Issuu

A year of

CONNECTING INLAND COMMUNITIES to the sea

2016 Annual Report

THANK YOU

for believing in land to sea stewardship

Dear Friends, I can’t tell you how many times that I have gotten strange expressions when I say that we are saving oceans from a mile high. However, when you think about it, it’s not so bizarre. If we want to support marine conservation efforts and reduce the number of animals taken from the ocean, we become aware about what species are fished unsustainably and we share that information with friends. We sign petitions, write letters to government officials, share sustainable seafood cards and apps, and we talk about it. If we choose to reduce plastics, we do the same thing – reduce our single use plastic, carry reusable bags and bottles, go to town hall meetings, meet with local leaders, volunteer at events, and make changes in our personal habits and community. The Colorado Ocean Coalition is based on the premise that you don’t have to see the ocean to protect it – but engagement is paramount. It has been an honor to work with partners, volunteers, donors, and doers who are spreading the message that we need to take an active role if we want to see change – especially a sea change in the middle of the county. Interest is increasing for inland states to have a voice in land to sea efforts. People are making the connection that what we do inland has direct impacts on the sea – think about what you eat, the energy you use, how you take care of your streams and creeks, and for a direct connection – follow the water – it all leads downstream to the ocean. Everything from climate change to the changes in your backyard, the health of the ocean governs our everyday life. The work we are doing with our ocean chapters has lead to a new perspective that COCO needs to be broader and scale beyond Colorado with robust goals for an “inland movement”. The Colorado Ocean Coalition will become a lead chapter as we transition the organization to the Inland Ocean Coalition with a goal to be a wellspring for literary and community engagement across all inland states. Thank you for being part of the growing Inland Ocean Movement and we welcome your continued energy and support.

Best,

Vicki Nichols Goldstein Founder & Executive Director

Colorado Ocean Coalition 2016

CONTRIBUTORS

DONATIONS OF $5000+ Curtis & Edith Munson Foundation

DONATIONS OF $1000+ Bruce & Toni Bowden Goldstein Family Foundation Home Advisor, Boulder Garfield Foundation Zeal Optics Inc. Amy & Terry Britton

DONATIONS OF $500+ The Gilbane Foundation James Edwards & Rosalind Wiseman Jane & Walter Enterline Pouring Man Productions Bill & Jane Petzold

Thank you for supporting land to sea stewardship! DONATIONS OF $250+

DONATIONS OF $150+

Vicki & Bruce Goldstein Richard Marks Denver Zoo (Brad Parks) Diane Heasley, recurring donation John and Margie Epke Jenifer & Thomas Atkinson Jeff & Julie Grayson Zori Levine & Josh Goldstein Susan Moran & Tom McKinnon Ted & Patty Ross Susan & Bob Walsh Kathy & Scott Rudge in Memory of Jeff Cutter

Chip Frye Patricia & Al Rosenberg Julie Brown Viki Psihoyos Julie A. Byrt Erin Sams Cooper Jennifer & Andy Goldman Geoff Grayson Jeannie Jaques & Glen Thayer Melinda MacInnis Javier Marti Shawn Rodine Chip & Jill Isenhart Matt & Kristen Moseley Lucky's Market

DONATIONS OF $50+ Carolyn Anctil in support of Utah Chapter Max & Monica Boykoff Elaine Burritt Susan Coit in Honor of Jana Simpson Community First Foundation Jennie Curtis Dive Local Apparel Marci Dowdell in support of Utah Chapter Brooke Lynn Elzweig Hope Enterline Judy Gilligan Fred Gluck & Andrea Rhodes Terril Harkness David Helvarg Laura Hix Jean Housepian Jana Simpson Josh Kahn Justin Kantor Duane Kline John Krampf Anne Levonen Janice Lopitz Katherine Ludwig Marjorie Waldner Vance Martin Amanda Masters Swoon Jewelry Studios

Alexandra Miller in Memory of Carl Miller Barbara Miller John & Valeria Moore Matthew Moseley Harriet Moyer Robert Muir Michael Murray Felicia Olivera in support of the Utah Chapter Kelly Parcell Linda Phillips in Honor of Walt Phillips Margaret Porter Rich Reading & Lauren McCain Shari Regenbogen Carin & Robert Reich Kipper Rosenberg in Honor of Hannah Lee Paddy Ryan Sonja Sabels Victoria Sellars Thordis Simonse Andrew Todd Kelly Webb Debbie Welles Jill Wheeler Cheryl Woods Vantiv Services Company Anonymous

