Mote Magazine, Spring 2012 by Vetted Communications

Spring 2012

COVER

A SEA TURTLEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INCREDIBLE JOURNEY 6 Former First Lady Tours Mote

Teaming Up for Science

Mote Milestones

New Exhibit Opens

Celebrity Sightings

2012 Events Calendar

Taking The Plunge?

Mote Magazine | A unique mission Mote Magazine (ISSN 1553-1104) is published by Mote Marine Laboratory, a nonprofit organization dedicated to today’s research for tomorrow’s oceans. By telling the stories of sea science, Mote hopes to enhance public understanding of marine research and conservation.

President and CEO Dr. Kumar Mahadevan Editor Nadine Slimak

Mote Aquarium Venue Rentals

Creative Director Lawson Mitchell

Call Paula Clark for details:

Writer Hayley Rutger

(941) 388-2252 or e-mail pclark@mote.org.

Contributing Photographers Dick Dickinson, Lawson Mitchell, Nadine Slimak

PUBLISHING PARTNER Mote Magazine is proud to recognize Sarasota Magazine as its publishing partner. For information on sponsorship, please contact Sarasota Magazine at 941-487-1109.

Send a Seahorse to Someone Special

Adopt an animal at Mote Aquarium

SPRING 2012 • VOLUME 60 Info: (941) 388-4441 • www.mote.org Cover Photo

Now you can give a dolphin to dad or a manatee to mom. You can even give the team their very own turtle. Mote’s new Adopt-an-Animal Program is a special way to show someone you care while helping support programs and research at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.

www.mote.org/adopt A tagged Kemp’s ridley sea turtle has a moment in the spotlight before returning to the Gulf of Mexico.

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Adopting a seahorse, shark, manatee, stingray, sea turtle, manatee or dolphin is a great gift for any special occasion.

Former First Lady Laura Bush met the manatees at Mote. Mrs. Bush had the opportunity to meet Hugh and Buffett and learn about the scientific studies they participate in from Manatee Care, Training and Research Coordinator Joe Gaspard (left) and Mote President and CEO, Dr. Kumar Mahadevan (right).

FORMER FIRST LADY LAURA BUSH MAKES A SPECIAL VISIT TO MOTE By Hayley Rutger Photos by Dick Dickinson

ormer First Lady Laura Bush toured Mote Marine Laboratory in January during a visit to Sarasota, meeting Mote’s world-class research scientists and encountering some of Florida’s most iconic marine species. Mote was honored to host the former First Lady, who has championed ocean conservation and protection of the Gulf of Mexico. Mrs. Bush met Mote President and CEO, Dr. Kumar Mahadevan, during the State of the Gulf of Mexico Summit hosted by the Harte Research Institute (HRI) in December in Houston and he invited her for a visit. Dr. Mahadevan is on the HRI advisory board and, during the Summit, Mrs. Bush spoke about the importance of preserving Gulf ecosystems and forging new cooperative conservation efforts to ensure their future — goals that are key parts of Mote’s mission. Mote has a nearly 60-year history of Gulf-focused marine research and has played an integral part in the Gulf-wide oil spill response through research, animal rehabilitation, conservation and leadership of international scientific meetings on the status of the Gulf. The former First Lady’s tour of Mote began with a special behind-the-scenes visit with resident manatees Hugh and MOTE MAGAZINE | sprI N G 2012

Laura Bush (center) watches a bonnethead shark swim as she learns about shark sensory biology and behavior studies being conducted at Mote from Dr. Jayne Gardiner, post-doctoral fellow, and Dr. Michael Crosby, senior vice president for research.

