title>Florida Oceanographic Society - Letter from Executive Director
December 1, 1998
Dear Friends,
The Society's staff and volunteers continue this year to provide an exciting educational experience at the Coastal Science Center on Hutchinson Island to more than 14,000 visitors including 4,500 students from regional schools and groups.
A great big "Thanks" to all the volunteers who gave over 10,000 hours in 1998 to make it happen.
This year we completed the new Mangrove Marsh Nature Trail and two of the Native Habitat Nurseries.
We are working to finish the Outdoor Reef Aquarium project and the Junior Service League Activity Pavilion which should both be completed early in 1999.
We also started the "Lagoon Explorer" educational nature cruise program and a Clam Aquaculture project at the Center with Research Aquaculture.
Our Website has grown to include weekly estuary monitoring data, over 200 links to marine related resources and tons of information on regional marine ecosystems which is popular with students doing research projects.
This summer we also continued the Saturday Lagoon field trips and added the Reef Snorkeling field trips that were all well attended.
Everything we do is only possible with your help.
We do not receive any direct state or federal support.
Our major source of funding comes from individuals like you who are committed to our mission.
Without your contributions, donations and Membership each year, we would not be able to continue these activities and keep the Center going.
So now is the time of year when we ask each of our friends who believe in what we are doing to make a special Year-End Gift to the Society.
Last year we reached 83.2% of our goal with 91 contributions by the end of 1997.
Our special "thanks" to all of you who helped.
We have set the goal of $20,000 by March 31 and will strive to surpass it.
Your donation is needed to match the challenge of our grant projects and to continue the operation of the Coastal Science Center.
You donation today is truly an investment in the education of future generations which directly helps to protect our ocean and coastal environments.
Sincerely yours,
Mark Perry
Executive Director
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