Sea Research Foundation

Hello and Happy New Year,

2011 was tremendously rewarding for Sea Research Foundation. We made major strides forward in each of our operating divisions: Mystic Aquarium, Institute for Exploration, Immersion Learning and The JASON Project. Each of our operating areas has a specialized focus and at the same time shares content and strategy toward the holistic mission of protecting our ocean environment through research, education and exploration. 

Mystic Aquarium is the fourth largest cultural attraction in New England, and the largest outside of Boston. Immersion Learning and The JASON Project are the leading marine science education programs in the world, serving nearly 2 million students annually. Institute for Exploration is one of the few entities in the world dedicated to global ocean exploration. 

In October, I addressed a private gathering on ocean policy at The Metropolitan Club in New York City. This was an opportunity to articulate a few of the many ways in which Sea Research Foundation is caring for our oceans and engaging the public in protecting the ocean environment.  

I would like to share with you some of the major accomplishments of the Sea Research Foundation team during 2011. 

We began the year with the completion of major debt restructure which was closed on December 31, 2010. Thanks to Congressman Joe Courtney who led the Connecticut and Rhode Island congressional delegations in fighting for debt reduction. With their support, we reduced our long term debt with Citibank by $15 million, from $34 million to $19 million, and refinanced the balance over 30 years at a fixed rate of 5% interest. At the end of 2012, I am pleased to report that we will reduce our long-term debt by an additional $5 million to $14 million, and we are in the final stages of refinancing the balance with a local bank, Savings Institute of Willimantic, Connecticut, for 30 years at the same fixed rate of 5%. This translates into a reduction of $1.6 million in annual debt service.

Special thanks to Trustees Dan Verdier, Charles Gill and Jamie O’Connell, and to Chief Financial Officer Denise Armstrong and Corporate Counsel and Secretary of the Corporations, Steve Hazard. We are particularly grateful for the in-kind services of The Blackstone Group, Wachtel, Lipton, Rosen and Katz and to Tim Coleman, Jamie O'Connell, Jamie Baird, Phil Mindlin and William Washburn of Citibank; Roy Filkoff, Brendan Fox, Janet Werner and their respective teams. They worked together for over two years on the debt reduction project.

In early March, Mystic Aquarium was accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for a four-year term. I was joined at the accreditation hearing in Knoxville, Tennessee, by Executive Vice President for Research and Zoological Operations Dr. Tracy Romano, who led the accreditation process, and Vice President for Facilities and Capital Projects Keith Sorensen. Both provided extensive testimony to the committee. Afterwards, we received many compliments for the thorough way in which we approached accreditation and for the accomplishments of Mystic Aquarium including improvements to our facilities, guest services and exhibits. 

Safety and security was singled out by the accreditation committee as an area of particular improvement. I am very grateful to Tom Thompson who assumed the newly created role of Director of Safety and Security. Under his leadership, and with the support and guidance of the staff who serve on the Safety and Security Committee, we have greatly improved our focus on these important issues, including instituting new procedures for evacuation and other emergency events and new security systems throughout the Mystic campus.

Accreditation is an extensive and exhaustive process. We take it very seriously because we have a fundamental responsibility to provide the highest level of care for our animals and safety in working with them. Mystic Aquarium had been granted a one-year extension on our prior accreditation so that we could complete the debt restructuring. We are very grateful to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for the support that they provide. We are proud to stand among the leading institutions accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. 

We also earned accreditation and certification from the State of Connecticut for our early childhood education program known as Sea School. Under the leadership of Vice President for Education and Conservation Kelly Matis and Mary Beth Sweeney, we are the first aquarium-based preschool in the nation to be certified. This is an exemplary program and in 2012 we will be developing the curriculum for export to other institutions around the world. 

During the summer of 2011, Dr. Romano convened a Scientific Advisory Council to assist with the creation of a strategic plan for the organization’s research programs. Participants included luminaries from academia, other aquariums, corporate researchers and several of our Trustees, including Dr. George M. Milne, Jr., Chairman of the Board, who also serves as Chairman of the Advisory Council. 

We are now actively engaged in several major international ocean conservation efforts. I am pleased to be a Trustee and Treasurer of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association and have given several talks to maritime industry groups over the past year. My most recent speech to the chief executive officers of major shipping companies can be found here. Trustees Clay Maitland and Carleen Lyden-Kluss are co-founders of the organization and are renowned leaders in the maritime industry. Vice President Kelly Matis and Vice President and Executive Producer of Immersion Learning Katie Cubina have put Sea Research Foundation in a leadership role within the New England Ocean Science Education Collaborative, supported by the National Science Foundation. We have also taken a leadership role in the White House’s Coastal America, Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center Network.  