Buffett, the world’s only manatees trained to participate in research. Mote scientists have done groundbreaking research on eyesight, hearing and sense of touch to learn how manatees navigate in their environment, providing valuable information for management and conservation of manatee populations, which are endangered in the wild. Mote’s Mahadevan was thrilled to guide Mrs. Bush through the Lab that he has led for more than 25 years. “I was glad to have the opportunity to speak with Mrs. Bush about the Gulf, the need to protect it and her dedication to speaking out about the needs of this important ecosystem,” he said. “Mote is honored that she was able to join us here on our campus to learn more about our research and our role in protecting and conserving the Gulf. We are glad that Mrs. Bush was able to view our many efforts to improve the health of this vital body of

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Katharine Nicolaisen, senior animal trainer, with Rudy the penguin, Laura Bush and Laura Denum, animal trainer, with Ninja the penguin.

water — especially our joint initiative with the Harte Research Institute to protect special habitats in the Gulf.” (Learn more at www.mote.org/ beyondhorizon, where the special report, “Beyond the Horizon: Creating a Network of Special Ocean Places to Strengthen the Ecology, Economy and Culture of the Gulf of Mexico” can be downloaded.) Mrs. Bush visited Mote scientists who are shedding new light on the sensory biology and behavior of sharks — top predators that play crucial roles in ocean ecosystems. She also met Mote researchers leading renowned studies of restoration of coral reef ecosystems, which are impacted by ocean acidification and disease. “This is all very interesting to me, especially because I’m interested in ocean conservation for the Gulf, both here in Florida and in Texas,” she said. “I love to see this research, and I’m very impressed — especially with all the young Ph.D.s here, many of whom are women. I think it’s important to engage young people, whether they’re scientists or whether they’re kids learning about marine conservation.” The former First Lady visited several exhibits in Mote Aquarium and even had the opportunity to meet an endangered species in Mote’s Penguin Island, a limited-time exhibit highlighting African penguins. She also visited Mote’s Seahorse Conservation Laboratory, which raises hundreds of baby seahorses for educational displays across the country, lessening the need to collect seahorses from the wild. Mrs. Bush also met Mote’s own “Shark Lady” — famous marine biologist Dr. Eugenie Clark, who founded the research Lab in 1955, and discussed the Lab’s wide-ranging marine science programs with Mote’s Senior Vice President for Research, Dr. Michael Crosby. “Mote’s home is the Gulf of Mexico, but our research and education efforts reach around the globe,” Crosby said. “We hope this visit has given the former First Lady an excellent sample of Mote’s research, which spans a myriad of ocean species and ecosystems worldwide.” n

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A SeA TurTle’S IncredIble Journey By Hayley Rutger

ea turtles don’t usually hang out in the Netherlands, but that’s just where a lost Kemp’s ridley sea turtle was found in 2008. Discovered by members of a marine stranding network, the turtle was extremely cold and thin and covered in a slimy, sandy coating. After being stabilized by the Rotterdam Zoo, the turtle was sent to the aquarium Oceanário de Lisboa in Portugal the following summer and then transferred for rehabilitation to the Portuguese theme park Zoomarine. Along the way, the turtle’s travels earned it the nickname “Johnny Vasco da Gama” for the Portuguese

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explorer Vasco da Gama, who opened the sea route from Europe to India. Zoomarine staff identified the turtle as a juvenile Kemp’s ridley — a highly endangered species that normally inhabits the relatavely shallow, warm waters of the western North Atlantic, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico. Obviously, this turtle was a long way from home. We’re Not in the Gulf Anymore Few Kemp’s ridleys have stranded in Europe, but cases are known from museum specimens dating back to 1913 in Great Britain, 1921 in Ireland, 1926 in France and 1954 in the Netherlands. These strand-

ings occur when young Kemp’s ridleys are swept across the Atlantic by the powerful Gulf Stream current, ending up in cold waters where they cannot survive for long. Saving Johnny was crucial — Kemp’s ridleys are among the world’s rarest sea turtles and each one is important to the population. In the name of conservation, caregivers began working to get the sea turtle home. The Flying Turtle Bringing Johnny home meant getting special import and export permits, finding an airline willing to help and keeping careful tabs on the turtle’s health every step of the way.

JOHNNy VasCO Da GaMa certainly has a tale to tell. This endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle was returned to the Gulf of Mexico by Mote following a 4,600-mile detour.

