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From the PrezEsther Imbagliazzo, CMA Volunteer President

VOLUNTEERING ACROSS AMERICAThe Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in volunteer service. Many service agencies are involved in the effort to promote volunteerism. The Senior Corps, America Corps and Volunteer

America are just a few. Together these agencies produce some very impressive statistics on volunteering.

Some of the key findings from across America include 63.4 million volunteers contributed 8.1 billion hours of service in 2009, equaling an estimated dollar value of approximately $169 billion for their services. The volunteering rate increased in 2009 to 26.8 percent, up from 26.4 percent in 2008. The increase was primarily fueled by higher volunteer rates among women ages 45-54, among individuals who’re married, and surprisingly among those who are employed, especially those working full time.  Religious service comprises the largest percentage of volunteers. More than a third, to be exact 35.6 percent, of volunteers give their time through their churches. Education volunteers are next with 26.6 percent. Other fields of service are social service, health, civic affairs and sports and art. The numbers of volunteers go up during a crisis and hard economic times. WWII saw a large increase in volunteering. The year between September 2008 and September 2009 saw another large increase, primarily due to one of the worst economic times since the depression. To our credit, Americans step up in the face of financial and social downturns to help vulnerable populations.

VOLUNTEERS NEWSLETTER • Fall, 2010

Fins & TalesVolunteering can make you healthier. Even when controlling for important factors such as socio-economic status, age and gender, research has shown that adults who volunteer are more likely to experience health benefits when it comes to longevity, mobility and mental health. Volunteering one or two hours a week can produce a significant relationship between volunteering and good health. These statistics and more can be found at the websites for the Corporation for National and Community Service and Volunteering in America. It would be hard to match the quality of volunteers who commit many hours to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. Volunteer opportunities at CMA are numerous. The talents that our volunteers bring to these opportunities are impressive. As I talk to Cabrillo’s volunteers to find out why they spend precious time at the Aquarium, their reasons are many and varied. Most agree that love of the ocean and educating children and adults about the value of protecting our waterways are very important. Another reason is the camaraderie among volunteers with like interests. Many long-lasting friendships have been made between strangers whose interests are similar. For these reasons and more, I am happy to be counted as one of the many Cabrillo Marine Aquarium volunteers. On Sunday, October 17, the Autumn Sea Fair will be combined with the 75th Anniversary of CMA. There are many volunteers who’ve retired from volunteering or have moved on to other opportunities. Please help CMA reach out and invite past volunteers to this event. It would be wonderful to see those who’ve contributed many hours to help make CMA become an outstanding experience for fun and education. 

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EDITOR’S CORNERSherry Ruffer, Editor

Bits & Pieces The AZA (Association of Zoos & Aquariums) awarded CMA the 2010 Edward H. Bean Award for Significant

Achievement for raising garibaldi fish.  Director Mike Schaadt and Dr. Kierstan Darrow accepted the award in

Houston, Texas.  This is a very prestigious accomplishment, as almost every zoo and aquarium in the AZA compete annually for a very small number of awards. 

A $7 million grant proposal has been submitted by CMA under Proposition 84.  If awarded by California to CMA, the

funds will be used to update every exhibit in the Exhibit Hall plus a new touch tank, updated infrastructure and a new Gift Shop, among other changes. Our newest exhibit is the whale room, and it’s fourteen years old! Every aquarium facility in California is applying for all or part of this grant.  We have, at best, a 50/50 chance at it, and we will know probably in February.  Without this grant, much if not all of these improvement will still get done — it will just take more time and more fundraising effort. The grant proposal is 134 pages long.  The Steering Committee has some recent changes:

Joe Moeller joins the Committee as Education Chair, replacing Henry Jurgens.Henry Jurgens is now Recognition Chair, replacing Marge Stockett.Marge Stockett is now Library representative, filling a long-vacant position (and an interest close to her heart).Sherry Ruffer is Rinkes Scholarship representative, replacing Herb Ruffer. ...and then the music stopped....

