Navigation

Regional Map

Florida Marine Science Educators Association Region Map and Directors
FMSEA Regions and Directors [PDF, 905K]

FMSEA History

A History of the Florida Marine Science Education Association
A History of the Florida Marine Science Education Association [PDF, 18M]

About FMSEA

The Florida Marine Science Educators Association is a nonprofit organization whose members are dedicated to making the public more aware of Florida's fragile coastline through education.

The major role of FMSEA is to provide a medium for the exchange of ideas, information and resources among Florida's marine educators.

FMSEA is a chapter of the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA).

Contact Us

Officers

President/President-Elect (2011-2012)
Sara Hamilton
FL Keys Electric Cooperative
PO Box 1211
Islamaroda, FL 33036
Cell (305) 360 - 7727
Email president @ fmsea.org
 
President-Elect (2011-2012)
The President-Elect serves for one-year as the de-facto vice president, filling in when the FMSEA President is unavailable, before assuming the office in the following year. The President-Elect also collects the nominations for the next round of elections and awards.
 
Past-President (2011-2012)
Jeremy Lake
Earth Force
9214 Knights Branch Street
Temple Terrace, Florida 33637
Work (813) 494 - 7619
Home (813) 988 - 3611
Email past-president @ fmsea.org
 
Secretary (2010-12)
Ann Marie Shields
St Stephen's Episcopal School
315 41st Street West
Bradenton, Florida 34209
Work (941) 746 - 2121 x 115
Email secretary @ fmsea.org
 
Treasurer (2010-13)
Lauren Tyler
The Florida Aquarium
701 Channelside Drive
Tampa, FL 33602
Work (813) 367 - 4017
Fax (813) 273 - 4161
Email treasurer @ fmsea.org
 
Membership Secretary (2010-2012)
Mellie Lewis
TCOE
224 2nd Road
Key Largo, FL 33037
Cell (240) 565 - 9394
Home (305) 451 - 1297
Email membership @ fmsea.org
 
NMEA Representative (2010-2013)
Howard Rutherford
Pier Aquarium
800 Second Ave. NE, Suite 2001
St. Petersburg, FL 33701-3503
Cell (727) 515 - 7033
Fax (727) 894 - 1212
Email nmea-rep @ fmsea.org
 
Community Manager (appointed)
Laura Diederick
Smithsonian Marine Station
701 Seaway Drive
Fort Pierce, FL 34949
Cell (614) 565 - 1504
Work (772) 462 - 6216
Email community @ fmsea.org
 
Historian (appointed)
Carol Leonard
Lemon Bay High School
7228 Sunnybrook Blvd.
Englewood, FL 34224
Home (941) 473 - 3292
Cell (941) 786 - 8577
Email historian @ fmsea.org
 
Webmaster (appointed)
Jason Robertshaw
Mote Marine Laboratory
800 Second Ave. NE, Suite 2001
St. Petersburg, FL 33701-3503
Work (941) 388 - 4441 X 250
Cell (941) 256 - 3357
Email webmaster @ fmsea.org
 

Regional Directors

Regional Directors (RD) are clearinghouses for information about marine science education events, activities and opportunities. RDs create and support training and professional development opportunities and work to nurture and actively grow that professional network of marine science educators that is FMSEA's single greatest benefit. RDs must attend and contribute to all Board Meetings. Florida Marine Science Educators Association Region Map and Directors
 
 1 - Panhandle 2010-12
Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Washington, Holmes, Bay, Jackson, Calhoun, Gulf, Liberty, Franklin, Gadsen, Wakulla, Leon, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor
Rosalyn Kilcollins
Apalachicola NERR
2505 Arthurs Court Lane
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Work (850) 653 - 8063 X 13
Cell (850) 570 8889
Email rd-panhandle @ fmsea.org
 
 2 - North 2010-12
Hamilton, Suwanee, Columbia, Union, Lafayette, Gilchrist, Dixie, Bradford, Alachua, Levy, Putnam, Marion, Citrus
Hugh Adkins
Crystal River Marine Station
12646 W Fort Island Trail
Crystal River, FL 34428
Cell (352) 422 - 4525
Work (352) 795 - 4393
Email rd-north @ fmsea.org
 
 3 - Northeast 2011-13
Nassau, Duval, Baker, Clay, Saint Johns
Carol Matthews
 
Work  
Cell  
Email rd-northeast @ fmsea.org
 
 4 - East Central 2011-13
Flagler, Sumter, Lake, Volusia, Seminole, Orange, Osceola, Brevard, Indian River
Brandon Smith
Riverwalk Nature Center
Brevard County Parks & Recreation
840 Forrest Ave
Cocoa, FL 32922
Work (321) 433 - 4490
Fax (321) 795 - 4995
Email rd-eastcentral @ fmsea.org
 
 5 - Southeast 2011-13
Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, Okeechobee, Saint Lucie
Valerie Gaynor
 
Work  
Cell  
Email rd-southeast @ fmsea.org
 
 6 - Southwest - 2011-13
Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Glades, Hendry, Lee, Collier
Kasey Gaylord-Opalewski
Mote Marine Laboratory

1600 Ken Thompson Parkway
Sarasota, FL 34236
Work (941) 388 - 4441 x 250
Email rd-southwest @ fmsea.org
   
 
 7 - West Central 2010-12
Hernado, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Hardee, Highlands
Heather Segura
The Florida Aquarium
701 Channelside Drive
Tampa, FL 33602
Cell (954) 663 - 0739
Work (813) 273 - 4186
Email rd-westcentral @ fmsea.org
 

FMSEA Committees

Looking to get more involved with FMSEA? Join a committee!
 
