Our next meeting for the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary Committee is Monday, May 21 at 6:30PM at the Best Western in Navarre.

We will be focusing on the ground breaking event and firming up sponsor signage.  The kiosks are being built now and will be completed by Friday.  Sign and plaque design will be discussed at the meeting
Snorkelers are welcome at the ribbon cutting event on Tuesday May 22 at 11:30PM.  Please contact Mandy Evers  (nwfevents@gmail.com)   if you would like to be part of a group snorkel at the ribbon cutting.   Volunteers are also  needed  to man the table with information about the sponsorship program and Run for the Reef.

More volunteer opportunities are available for Thursdays in the Parks which start May 24th.  The Foundation is using  VolunteerSpot (an online sign up and reminder tool) to schedule volunteers for upcoming community awareness activities.   Please sign up – here’s how it works in 3 easy steps:

1) Click this link to go to our invitation page on VolunteerSpot:
http://www.volunteerspot.com/login/entry/1032345634189984080

2) Enter your email address. (No registration required!) Please note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone or send spam emails.

3) Sign Up!

If you have trouble accessing the site or prefer not to enter your email address – please email nasandler@bellsouth.net

Please mark the following dates on your calendar, and note the locations.

• Feb. 13, 2012 at 6:30PM at the Hampton Inn, Navarre – sponsorship meeting.  Come help us finalize our sponsorship program and plan for it’s début to the public.
• Feb. 27, 2012 at 6:30 at the Navarre Visitor Information Center – general committee meeting.  Discuss the status of permits, the project, and discuss Run for the Reef responsibilities.
• April 27, 2012 from 4-7PM on Navarre Beach – We need volunteers to staff our booth at FunFest.  Contact Nancy, nasandler@bellsouth.net, if you can help.
• April 28, 2012 from 10AM-7PM on Navarre Beach – We need volunteers in 2-3 hour shift to staff our booth at FunFest.  Contact Nancy, nasandler@bellsouth.net, if you can help.  Please include the times you are available.

Note that  a portion of the FunFest 5K proceeds go the NBMS committee.  Please spread the word and sign-up if you can.  More FunFest 5K information here.

Thanks  for your support,

Reminder:  the next Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary Committee meeting is Monday, December 5 at 6:30PM at Navarre Visitor Information Center next to the Butterfly House.

PLEASE NOTE THE LOCATION CHANGE.  Enter the visitor information center through the back door as the front doors will be locked.

Look forward to seeing you.

The Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary Committee will  hold the October Monthly Meeting on Monday, October 24th at the Hampton Inn.  The meeting will start at 6:30 PM.

Anyone interested in helping with the sanctuary efforts, or just those interested in knowing more about our effort to bring beach accessible reefs to Navarre Beach is welcome to attend.

The next Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary Committee meeting is Monday, Sept. 26^th at 6:30PM at the Hampton Inn, Navarre.

Agenda Topics include, Permitting and Deployment Plan Update, Run for the Reef, Reef Sponsorship Program, and Community Awareness Events.

The Run for the Reef Race Shirts will also be unveiled.

The Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary Committee will have the July meeting on Monday July 25th 6 PM at the Hampton Inn on Highway 98 in Navarre.

Volunteers and others interested in hearing about what’s going on with the effort to place beach accessible reefs in the Gulf and the Sound at Navarre Beach are welcome.

Come out and Help Make Navarre Snorkelicious!

The Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary Committee will have the June meeting on Monday June 27th 6 PM at the Hampton Inn on Highway 98 in Navarre.

Volunteers and others interested in hearing about what’s going on with the effort to place beach accessible reefs in the Gulf and the Sound at Navarre Beach are welcome.

Come out and Help Make Navarre Snorkelicious!

The monthly meeting of the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary Committee will be Monday, May 23rd at 6PM. The meeting will be held in the conference room of the Hampton Inn on Highway 98.

We’ll be selecting the Run for the Reef Logo and reviewing progress on our plan of the reef construction and deployment.

The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners are scheduled to vote on approval of the TDC funding constuction and deployment of  the three Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary  reef sites currently being permitted.    The vote is planned for the 9 AM April 14th regular meeting of the Board in 6495 Caroline Street in Milton, FL.    Discussions about the project and proposed funding will be held at the Monday April 12th Commissioner Committee Meeting.

Assuming a successful funding vote, a major milestone  for the efforts to create snorkeling and diving reefs at Navarre Beach will be passed.   With up to $75,000 in matching funds from the TDC, Commissioner Jim Melvin has pledged to fund the balance of the cost out of district recreational funds.   The last hurdle is the receipt of the Federal permits.  Permits have been in the approval cycle with the Army Corps of Engineers since September of 2009 and are expected to be issued by early summer.  After issuance of permits construction may begin on the 135 reef units with installation to be scheduled as soon as possible afterwards.

The monthly Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary Committee meeting will be at the Navarre Visitor Information Center at 6 PM Monday Feb 28th.

We’ll discuss Grant/Funding Opportunities, Community Awareness, and Run for the Reef Planning.