Gulf Oysters: I promised an update in the last issue of Fins & Tales, and wish I hadn’t.  Some of the oystermen think the catch is fine, others aren’t sure. Their distributors are also unsure and are demanding a signed agree-ment from the oystermen that they’ll refund the purchase price if the distributor can’t sell the product to the wholesale/retail market. Bottom line:  unknown. Whole Foods Market has started the first retail color-coded sustainability program for wild-caught seafood.  In conjunction with the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Blue Ocean Institute, they’re labeling their wild-caught seafood with the green, yellow and red labels used by Seafood Watch.

 

Where’s F&T?If you’ve had no trouble finding Fins & Tales on our website - you’re way ahead of the curve. If you pecked and clawed your way to it, here’s the secret code for next time: Go to:  www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org/volunteers.asp, then pick the issue you want to see.

Welcome New Docent Class of 2010 On Monday, September 20, there was a potluck luncheon at CMA, welcoming back the “old” docents and welcoming in the new. No photos are available, but we still want to welcome the following to the family:                                          

Floyd Anderson Margaret Angulo Linda Ayers Tana Bell Marla Corey Nau’GarciaCleve Hildebrand Mary Just

Ron KambeitzBarbara Kinnard Carolyn Kraft Jan LloydKaren Masinter Christina MedinaLarry Mustaller

Phyllis Paoletti Yuli Preston Marcia Sollee JoAnna TafoyaTerri Vargas Damian Walters Renee WarnacuttRon Williams

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FRIENDS Report 

At the welcome back volunteers potluck luncheon on Monday, September 20, FRIENDS of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Executive Director Paula Moore explained the critical role FRIENDS and volunteers play in support of the Aquarium’s mission. Following is a transcript of her comments:

 FRIENDS is the non-profit organization that supports the Aquarium’s many programs, exhibits and all other expenses which come up that the City of Los Angeles is unable to cover… and there are many, especially in these difficult economic times. Let me give you some examples: u The Administration building,

which also houses the Aquatic Nursery and Exploration Center, cost $10 million to build and would not be here without FRIENDS. 

u CMA’s Aquatic Nursery just won a prestigious award at the AZA Conference in Houston for the propagation of garibaldi. FRIENDS funds the Research Internship Program and Young Scientists Symposium – programs that fed into this successful outcome. Cost = close to $20,000 annually. 

u AND, because the City of Los Angeles no longer will fund staff travel, we paid that expense too! This allowed Aquarium Director Mike Schaadt, Exhibits Director Ed Mastro and Research Curator Dr. Kiersten Darrow to attend the multi-day conference in the company of 1,700 of their peers from across the U.S. 

u Many of you will probably be sharing your time and talents by serving as docents during the Spring Outdoor Program which brings 1,000 schoolchildren a day to CMA over nine weeks. FRIENDS funds the entire program. Cost = close to $40,000 annually. 

u Websites – a vital communication tool for all institutions these days. FRIENDS funded the complete re-design and continues to fund the ongoing maintenance of CMA’s beautiful new website at a cost of over $20,000. 

u Without you, our volunteers, the Aquarium couldn’t reach the 150,000 schoolchildren it serves each year with educational programs. We fund the Volunteer budget each year that provides for the needs of running this essential program.

 How does FRIENDS do all this? There are various ways from fundraising events, an active Membership Program, our wonderful Gift Shop, management of investment accounts and solicitation of corporate, business and individual donor support.  At the top of the list of revenue we raise each year are grants … anywhere from a quarter of a million dollars to upwards of $400,000 is raised by FRIENDS annually through grants. You probably don’t know this, but all of YOU, our devoted volunteers, play a part in the success of our grant applications. How, you ask? Many funders – corporations and private foundations – want proof of widespread support to the organization that is applying for their money. That makes good sense. They want to know that plenty of people in the community value what the Aquarium does and value it enough to even give their own precious time, talent and money!  Imagine a potential funder reading our grant proposal and seeing that : u … 500 volunteers work at CMA, supplying close to

40,000 service hours each year u … the equivalent of 18 full-time or 36 part-time

employees u … with a monetary value to the City of L.A. of

anywhere from nearly $500,000 to $700,000 depending upon the industry standard used to calculate the comparable wage. 