DONATIONS OF $25+ Jape Abruscato Heather Baltrush Raymond Bridge Jocelyn Corkin Glenna de Zafra Allison Del Gizzi Elizabeth English Lawrence Finegold Natalie Guggenheim Melinda Hansell Lynette Hanthorn Thomas Higgins in support of Utah Chapter Barbara Kantor Andrea Kostanecki Kerry Lightenburger Jayce Philpott Beverly Reeves Lori Syme in Honor of Justin Westdal Jessica Turano in Honor of Tessa Kelly Watt in Honor of Marcia Minke Deborah Welles Falon Wilson Alicia Wisney Peggy Wrenn Denise Yourick

IN-KIND DONATIONS

THE PEOPLEÂ 2016 Advisory Board

Richard Marks, Chairman Adam Sirkus, Chairman for 2016 Ali Miller, SCUBA Diving Amy Britton, Sustainable Tourism Debbie Welles, Plastic Pollution Specialist Erin Cooper, Watershed Initiatives -Anonymous, 2016 survey Glenda Catron, Communications James Edwards, 2016 Fundraising Chair Jane Enterline, Inland Ocean Coalition Chapters Janice Lopitz, Watershed Initiatives Jenifer Atkinson, Sustainability and Stewardship Josh Goldstein, Legal Counsel Max Boykoff PhD, Associate Professor, CU-Boulder, Center for Science and Technology Policy Research Paddy Ryan PhD, Travel Author, Photographer and Educator Shawn Rodine, Outdoor Recreation Ted Ross, Waterkeeper Alliance Affiliate

"We are not landlocked We are landlinked".

Staff & Interns Vicki Nichols Goldstein, Founder & Executive Director Andrea Smith, Lead, Operations & Public Outreach Andrea Biniskiewicz, Intern Kate Berreman, Intern Danielle Duncan, Inland Delegation Coordinator Brooke Elzweig, CU Chapter President

2015-2016 Ocean Ambassadors Danielle Duncan Deby Stabler Emily Shuff Giuliana Turi Kara Wiggin

"Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean." Â Ryunosuke Satoro

THE MOVEMENT "This country really needs an Inland Ocean Movement now more than ever before. This organization, as small as it is, is really the best hope right now. COCO has real potential to unify the people in the inland states; it’s fabulous, I’m all in, and I encourage all of you to be as well."

Josh Goldstein, Shareholder at Greenspoon Marder, COCO Advisor "Wow, that is about all I can say. You guys have been busy spreading the word about the notion that an ocean coalition need not be along the coast. Congratulations to you, it is tremendous work."

William Douros, West Coast Regional Director, 2016 Office Staff & of Interns National Marine Sanctuaries, NOAA "Amazing work COCO! I think what you are doing is super important. We need more inland voices and advocates for our oceans. Keep up all the great work."

Travis Riggs, Sea to Table Brooklyn, NY

IMPACTS

The Colorado Ocean Coalition engages inland communities with land to sea stewardship. We believe that the collective impact of bringing the ocean to inland audiences can be a prime driver of change.

over

3,000

volunteer hours given back to the community

70,680 Total cash value of volunteer hours given back to the community

65 new donors

for nteering ily, volu m E in r, o d avilion mbassa tterfly P Ocean A Day, Bu s n a e c . World O ster, CO Westmin

7,989 social media followers

community events hosted/attended

reaching over

172,337 people with land to sea messaging

COCO Inland Delegates met with U.S. Representative Jared Polis and with the staff of Congressman Perlmutter, Senator Bennett, Congresswoman DeGette, and Senator Gardner at the 2016 Denver Hill Day.

2016 HIGHLIGHTS Memorandum of Agreement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) COCO is the first “Inland Ocean Community Partner” leading non-coastal outreach, officially recognized in the United States by the California legislature and NOAA’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The purpose of the Memorandum Of Agreement (MOA) is to “establish a broad framework for joint participation” for the goal of engaging inland communities on the importance of ocean conservation; and the quality of life of the American people. March 2016, finalized the MOA between the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service, and the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS).