Conference Committee (2012)
Chair Jeremy Lake
Co-Chairs  
Concurrent Sessions:  
Registration:  
Hospitality:  
Food, Lodging & Transportation:  
Field Trips:  
Speakers:  
Entertainment/Events:  
Silent Auction:  
Exhibits:  
Public Signage:  
Technology:  
Volunteers:  
The Conference Committee is responsible for the planning and implementation of FMSEA's annual statewide conference.
 
Development Committee (2011-12)
Committee Chair TBD
The Development Committee is primarily responsible for the development of a long-range fundraising plan to include corporate/foundation/individual donations. The Development Committee informs the Board of existing grant funding for FMSEA activities. The Development Committee also encourages Regional Directors and members to make known regional and statewide funding opportunities for aquatic education programs known to FMSEA and its members.

Responsibilities of the Development Committee include:

  • Develop long-range fundraising plan
  • Identify target fundraising goal
  • Develop and maintain prospective list of corporate/foundation/individual donors
  • Develop and maintain recognition of corporate/foundation/individual donors
  • Provide list of proposals/collaborative projects in which FMSEA has a presence
  • Communicate "Funds/In-kind Contributions" leveraged by Regional Directors and members to the Board
  • Encourage members to make regional and state funding opportunities for aquatic education programs known to FMSEA and its Regional Directors
 
Marketing Committee (2011-12)
Committee Chair Lauren Tyler
The Marketing Committee is primarily responsible for developing a marketing plan for FMSEA to promote ocean literacy. Consideration should be given to the ocean literacy messages developed by the National Ma- rine Educators Association (NMEA).

Responsibilities of the Development Committee include:

  • Development of FMSEA marketing plan
  • Development of unified ocean messages to be used when there are "events" i.e. injured animals, strandings or harmful algal blooms
  • Develop a model news release about FMSEA for use locally by regions
  • Development of FMSEA collateral material to distribute at regional meetings and special events i.e. Oceans Day, FAST, NMEA
 
Membership Committee (2011-12)
Committee Chair Mellie Lewis
Committee Members Jay Walker
The Membership Committee strives to recruit and involve new and existing members and maintain an accurate and clean FMSEA membership database. The Membership Committee works closely with the Marketing Committee to develop collateral material to use a recruitment tool. The Membership Committee works closely with the Development Committee to review and assess membership benefits.

Responsibilities of the Development Committee include:

  • Maintain an accurate and clean database
  • Provide Regional Directors with updates at each board meeting
  • Review and propose enhancements to membership process i.e. timing, benefits, etc..
  • Recommend enhanced membership benefits to the Board.
  • Create ways to involve members in FMSEA committees and activities.
 
Outreach and Awareness Committee (2011-12)
Committee Chair Laura Diederick
The Outreach and Awareness Committee strives to increase awareness and appreciation of marine and aquatic education in formal and non-formal educational settings at all levels, and the role of FMSEA in facilitating that process. Efforts generally include developing processes and materials for various publics, especially the educa- tion community.

Responsibilities of the Development Committee include:

  • Compile materials developed by FMSEA members related to marine and aquatic education and align with the ocean literacy principles, Sunshine State Standards and National Science Education Standards
  • Prepare for the next round of science curriculum review in 2012-2013 to ensure ocean literacy principles are a strong component of the curriculum
  • Modify the NMEA ocean literacy presentation for a Florida audience and offer as a workshop (using the
    collection workshop as a model)
  • Oversee the "Enhancing Public Engagement" focus area in the NMEA Strategic Plan 2008-2013
  • Look for opportunities for collaboration with other organizations and report out to the Board on these efforts
  • Encourage Board members to participate in regional meetings by reporting on dates during Board meetings
 
Online and Social Media Committee (2011-12)
Committee Chair Jim Wharton
Committee Members Laura Diederick, Jason Robertshaw, Jay Walker
The website committee works closely with the webmaster and is primarily responsible for developing a web- site plan for Board review and approval.

Responsibilities of the Development Committee include:

  • Develop website goals
  • Identify type and depth of website
  • Develop a website plan for development, implementation and maintenance
  • Develop website budget for Board review and approval
  • Develop and issue RFP for website development
 

 

Support marine science education