Link to this blog

During the 11th Micronesians in Island Conservation Retreat I was tasked with taking over the learning network's blog found at http://mic-network.blogspot.com. I've fiddled with the template and the colors a little bit here and there over the last two weeks and I'm liking the new look.

My first change was to turn the background from a solid green to a picture of two fishermen in an outrigger canoe. What says connecting islands better than a canoe?

I also added a Sitemeter counter, some frequently asked questions, contact information, and changed things around a bit so that the site is easier to navigate (at least to me). In the past I've done a few widgets for organizations I've done work with (i.e. a logo that links to your website). I used that code to add logos that link to Friends of the Monument, Micronesia Conservation Trust, and Beautify CNMI. I'll add a few more logos as work progresses on the blog, including the html code so that you can link to those websites, too!

As for the color scheme, I offer the fact that I am color blind as an excuse.

I encourage you to add a link to the Micronesians in Island Conservation blog. In the upcoming months we should be adding some great conservation stories from the whole of Micronesia. You heard it here first.

MIcronesia Challenge on Facebook

Are you a member of Facebook? Would you like to be the envy of all your friends? There is now a Facebook Fan Page and a Facebook Group for the Micronesia Challenge. Join today!

Both the Fan Page and the Group allow users to post comments on a discussion board, upload photos and video, suggest links, and leave comments. The Fan Page allows the administrator to write notes or, as I prefer to do, syndicate a blog feed. I am syndicating the Micronesians in Island Conservation blog until there is a Micronesia Challenge blog. The thing I like best about both is that the administrator has the ability to send messages to every member of both the Group and the Fan Page. This will come in handy, especially once the membership gets into the thousands.

Additionally, the Fan Page links to Fan Pages for the Micronesian governments that have signed onto the Micronesia Challenge: Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. It also links to a Fan Page for Beautify CNMI, an environmental coalition in the Marianas supportive of the Micronesia Challenge. I will link to other non-profits working on the Micronesia Challenge once someone sets up their Fan Pages. (Pehaps we can do this at the next MIC retreat or maybe the next steering committee meeting?)

So what are you waiting for? Log into Facebook and join the Facebook Fan Page and the Facebook Group for the Micronesia Challenge.

Micronesia Challenge Logo

The logo was developed by Luke, an artist in Yap, and incorporates the creativity, compassion and, perhaps most importantly, the true culture of Micronesia. While the basic design is of a turtle with an "M" as the front fins and a "C" as the body, the logo also incorporates the overall aspects of air, sea and land and has come to mean different things to different people with some saying they see an island, some a bird in flight and still others seeing waves. "Micronesia" is in blue to match the "M" in the logo and "Challenge" is in green to match the "C." This logo is now the official logo of the Micronesia Challenge.

Beautify CNMI Email List

I've spent the last two weeks getting Beautify CNMI back up to speed. I've started a Beautify CNMI Facebook fan page and I've updated the email list. We'll have activities all year in 2009. If you would like to be added to the email list, please email me at angelovillagomez at gmail dot com or call me at 285 6462 and I will add you.

Meet Primo

CoCo: Good morning and thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with me.

Primo: My pleasure.

CoCo: So, you have been awarded the coveted title of Flagship Species for the CNMI Pride Campaign. How do you feel?

Primo: I’ve never felt better! I have been given an opportunity to help promote healthy reefs and I look forward to doing my best. Because my species depends on the reef for our survival, it is a topic near and dear to my heart.

CoCo: You mentioned your species, I have never heard of the Yellow Crowned Butterflyfish.

Primo: (sighs) Yes, most people in the CNMI and around the world have never heard of us. We are actually very rare. My species is endemic to the Marianas…that means this is our home…our ONLY home. The Yellow Crowned Butterflyfish is not found anywhere else in the world.

CoCo: No where else? Wow!

Primo: Yes, that makes us very special. But at the same time, it makes us very vulnerable. The survival of the Yellow Crowned Butterflyfish depends on the survival of the CNMI’s reefs.

CoCo: I see. Can you tell us a little about how you were chosen for this job?

Primo: It was tough competition. I was among many other marine creatures. We were then narrowed down to four: the spotted eagle ray, the bumphead parrotfish, the napoleon wrasse, and the yellow crowned butterflyfish.

