The Observer, January 2008
Community Corner: Calling all coloring book artists!
By Linda Robinson, Outreach Coordinator
WE WANT YOU…to submit simple line drawings related to our region for the next edition of the Prince William Sound coloring book. The coloring book is provided free to students in the area and is handed out at conferences. It has been very popular and we look forward to publishing the new edition.
Drawings must be received by February 29. You can mail your work to me at our Anchorage office using the address at the bottom right of this page. Or, if you can make a high-quality digital image of your work, you can try emailing it to me at robinson@pwsrcac.org.
Fall began with a successful reception at the Old Powerhouse Restaurant in Kodiak in conjunction with our September board meeting. Many community members and officials came to visit with the council and its staff while munching on sushi.
To assist the council’s goal of increasing student involvement, we have formed an education working group. We met in October to discuss priorities and ways to involve more students in the council’s work.
One step toward that goal was to invite teachers and students from two schools in our region to participate in the second annual science night, the volunteer workshop, and the volunteer appreciation party, where guest speaker Dr. Peter Rona talked about his exploration of volcanoes under the sea. Valdez teacher Jenny Heckathorn brought Samantha Ace, Sara Stahley, and Bud Scott to the events in late November, while teacher and council board member Jane Eisemann of Kodiak brought Sonia Sorto and Allie Bateman.
Dr. Peter Rona visits with Kodiak students Sonia Sorto (center) and Allie Bateman during the council's Volunteer Appreciation Party. Photo by Linda Robinson.
Science night consisted of presentations by Steve Okkonnen on Gulf of Alaska water temperatures and currents; Jim Alanko on coastal ocean dynamics applications radar; Scott Pegau on Cook Inlet currents; Jennifer Ewald on the Prince William Sound tides and currents; James Beget on seismic issues in Port Valdez; and Jim Payne and Bill Driskell on the council’s Long Term Environmental Monitoring Program.
The students from Kodiak hope to make a presentation next year at Science Night, and the students from Valdez plan to present lessons from the recently updated Oil Spill Curriculum to elementary students. The curriculum is available on the council website, www.pwsrcac.org, for free download.
In November, Jacqueline Olson and Dan Gilson, of the council’s Valdez office, gave presentations to local high school students on the council and invasive species. Scientific Advisory Committee volunteer Peter Armato and I gave a presentation in mid-December at Seward High School on the council and “Alien Invaders.” The students were very enjoyable.
The council’s information booth was set up at the annual conference of the Alaska Association of Municipal Clerks, November 4-6 in Fairbanks; at the annual meeting of the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, November 11-15 in Milwaukee; and at Pacific Marine Expo, November 15-17 in Seattle. Upcoming conferences include the Alaska Forum on the Environment and the Alaska Wilderness Recreation and Tourism conference, both taking place in February. We will also participate in the Kenai and MatSu Sportsman’s shows in the spring.
The council wishes to thank Denise Saigh and Bill Schoephoester for their service. They each recently resigned as volunteers. Denise was on the Terminal Operations and Environmental Monitoring committee, or TOEM, and Bill represented the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce on the board. We appreciate our volunteers and their work. We are looking for more volunteers for TOEM as well as the Port Operations and Vessel Traffic System committee. Please let me know if you are interested.
We also wish to welcome new committee member Bob Flint who has joined the Oil Spill Prevention and Response committee, and Pat Duffy who replaced Bill Schoephoester on the board.
The council and staff of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council wishes you a safe and happy new year!