Don’t you think that might have a heavy impact on their decision to support us? I KNOW it does! The proof is in the success of FRIENDS this past fiscal year ending June 30 – we raised almost $250,000 in grants from over two dozen foundation and corporate funders. I’d like to assure you all that the time you spend leading docent tours and performing the various volunteer jobs at CMA helps the Aquarium in ways – like I just cited – that you might not even know about. We all – the Aquarium and FRIENDS family – thank you for your hard work and dedication to the mission of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. Working together, we are one mighty team! 

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OFF THE WALLNancy Cook, Programs

It’s CMA’s 75th anniversary and all the answers to the questions come from the wonderful exhibit celebrating CMA’s remarkable history. Even if you decide to cheat and peek at the answers below, don’t miss the exhibit. It’s just inside the Exhibit Hall, next to the Information Booth.

1. Dr. William Lloyd, a retired dentist. 2. mayonnaise jars3.  the grunion fish spawning on the beach. 4. 1954; 1973

5. Susanne Lawrenz-Miller, Ph.D.

CMA GIFT SHOP Jean Steinmetz, Manager 

Happy Autumn! Come see all the new merchandise that was ordered at the gift shows in L.A., San Francisco and Las Vegas. Discover everything from “Gluggle” fish pitchers and granite cutting boards to ceramic sea star chip bowls. New custom CMA T-shirts include the “Advise from Dolphins, Sharks, Whales and Sea Turtles” and the new “Offensive Line” shark shirt with our name and logo across the front. “Magic Solar” T-shirts portray black and white artistic drawings that come to life in the sun and become vibrant watercolors. What fun!  The Book Shop/Library section has been revamped after visits to Birch Aquarium, Steinhart Aquarium, Aquarium by the Bay in San Francisco and acquiring new book reps. Come in and investigate new aquatic and fishing titles along with “Save the Planet” ideas, eco/succulent garden books, a whole line of bird-watching books and California gifts and books. We’ve had many customers visit this past year from many of the 50 states and foreign countries. Jean is keeping track of states, countries and continents.  There are also new children’s titles, including puzzles, toys enclosed within the bindings, dissected animal parts and pop-ups with animal noises within the books themselves. There is an extensive collection of Rainbow Fish books and sequels, also available in Spanish. Check out the new book section when you’re done docenting or volunteering, but make sure you save enough time to browse. We’re gearing up for the Sea Fair/75th-Anniversary Celebration, Oct. 17 and for Sea Scare, Oct. 30. Beware! Before you know it, the Gift Shop’s 2nd Annual Holiday Preview of “Cabrillo Christmas” will be here. Save Nov 6 & 7, Sat. & Sun. to preview our seven aquatic-themed Christmas trees. It’s never too early to start your Christmas shopping!

Check this out: Let everyone on the road know about CMA!

Don’t forget FRIENDS receive a 20% discount on all purchases. Proceeds from the Gift Shop help support CMA’s quality education, research and outreach programs.