UNKNOWN ROUTE to stranding in Netherlands. TRaNsPORTED to Lisbon, Portugal TRaNsPORTED to sarasota, Fla.

Johnny’s journey was made possible through an international team effort by Zoomarine, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the U.S. Embassy in Portugal, the Portuguese airline TAP and Mote Marine Laboratory, which was the turtle’s final stop in its journey back to sea. How do sea turtles fly? This one flew in style in a TAP airlines plane that had undergone special modifications to its cabin (at the airline’s expense). After making a test flight, the airline was given the go ahead to fly Johnny home.

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Johnny receives a check-up at Mote.

Happy Homecoming Accompanied by caregivers from Zoomarine, Johnny arrived in Miami on Nov. 28, 2011, and was transported to Mote the next day by FWC staff. Johnny was welcomed by several television news crews and welcome home signs. “This was an amazing journey on every level,” said Élio A. Vicente, director of science and education at Zoomarine. “After two and a half years, this is a perfect ending.” At Mote, Johnny received a thorough exam and medical staff determined that he was ready to return to the Gulf about a month later. On the morning of Dec. 27, dozens of wellwishers gathered along the windy shoreline at Lido Beach to await Johnny’s release. A white Mote truck pulled up and Mote scientists and caregivers lifted Johnny — a 68-pound turtle looking alert and healthy — into a sling for the short walk to the water. The turtle was returned to the foamy shallows as onlookers waved goodbye. As Johnny vanished beneath the waves, the last thing in sight was the special tracking device on Johnny’s back: a cell phone-sized satellite tag attached by Mote’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program.

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With a crowd watching, Johnny is returned to the Gulf of Mexico sporting a new satellite tag to track his movements.

The tag allows scientists and the public to watch Johnny’s travels at sea and even helps determine the success of the turtle’s rehabilitation, said Dr. Tony Tucker, manager of Mote’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program. Tucker, a Florida Marine Turtle Permit Holder, coordinates Mote’s sea turtle research and satellite tagging efforts and is a member of the IUCN Marine Turtle Specialist Group, an internationally recognized body that works for the conservation of marine turtles. “Rehabilitation success can be judged by the turtle resuming normal behavior upon return to the wild,” Tucker said. “Since we have an ongoing tagging program with Kemp’s ridleys in Charlotte Harbor, that provides a benchmark that gives us something to compare this turtle’s behavior to.” Mote has satellite tagged more than 120 sea turtles since 2005 and is one of the few Florida facilities with permission to satellite tag and track turtles that have been rehabilitated following an injury or illness. Johnny’s satellite tag was supplied by Wildlife Computers and has allowed the public to watch as the ridley re-orients to its breeding and feeding grounds in the Gulf of Mexico.

The public can follow along on this turtle’s journey home by logging onto http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking and clicking on “Johnny” or by going to http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/ index.shtml?tag_id=113650. The seaturtle.org Web site includes regular updates of Johnny’s travels at sea; it also shows updates from the many other turtles that Mote is tracking in the wild.

Because turtles use the Earth’s magnetic field to navigate and commonly travel hundreds of miles between the places where they breed and the places where they feed, experts predicted that Johnny would eventually find its way with relative ease. Back on Track So far, the satellite tag has shown that Johnny is making good progress. During the six weeks after its release, the turtle traveled northward steadily, hugging the Florida coastline and turning west along the Panhandle. By mid-February, Johnny had passed Port St. Joe and was nearing Mobile Bay. “Johnny’s path to the northern Gulf is consistent with the homing behavior seen in other Kemp’s ridleys, which travel along the coastline because they need to feed over the shallow continental margin,” Tucker said. “Other Kemp’s tend to travel north earlier in the year, but Johnny’s late start is not worrisome. It’s headed toward an area where other Kemp’s are known to hang out.” FWC biologist Meghan Koperski, who coordinated Johnny’s return to Florida, called the turtle’s incredible journey a conservation success. “Johnny’s release was an exciting and proud moment for all involved, but more importantly, it was a milestone in the effort to save the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle population,” she said. n

Saving Sea TurTleS as this international effort proves, it takes teamwork to save threatened and endangered sea species. you can help support Mote’s efforts by making a monthly donation to our sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital. Online at www.mote.org/ turtledonation.

