December 2004, Vol. 1, No. 1| Back to index

MBL in the Community

Many MBL employees serve their communities in a variety of ways: as volunteers, mentors, and members of boards and committees. This issue we tip our hats to four employees who give their time and expertise to a number of important causes.

Joe DeVeer, MBLWHOI Library Joe was recently appointed to the office of Curator of Non-vascular Plant Collections for the Botanical Club of Cape Cod and the Islands. The BCCCI is responsible for the curation of the Woods Hole Herbarium and is involved in various research and educational projects related to the conservation of native plant species and communities of the region. The non-vascular herbarium, primarily marine algae of Cape Cod and the Islands, comprises about 20% of the overall collection. Responsibilities include organizing and re-cataloging much of the collection, and incorporating recent acquisitions such as a large donation from Dr. James Sears, who surveyed the marine algae of southern Cape Cod for his master’s and doctoral theses. Joe is taking over for the fomer Curators Pam Polloni and Dick Backus, who have expertly cared for the vascular plant collection for many years. Ken Foreman, The Ecosystems Center Ken Foreman is a busy guy. In addition to coordinating the activities of the Semester in Environmental Sciences Program at the MBL, Ken serves on a number of committees for the Town of Falmouth. A member of the Falmouth Planning Board since 1996, Ken is the board representative to the Falmouth Tax Increment Financing Committee, which authorizes tax incentives to attract businesses that create new employment opportunities. He also serves on the Town’s Nitrogen Management Working Group and is a member of the Municipal Nitrogen Offset Committee, which develops strategies for spending $8.5 million in funds awarded to the Town of Falmouth from the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence to mitigate nitrogen loading to local coastal ponds.

Ken is also a member of the Board of Directors of the 300 Committee Land Trust (and served as its president from 1990 to 1993). The Committee is responsible for the acquisition and preservation of over 1700 acres of conservation land valued at more than $30 million. In addition, Ken is a member of the Falmouth Land Bank Committee, which identifies and acquires lands for open space preservation. Homer Lane, Chief Financial Officer Homer recently re-upped for another two-year term as the volunteer President of New England Masters Swim Club, Inc. The goal of this 1500-member organization is to continue fitness or restore fitness for swimming enthusiasts over 18 years of age by encouraging workout groups and by offering competitive swimming opportunities. Nancy Stafford, MBLWHOI Library Nancy was elected by Mashpee voters to serve a three-year term on the Mashpee Public Library Board of Trustees. Trustee responsibilities are generally divided into six major categories: legal, human resources, planning and evaluation, governance and policy making, financial and continuing education. Mashpee voters recently approved funding for the Mashpee Public Library Expansion project. Stafford was appointed to a RFQ (request for quotation) panel to review applications submitted by architects bidding on the new construction contract. She continues to serve as a Board liaison with the Library Building Construction Committee. “It’s an exciting time for Mashpee and I’m thrilled to be able to volunteer my time and professional expertise, “ says Stafford.