Minutes from May 5 General Meeting

Date: May 5, 2010

Location: Metcalf Hodges Accounting Firm conference room

Meeting called to order at: 6:35 pm

People present at Meeting:

Mariann Carrasco, Heather Harris, Julie Straight, Bob Ryerson, Lori Crawford, Danielle Love, Edradine Hovde, Trisha O’Connor

Unanimous approval to accept minutes from past meeting

Old Business:

Discussion on Adopt-a-seal program, donating seal prints. Decision was made for charge $20 per print/certificate for the harbor seal, $30 for harbor porpoise, $40 for gray whale, $50 for Steller’s sea lion, $75 for the killer whale. We will do a certificate with a stuffed whale or seal for kids and families. Bob will make a table of items that need to be discussed with vendors and send it around to Danielle, Trisha, and Edradine who think they can approach some printing companies so we can figure out costs to print. Bob’s vendor is charging $110 for 50 prints.

Mariann, in Carley’s absence, gave a brief summary of the grants process. Carley is working on a draft now.

Vancouver Aquarium is tentatively scheduled for May 16th. Space is limited to 10 people, first come first serve. Carley to get back with us this week for final arrangements.

Bob to send me details on Blaine coming up this weekend to set folks to sign up. Trisha, Julie, Sonia and Bob are scheduled now.

Ski to Sea, Memorial Day weekend is the next event. Please contact Bob if you are available for this event. Mariann can do the afternoon.

Mariann reminded everyone to send their hours/expenses to Bob at the end of each month.

Seal pup triage needs to be approved by NOAA before we proceed.

New Business:

Oil Spill: no updates right now. Go to website to find out how to volunteer.

Prior to the regular meeting a quorum of the board met and accepted the resignations of Rose Lavoie as Volunteer Director and Robert Ryerson as Director of Education. Verbal elections were held and Heather Harris was approved unanimously as Education Director and Robert Ryerson as Volunteer Director, to serve the remaining terms of office. Trisha O’Connor was voted to take over as Development Director when Sonia Hurt vacated that office in the next month or so. Sonia will get together with Trisha in the next month to transfer all her information she has collected.

Meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm.

Mariann then proceeded to present information that was presented with various papers at the National Marine Mammal Stranding Network Conference. She recommends that we put in our budget for 3 people to go to the conference next time, as it was an excellent conference and so much information was gathered.

Whale entangled in fishing gear

A humpback whale entangled in fishing gear reported by a fisherman.  Here's some video of the rescue attempt from King 5.  Read the full article here

May 17, 2010 - New Volunteer Responder & refresher training:

This is the last scheduled training before pup season 2010. 

Do you have a love and concern for our local marine mammals?  Would you like to volunteer to make a difference in our community?  Register now to become a member of the WMMSN Stranding Response Team.  



At this training you will learn what is required for responding to a stranding including:

• Species identification of marine mammals common to this area
• How to recognize and document various types of injuries and illnesses
• Determining and establishing a safe perimeter around marine mammals
• Laws, regulations, and procedures to be followed when working with stranded or deceased marine mammals
• What paperwork is required and how to fill it out

Volunteer Responder Training
Registration required:	To register, please call Bob Ryerson, Director of Volunteers at 360-306-1568 or email to:  volunteers@wmmsn.org
Class length:	1 session (approximately 3 hours)
Date:	May 17th
Time:	6:00 - 9:00 pm
Location:	Metcalf Hodges Building Conference Room at  770 East Holly St
Instructor:	Mariann Carrasco of WMMSN
Cost:	$25 for new volunteers.  Current volunteers may refresh training for free
	**WMMSN Tshirts ($20) and responder kits containing necessary response items ($15) will be available for purchase at the training.

Blaine Big Boating Day

The city of Blaine will be celebrating their Big Boating Day at Marine Park on May 8th from 8 am to 2 pm.

WMMSN will be there with a booth at the Nautical Flea Market.  Stop by for refreshments, T-shirts and more information about our organization. If you would like to volunteer to be a member of the Stranding Response Team you can sign up here for the next training which will be held on May 17th.

Blogmania Winner

Blogmania has been a huge success.  We had 159 entries into our contest for a free WMMSN T-shirt!    

 

Thank you to everyone who entered and left wonderful comments on our blog and welcome to all our new followers too.  We went from 1 google follower to 124 overnight! I hope you all will enjoy reading about what's going on with the Whatcom Marine Mammal Stranding Network.  To learn more about our organization and what we do to help marine mammals please stop by the website at www.WMMSN.org

 

The WMMSN T-shirt goes to comment number 9: 

 

 

Susan Margaret.  She said...

"I love the shirt and I love your cause! I've bookmarked your site - I'll be back!!"

April 30, 2010 3:28 AM

 

Check your inbox Susan for the details on how to claim your prize.

Bellingham Boating Season Opener

2010 boating season opens today and WMMSN is at Squalicum Harbor to celebrate!  Stop by our booth and learn more about us and how we are helping marine mammals & purchase one of our T-shirts to help support our effort with marine mammals. Want to become a volunteer? Sign up at this event.