Press Releases


SEEAL Celebration to Convene Old and New Partners

Released September 24, 2006

The Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance (SEEAL) plans to reconfirm and celebrate its commitment to environmental education at a “SEEAL Partner Planning and Celebration” on Thursday, September 28, at the UMass Dartmouth Center for University and School Partnerships in Fairhaven. SEEAL is a program of the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts (CFSEMA).

The celebration will begin at 1 p.m., when partners will meet at the UMass Dartmouth Center for planning and grant-writing workshops presented by CFSEMA President Craig J. Dutra. Beginning at 5 p.m., partners will celebrate SEEAL during a sunset cruise on the Research Vessel Enviro-Lab, docked at the Pope’s Island Marina.

“With new and old partners in the same room, we can best re-evaluate what it is that SEEAL needs to stay active in Southeastern Massachusetts,” said Jennifer Marshall, event coordinator and Outreach Coordinator for the Westport River Watershed Alliance. “Half of the meeting will involve planning and reorganizing while the rest will be reserved for celebrating SEEAL.”

The free event is being organized by Ron Maribett, SEEAL Coordinator, Jennifer Marshall and Shelli Perry, Education Coordinator for the Westport River Watershed Alliance, and Jack Crowley of the UMass Dartmouth Center for University and School Partnerships. Food and beverages for the celebration are being donated by Buzzards Bay Brewery; the Westport Rivers Winery; and Papa John’s Pizza and D’Angelos, both of Fairhaven.

For over a decade, SEEAL has acted as an umbrella organization, applying for and providing grants to local non-profits and organizations that provide environmental education in Southeastern Massachusetts. Some of these organizations include the Lloyd Center for Environmental Learning, the Coalition for Buzzards Bay and the Westport River Watershed Alliance. New SEEAL partners who are joining the alliance include the Semester at SEA Program; the New Bedford Oceanarium; the Woods Hole Research Center; the Friends of Buttonwood Park; and the Second Half Learning Program at UMass Dartmouth.

A workshop on “How to Write a Grant” presented by Mr. Dutra is scheduled for 2-2:30 p.m., followed by Grant-Writing Workshop Sessions from 2:45-4:15 p.m. To attend the event, please RSVP to Jennifer Marshall at (508) 636-3016, outreach@wrwa.com, by September 25. For information about SEEAL go to www.cfsema.org/programs_services/seeal.htm.