Volunteer Linda Martin: Decades of service and a commitment to progressive causes

A very dedicated duo of volunteers have been welcoming visitors to the museum and aquarium for over 14 years. In this profile we’ll focus on the “aquarium” half of the duo, aquarium docent, former board member and progressive political activist Linda Martin.

Pre-Covid Linda “shared” a docent shift, with her husband Mike, who volunteered as a docent in the museum. They continued this pattern once again this spring, until Mike was briefly taken out of action to undergo heart bypass surgery.

Although Linda’s devoted care to Mike throughout this event was assisted by a few of his cousins who traveled to be nearby, it also came with a dose of Taylor Swift. The very day that Mike underwent surgery, the first of Swift’s massive concerts at Lumen Field made finding accommodations VERY difficult. Ultimately, Linda secured the very last room at the Virginia Mason Inn, and Mike went on to a successful surgery and a good recovery.

Linda Martin (right) trained new volunteer Barbara

Linda and Mike both grew up in Raytown, Missouri and actually met each other in 3rd grade. They attended school together all the way through the twelfth grade, when Linda headed off to a state university, and Mike was appointed to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. 

Both Linda and Mike had been married previously, but they reconnected in the mid-70’s after Mike successfully looked her up with the help of another classmate. Linda said their connection at this time was “Instant.It was like magic.” They married just a few months after reconnecting and last spring they celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary!

Mike and his first wife had three children at the time of his marriage to Linda, three boys aged 8, 11 and 12 years old, and Linda happily welcomed Mike’s oldest boy for the school year and the younger two over summer breaks.

Linda’s personal struggles with reproductive health helped focus her drive and attention on becoming an advocate for women’s health initiatives.

In 1972 she created a thirty minute film called “A Personal Choice” for the Michigan Abortion Referendum Committee which described the choices in a Michigan ballot initiative (Proposal B on the state ballot) legalizing abortion. The film was shown on TV with legendary newscaster Hugh Downs as narrator. 

As a Captain in the Navy, Mike’s position necessitated frequent moves. When they moved to Hawaii, Linda says, “I got political - the first thing I did was go back to grad school to get an Masters in Public Health and helped get a wellness program started in Hawaii.”

“The Well Women Clinic was free and independent, and proved to be very vital as that was the first year that the federal government stopped funding Planned Parenthood.” She then realized that “Hawaii had a big chunk of money and no place to put it,” so, she says, “I wrote a grant to apply for those funds. They decided to give us the money and we were able to open the clinic.” She was also instrumental in hiring a nurse midwife to staff the clinic, a first at the time.

In 1992, she ran for the Senate on the Green Party ticket in Hawaii, where she achieved an astounding 13% of the vote count. As a senate candidate “I was invited to the European Green Party convention in Finland.”

There she met office holders who were astounded to learn that even with earning 13% of the vote, she was not given a role in the government, as folks there are accustomed to proportionate representation.

Mike subsequently went on to achieve a PhD in physics, and as “Dr. Captain” worked for many years for the Center for Naval Analysis, until his retirement in 2004. Many visits to the Oregon coast and points northward focused their attention on Port Townsend as their retirement location.

One key experience leading to their decision to move to Port Townsend involved a wrong turn on their drive up the coast, which found them in Sequim. When they stopped in the visitor center there, and asked about Port Townsend, the aid said “Oh, you don’t want to go over there, it’s just a bunch of old hippies.” Linda says, “We decided right  then that this was who we wanted to be. When Mike retired on December 4, we loaded up the car and left for Port Townsend on December 6.” 

They rented a place initially and... “We had the kids come up and visit us, and they liked it too!”

Ultimately they found a home to purchase on Vista Boulevard with stunning water views in each room. And, for the former Naval Captain, there was a great view of all the ships coming and going to Indian Island.

Both Mike and Linda had served for many years as docents at Torrey Pines State Reserve, known as a ‘wilderness island in an urban sea,’ just 18 miles from San Diego. “Mike had been a guide, and I had been on the board, and also wrote the newsletter.”

One of the first things they did in town was to attend the annual holiday sale at the PTMSC museum. The host that day was Pam Gray, and she encouraged them to apply to become volunteers with PTMSC. Being brand new to the Pacific Northwest, Linda responded quite adamantly, “But we don’t know anything!” Pam’s response – “We’ll train you.”

