CoCo Meeting Minutes for December 5, 2007

CNMI Organization for Conservation Outreach
Wednesday, December 5, 2007 9am @ DFW

MEETING MINUTES by Reina Camacho

Welcome:
Reina Camacho called the meeting to order at 9:05am.

Attendees were: Mike Tripp (Marianas Dive), Teny Topalian (NOAA/DFW), Nate Hawley (DFW), Lee Bowen (NMCCREES), Reina Camacho (DEQ), and Fran Castro (CRI program).

Agency Updates (round robin)

Marianas Dive – performed underwater cleanup at Sugar Dock on Nov 18; will present at the Saipan Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting today at 11am at Hyatt Regency; will hold monthly meeting tonight at Porky’s at 6:30pm; will hold social gathering aboard the Jade Lady III, $30 on December 15th;

Fish & Wildlife – BTS program working group reestablished to reduce risk of species introduction via transportation

Environmental Quality – EPA will be on island until Dece 14th to conduct program reviews

Coral Reef Initiative – Kathleen Hermann will be the next coral reef fellow and shall start the 1st week in February.

Old Business

IYOR - International Year of the Reef
a. January 18th proclamation – Teny provided draft proclamation for comments and only received feedback from DEQ; teny was asked to finalize it and reina to send to group for add’l feedback.
b. Right Route (ride your bike/carpool to work/school day) – fran has sample PSAs; date moved to February instead of April
c. Coral Parade – planning has not started
d. Bus Stop Murals – Fran inquired whether or not the murals where going to be part of the kick-off in January, but no one knew what the status is. Fran suggested that MINA take lead.

NRM program feedback/comments – comments were received by CRM, DEQ and DFW. Reina was asked to send the spreadsheet to other members.

New Business

CRI management grant 2008/2009 – Fran reported the CNMI submitted a $600,000 pre-proposal grant to NOAA to fund: Ecocamps on Saipan, Tinian and Rota; Support for marine enforcement and continuation of MPA outreach and conservation work; student internships; coral reef outreach/education activities; Talakhaya revegetation, etc. Final grant application is due in February.

10 Year Report – Fran announced that she is seeking information on any projects and accomplishments with regards to coral reefs to report at the next U.S. CRTF meeting in Washington, D.C at the end of February.

Miscellaneous
a. Hollywood Theater Ads – images displayed since July; request assistance from everyone to inform Reina if you see the "Protect Our Reefs" ad.

b. Trash pick up to support NGO cleanup activities – Fran suggested advance written notification to the Mayor’s office; Lee volunteered his truck and trailer.

c. Recycles contest - ongoing; MINA will begin solicitations; there was a request to increase publicity; reina said she already has monthly articles; schools have signed up and attend monthly meetings.
d. Totebag promotion – FYI, ongoing at Joeten supermarkets; will begin at Carmen Safeway within a week or two.

e. COCO improvements/facilitator – request to rotate notetaker just like meeting venue is rotated. Establishing a blog for CoCo was suggested and Fran volunteered to set it up.

f. Partnership/involvement - invite PSS, other groups such as fishermen, divers, etc.