New Volunteer Leadership Trainings Spring 2016, launched the Ocean Rangers, a new volunteer training program covering topics including watershed health, sustainable seafood, plastic pollution, ocean acidification, microbeads and more. After the training, volunteers are equipped to take positive action and educate others including students, legislative leaders, and residents, about land to sea stewardship. We hold our trainings every spring and fall accepting up to 25 participants each session.

Waterkeeper Affiliate Boulder Creek has a voice. The Colorado Ocean Coalition in partnership with the Waterkeeper Alliance launched a new project, the Boulder Creek, a Waterkeeper Alliance Affiliate. This project is dedicated to monitoring, protecting and preserving the creek and watershed, and building a community of individuals and organizations that support swimmable, drinkable, and fishable waters that flow from the source to sea.

Ocean Ambassador Graduation & Volunteer Appreciation In 2016, prAna Boulder hosted COCO's Ocean Ambassadors Certification Program Graduation for the six passionate individuals that contributed a total of 300 volunteer outreach hours. Along with the graduation, COCO recognized over 310 volunteers that have contributed their time and resources to the organization since it's founding in 2011.

Expanding the Advisory Board Formed the Advisory Board in 2014 with a vision to grow and expand the organization. Now with 14 members, their focus is to scale COCO by transiting into the umbrella organization, the Inland Ocean Coalition, a connected movement of individuals, chapters, and partner organizations involved in land to sea stewardship.

Land to Sea: Live the Connection & Colorado Gives Day December 2016, in coordination with Bradford Heap's Wild Standard Restaurant and Colorado Gives Day, COCO held its second annual fundraiser with proceeds going towards volunteer trainings (Ocean Rangers), watershed programming (Boulder Creek Waterkeeper Alliance), and chapter growth (Inland Ocean Delegation).

Jack Johnson Concert Tour Collaboration Summer 2017, COCO has been selected as one of Jack Johnsonâ€™s nonprofit partners for his United States concert tour. COCO will be fundraising to reach the donation match, up to $2500 from the tour. This is our second time being selected by Jack to receive public exposure and matched funds to support our ocean & watershed advocacy and plastic pollution programming.

SNAPSHOTS 2010-16 2010 Searched for organizations that had a land to sea connection in the US West and could not find any Started Blue Drinks to float the land to sea concept in the Boulder area

2011 Vicki started Colorado Ocean Coalition under the 501(c)(3) non-profit, The Ocean Foundation 1st Inland Ocean Delegation to Washington DC with Louie Psihoyos, director of The Cove. Dr. Sylvia Earle was intrigued and agreed to come to Colorado the following fall 1st Making WAVES Symposium: Roz Savage, holder of four Guinness World Records for ocean rowing, and Dr. Sylvia Earle and many other notables attended Mayor of Boulder declared Nov. 8, Ocean Awareness Day

2012

Blue Drinks grew and incorporated speakers and more collaborations 2nd Making WAVES: larger than ever, hosted a Mermaid Ball, worked with dive shops and Jean-Michel Cousteau attended as the key-note speaker Wrote the organization's 5 Year Strategic Plan Partnered with theBlu for the Times Square NASDAQ promo

2013 Created COCO Stream Team, a partnership with the Colorado River Watch to engage volunteers with water quality monitoring Partnered with Jack Johnson, musician, (pictured right center) on his 2013 From Here to Now to You Tour CA Legislature through Assemblymember Mark Stone from Monterey, CA recognized the Colorado Ocean Coalition, Boulder City and County as the First Inland Ocean Community in the United States. NOAAâ€™s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary co-sponsored the Resolution Led a contingent of 20 Coloradans to the 4th Blue Vision Summit in Washington D.C. to meet with legislators 3rd Making WAVES Ocean Symposium with keynote Fabien Cousteau & Masked Mermaid Ball in conjunction with the Colorado Scuba Retailers Association (CSRA) Co-founded the collaborative initiative, Blue the Dive (BTD), and held a workshop at DEMA, the premiere US dive show