The training itself turned out to be very notable. “Right as the training was about to begin the funniest thing happened, someone came rushing into the museum to announce that the river otters were mating on the beach.” Of course everyone had to rush out to witness nature’s miracle.

In addition to her service as a docent, Linda was also a PTMSC board member for a number of years. Board President Eric Harrington (now deceased) and Development Director Joanne Heron were impressed with her writing skills and she created a history of the organization for its 25th anniversary, including a profile of founder Judy D’Amore and Libby Palmer which was published in the Port Townsend Leader. She also managed PTMSC’s non profit vendor booth at the Port Townsend Farmers Market for five years, where she was responsible for setting up the booth on a monthly basis and encouraged folks to donate and become members, and of course, to volunteer.

It was wonderful to have the opportunity to join Linda for lunch and learn more about her fascinating history. In the future she’ll enjoy continuing as a docent and her appreciation for the personalities of the grunt sculpins, her favorite critter in the aquarium. Thank you for your years of service, Linda!

#volunteers #volunteerspotlight

A Message From The Executive Director

One of the key reasons that I accepted the position of executive director of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center this past April is YOU. Because you ARE the Center. I have a deep respect for the power of community-based marine science centers. They catalyze change by drawing on the collective strength and skills of the community.

There are so many people who care deeply and inspire me. For example:

	Linda Dacon has been on the board for almost two decades. She is the picture of a true lifelong learner who makes time to share the excitement of discovery with others, including me.
	Toni Davison's curiosity about the marine environment is infectious. Visitors are drawn in by her enthusiasm for what's under the microscope, how whales feed, or other burning questions. As am I.
	Mariah Vane is an artist/scientist. From her days as an AmeriCorps (2018-19) with us, to her recent work creating the kelp exhibit creatures, inspiring conservation through art is second nature to her.
	Lorenzo McCleese began volunteering with PTMSC when he was just 8. Now 18, he is heading to the UW to study environmental science (and is the winner of the 2023 PTMSC scholarship for HS seniors).
	Ruby, at just 2 years old, visits the aquarium almost every weekend with her grandparents. Her favorite book is a tide pool field guide. Future PTMSC executive director!

My connection to PTMSC really began in 1998, when founders Libby Palmer, Judy d'Amore, and executive director Anne Murphy, approached the Burke Museum in Seattle where I worked. They were in search of a little collegial input and moral support as they renovated a building on the beach at Fort Worden. 

Before I knew it, I was bringing a car load of fossils to the Low Tide Fest! I was drawn to PTMSC's spirit of curiosity and habit of questioning, the sense of purpose that permeated the work, and, truth be told, the singing of silly sea songs.

Since becoming the program director in 2017, I have come to know this organization deeply, from the literal skeletons in the closet (various whales, seals and otters), to the talented and committed staff. I believe that inspiring awe of the Salish Sea and acting in service to a healthier marine environment are equally critical. PTMSC does both every day.

Like you, PTMSC knows that climate change is our biggest threat. Reaching people with a message of hopeful action is more important than ever. Creating a powerful visitor experience in the Flagship Landing building in downtown Port Townsend is all about effecting greater change. 

This vision motivates me as we take the next challenging steps—moving the aquarium and museum from Fort Worden to downtown, while also adapting our programs to operate during this transitional period. This transition will include:

• Careful planning to move the live animals off the pier (date TBD)
  
  
• Retrofitting the museum or Flagship Landing building with accommodations for live animals 
  
  
• Modifying our educational programs to operate outdoors or in offsite locations
  
  
• Using the Flagship Landing building downtown to prototype exhibit and program ideas and get community feedback

I invite you to support PTMSC as we tackle this next stage of growth together. We can’t do it without you. Please consider making a financial gift this summer. These funds will help pay for the first steps in the journey from Fort Worden to downtown.

Gratefully,

Diane Quinn

Executive Director

P.S. Thanks to a generous supporter, you can double your money by helping us meet a challenge match of $10,000 by August 31. Please donate online at ptmsc.org to spread the message of hopeful action for a healthy ocean.

Lorenzo McCleese awarded Anne Murphy Ocean Stewards Scholarship

High school senior to attend the University of Washington

Lorenzo Flores McCleese has been awarded the 2023 Anne Murphy Ocean Stewards Scholarship. This annual $1,500 scholarship from the Port Townsend Marine Science Center honors retired PTMSC Executive Director Anne Murphy while helping a graduating East Jefferson County senior prepare for a career in science and the environment.

