create a small curriculum for a Senior College class. In conjunction with Alex, our EC, the instructor designed an immersion day for 23 excited attendees. We made 23 new friends and I know they will be back with their friends and families.

President Signs FY12 Budget for NERRS!

The FY12 budget (which is the money going to each reserve starting July 1, 2012) has been passed!

The NERRS received the NERRA requested amounts of $22.3M for operations and $1.69M for contstruction and aquisition.

We are now starting to work on funding for FY13. Congress will begin hearings early in 2012 and the President will anounce his suggested funding levels in early Febraury.

Stay tuned. . .

(thanks, Kay, for the post and support!)

Super Achievement

The recent news regarding the Congressional funding level for the NERRS in 2012 is surprisingly sweet. During this incredibly difficult period, NERRA's advocacy and the visits to the 'Hill' by Reserve Managers telling their stories, has yielded a remarkable achievement. Kudos to all involved!
- Kay Reinhardt

GTM NERR's Sate of the Reserve Case Study

The State of the Reserve is an annual event that began in 2010 at GTM NERR. The afternoon program highlights the past year of outstanding research, stewardship, and education at GTM NERR and is an opportunity to share our work and show our appreciation to our local communities, partners, and stakeholders.

We ask that all of our 'stake holders' aka anyone who has been influenced or cooperated with the reserve to please join us for an afternoon of presentations followed by a local food and wine reception and poster session. For more information and to RSVP please see the link below.

http://stateofthereserve2011.eventbrite.com/

Annual Meeting 2011

We are learning at the AN11.