Under the direction of Vice President for Production Patrick Shea and a team from The JASON Project, we produced two live internet broadcasts, including live coverage of the annual Student Ocean Summit, which brings students from Mystic Aquarium and other institutions to Washington, D.C., to discuss ocean policy with lawmakers. We also produced a live broadcast from the Coastal Zone 2011 conference at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. I was very surprised and humbled to receive the organization’s 2011 National Leadership Award during a meeting at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta in September. 

Certainly, weather and the economy provided great challenges. In August our Ashburn, Virginia, offices were hit by an earthquake, and in September a tropical storm shuttered much of New England for more than a week. In October, just in time for the busiest weekend of the fall season, a freak blizzard dumped a foot of snow on much of Connecticut. The state was effectively shut down for more than a week. Thanks to our new generators, we were able to care for our animals, provide for many of our staff who were without power for several days, and stay open to many a grateful parent. 

Despite these challenges, our flagship Mystic Aquarium will end calendar year 2011 up 4.1% in attendance from the previous year. Our new marketing campaign, “New England’s Hands-On Aquarium” was well received as were the increased number of touch tanks and interactive experiences for guests. The Nautilus Live Theater, with live shows from the Exploration Vessel Nautilus operating in various parts of the world, had record attendance. Crittercam, an exhibit presented by our partner National Geographic Society, was a smashing success. I want to take a moment to thank Trustee Terry Garcia, who is Executive Vice President at National Geographic Society, for his support and leadership in bringing our two institutions closer together. 

Executive Vice President Peter Glankoff, working closely with Trustee and Chairman of the Marketing and Public Affairs Committee Steve Perrelli crafted our aggressive marketing effort. It has generated increased awareness about the breadth of Sea Research programs and accomplishments and gained traction for attendance and revenue at Mystic Aquarium. 

We were very excited to welcome a male beluga whale, Naluark from Chicago's Shedd Aquarium. His transport was featured on major news outlets in the United States and abroad. Here are just a few examples:

Fox Chicago

The Daily Mail (UK)  (Photos by our own Cheryl Miller)

The Sun (UK) 

Our Sea School’s involvement with the release of harbor seal pup Ares received widespread coverage. Here are some links to coverage of the latter:

The Day

WPRI

Stonington Mystic PATCH

PATCH Video

The TODAY Show

It was our youngest whale, Juno, on loan from Sea World Orlando, who stole the show and our hearts. He was videoed appearing to dance to the music of a mariachi band, and the video went viral, appearing first on The Huffington Post, followed by The Tonight Show, The Today Show, Univision and many other media outlets. The YouTube video can be found here. 

During 2011 Sea Research Foundation saw our rating increased to 4 stars, the highest possible, by Charity Navigator, an organization that reviews charities for donors. The rating includes evaluation of an organization’s financial condition, the percentage of funds that go towards mission programs, and the overall health of an organization. With a 4-star rating, Sea Research Foundation is considered “Exceptional: Exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its cause.” 

We also have some exceptional numbers to report from fund raising. Sea Research Foundation raised just over $11 million during 2011, a new record. This included $500,000 raised at our Ocean Commotion Gala. Special thanks to the event co-chairs, Trustee Susette Tibus and President’s Councilor Eric Janney. The evening featured celebrity comedian Paul Mecurio. He was joined by Senator Richard Blumenthal and Bishop Michael Cote of the Catholic Diocese of Norwich as speakers. Trustee Clay Maitland announced a major gift at the event in support of programming for the new Ocean Exploration Center. 

I am particularly grateful to the staff and volunteers of Sea Research Foundation who this year pledged more than $300,000. Led by Co-Chairs Laurie Macha and Tom Clay, more than 40% of our staff has pledged support, far exceeding the national benchmark for employee giving. A special thank you goes to our Senior Vice President for Development David Garamella and his team, and to Chairman of the Development Committee, Trustee Tom Leiden. 

Some highlights of major grants include a prestigious grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services to bring our continuing live coverage from the Exploration Vessel Nautilus to other aquariums and museums. The Alaska Fish and Wildlife Fund through Conoco Phillips awarded a major grant for beluga whale research; Chevron committed $500,000 in total for a combined JASON Project and Immersion Learning program in Texas; and the United States Department of Justice awarded $1.1 million to Immersion Learning to implement the program as a mentoring initiative nationwide. 

We had a wonderful turnout at the dedication of the Foxwoods Marine Theater in early December. Sponsorship from Foxwoods was made possible through the leadership of Foxwoods President and CEO Scott Butera. Foxwoods is operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, and over the years we have had a close relationship with them. The Arctic Coast exhibit was made possible through a $6 million gift from the Tribe in the 1990’s. Dr. Robert Ballard and Dr. Romano have both worked extensively with the Mashantucket Pequot Museum on various research and educational programs. Trustee Rodney Butler is Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council and we appreciate his tremendous support and leadership. 