Lorenzo has been interested in science his whole life. When he was six, his passion for animals and ecosystems inspired in him the lofty goal of "saving the environment and all its organisms." He was only eight when he began volunteering at PTMSC, introducing visitors of all ages to the creatures in the aquarium and their intertidal environment. That same year he spoke to an audience of 250 at the annual PTMSC dinner and auction. His passionate presentation helped set a new fund-raising record. More recently, Lorenzo volunteered as an aquarium aide.

During his years at Port Townsend High School, Lorenzo’s interest in the environment led him to work as a crew leader for beach cleanups, invasive plant removals, and other work parties at the Northwest Watershed Institute’s Youth Environmental Stewards (YES) program. As a member of the Students for Sustainability Club, he helped achieve a plastic straw ban, a car idling ban, and various campus improvements. He also played basketball and volleyball, and was a founding member of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) student union.

This summer he’ll continue part-time work setting up BIPOC family events for the YMCA and handling lighting, camera work, setup, and breakdown for Centrum events. He’ll also be running a BIPOC podcast for Black Lives Matter of Jefferson County.

"Figures such as Jane Goodall, Rachel Carson, Carl Sagan, and David Attenborough have personally inspired me to work in the environmental field and make a global impact,” Lorenzo said. "Being a person of color, I am underrepresented in many professions, quite noticeably in environmental fields. As I grow to work in this field, I will inspire marginalized youth to chase their dreams and not let the status quo stop them."

Lorenzo in his younger years, discovering his love of the Salish Sea

Although he’s not sure which profession he will end up in—wildlife biologist, ecologist, and environmental lawyer are among the possibilities--Lorenzo plans to study Environmental Science & Terrestrial Resource Management at the University of Washington.

"In my professional career, I aim to reach as many people as possible and inspire them to impact our earth positively," Lorenzo said. "I want to be a part of a future where governments collaborate, and proper funding is allocated to save our planet's precious ecosystems and ways of life. I want to work on the right side of history in a battle between change and ignorance.”

Lorenzo hasn’t had much experience traveling, and hopes to explore other parts of the world through his education and work. “But I think I’ll always find my way back here to the Salish Sea.”

blog post written by Jenna Kinghorn. photos by Al McCleese

Change in Leadership

A letter to the extended PTMSC family

Dear Friend of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center,

We are both sad and happy to report some important news about PTMSC. As you may know, Bee Redfield, our executive director, assumed a more limited role in February in order to prepare for her final PhD requirements at Purdue University. While this plan for a temporary hiatus was in place since her hire last spring, Bee more recently made the decision for personal reasons not to return to the ED position and asked the board to seek a replacement. She says, “I am fully dedicated to supporting PTMSC through this transition and beyond. I love PTMSC, the team, and the Port Townsend community, and I am so grateful for the time that I spent with you all.” The board appreciates Bee’s exemplary performance as ED and is grateful for her many accomplishments. 

And Bee’s achievements are many. Her biggest legacy will probably be what we think will become an iconic landmark in Port Townsend: a gray whale skeleton on Union Wharf which is scheduled to be installed this summer. She also expanded the Future of Oceans lecture series, oversaw new programming at the Flagship Landing building downtown, and strengthened the internal systems of the organization.

Upon receiving the news, the board carefully assessed the organization’s evolving needs and prioritized the talents, skills, knowledge, and experience that the ideal ED candidate would bring to the job at this time. They recognized that this talent existed within the organization and were delighted when Diane Quinn, our Program Director of over six years, accepted the position. 

Quinn brings extensive leadership experience from her two decades at the Burke Museum in Seattle. As Director of Education, she helped to expand the scale, budgets and impacts of school and public programs. She nurtured innumerable community partnerships, contributed to the development of major exhibitions and participated in long-term, new museum planning resulting in a major capital campaign.

Quinn's long relationship with PTMSC started in 1998 when the Burke and PTMSC collaborated on a new exhibit at Fort Worden. She remembers, “In working with Libby Palmer, Judy D'Amore, and Anne Murphy, the founders and founding executive director, it was clear that the organization has a unique role in the local community, that community marine science centers have a critical role in the broader community of practice, and that change for the better happens in communities and in the world through sustained effort and commitment.”

Besides her track record of successful regional collaborations, and her pre-existing relationships with many community leaders, Diane has developed a deep mutual trust between herself and the PTMSC staff over the past six years in her role as Program Director. Her comprehensive knowledge of the organization, especially in terms of program and operations, as well as her experience with creative program design and organizational transformation, makes her an ideal fit for the top leadership position at this time in PTMSC’s journey.

