The marine sanctuary program submitted a grant requesting $250,000 to Pepsi’s Refresheverything online grant program at midnight (ET) on September 1st.  The Refresheverything grant program administrators will review the first 1,000  ideas submitted and those that are approved will be eligible for public online voting  during the month of October via the Refresheveryting website.  The title of the marine sanctuary grant is “Make The Gulf Snorkelicious!  Heal The Gulf With Beach Reefs” .

Look for a Vote Snorkelicious campaign to begin shortly before October.  Each person can vote daily during the month at www.refresheverything.com once the October grant voting cycle is opened.

Nancy Sandler, Co-Chair of the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary Committee and Mike Sandler also on the Marine Sanctuary Committee will make a presentation about the progress and plans of  Marine Sanctuary Program at the Navarre Library.    Mark your calendars for  Tuesday, July 27th at 5:30 pm.

The Sandler’s will present status and progress to date of the efforts to bring near shore reefs to Navarre Beach, upcoming events  involving the Sanctuary Committee and information on you can become involved and keep informed.

The public is invited to come and learn how we are helping to Make Navarre Snorkelicious!

Date:  Tuesday July 27th

Time: 5:30 PM

Where: Navarre Library –  8484 James M. Harrell Road, Navarre, FL 32566

As 2009  begins to wind down and we head into the holiday months, the marine sanctuary committee is beginning to look forward to the coming year’s challenges and how best to meet them.  One of the changes will be in the routine operations of the committee -  like managing communications, coordinating fund raising and grant activity, managing the permit process, etc.   Previously, we have  taken things as they come and  doled out the various tasks as the needs arise, like manning information booths, event planning, and speaking to community groups.

Now that we have a little more experience with running the different parts of the marine sanctuary program we can be more proactive with individuals  leading different functional areas.  Coming out of the October meeting, the breakout for the areas of leadership and the people that will be leading in each area are:

Communications- Nancy Sandler

Community Awareness Events – Dan McCarren

Presentations – Andy Epstein

Finance – Mike Sandler

Reef Sponsorship Program – Mandy Evers

Grants – Robert Turpin

Website – Mark Griffith

Permitting – Mark Griffith

After the new year a new Chairman of the Marine Sanctuary committee for the 2010 calendar year will be named.

2009 has been a year of many successes for the Marine Sanctuary Program, and  with the  reorganization outlined above we look forward to even better progress 2010.   Thanks to those committee members  stepping forward positively in leading our efforts to Make Navarre Snorkelicious!

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.