 1. In 1935 the Cabrillo Marine Museum opened its doors

in the Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse with collections of shells and other local marine life. Who was its first director?___________________

2. What did the owner of the Cabrillo Café provide so the museum could preserve specimens?

___________________ ___________________ 3. In 1951, under John Olguin’s leadership, the museum began an evening program that highlighted a local marine phenomenon. What was it? __________________

SEA LIFE AT THE CABRILLO MARINE AQUARIUMNew license plate frames

$5.00 (including tax)

4. What year did school tours begin? And the spring outdoor program? _____________ _____________

5. Who is the main exhibit hall named after? ___________________

ANSWERS

Kid’s ArtOFFTHE

WALL

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR  Oct. 16 World Water Monitoring Day • Noon - 2pm • Information: 310-548-7562 Oct. 17 Autumn Sea Fair • 10am - 4:30pm Oct. 23 Mr. D’s Tiki Carving • 10am - 1pm • Registration/fee required

Call: 310-548-7562   Oct. 23 Weekend Tidepool Walk • 3 - 4:30pm Oct. 24 Weekend Tidepool Walk • 3:30 - 5pm Oct. 26 ASC/LA Lecture, Diet matters: How did cetaceans evolve the greatest size range of all mammals? Graham Slater, Ph.D., Dept. of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, UCLA • CMA • 7:30pm • Free

ROCK LOBSTERSSherry Ruffer 

I hope everyone read the August 1 article in the Daily Breeze about the rock lobster “moms” in our Aquatic Nursery. They are lab assistant Cora Webber and volunteer Adrienne McColl, colleagues and personal friends, who are trying to raise California spiny (rock) lobsters in captivity. This project is in its fourth year. It is very labor intensive and requires the commitment of a dedicated scientific mind. Spiny lobsters breed during spring and summer months. Once a male and female pair up, the male releases a packet of sperm, which he transfers to the female. She will travel into shallower water and produce eggs, which she will fertilize from the sperm packet.  The females are collected and set up in CMA holding tanks for up to two months while the eggs develop. Small egg samples are taken to monitor the developing embryos until hatching. When the eggs are fully developed, the female lobster uses her tail to pulse currents over the eggs, forcing them to hatch. Female lobsters can have as many as 200,000 to two million babies at a time. Once hatching has occurred, CMA personnel quickly separate about 400 larvae into rearing tanks and the rest are placed back into the ocean.  As of my September 16 visit to the Nursery, they had two hatches, the first on July 1 and the second in colder water on August 23. Two separate hatches allow the researchers an expanded opportunity to observe and experiment —

observe redevelopment and experiment with food enrichments, while studying metamorphic changes. Each hatchling is in a tagged container, in quality-controlled water, which is changed on a regular schedule. The babies are born as plankton, with flattened translucent bodies with may small spines, looking nothing like adult lobsters. So far, one has been raised to seven months. This “settling” will mark the success of the program. So far, they have raised one to seven months. A twelve-month-old spiny juvenile will be cause for major celebration - for the “moms” and for CMA.Raising a California spiny lobster in captivity has never been done - anywhere. Developing a sustainable farming procedure for them would be incredible! The time, space and help have been allocated to this project to take their research to the next level. Talking to Cora and feeling her passion for this project, it will happen. I’ve adopted “brown container #1”, a centimeter-long baby almost invisible to the untrained eye. Before the next issue of Fins & Tales, I’ll go see him/her again. Watching any of the babies die is painful, but it is also a learning experience. I’m hoping “brownie” will be there for my next visit.  

Oct. 30 Sea Scare • 6 - 9pm  Nov. 6 Native Garden Workday/Beach cleanup • 8 - 10am Nov. 6 Walk Cabrillo • 2:30 - 4:30pm  Nov. 7 Weekend Tidepool Walk • 2:30 - 4pm Nov. 20 Salt Marsh Open House • 10am - Noon Nov. 20 Weekend Tidepool Walk • 1 - 2:30pm Nov. 21 Weekend Tidepool Walk • 1:30 - 3pm Nov. 25 Aquarium Closed - Thanksgiving Nov. 30 ASC/LA Lecture, Quest for Two Dolphins: Results of the 2009

survey to study common dolphin     populations in the California Current. Susan Chivers, Ph.D.,

Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, NOAA • CMA • 7:30pm • Free

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Fins & Tales Editor: Sherry RufferGraphics/Layout: Linda Ayers

Photos: Gary Florin and Linda Ayers