February 2008                                                                                                                             Vol. 1 No. 2

Volunteer Opportunities

March 1 8am- Derelict Crab Trap Removal on Causeway

April 29- ACF Coastal Kids Quiz

May 2- Washington County Groundwater Festival

May 8 - Crawfish Craze

To volunteer or for more info, click here.

Note from the Executive Director

Thoreau wrote: One is not born to do everything, but to do something. Those words still ring true in our modern world- it seems that we are always being pulled in a thousand different directions: work, school, family, chores, friends...sometimes it's hard to find a minute to relax, much less to spend our precious moments of free time working in the community as a volunteer. But your time and talents are needed more than ever before- working together we can accomplish so much more than going it alone! If volunteerism is something you have considered in the past, but have shied away from for one reason or another, I challenge you to find an issue you are passionate about and make the commitment to dedicate yourself to that issue for one hour per week. ACF offers many opportunities to get involved and whether you are interested in working with kids or spending an hour stuffing envelopes, we can find something that suits your schedule and interests.

To stay in touch with what is going on in the world of conservation, read the new ACF Bay Talk Blog. There you can read up to the minute news about environmental issues in South Alabama and hear from the staff and board of the organization. I encourage you to subscribe to the blog feed and post your comments often- we want to hear your thoughts and ideas about what we can do to continue our work to make South Alabama a great place to live, work and play. - Bethany Kraft

ACF Contracted to Administer Grant Program
The Mobile County Commission has contracted with ACF to administer the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) for 2008 for Mobile County. The CIAP program was established by Section 384 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to assist producing states and their coastal political subdivisions (Counties) in mitigating the impacts from Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas production. Projects that can be considered for funding include habitat acquisition and preservation, projects that mitigate the impacts of OCS production and mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife and natural resources.

Baldwin County Groundwater Festival Held February 18-19
Each year over 1600 4th graders from Baldwin County schools  get the opportunity to learn all about water and coastal resources at the Groundwater Festival. ACF staff and volunteers enjoyed interacting with the children over the 2 day festival and teaching them about watersheds, pollution and the coastal food web. There is nothing better than seeing the spark of understanding in a student's eyes when he or she grasps a new concept! Kudos go to Mike Shelton of the Weeks Bay Estuarine Research Reserve for organizing the festival. If you are interested in helping out at the next groundwater festival which will be held May 2 in Washington County, contact the ACF office.

Coastal Kids Quiz Seeking Sponsors
This year's Coastal Kids Quiz is on track to be the best yet! This exciting competition for 5th graders from schools in Mobile and Baldwin Counties tests students' knowledge of conservation issues and lays a foundation for a lifelong interest in science for many of the participants. Students compete for thousands in scholarships that can be put toward a college savings plan- and the competition is fierce!

We are currently seeking volunteers to help out the day of the competition as well as sponsors for the event. All sponsors will receive recognition in all promotional materials including program announcements and advertising as well as on the T-Shirts that all students and volunteers will receive. All donations are greatly appreciated. If you are interested in sponsoring the Kids Quiz, contact the ACF office at 990-6002.

ACF Seeking Summer Interns
If you or someone you know is interested in gaining valuable experience in the conservation arena, contact our office at 990-6002 to discuss summer internship opportunities. We are looking for interns with an interest in education, conservation and/or computer science. Schedules are flexible and interns will  have the opportunity to work on several interesting projects.

Derelict Crab Trap Removal Scheduled for March 1

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources-Marine Resources Division and the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program will host a derelict crab trap removal from the shallow waters of the Mobile Bay Causeway.

Crab traps are used extensively in our local waters to harvest blue crabs, but each year 20-40% of these traps are lost due to storms, broken lines, or neglect.  These “derelict traps” continue to fish, causing crabs and fish to be trapped and die needlessly.  They also damage boats and motors, cause personal injury, and detract from the natural beauty of the waters.

Meet at the Chocolatta Boat Ramp at 8AM.  Work will proceed through the morning, water and snacks will be provided, and volunteers will receive event t-shirts.  For more information, contact Mobile Bay NEP Program Coordinator Kara Lankford at 251-431-6409.

Be Green Tip: Opt Out of Receiving Unwanted Catalogs

It seems our mailboxes are always filled with catalogs from stores we have never shopped with- thanks to  retailers who sell our information. You can eliminate unwanted catalogs by going to http://www.catalogchoice.org/ - after a short registration process you will search for the catalogs you do not wish to receive any longer and they will contact the retailer for you.

To unsubscribe to the ACF Newsletter, e-mail with the word "subscribe" or "unsubscribe" in the subject.