REEF members are the heart of our grassroots marine conservation programs. Divers, snorkelers, and ocean enthusiasts worldwide stand behind our mission.
This month we highlight Callie Mack, who has been a REEF member since 2011. She is level 5 expert surveyor on the U.S. west coast in the PAC region, and has submitted nearly 400 surveys. Callie lives in San Diego, where she enjoys diving the nearby kelp beds and rocky reefs to search for interesting invertebrates and fish.
This year’s annual REEF Fest was a whirlwind of diving, social gatherings, and conservation-themed seminars. From September 20-23, over 250 REEF supporters from around the world joined us in Key Largo, Florida, to celebrate marine conservation and REEF’s 25th anniversary. The four days were full of keynote speakers, delicious food, REEF fish surveys, and the opportunity to mingle with fellow ocean enthusiasts.
Many of us have hearts of gold and desire to make a difference for our favorite charity.
One of the options to consider is funding the purchase of a life insurance policy, which offers the charity an effective way to ensure long-term projects can be funded. Life insurance policies can result in a substantial gift to a charity at a relatively small cost and provide the donor with charitable income tax deductions and charitable estate tax deductions. Typically, a person can purchase a policy up to age 70, and depending on the face amount, keep the premiums affordable.
This summer, we continued making improvements to the REEF Headquarters and campus in Key Largo, Florida. What was once a grass-filled plot next to the HQ building is now peppered with native plants and a beautiful Mosquito Fish pond. The Native Plants Trail, which loops through the garden, includes informational signage that identifies native and invasive species, and educates readers about the history of the Florida Keys. Another new addition is a solar panel charging station and an electric car charging station.
Did you know that REEF hosts twelve Marine Conservation Interns each year? This important program is vital to REEF's success and serves as a formative experience for these young adults. As a new feature in our newsletter, we will periodically check in with intern alumni to see where they are now and how their time at REEF impacted their journey. This month we visited with Laura Palomino.
When were you a REEF intern?
We are excited to share that our website has recently undergone a significant update and has a new look. Many of you may have already seen it, but if not, you can check it out by visiting http://www.REEF.org.
Even though summer has only just ended, the cold days of winter will be here before we know it. Don't worry - you can escape to the Caribbean and get involved in a meaningful citizen science dive trip! We still have some openings on two of our upcoming liveaboard trips to the Eastern Caribbean and the British Virgin Islands. We have also released our complete 2019 Field Survey Trips schedule, and we hope you can join us on a trip soon!
REEF members are at the heart of our grassroots marine conservation programs. More than 70,000 divers, snorkelers, students, and armchair naturalists stand behind our mission.
This month we highlight Susan Lokey, who has been a REEF member since 1995. She is a level 3 surveyor in the Tropical Western Atlantic region and has completed 175 surveys. Susan lives in Virginia, outside of Washington D.C., and enjoys traveling on dive trips. She attends REEF Field Survey Trips whenever she can!
Purchase your VIP passes or register a team today! For complete event details, visit www.REEF.org/lionfish/derbies.
Lad Akins, a longstanding REEF staff member, who most recently served as Director of Special Projects, is no longer with REEF. Lad was instrumental in establishing REEF as an organization, was REEF’s first Executive Director, and spearheaded work on controlling invasive lionfish in the western Atlantic. The tremendous impact he has had in marine conservation through REEF’s projects leaves a lasting legacy. We wish Lad the best in his future endeavors.