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Teaming up f o r ma ri ne s c i e nc e New Partnership Will Bring USF Sarasota-Manatee Students to Mote Campus

n February, Mote and the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee signed an agreement that will result in closer ties between the two organizations and lead to the development of new classrooms and teaching laboratories on Mote’s campus. USFSM and Mote will also create new joint appointments for Mote researchers who will serve as faculty and allow USFSM faculty and students to work closely with Mote staff on the research programs and initiatives under way at Mote. Mote has a long history of educating students in the marine sciences through internships for undergraduate and graduate students that bring more than 150 college students to the Lab annually. Many of Mote’s Ph.D. scientists also participate in graduate education programs through their adjunct status at colleges and universities nationwide. The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Campus opened in the 1974-75 academic year, providing courses for upper-level undergraduates, graduates and continuing education students. Today, the campus serves more than 4,800 students annually, including classes in south Sarasota County. USF Sarasota-Manatee will begin offering freshmen classes in fall 2013. The new classrooms and teaching laboratories will be located in Mote’s Ann and Alfred Goldstein Marine

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By Nadine Slimak

Mammal Research and Rehabilitation Center, which already houses a conference room and offices for Mote’s dolphin, sea turtle and manatee conservation programs. Organizations like the National Science Foundation have long supported hands-on research experiences for undergraduate students as a way to improve the nation’s expertise in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. The Mote-USFSM partnership will serve to directly implement such a strategy for Sarasota and Southwest Florida by linking the USFSM classes and programs with innovative basic research and applied science and technology programs taking place at Mote. “Mote has a long history of working with USF in many different areas of marine research, including shark research and our Aquaculture Park in eastern Sarasota County,” said Dr. Kumar Mahadevan, president & CEO of Mote. “We’re very excited that this agreement will create new avenues for Mote staff to help educate the next generation of marine scientists and for USFSM faculty to have the opportunity to work with us on our world-recognized research programs.” “This is a real win/win/win because the students become the real winners,” said Dr. Arthur Guilford, regional chancellor for USFSM. “This will provide the students with the ability to work with high-quality scientists who are engaged in exciting fields of research. This is a unique, real-world model for undergraduate research.” n

Mote Milestones Israeli and U.S. Scientific Leaders Complete Successful Meeting at MotE Scientific leaders from Israel and the U.S. met at Mote Marine Laboratory in February, calling the Lab an inspiring setting for their effort to advance science between the two nations. The United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) hosted its semi-annual Board of Governors meeting on Feb. 7 and 8 at Mote — the Board’s first U.S. meeting outside of Washington, D.C. The meeting focused on expanding opportunities to support BSF programs of scientific exchange between the U.S. and Israel. BSF is an independent organization founded in 1972 that supports leading research projects between the U.S. and Israel. Dozens of NobelPrize laureates have participated in BSF and these efforts led to the 2004 Nobel in Chemistry. “The Binational Science Foundation was established to promote scientific relations between the U.S. and Israel, and over the years that collaboration has flourished,” said Dr. Mina Teicher, vice chair of the BSF Board, which includes five Israelis and five Americans. “Now, what a wonderful place for us to meet — in Sarasota, Florida at this interesting and inspiring research institution, Mote Marine Laboratory.”