We are all very excited about the future of PTMSC and thank you for your part in making that future possible. 

Sincerely,

Diane Baxter, PhD

PTMSC Board President

Charmed into serving on the board, engaged by interacting with youth

Board member Linda Dacon welcomes
volunteers to last fall's Volunteer
Appreciation Party

Spotlight on board member Linda Dacon

Like many a newcomer to town, when Linda Dacon and her husband relocated to Port Townsend from Los Angeles in 2003, she began to look for ways to get involved with her new community.

And, like many volunteers for the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, she began her service as a greeter in the museum.

“There was a volunteer fair at [Fort Worden], and I thought maybe I'll go over and see what volunteer opportunities are available,” Linda recounted. “I went and talked to everybody, and I gave everybody my name and email address, and PTMSC was the only one who followed up!”

Linda’s rewarding career included serving as executive director of ClinicaPara Las Americas, a community clinic near downtown Los Angeles, and many years with the Los Angeles County Department of Health.

“We owned a big wooden sailboat so when we retired, we were looking for a place that would accommodate that, and had the marine trades to support it,” she said.

While her husband was back in the LA area readying their 41-foot sloop for transport, Linda was a bonafide shed girl living in a friend’s 18’ x 6’ garden shed for months while their new home was under construction.

Thanks to a concerted “charm offensive” by then-president of the board, the late Eric Harrington, Linda was encouraged to join the board of directors.

She told him, “I will do that if you promise me that it’s not the stepping stone to becoming the board president. Under no circumstances will I be president of the board. Is that clear?

“He (Eric)  said, ‘Oh yeah’ no problem, no problem.’  Well the next thing I know I’m board president,” she continued.

As a board member, Linda was particularly proud of her efforts to help write the grant application to the Paul Allen Foundation to pay the salary of  PTMSC’s first professional fundraiser, development director JoAnne Heron.

“Our proposal to the Paul Allen Foundation was that this was an organization that had grown very organically, very slowly, very carefully, for a number of years, and we were ready. We were poised and ready for a change, ready to take a leap. And that leap gives you opportunities. I wanted to convince them that we were a good investment,” she recalled.

Despite the satisfaction she receives with her leadership roles, Linda states that her greatest reward as a volunteer has been as a docent in the museum. “I like volunteering in the museum over the aquarium, I think you can get kids' attention a little more, and their parents, as well.” said Linda.

“The days that make it so worthwhile to me are when parents come in, clearly engaged with their child. We’ve had kids come in who are clearly so bright, and are already focusing on big issues. I love giving a lot of time and attention to kids. I feel like I’m making an investment in the future, not that anything magic is going to happen, or that the child is going to say ‘I made my choice in life because of this amazing docent I met at the Marine Science Center,’ but their minds are clearly bent in that direction. It’s exciting to have the opportunity to work with a kid like that,” said Linda.

Linda’s appreciation for the children and their parents has given rise to a habit she has with visitors.
“I always make a point with those families, to thank, both the child directly – I’ll thank them for their interest and their questions – and then I thank the parents. ‘I really enjoyed the time I spent with you today, thank you. You’ve made my life better, I hope something you’ve learned today will make your life better,’” she said.

PTMSC is grateful to have such dedicated individuals advancing the mission of promoting conservation of the Salish Sea. Thank you Linda!

Anne Murphy Ocean Stewards Scholarship

 

Now accepting applications! Please share this information!

Retired PTMSC Executive Director Anne Murphy

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center is pleased to announce the annual $1,500 Anne Murphy Ocean Stewardship scholarship for a graduating East Jefferson county senior.

Applicants should be graduating seniors from a public or private school, or a home-schooled student who expects to complete high school level instruction by June 2023.  The person who wins this scholarship will be selected on the basis of his or her demonstrated interest in science and the environment. 

Having volunteered on behalf of education about or conservation of the Salish Sea is especially desirable, particularly at the PTMSC. The scholarship may be used for tuition, books, or living expenses while pursuing higher education.

To apply for the scholarship, please go to https://thewashboard.org and search for Anne Murphy Ocean Stewards Scholarship. For questions, please email Development and Marketing Director Liesl Slabaugh at lslabaugh@ptmsc.org or call 385-5582 x101.

