Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s Fifth Annual Go Blue Award Nominations Open July 15
Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s (LMC) 2013 Go Blue Awards nominations can be made starting on July 15 and ending on August 26. The annual awards are presented to three individuals and a business that have promoted, implemented or contributed to a “blue” lifestyle of ocean conservation. Finalists will be announced on September 26 at the Blue Friends Society social event at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. To nominate an individual or business, visit www.marinelife.org/bluefriends.
Nominations for the 2013 Go Blue Awards are based on specific criteria. The Eleanor Fletcher Award will recognize a person who exemplifies a lifelong, extraordinary commitment to marine conservation education through their work or volunteer activities that are similar to Eleanor Fletcher, founder of LMC. The Blue Ambassador of the Year Award will recognize a person who has made significant contributions in ocean conservation in south Florida through volunteer related activities. The Blue Friend of the Year Award will recognize a person who has made significant contributions in ocean conservation through work related activities. The Blue Business of the Year Award will recognize a business that has made outstanding contributions toward promoting conservation or restoration of marine life and/or marine ecosystems through their practices, products, or technology.
All nominations will be reviewed by a distinguished panel of judges including Dr. Gary Adkison – U.S. Shark Foundation, Director, Dr. Sylvia Earle – National Geographic Society, oceanographer, aquanaut and author. Former chief scientist at U.S. NOAA, James Harvey – Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Co-Chairman, Greg Marshall – Crittercam inventor, marine biologist, National Geographic, Sally Murray – Daughter of LMC Founder, Eleanor Fletcher, Susan Murray – Oceana Pacific, Senior Director, Granddaughter of LMC Founder, Eleanor Fletcher and Dr. Edie Widder – Ocean Research & Conservation Association, President/CEO & Senior Scientist.
The finalists and winners in each category will be recognized on Friday, November 8, 2013 at the Fifth Annual Go Blue Awards Luncheon hosted at PGA National Resort & Spa featuring keynote speaker, Jim Toomey. For the past thirteen years, Jim Toomey has been creating the daily comic strip Sherman’s Lagoon, which appears in over 150 newspapers in North America. Sherman’s Lagoon is a combination of Toomey’s two lifelong passions: drawing and the sea. Toomey is also active in ocean conservation and serves as the executive director of Mission Blue, a network of non-profits dedicated to creating marine protected areas. He has presented at a variety of venues ranging from the Royal Society in London to a kindergarten class. Toomey has also been featured in many of his client newspapers, as well as Wired magazine and Discovery Channel’s Shark Week.
For more information on the Go Blue Awards, to purchase tickets to the Fifth Annual Go Blue Awards Luncheon or to learn more about sponsoring the luncheon, visit marinelife.org/bluefriends.
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About Loggerhead Marinelife Center:
Loggerhead Marinelife Center, a non-profit organization, is committed to the conservation of Florida’s coastal ecosystems through public education, research and rehabilitation with a focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. The center features an on-site campus hospital, learning exhibits and aquariums. Situated on the world’s most important sea turtle nesting beach, Loggerhead Marinelife Center is open daily and hosts over 215,000 visitors each year. For more information, visit www.marinelife.org or call 561-627-8280.
(L to R) Pete Wells (Go Blue Co-chair) Barbara Brunnick, Taras Oceanographic Foundation, 2012 Blue Friend of the Year, Amy Lesh, Jupiter Dive Center, 2012 Blue Business of the Year, Sara Brenes, Shark Whisperer, 2012 Blue Ambassador of the Year, Lynne Wells, Go Blue Co-chair, Hardy Jones, Bluevoice.org, 2012 Eleanor Fletcher Lifetime Achievement Award.
Photo Credit: Bill Barbosa