BSF Board members toured the world-class research facilities at Mote and met Mote’s famous founder Dr. Eugenie Clark, who worked with Israeli researchers to study sharks and fish in the Red Sea. Mote staff highlighted the Lab’s plans for greater collaboration with Israel. “Mote has partnered with Israeli scientists from its origins,” said Dr. Michael Crosby, Mote’s senior vice president for research, who is a BSF Board member and past chairman. “Following this fruitful history, we’re pleased to move forward with a new initiative: the Mote-Israel Cooperative Marine Research Program. This new effort will strengthen connections between Mote and Israeli scientists in the same spirit as the Binational Science Foundation.” Mote’s Cooperative Program, which is independent of BSF, is designed to support joint research between Mote and Israeli scientists and students to benefit the environments of both nations. Mote is seeking community support for this new initiative that will be used to fund travel between countries and support the joint research of scientists and students so that international research efforts started Eugenie Clark decades ago can continue to grow. n

Mote Caviar Update More than a decade ago, Mote began exploring ways to remove fishing pressures from wild sturgeon stocks by developing innovative aquaculture techniques to produce a superior product in an environmentally responsible fashion. Today, Mote’s Siberian sturgeon caviar is carried by some of the country’s finest purveyors and served in premier restaurants. Mote Caviar is marketed both under its own label and also as a private label product by specialty food distributors. Among them: Whole Foods Market, Costco.com, Balducci’s, Williams-Sonoma, Disney Dream Cruiseline, Disney restaurants, Bellagio’s Las Vegas, New York Plaza Hotel, the Waldorf Astoria, Marky’s Caviar, Caviar & Caviar, Great Atlantic Trading Company, Petrossian, American Caviar, Browne Trading Company, Seattle Caviar, Pacific Plaza Imports, Lafayette Caviar & Fine Foods, Petrovich Caviar, Artisinal Foods, Anna Maria Fish Company and Ocean Harvest Market. Mote also offers special sales for our members and supporters throughout the year. Sturgeon filets and caviar can be ordered and picked up at Mote’s main Sarasota campus on City Island. (Sorry, we cannot ship.) Sign up for news of these special sales at www.mote.org/caviarsignup. n

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The Ruth DeLynn Cetacean Osteological Collection and exhibit are supported by the “Ruth DeLynn Cetacean Collection at Mote Marine Laboratory Fund” established by an anonymous donor through the Community Foundation of sarasota County. To learn more about the collection at Mote and to request scientific access, visit: www.mote.org/bones.

New Exhibit Highlights

Bone ColleCtion

ote Aquarium recently opened a new exhibit showcasing the Ruth DeLynn Cetacean Osteological Collection. The collection is nationally accredited by the American Society of Mammalogists and holds more than 650 bone specimens from 17 species of dolphins and whales. The collection was honored in July 2011 with accreditation, with Society officials calling its scientific value unsurpassed. The accreditation is the highest seal of approval for such collections and marks the Osteological Collection as a treasured scientific resource. Ruth DeLynn has been the collection’s volunteer curator for more than 25 years, and her dedication and hard work have made the collection the valuable resource for scientific inquiry that it is today. The new exhibit is located near the gift shop in Mote Aquarium and features a real skeleton from a Sarasota Bay dolphin, along with an interactive display of bone deformities — from rib fractures to arthritis — that reveal the challenging lives of wild cetaceans (dolphins and

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whales). The exhibit shows behindthe-scenes video of the Osteological Collection, where DeLynn describes some of the bones and the interesting stories they tell. Most of the specimens in the collection are bottlenose dolphins, including 68 from the local Sarasota Bay resident population studied since 1970 by the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program — a collaboration between Mote and the Chicago Zoological Society. Through this Program, scientists study the life history, health, habitat use, environmental contaminant concentrations and behavior of Sarasota Bay dolphins. When the animals die, Mote’s Stranding Investigations Program helps to recover the carcasses in order to gain a better understanding of the factors that lead to dolphins’ deaths. Once necropsies (animal autopsies) are performed, the bones are then cleaned and catalogued in the DeLynn Collection and available for still further study. This “cradle-to-grave” approach to the study of wild dolphins is unique to Mote and makes the DeLynn Collection “one of the most important and significant cetacean collections in the

By Hayley Rutger

world,” according to the accreditation report from the American Society of Mammalogists (ASM). Accreditation includes listing the collection in ASM’s directory of mammal specimen collections in the Western Hemisphere. The collection is available upon request to visiting scientists and scholars. “By highlighting this collection, our new exhibit allows the public to glimpse a rare scientific gem,” said Dr. Kumar Mahadevan, Mote president. “This shows what is so unique about Mote Aquarium — our outreach draws from world-class science being performed by dedicated people right here in our community. We are tremendously grateful to Ruth for her work to make this collection and exhibit possible.”