Applications are due by May 15, 2023. The winner will be selected and notified by May 30.  The award will be given at the school’s award ceremony or another event TBD.

A giant Pacific octopus is released to the Salish Sea

Marley Loomis has been keeping track of the giant Pacific octopus (GPO) at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center ever since she left her position as an AmeriCorps member there from 2018-2020. When PTMSC determined it was time to release the cephalopod, Marley knew she had to be there.

In 2020, Marley spotted the young octopus while sorting zooplankton from a research trap. As part of an effort by the Pacific Northwest Crab Research Group (PCRG) to support sustainable Dungeness crab fisheries, the trap collects a nightly assortment of zooplankton including many species of young fish and invertebrates. The primary goal is to identify and count the Dungeness crab megalopa which, together with the other zooplankton collected, is then returned to the water. Occasionally, small numbers of select species are reared in the aquarium to represent the diversity of marine life found here. Although still a paralarva, the tiny octopus was starting to transition from floating in the water column to clinging to surfaces. It was a rare and exciting opportunity to raise a giant Pacific octopus.

Loomis assisted PTMSC Aquarium Curator Ali Redman in raising the octopus while documenting his growth and development. Over the next two years Sylvia, named by donors in honor of marine scientist Sylvia Earle, thrived in PTMSC’s aquarium at Fort Worden. Given that there are only a handful of accounts of rearing giant Pacific octopuses, Marley and Ali are thrilled with Sylvia’s success!

Octopuses are relatively short lived, with the lifespan of a giant Pacific octopus being about 3-5 years. Giant Pacific octopus are “small egged”, meaning that they produce a large number of relatively undeveloped offspring. Unlike “large egged” octopus that look like tiny adults when hatching, GPOs start life as tiny paralarvae drifting with the currents. In both reproductive strategies, parental care focuses on the eggs and hatched young explore and learn on their own. 

Octopuses mate at the end of their life, then pass away following a period of decline known as senescence. As adults, they become more active, eat less and devote most of their resources to mating. A male GPO may live about 1 month after mating, females will survive a little longer, caring for their eggs until they too pass away. It is because of this unusual life history that captive octopus are well suited to release. 

“Determining when an octopus has reached maturity, and is therefore ready for release, is important for animal welfare,” said PTMSC Aquarium Curator Ali Redman. “We continually monitor behavioral and physiological indicators with the goal of releasing octopuses before senescence.”

An avid diver, Marley is a graduate student at Alaska Pacific University, studying marine biology, specializing in octopus behavior. She traveled to Port Townsend with her drysuit and her partner James Gomez DeMolina, who is also trained in marine biology.

“I flew down from Alaska because I felt directly tied and attached to this project of raising Sylvia at PTMSC,” Marley said. “I’ve been pretty invested in his development and have spent so many hours working with him and making sure he has appropriate resources and has everything he needs to grow and be successful, and I’ve also seen how much impact he’s made on the community.”

Emilee Carpenter and Ali Redman wait
on the pier for the divers to arrive.

Ali directed the release, assisted by Aquarium Specialist Emilee Carpenter at the surface. Mandi Johnson, PTMSC Outreach Coordinator, who has also been part of Sylvia’s care team since his arrival, conducted an initial scouting dive with volunteer Glenn Grant a week before, identifying an appropriate area for release. The Friday prior to the release,Marley and James identified and marked a den site that would provide Sylvia with shelter as he adjusts to his new surroundings. 

On the day of the release, Ali and Emilee assisted Sylvia into a mesh transfer bag. Octopuses are comfortable out of water for short periods of time and Sylvia routinely climbed into a basket to be lifted from the water and weighed. This time, rather than returning to the exhibit, he was lowered from the pier to the divers below.

Marley and James were joined by Mandi and Grant for the release dive on a day with light winds and scattered clouds. Mandi and Glenn were equipped with two GoPro cameras and an underwater light.

“It was as smooth as possible. Everything that we had planned out went as well as we could have imagined it. We knew exactly where we were going, he behaved beautifully, he was really calm the entire time in the mesh bag when we were descending and on our way to the site,” Marley recounted.

Marley Loomis takes ahold of the
transfer bag prior to the release

“I opened up the bag, opened it up right next to this big hollow piling, which we thought was a nice den spot for him. And he just casually walked right into it and took up his space. We offered him a (live Dungeness) crab and he reached out and touched it and then decided, ‘No, I really don’t want that crab right now,’ so he didn’t take the crab. But he knew it was there and it was absolutely as smooth as possible. Nothing could have gone more smoothly. And the day was gorgeous,” Marley said.

