WEEK OF THE OCEAN AWARDS HONOR
THOSE WHO PRESERVE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Guests of Honor at National Week of the Ocean's 24th Festival Awards Reception were those who helped preserve the marine environment through marine education, marine events and reef awareness , according to Cynthia Hancock, National Week of the Ocean president and awards coordinator.

This was the 15th Community Marine Awards program presented by National Week of the Ocean
since its incorporation in 1981.

The reception was hosted by theIGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum and co-sponsored by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida and National Week of the Ocean.

Guests enjoyed catering by Contemporary Caterers and a tour of the 24th Annual School Marine Fair, coordinated by
NWO board member Lee Kalvaitis and Linda Irwin, IGFA Special Events Coordinator.

Attendees included Julie Ciucevich, president, Ocean Watch Foundation; Frank Herhold, MIASF Executive Director, Dan Vawter, Membership Development and board members Joe Purtell and Patience Welton; Pat Crowley, Broward County Schools; Isabelle Peaslee, National Sea Turtle Foundation; Ray Brasted, Promenade Newspaper; Marie and Norbert McLaughlin and NWO board members Marcy Decker, Cynthia Hancock, Lee Kalvaitis and Marie Sigler.



Co-Founder Lee Kalvaitis was recognized for her 24-year Week of the Ocean School Marine Fair program. Kalvaitis was named National Week of the Ocean Volunteer of the Year.

Organization co-founder and School Marine Fair Director, she has served for 24 years.



President & Co-Founder Cynthia Hancock congratulates Tom Callinan on completing his 20th Week of the Ocean Community Outreach Program of school and outdoor concerts.

MARINE EDUCATION

TOM CALLINAN

20-year Community Outreach for schools, nursing homes, parks and marine awards program featuring environmental and original songs including National Week of the Ocean's theme song, "Mother Ocean." Callinan is Connecticut's official troubadour performing throughout the United States. His local program is sponsored by National Week of the Ocean, Inc.



Brian Van Den Breen, left, with NWO president Cynthia Hancock and Dan Vawter of MIASF as Brian is recognized
for his work on the Plywood Regatta which raises funds for marine education.

BRIAN VAN DEN BREEN

Brian Van Den Breen is Coordinator of the Plywood Regatta, a seven-year program of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, developed to further community outreach and develop marine education in Broward County. Teams build a sea-worthy vessel then race to benefit the Broward County School's Marine Magnet Program.

(2002 - 30 teams raised almost $10,000)



Stephanie Brady and Debbie Dunbar, City of Fort Lauderdale, graciously accept their National Week of the Ocean plaque
for coordination of the Sun-Sentinel Dragon Boat & Buskers Festival which renewed a New River race tradition.

MARINE EVENT OF THE YEAR

THE SUN-SENTINEL DRAGON BOATS & BUSKERS FESTIVAL

This event coordinated by the City of Fort Lauderdale Parks & Recreation Department put a positive focus on the New River establishing a new cultural tradition with drum beating and fanfare. In addition to 500-meter heats, an authentic Chinese New Year celebration with street performers (buskers) was held. Twenty-one teams - businesses, government agencies and community groups - including the Coral Springs Chinese Culture Assocation, participated.



Stephen and Yvonne Attis of Vone Research honored for their research to preserve Broward reefs pose amid the
24th Annual Week of the Ocean School Marine Fair exhibit.

PRESERVATION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

VONE RESEARCH, INC.

Stephen Attisy

Stephen Attis noted that steel cables were seriously destroying hard corals, sea whips, sea fans and basket sponges during the 2002 Hillsboro Inlet dredging project. Vone monitored the damage of 110,00 square meters for five months, at their own cost, thus saving valuable species which were reattached or repaired.



Ocean Watch Foundation guests Director Lisa Wetherington center with G. Rose to her left show their excitement at the Awards program for their efforts to create reef awareness and preserve the marine environment. President Julie Ciucevich is directly behind Lisa and Rose.

G. ROSE

A marine conservation team leader, Rose headed a team of 50+ volunteers who conducted 360 surveys of biodiversity/abundance of fish populations for the REEF Fish ID Project. She also worked on the Coral Nursery project with Nova Southeastern University and NCRI involving 36 volunteers and 508 volunteer hours with an estimated value of $7,600 towards a needed Nova grant match.

OCEAN WATCH FOUNDATION

Julie Ciucevich, President * Lisa Wetherington, Exec. Dir.

In 1989 Ocean Watch Foundation began its Annual Reef Sweep and Beach Clean Up designed to remove harmful debris from the ocean environment by both SCUBA divers and beach walkers. Next they established the mooring buoy system now numbering 110 with the assistance of the Broward County Department of Planning and Environmental Protection. Other collaborations have included Nova Southeastern University (effectiveness of mooring buoys to prevent anchor damage), the Coral Nursery Project (transplanting broken corals) and with the MIASF (site coordination for Annual Waterway Cleanup).

National Week of the Ocean congratulates these fine nominees for their commitment
to preserving the marine environment and the celebration of its wonders with others.

for more information call:
Cynthia Hancock, Co-Founder and President * 954-462-5573
or e-mail
nwoto@att.net

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