CoCo: You were in the company of some pretty amazing animals.

Primo: It was an honor to stand among those three.

CoCo: How were you finally chosen?

Primo: The four of us were included in an island wide survey conducted by volunteer NMC students. Nearly 400 people were asked to choose which species they thought would be the best mascot for the CNMI’s reefs. All of our photos were included, and people selected their pick.

CoCo: I saw the photos. You looked fabulous.

Primo: Thank you, but I think that the bumphead parrotfish was by far the most photogenic.

CoCo: In the end, what were the results of the survey?

Primo: I came out ahead with 37% of the vote, followed by the bumphead who got 27%.

CoCo: Congratulations!

Primo: Thank you. But I want to remind people that the health of our reefs is important to all marine life…please take good care of it!

CoCo: I understand you have many exciting events coming up; where will you be in the next couple of months.

Primo: I’ll be hanging out at the Thursday night market, visiting the popular beach sites on the weekends. I will also be at the Build A Castle Save A Reef event on Nov 22 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel all day.

CoCo: that’s exciting. I hope your fans will get to have your autograph. Before you go on your way, do you have with any parting words?

Primo: Healthy Reefs, Healthy Fish!

The CNMI Pride Campaign is brought to you by Coastal Resources Management Office and the Coral Reef Initiative, a partnership of the CNMI’s environmental agencies, Coastal Resources Management, the Division of Environmental Quality, and the Division of Fish and Wildlife. For more information about Primo, the Pride Campaign, or for opportunities to help please contact Brooke Nevitt, Pride Campaign Manager and Education and Outreach Coordinator, Coastal Resources Management Office, 664-8320 or pridecnmi@gmail.com.

Upcoming Events

Sat, Nov 22, 2008. 7am-1pm @ 4-H building
"Health & Wellness Fair" ~ over 20 exhibits from health, environment, safety and youth organizations (private and public)

Sat, December 6, 2008. 8am-4pm @ Hyatt Regency beachside
"Build A Castle ~ Save A Reef" ~ as part of the International Year of the Reef, this is Light in the Eve Foundation 5th year in hosting this event. Special Appearance by PRIMO!! games, prizes and autograph signing !

Dec 10 & 11, 2008
"Conservation Action Plan [CAP] Workshop" ~ Meghan Gombos from NOAA and Trina Leberer from TNC will be in Saipan on Dec 10 and 11 to assist us in utilizing the CAP info to create a final management plan (LAS) for LauLau and becoming familiar with the new CAP tool, Miradi*. [times and location will be announced later.]

CoCo meeting minutes for October 1, 2008

Present:
Brooke Nevitt, Kathleen Herrmann, Olivia Tebuteb and Reina Camacho.

Right Route –
- Press releases were featured and flyers were distributed.
- Ads were also featured in the Variety and Tribune.
- Deadline to sign up is Oct 6.

Scavenger Hunt –
- no word from coordinators (Fran Castro and John Starmer) on progress or direction on the event. Those present determined a postponement.
- The proposals for prizes were also not approved.

Outreach @ Rota Fiesta on October 10, 11 and 12 –
- Gov agencies: DEQ’s NPS/Watershed, CRM’s pride, DFW’s brown tree snake program
- Need outreach goodies (posters, magnets, pencils, etc.)

Other updates:
4th grade outreach –
- Olivia is coordinating with the schools for this year. Programs that want to participate need to contact Olivia or Reina, 664-8500.
Library story hour –
- Ongoing at Children’s library, every Friday at 3-4pm.
- More readers/presenters needed.
Pride campaign –
- Primo will be at the Garapan street market every Thursday
- Primo will develop conservation clubs at each high school, starting with NMA as a pilot
Environment Page –
- Articles needed; coco features approximately 3 articles per day
- Thanks Bruce for sending in an article!

OTHERS:
~ State of the Reef presentation at the Kagman Community Center on Thur, Oct 23, 6pm

~ Wellness Fair on Sat, Nov 22, 4-H Club; exhibitors needed

NEXT MEETING:
Thursday, November 6, 2008, 9am @ DEQ conf rm 205