1981

Through the Years | Conferences | Presidents | Awards | Stegner Lecture | The Pike

6th NMEA Conference

August 5-8 , Galveston, Texas (Texas A & M)
Theme: Toward the Coastal Frontier

Logo, as it appeared in 1981. (Photo: Susan Leach Snyder)

Executive Committee

President: Jim Schweitzer (LA) (1980-81)
President-Elect: James Lanier (VA)
Treasurer: Harold “Sandy” Wiper (MA)
Secretary: Vicki Osis (OR)
Editor of Current: Les Picker (DE)
Historian: John J. McMahon (OR)

Board of Directors:

(1980-82): Barbara Klemm (HI), Vi Lien (PA), John J. McMahon (OR), Les Picker (DE), Nancy Richardson (NY)

(1981-83): Sue Gammisch (VA), William Hastie (OR), Bernice “Bunny” Nadelman (NY), Jeff Sandler (ME), Lundie Mauldin (now Spence) (NC)

Committees:

  • Awards: Robert Abrams (NY)

  • Chapters: William Hastie (OR)

  • Conference: Arie Korporaal (CA)

  • Consultant: Thayer C. Shafer

  • Curriculum: Frank Sullivan (MA)

  • Handicapped: Ed Keller (WV)

  • Honorary Membership: Robert Abrams (NY)

  • McManis Project: Vi Lien (PA)

  • Membership: Sue Gammisch (VA)

  • Minorities & Women: James Hannaham (DC) & Millie Graham (GA)

  • Museums & Aquaria: Ron Bilodeau (CT)

  • Nominations: Gregory L. Rhodes (IN)

  • Professional Development: Barbara Klemm (HI)

  • Publications: Arie Korporaal (CA)

  • Public Relations: David Marsh (OH)

  • Stegner Lecture Series: Nancy Richardson (NY)

  • Vocational/Technical Education: David Kan (MA)

  • Linkage With Other Organizations: Linda O'Dierno (NY)

Conference Highlights:

The conference program consisted of two general sessions, 85 scheduled presentations (workshops, panel and gam sessions), and 22 field trips or tours. Highlights included the Stegner Memorial Lecture by Senator A.R. Schwartz; a showcase of major marine education projects from throughout the country; a presentation on aquaculture education; several maritime heritage programs; and sessions on bilingual education, women, minorities, and the physically handicapped. Not so serious was a workshop by Mr. and Mrs. Fish, Jeff Sandler and Deb Hall Sandler. They were very punny (and finny, too!).

Rides at Gilly Pasadena on a mechanical bull, a visit to Sea-Arama Marineworld, the Texas Two-Step, a Texas barbecue and an airline strike all added spice to Vi Lien’s carefully planned schedule.

At the Board Meeting, the decision was made to increase NMEA dues to $15.

Additional Highlights of 1981:

At the beginning of 1981, there were 9 chapters of NMEA:

  • Connecticut Marine Education Association

  • Georgia Association of Marine Educators

  • Gulf of Maine Marine Ed. Association

  • Marine Education Association of Texas

  • Massachusetts Marine Educators

  • Mid-Atlantic Marine Ed. Association

  • N.J. Marine Education Association

  • N.Y. State Marine Education Association

  • Northwest Association of Marine Educators

Two additional chapters affiliated in 1981:

  • Florida Marine Science Education Association

  • Southwest Marine Education Association

This was the third year of Current: The Journal of Marine Education. Beginning in 1981, The Center for Environmental Education (CEE) provided NMEA with operating support for Current. That year, there were three general issues, and a fourth titled, “Navy Science Awards Program.’” Three new “columns” were added to current in 1981: 1) “Seafaring with Hal Goodwin,” 2) “Animals of the Sea” by Hermann Janssen, and 3) “Plants of the Sea” by Norm Dill. (Left: Photo by Rosanne Fortner, others by Susan Leach Snyder)