2014 Awarded grant funding for the first Inland Ocean Ambassador Certification Program Partnered with musician Jack Johnson's concert tour with a table at Red Rocks Amphitheater, CO reaching over 9,000 people Became beneficiary of the Green Beer Fest in downtown Boulder, CO Hosted 2nd BTD workshop at DEMA Recruited and trained 22 Ocean Ambassadors Held first large fundraiser in collaboration with Colorado Gives Day at Zeal restaurant in Boulder, CO

2015

2016

Attended the Blue Vision Summit and Benchley Awards, Washington, DC where over 500 people attended. COCO brought an inland delegation representing the second largest contigency after California Beneficiary of the 2nd Green Beer Fest in downtown Boulder Ran 2nd Ocean Ambassador Certification Training Hosted 3rd BTD workshop at DEMA Held the 2nd Colorado Gives Day Fundraiser Vicki identified as an Ocean Hero in Origin's magazine COCO featured in National Marine Sanctuary's magazine, Sanctuary Watch "Coalition Building"

Partnered with the Monterey Bay Aquarium's sustainable seafood program, Seafood Watch Beneficiary of the 3rd Green Beer Fest in downtown Boulder, CO Participated in the Dairy Arts Center Grand Gallery Opening with Artist Jill Powers, â€œSeaweeds in a time of Oceanic Changeâ€? and a variety of activities: Blue Drinks and Ancient Ocean Geology Hike Two Ocean Ambassadors were selected to attend the Healthy Oceans Coalition training in Georgia COCO was selected as a community partner collaborating with CU's Presidents Leadership Class, a rigorous four-year community-based, academic and experiential leadership program

THE ORGANIZATION

Volunteer Leadership Training: The Ocean Ambassadors (OA) & The Ocean Rangers (OR) The Ocean Ambassador Program trains highly motivated individuals to be engaged in their community. With over 40 hours of training and 50 hours of community outreach, each volunteer focuses on ocean advocacy, outreach and activism. Our plan is to transition to an online training for chapters throughout North America. The newly developed Ocean Rangers, is a four hour in-person training that prepares volunteers to table at events, address watershed and ocean problems and solutions, and engage in outreach opportunities.

Watershed Initiatives: Boulder Creek Waterkeeper, a Colorado Ocean Coalition Waterkeeper Affiliate In addition to the Waterkeeper Affiliate partnerships, we advise on local action around watersheds to learn about impacts to their water quality. This includes education, creek adoptions, clean-ups, zero-waste initiatives, and water testing.

Inland Ocean Chapters & Delegation COCO is leading an effort to provide an organizational model for inland communities to create their own ocean chapters under the Inland Ocean Coalition's guidance. The goal is to promote healthy oceans through education and community engagement. The Inland Delegation prepares volunteers to engage in legislative opportunities on both the local and national level.

CHAPTERS

We are working with ocean advocates around the country to establish chapters and a network of inland ocean stewards. Chapters work to create the Inland Ocean Delegation to attend the biennial Blue Vision Summit in Washington, DC. They also sell merchandise to support their outreach efforts.

Utah Ocean Coalition In 2016, the Utah Ocean Coalition (UOC) was created by Tricia Petzold. Jane Enterline, COCO Ocean Ambassador & Advisory Board member, kicked off the chapter with a presentation at Neptune Divers in Utah. This was a great way to meet local divers and grow awareness. UOC went to work designing a logo. Thank you Bert Granberg, Brian Vansteenkiste and Resonance Printing Solutions for your help in creating our logo and first stack of UOC stickers. The UOC participated in the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium celebrating World Oceans Day on June 8th where we presented on microbeads and the plastic pollution dilemma. The UOC took many World Oceans Day pledges! Thank you to Brent Beardsley and the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium! Contact Tricia to purchase UOC reusable bags for $20.

utahoceancoalition@gmail.com Contact: Tricia Petzold instagram.com/utah.ocean.coalition twitter.com/utahoceans facebook.com/utahoceancoalition

Great Lakes Ocean Coalition The Great Lakes Ocean Coalition (GLOCO) had another active, informative and fun year in Northern Michigan. We continued our work on plastic pollution awareness with a #MICROBEADFREE Blue Drinks where we collected products with microbeads, shared a 5 Gyres video, and all pledged to be microbead free. We then joined eXXpedition Great Lakes as part of the world's largest simultaneous water sampling project for microplastics. The Great Lakes Ocean Coalition also led a trip to the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (NMS) in Lake Huron to view shipwrecks on a glass bottom boat. Thunder Bay is adjacent to "Shipwreck Alley" - one of the most treacherous stretches of water within the Great Lakes. Thunder Bay NMS covers 4,300 square miles and contains over 200 sunken vessels. GLOCO sells reusable water bottles for $20. Contact Jane below.