As the divers swam back to the beach, the release team walked off the pier to welcome them and were ready with towels and good wishes on a job well done. With a water temperature of 46 degrees, the dive had to have been a cold one.

We aren’t able to know exactly what becomes of Sylvia after his release. GPS enabled tags can’t transmit underwater nor can they be attached to his soft body. Since local live foods have been part of his diet at PTMSC he will be able to find food. However, he may not have much of an appetite. It’s likely he will focus on finding a mate. He may find one here, or he may move out of the area. Once male GPOs have mated, they enter senescence and will pass away in about one month. Nevertheless,one can’t help but wonder if Marley had imagined Sylvia’s life at sea, and she admitted she had.

“I mean, it's human nature to think about what's going on beyond what we can see, for sure,” she said. “Mandi and James and I all did an afternoon dive somewhere else, and when we came back, Mandi and I were like,’Man that would be really cool just to dive down and see if he’s still there.’ 

But honestly, anything that happens from now on out is a totally natural part of the food web. If he’s able to find a mate and reproduce, that’s fabulous. If he just lives out his life and rejoins the food web, then that’s great, too. I’m not too worried about him. Since he took up a nice little den space, there’s so much crabs down there, there’s so much food for him. I’m not too worried. Whatever he is doing is natural in the Salish Sea,” said Marley.

Back in Anchorage, Marley is conducting a research study on a particular octopus behavior, called a head bob. 

“Octopuses have mainly monocular vision, they don’t have the same depth perception that we do with their field of vision, with both eyeballs overlapping,” Marley explained.

“There’s evidence that the head bob behavior is mostly a ranging and depth perception behavior, but there is not any published numerical data on proving that, so I am effectively trying to quantify a head bob behavior to link it to depth perception for octopuses.”

Marley’s future seems certain to be a bright one, although she has some decisions to make in the near future: 

“I’m torn between further pursuing behavioral and ecological research or rejoining the public education and aquarium sciences field,” she said. “I am really passionate about both of those areas and honestly I alternate back and forth weekly on which of those two paths I will follow. Either path is not wrong.”

PTMSC’s experience raising octopus in captivity has certainly made an impact on our community. Over 500 visitors toured the aquarium for a special weekend opening to see Sylvia one last time. The video Ali made of Sylvia’s release has over 1,500 views at the time of this writing. (YouTube link)

Marley Loomis is greeted by her father Michael Loomis
as James Gomez DeMolina dries off after the dive.

“I just think that the release and all that Sylvia helped to accomplish speaks to the community in Port Townsend and all of PTMSC,” Marley said. “You know it’s bittersweet to release him, but it’s more sweet than bitter. It's a success story. He grew very successfully and impacted a lot of people over the course of the two and a half years he was there and now he’s back out to reproduce. I’m really proud of what we’ve done. I think that PTMSC would probably say the same about how they feel about it. It's such a testament to how impactful those animals can be for people coming in to see him and how involved the community feels in what we’re doing. It’s spectacular. I’m overjoyed with it all, honestly. I'm so happy I could be part of it all, it was lovely.”

Ali and Emilee are currently nurturing another GPO, which was also brought up incidentally in the light trap. Not yet a year old and currently about the size of a strawberry, the octopus will be inspiring visitors when the aquarium reopens this spring.

Port Townsend Marine Science Center volunteerism: vital and deeply appreciated

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center has rebounded from a pandemic low of 2,635 hours of recorded volunteer service in 2020 to an amazing 5,300 donated hours for 2022. In the uncertain days early in the pandemic, the museum and aquarium were both closed and the volunteer corps largely stayed home.

Although many volunteers remained cautious about participating in indoor activities, in 2022 the quantity of hours recorded surged, even with fewer volunteers overall. That means we are doing more with fewer people – such dedication!

Additionally, we were thrilled to welcome scores of new volunteers this year who stepped into a wide variety of roles: from exhibit volunteers, to citizen scientists, event helpers and more. 

The dedicated staff at PTMSC rely on volunteers in every area of programming. Let’s hear from these folks as they share what volunteerism at PTMSC means to them. 