THE NEW ExHIBIT (free with regular admission) is on display for visitors from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 365 days per year at Mote Aquarium, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway in Sarasota. Aquarium admission is $17 for adults, $16 for seniors over 65, $12 for children ages 4-12 and free for children ages 3 and younger. Mote Members always get in free. n

Celebrity Sightings Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium certainly has been a celebrity draw recently. In addition to hosting Laura Bush, wildlife television host Jeff Corwin filmed part of an episode of his show at Mote. And Chris Fischer of “Shark Men” fame helped us feed the sharks in our Courtyard exhibit.

At Mote Aquarium, we’re getting excited about our next special exhibit. Did you know that Mote Members receive free Aquarium admission and can visit us again and again throughout the year?

Don’t wAit!

Hugh and Buffett got to show their skills to the world during an episode of “Ocean Mysteries.” The series, which airs on Saturdays on ABC-TV, features world-renowned conservationist and Emmy Award-winning TV personality Jeff Corwin (above right), who takes viewers around the world as he shares the connections between life in the sea and life on the rest of the planet. The series is produced by Litton Entertainment in partnership with Georgia Aquarium. During the November filming at Mote, Corwin worked with Katharine Nicolaisen (above left), senior manatee research trainer, as she explained the research projects that Hugh and Buffett participate in. Mote’s manatees are the only ones in the world trained to participate in research. These studies help us learn how manatees navigate in their environment and provide invaluable information for management and conservation of manatee populations, which are endangered in the wild. n

Shark conservationist Chris Fischer of “Shark Men” and “Expedition Great White” on the National Geographic Channel and the nonprofit OCEARCH helped feed the sharks at Mote Aquarium and met renowned scientists before giving a sold-out talk as part of Mote’s annual Special Lecture Series. Last summer, Fischer and his crew hosted Dr. Robert Hueter, manager of Mote’s Shark Biology Program, aboard the M/V Ocean during shark studies in Boca Grande Pass. n

Become a Mote Member or upgrade your Mote Membership today.

You’ll ReceiVe: •

Cost savings. Regular adult admissions are $17. Members receive free unlimted visits for yourself and your guests.* Members also receive special discounts in our gift shops and to our many events and programs.

•

Reduced or free admission to more than 100 other zoos, aquariums and museums in the U.s., Canada and mexico. (www.mote.org/ reciprocal for details.)

•

The chance to be a repeat visitor at Mote Aquarium’s next special exhibit, slated to open in fall 2012

•

The good feeling that comes from knowing you have supported a worthy organization that is working to conserve our oceans and our sea-going animals.

*No. of guests admitted depends on membership level.

Join or renew today at

www.mote.org/membership or call Lisa Abbott at (941) 388-4441, ext. 373.

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Celebrating Philanthropy Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium

Sarasota’s Rande Ridenour of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney was just a kid when he first met Mote Marine Laboratory. Back then, the Lab was on Siesta Key, and its founding director Genie Clark was just earning her nickname “The Shark Lady.” As he grew up, Rande became an ardent boater, diver and all-around waterman. Eventually, he had children of his own and shared his love of the sea with his family through membership at Mote. Four years ago, Rande decided to dedicate even more time to supporting the organization that had been such an important part of his ocean education. Today, he’s a proud volunteer and President of Mote Marine Laboratory’s Advisory Council — as he puts it, one of the Lab’s chief ambassadors to the community.

“Every day, I help people plan for their futures... I like the fact that Mote helps the world plan for the future of our oceans.” Why does he do it? “I go back a long way with Mote. I always knew it was a special place but I was surprised at how much I learned — and how much Mote really does — when I finally had the time to get more involved. I love spreading the word about Mote and bringing new friends to the organization.”