janee@coloradoocean.org Contact: Jane Enterline

coloradoocean.org/gloco-newsletter

University of Colorado, Boulder The CU Chapter of the Colorado Ocean Coalition is teeming with new ideas and upcoming events. We are committed to growing a strong member base on campus. We have partnered with "Take Back The Tap", the CU Environmental Center, and have established mentors with Leeds School of Business. We participated in the CU Involvement Fair where we garnered 50 new students. Ongoing goals for the chapter include an Ocean Career Day, a CU Chapter COCO Facebook page and Instagram account, 3 fundraising events, and showing the new documentary, "Chasing Coral". Long term goals include: collaborating with the CU "Distinguished Speakers" club to have an ocean oriented speaker, planning a "Making Waves" event, and supporting a group of students to attend the Blue Vision Summit. The CUCOCO club has many great ideas and a strong group of students who are going to "make it happen".

facebook.com/groups/coloradooceancoalition/ instagram.com/cuboulder_coco/ brel5640@colorado.edu Contact: Brooke Elzweig, President

Prairie Ocean Coalition Mavis McRae started the Prairie Ocean Coalition in her hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba. She felt inspired to start this because of the half dozen dives shops and large number of ocean enthusiasts in the middle of the Canadian Prairies. The Prairie Ocean Coalition (POCO) held their inaugural Blue Drinks in March 2015 in conjunction with two local dive shops. POCO has gathered for several Blue Drinks since then including a Skype session with Vicki Nichols Goldstein to learn more about COCO. They also virtually attended a Boulder COCO Blue Drinks and have recently partnered with local water professionals including the Canadian Water Network. The POCO addresses concerns including Beluga whale health, microbeads and pending Canadian legislation, and invasive species impacting Hudson Bay. They also joined COCOâ€™s inland ocean delegation and journeyed to the 2015 Blue Vision Summit in Washington, D.C. to emphasize the concept that positive ocean legislation affects all of us, coastal or not! Prairie Ocean Coalition â€“ Ocean Conservation from the heart of the Prairies.

prairieoceanco@gmail.com Contact: Mavis McRae

facebook.com/prairieoceanco/

twitter.com/prairieoceanco

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

FINANCIALS REVENUE The organization's 2016 budget was valued at $203,223 where over 86% comes from in-kind donations. Over the years, the organization has received major funding from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, the Curtis & Edith Munson Foundation, the Garfield Foundation, the Goldstein Family Foundation, the Schwab Charitable Fund, the Community First Foundation, and the Gilbane Foundation.

"As a father of 12 year old twins, it is important to me to think about what kind of world I am going to leave for them. I am creating awareness about how we need to eliminate plastic bottles, Styrofoam, and live sustainably." Bradford Heap, Chef & Owner of Wild Standard, Culterra, and SALT restaurants

EXPENSES 30% 30% 30% Inland Chapters Watershed Initiatives Volunteer Leadership Training Creating new chapters in states Implementing land-to-sea Empowering all, including youth, and schools while growing their stewardship and citizen science in community outreach and involvement with the Inland education Delegation 10% Administration Support legal, financial, and liability standards of the organization's nonprofit status

THE INLAND OCEAN COALITION Learn, volunteer, donate, and make a difference

www.coloradoocean.org coloradoocean@gmail.com www.facebook.com/ColoradoOcean @coloradooceancoalition @ColoradoOcean

Here's what to look forward to in 2017 Lead our 4th Inland Ocean Delegation to Washington DC for the Blue Vision Summit to meet with the new administration and inland state congressional leaders advocating for the health and vitality of our atmosphere and oceans Train new Leadership through the Ocean Rangers program by empowering all, including youth, to create a cultural shift through education and igniting engagement around water & ocean issues Create new inland ocean chapters that facilitate local engagement with water and strengthen our existing chapters through collaborative training and citizen science programs The Colorado Ocean Coalition/Inland Ocean Coalition is a project of the Ocean Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.