John Conley shared details of his volunteer service
at the Evening with the Stars event

One of my favorite ways that volunteers impact my job as Development Director is when they speak at events about their experiences as volunteers. Like this past summer, when John Conley, Sue Long and Lisa Greenfield spoke at Evening with the Stars about why they volunteer and what it means to them. It was educational, heartwarming and inspiring. I feel so grateful to get to hear their pearls of wisdom and wise insights. - Liesl Slabaugh

Volunteers in our education programs helped with such classroom activities for K-12 students as the crab lab, the herring dissection and plankton lab with low tide walks and beach explorations. 

Education Coordinator Carolyn Woods had this to say:

Volunteer Patti Hoyecki assisted in the
Way of the Whales class

One of the strengths of our education programs are the hands-on activities we can provide that aren't available in school classrooms, and volunteer assistance is crucial in making these activities engaging and accessible for students. Just in December, volunteers helped students handle gray whale bones safely while providing clues to direct students in assembling the skeleton, as well as assistance in the aquarium finding calcifiers (organisms that grow calcium-based shells) while investigating the effects of ocean acidification in the Salish Sea. Having volunteers help with field trips allows us to reach more students and provide them a better experience - I'm so grateful to them for sharing their time and knowledge! 

Through such dedicated long-term assistance as volunteer docents and greeters, public events and fundraising helpers, our volunteers become valued friends and are key to our ability to promote conservation of the Salish Sea to our many publics.

Program Director Diane Quinn shared this sentiment:

I have had so many meaningful, inspiring, educational, funny and touching moments with volunteers at PTMSC in the past year, but the word that keeps coming to mind above all the other words is Generosity. I am no longer even surprised, but always grateful, when a volunteer agrees to help out with some random thing at what seems like, and often is, the last minute: making something for us to sell, fixing something that has been languishing in its broken state, cleaning something that has been neglected, filling countless shifts and volunteering for one-off events that need a little more support. They show up with snacks for the staff, or bring in a ladder, an air filter, a wagon, paper bags, a broom
and dustpan, and on and on. So many things that they just know we need and are too busy to get. Their generosity has shown in every way this past year, through their actions, their gifts, and their

attitude toward our visitors, students and each other. I learn so much from our volunteers each year, and that is to be expected, but the thing I try to emulate is their sincere willingness to share their time, skills, ideas and creativity because it's just what they do. 

In less public ways, the citizen science volunteers put in many solitary mornings scooping up water samples, examining sea life through microscopes and caring for stranded marine mammals.

Volunteers Diane Baxter, Linda Dacon and Nancy
Jamieson pause for a moment in the museum portico.

Citizen Science Coordinator Betsy Carlson shares her appreciation for key individuals and projects meaningful to her program area:

All the SoundToxins volunteers deserve a shout out for continuing to work through the year searching water samples for signs of potentially harmful algae -- being part of the early warning system for safe shellfish consumption. Ken Anderson, James Arnn, Pam Bauer, Brad Bebout, Lee Bebout, Dennis Cartwright, John Conley, Dan Darrow, Soozie Darrow, Doug Eggert, Joanmarie Eggert, Gary Elmer, Jo Ferrero, Jackie Gardner, Frank Handler, Keith Knol, Kathy Nyby, Mike Nyby, Melody Stewart, Rich Stewart, Rosemary Streatfeild, Kathleen Woods-Smith

• Dennis Cartwright of course, who does so much. From sorting clams to counting phytoplankton and larval crabs too. He keeps our labacita (the  small lab behind the museum) supplied, trains SoundToxins volunteers and AmeriCorps, enters data, moves samples and cleans and cares for the microscope. Did you know he stepped in to help run the aquarium before Ali was hired? We are so lucky that Dennis is committed to marine conservation.

Darryl Hrenko and a Salish Coast Elementary school
student with a gray whale skeleton

• Darryl Hrenko, who along with his buddy John, made the European green crab acrylic casts for display and education.

• Patti Hoyecki whose creative spirit and boundless energy brightened our downtown exhibits and gift shop offerings.

• Peggy Albers and Diane Baxter,our Summer BEACH program water sampling team, taking water samples for lab analysis to be sure the Fort Worden beach is safe for swimming. 

Our Executive Director Bee Redfield sums up how important our volunteers are to us to enable us to do our work:

Volunteers make everything that we do possible. They give their time, their wisdom and their heart to our mission. Through their actions, our volunteers show our visitors and our community what is most important in life, and through their passion they inspire others to want to make a difference too. 

Thank you to all who have helped promote conservation of the Salish Sea with their gifts of time!

