Press Releases

CONTACT:
Krista Trono
Monitor National Marine Sanctuary
(757) 591-7328

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking to fill the Maritime Museum seat on the newly formed Monitor Sanctuary Advisory Council. The council represents the public’s interests in sanctuary matters and provides advice to the site superintendent. NOAA oversees the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.

Applicants will be chosen based upon their particular expertise and experience in maritime museums, visitor centers or other related interpretation facilities; community and professional affiliations; and philosophy regarding the protection and management of maritime heritage resources. Applicants who are chosen as members should expect to serve two-year terms, pursuant to the council’s charter.

“Sanctuary advisory councils have proven to be an invaluable source of advice and input by members of the community regarding the management of our national marine sanctuaries, America’s ocean treasures,” said David Alberg, superintendent of Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. “We are thrilled that Monitor National Marine Sanctuary has its own advisory council, and we look forward to working with its members.”

The Monitor Sanctuary Advisory Council currently consists of 11 members, including four government agency representatives and seven members from the general public. Specifically, the council's role is to provide advice on: (1) protecting cultural resources, and identifying and evaluating emergent or critical issues involving sanctuary use or resources; (2) identifying and realizing the sanctuary's research objectives; (3) identifying and realizing educational opportunities to increase the public knowledge and stewardship of the sanctuary environment; and (4) assisting to develop an informed constituency to increase awareness and understanding of the purpose and value of the sanctuary and NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Program.

Applications are due by June 30, 2006. To receive an application kit, or for further information please contact:

Krista Trono, Communications Coordinator
Monitor National Marine Sanctuary
100 Museum Drive
Newport News, Va. 23606
e-mail: krista.trono@noaa.gov
phone: (757) 591-7328

Monitor National Marine Sanctuary was designated in 1975 to protect the wreck of the famed Civil War ironclad, USS Monitor, which sank during a storm 16 miles off Hatteras, N.C. in 1862.

NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program seeks to increase the public awareness of America’s maritime heritage by conducting scientific research, monitoring, exploration and educational programs. Today, the sanctuary program manages 13 national marine sanctuaries and one coral reef ecosystem reserve that encompass more than 150,000 square miles of America’s ocean and Great Lakes natural and cultural resources.

NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, over 60 countries and the European Commission to develop a global network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.

On the Internet:
NOAA - http://www.noaa.gov
National Ocean Service - https://oceanservice.noaa.gov
National Marine Sanctuary Program - http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov
Monitor National Marine Sanctuary - http://monitor.noaa.gov