The Ridenour Group at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney 2 North Tamiami Trail, Suite 1100, Sarasota 800-237-9441 • 941-364-3553 rande.ridenour@mssb.com

Special Events Mote Aquarium 2012 Events Calendar

APRIL April 7: 26th Annual Run for the Turtles. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. The 1-mile fun walk/run begins at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K begins at 8 a.m. Siesta Public Beach. Awareness and fundraiser for Mote’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program. Details at www.mote.org/turtlerun. April 14: 6 p.m. Party on the Pass. Mote Aquarium Courtyard, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota. Beer, wine and food stations provided by the Sarasota-Manatee Originals. Silent and live auctions. A benefit for sick, injured or stranded dolphins, whales and sea turtles. Casual attire. $75 per person. Reservations required before April 10. Contact Stacy Alexander at 941-388-4441, ext. 509, or stacyalexander@mote.org.

Take a closer look.

JUNE June 2: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mote Aquarium’s World Oceans Day. Family festival in Aquarium Courtyard. Free with paid admission; $17 for adults, $12 for children, children younger than 4 and Mote Members always get in free. (Sponsorships available.) Contact Stacy Alexander.

OCTOBER Oct. 19: 6:30-9 p.m. Mote’s Night of Fish, Fun & Fright. Buoys and ghouls of all ages are invited to dress up in costume for a Night of Fish, Fun and Fright at Mote Aquarium. Sail the spooky seas and discover sea creatures from the deep in a safe and fun trick-or-treating zone. Cost to be announced. (Sponsorships available.) Details at www.mote.org/halloween. Contact Stacy Alexander. Oct. 27: 6:30 p.m. Mote’s Annual Oceanic Evening. Elegant black-tie fundraiser is an evening of fine dining and dancing. RSVP required. $250 per person. (Sponsorships available.) Details at www.mote.org/oceanic. Contact Vicki Wiese: 941-388-4441, ext. 305, or vicki@mote.org.

NOVEMBER Nov. 9-12: Third annual Siesta Key Crystal Classic Master Sand Sculpting Competition. Competition and fun family event to benefit Mote Marine Laboratory’s sea turtle research, rescue, rehabilitation and conservation programs. Details to be announced.

open 10a.m.-5p.m. • 365 Days A Year 1600 Ken thompson Pkwy. Sarasota, Fl 34236 (941) 388-4441 • www.mote.org/aquarium

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Creating Your Plan for Giving Back

1600 Ken thompson Parkway Sarasota, fL 34236-1004 (941) 388-4441 www.mote.org

LEAviNg A LEgACy: Tom and Carol Kerr Every Mote donor has a story about why they support Mote through its Legacy Program. Each story is personal, different and carefully considered. But in the end, the motivation is the same: They all believe in Mote’s mission. Tom and Carol Kerr say education led to the legacy they will leave for Mote.

The couple met in Boston where Tom was an associate dean at Northeastern University and Carol was finishing her master’s degree in speech language pathology. The pair quickly found mutual interests, including rescuing wildlife and the sea. “When my parents moved to Sarasota in the ’70s, we would come down to visit and that’s how we came to know Mote Marine Laboratory,” Carol explains. They were so impressed by Mote’s research and education programs that they added Mote to the list of charities they supported. “We began giving Mote modest annual gifts and, in time, became sustaining members,” says Tom. “We were impressed by the programs — programs with the power to change public perceptions in favor of protecting marine life. Education was the tie that bound us and led to our commitment to support the Laboratory with a gift devised by our will.” “That’s right,” says Carol. “And we hope other potential donors will see the enormous contribution Mote is making and make their own contribution to Mote through their estate plans.”

There are many ways you can support Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. For more information and help in planning your contribution, go to www.mote.org/plannedgiving or contact Ann Hayes at (941) 388-4441, ext. 261.

www.mote.org

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