Written by PTMSC Volunteer Program Coordinator Tracy Thompson

#volunteers, #volunteerism #conservation #marineeducation

Dan and Soozie Darrow: Two of PTMSC’s most dedicated volunteers

 

A wonderful encounter with former Port Townsend Marine Science Center Executive Director Anne Murphy at the Low Tide Festival is what initially drew Dan and Soozie Darrow to the Port Townsend area from their long-time home north of Chicago. 

The Low Tide Festival was the annual PTMSC thank you to the community and celebration of our marine environment (that formerly took place in July).Their delight with this event encouraged them to move west, and after arriving in 2002, they were eager to get involved in their new community. They both became involved with PTMSC.

Soozie and Dan Darrow

Soozie and Dan began their volunteer journey as greeters in the aquarium, and since that time, they have been involved with nearly every volunteer task the organization has to offer, including  extensive work with the Citizen Science program, collecting megalops for the Skokomish tribe, helping with fish seining for school groups, and hosting Protection Island cruises and low tide walks. In past years they have also done considerable work assisting with the annual fundraising auction.

After their initial greeting days, Soozie says they “graduated from taking money” and joined the Home Crew. The Home Crew was the team of volunteers who assisted in the aquarium, cleaning tanks and taking care of the animals.

“Cleaning was fun, and the people we worked with were nice and we got to feed the animals,” recalls Soozie.

The very persuasive Gordon James encouraged Dan to join the board, which he did, providing his services as a board member for nine years, two of those as board president. Dan continues his board service today as a member of the Finance Committee.

Fate brought the two together in their college days where Soozie attended Mount Holyoke and Dan went to Amherst College. Dan had a career with distribution companies, handling inventory and supplies. Soozie enjoyed a career in the admissions office of a community college.

Dan says, “I’ve always been a sailor,” and  notes that his very first words were “hard a-lee” (sailor talk for turning the helm hard to leeward – into the wind) and he enjoyed his time racing a J30 on Lake Michigan with a dedicated crew of seven. Soozie was not as involved in sailing as a racer, but enjoyed cruising with Dan and their two daughters.

The J30 stayed in Illinois and, once at their new home in Port Ludlow, Dan began racing with the Port Ludlow Fleet, a group of eleven Etchells 30s, an open cockpit, no-amenities sailboat made for racing. 

The current fleet of Etchells is now down to two boats, so Dan now focuses on sailing his T37 - a 37-inch long, radio-controlled boat that he races on the pond in front of the Port Ludlow Yacht Club. He proudly shares his favorite part of this current racing endeavor, the post-race gathering of friends all bundled up and relaxing in portable chairs on the lawn.

Soozie’s fascination with the natural world began as a child as she accompanied her older brother in the marshes in New Jersey, where he collected animal specimens which he then taxidermied and brought to the Museum of Natural History in New York City.

“I was scared to death walking over the boardwalk into the marsh, but I loved seeing all the birds, so I just kept going,” Soozie recalls about those early expeditions with her brother.

The Darrows have been active as citizen scientists with the SoundToxins program for 10 years now, taking water samples from Mystery Bay and then examining them with a microscope for the existence of harmful phytoplanktons. 

“I like to think we’re helping other scientists figure out how we can help the earth,” Soozie says about her motivation for continuing with the monitoring.

“Plus, I like to look in the microscope and see creatures that no one else gets to see,” she continues.

Both Soozie and Dan stress the importance of the organization’s role in educating the public. They feel strongly that PTMSC is “not just for the grandkids” and that the perils of climate change and the threats to the Salish Sea are important for the public to know.

Their commitment to the important education work of the organization is made clear through their financial support of the Future of Oceans lecture series, currently underway on various Sunday afternoons this month through March. Their ongoing support has made this series possible and they both particularly enjoyed Dr. Christopher Kelley’s November lecture, “Deep Sea Mining is coming: What you need to know about this potentially huge new industry.”

Beyond their considerable involvement with PTMSC, Dan and Soozie have volunteered for years with other organizations, with Soozie serving as Secretary for the Port Ludlow Trails Crew, and Dan serving on his Home Owners Association finance committee.

Their goals for the PTMSC include seeing the organization transition into the Flagship Landing location, and to continue shining a light on the issues important to the protection of the Salish Sea.

Written by PTMSC Volunteer Program Coordinator Tracy Thompson

#volunteers #citizenscience #salishsea #soundtoxins