Next Meeting:
Our next monthly meeting will be Tuesday, January 26th at 6 PM in the Navarre Visitor Center Conference Room (enter through rear sound side door please).  As always the public is welcome and encouraged to attend.  We  look forward to building on the successes of last year by continuing to inform the public about the economic, environmental, and educational benefits of the reef program and Making Navarre Snorkelicious!

Fundraising:

Reef Sponsorship Program
After input from discussion at our December meeting, a draft of the final plan for a Reef Sponsorship Program has been developed.   Information  and plans will be presented at our January meeting.

Grants
Our application for an International Paper Foundation  Grant with a focus on environmental education was submitted this month.  We continue to research grant opportunities.

Run for the Reef 2010
It is time to start planning our Second Run for the Reef.  We are looking for a volunteer to chair this committee.  This was our major fundraiser for 2009.  With what we learned, it can be even bigger in 2010.

Permitting:
We are pleased to be on track for successful completion of permitting.  Santa Rosa County BOCC submitted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit applications in August 2009, and our environmental consultant is in the process of responding to the first round of comments.  We are on track to meet the projected 8 -14 month time frame of approval for the ACOE permits which would place the projected permit approval date between April and October 2010.

Community Awareness:
On January 2nd we set up our information booth at the Gulf Coast Kayak Fishing Association Rigging Clinic at Hot Spots Bait and Tackle in Gulf Breeze.  This was a great opportunity to explain how the artificial reef and  marine sanctuary will benefit all  marine life in the area.
A presentation to the Navarre Beach Yacht Club is scheduled for their February 1st general meeting , 7pm at Juana’s.

Community awareness is very important to keep this project moving forward.  We continue to look for opportunities to make appearances at local civic organizations and set up and informational booth or table at events.  Committee members are encouraged to step forward to both schedule/coordinate these opportunities and to help by manning a booth or table or presenting our (now fairly standardized) presentation.

Agenda for Marine Sanctuary Monthly Meeting – January 26, 2010 at 6pm

1.      Leadership roles for 2010

2.      Fundraising:
a.   Reef Sponsorship Program
b.  Grants
c.     2010 Run for the Reef (pre planning, prime sponsor recruiting, etc)

3.    Permitting Update

4.    Community Awareness:  Recent and Future events or speaking engagements

Impact 100 Pensacola announced today at a press conference that the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary is among ten finalists that will compete for five grants of $102,800 in each of five categories.  There are two finalists per category – the Marine Sanctuary is in the Environmental category.

This is a huge opportunity for the Marine Sanctuary Program ,and can provide most of the necessary funding for the completion of Phase II (sound side reefs).  The final determination will be made after brief presentations by each finalists to the entire Impact 100 membership at their annual meeting on Sunday October 18th at 1:45 PM.

We believe the positive environmental benefits that will come from the sound side reefs – up to 1.8 million gallons of water filtered per day, increased biodiversity and juvenile marine species habitat – is very grant worthy.   In addition the Marine Sanctuary project provides huge economic and educational benefits for the area with an estimated increase of $1.17 million in annual economic output for the combined gulf and sound side reefs and increased local educational institution and grant funded study opportunities,

The Marine Sanctuary Committee is is honored to be among this years finalists and is very grateful to the ladies of Impact 100 – not only for the current grant program but for their continued contribution to making our community a better place to work and live.