The Board of Trustees approved construction of two new signature facilities. A new Ocean Exploration Center, sponsored by United Technologies, will open in April 2012. It will be built on the footprint of the existing Challenge of the Deep and features an exhibition developed by renowned former Disney Imagineer Timothy Delaney entitled, “Titanic: 12,500 Feet Below.”   Thank you to Chairman and CEO of United Technologies Louis Chenevert and Charles Gill, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel of United Technologies and Vice Chairman of our Board of Trustees, who have both been instrumental in advancing this keystone project. 

The Ocean Exploration Center and Titanic exhibition will open in time to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Unlike the ethically challenged exhibits that feature trinkets and human effects taken from the site of the Titanic, this exhibit will focus on the story and the science of how our celebrated Senior Scientist and President of Sea Research Foundation’s Institute for Exploration Dr. Ballard found the ship. The exhibition will include a model engine room where children can explore the marvels of the ship’s design, and interactive displays for adults and young people to learn about the science of finding the ship. It will be a unique and memorable experience that people will want to visit again and again.

The entire building will receive new interior and exterior treatments, a bold new entranceway and exhibits on modern deep ocean exploration. The XD Theater will be replaced with a new 4D Theater which combines special effects to create a thrilling “you are there” experience. The Titanic exhibit, opening in April 2012, will be followed by the unveiling of the William J. Drakos Gallery later in the year.

The Drakos Gallery, named for our dear late Trustee William J. “Bill” Drakos will also be a world class design featuring some of the current work of the Exploration Vessel Nautilus, also known as Dr. Ballard’s ship of exploration. We are very grateful to Bill’s son, Trustee Peter Drakos, and to his brothers, Jim Drakos and Andrew Drakos, and especially to their mother, Bill’s wife of more than 60 years, Teeny Drakos for their years of dedication and support. 

The Board of Trustees also approved the construction of the George and Carol Milne Research Center. This facility will be located adjacent to the Aquatic Animal Study Center. It will feature new laboratories and will, for the first time, allow us to fully integrate water quality, veterinary care and biological research functions in one facility. 

 The impending opening of the George and Carol Milne Research Center is an opportunity to thank Dr. George M. Milne, Jr. for his tremendous leadership and vision as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, a role that he was re-elected to in early 2011. Dr. Milne has served as Chairman since 2001 and as a Trustee since 1996. He has provided a steady hand on the wheel of the organization as we chartered stormy seas and has guided, through his own leadership, a complete restructuring of the organization’s financial and philanthropic platform. 

Thanks to a tremendous contribution from Trustees Thomas Leiden and Kathy Leiden, we have secured funding for two tenure track research scientists. Additionally, we welcomed Dr. Peter Auster, a professor emeritus of the University of Connecticut to our research faculty. Growing the research programs and developing an international program with a human and animal health issue focus is one of the top priorities of the organization and I am looking forward to continued growth in 2012. 

The Board of Trustees, led by Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee Susette Tibus, elected four new members in 2011. Carleen Lyden-Kluss, President of Morgan Marketing and founder of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association was elected in May. Jamie O’Connell, a principal in The Blackstone Group, Dr. Peter Barr, President of Glenville State College in West Virginia, and Dr. Deborah Kochevar, Dean of the Cummings School of Veterinary Science at Tufts University were elected in November. 

During 2011 we continued to develop deep and lasting relationships that underscore our global mission and presence. The Institute for Exploration continues to work closely with the government of Turkey. In May, we welcomed His Excellency Jurelang Zedkaia, President of the Marshall Islands, to our Mystic campus. We are working closely with the Marshall Islands to create a comprehensive education and ocean exploration effort for that nation. In March we welcomed Tan Hee Teck, President and CEO of Resort World Sentosa in Singapore, to Mystic and in July formalized a long-term strategic partnership to create and support marine science education programs for Marine Life Park, a new aquarium that will open in 2012. We also formalized relations with the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds near Cape Town, South Africa. This group is playing a vital role in the conservation of African penguins, which are a key part of the Mystic Aquarium collection, as well as other seabirds.

We have begun extensive work through the Institute for Exploration in Israel, Italy and Spain, as well as Australia which is home to the largest number of international users of Immersion Learning and The JASON Project. In late summer we formalized a key research collaboration with Arctic Watch in the Arctic Circle, where we will study beluga whales in the wild, and host guests from Mystic Aquarium who wish to view these beautiful animals in their natural setting. 

The JASON Project has realized some predictable setbacks with federal funding. However, under the capable leadership of its Chief Operating Officer Dr. Eleanor Smalley and Chief Technology Officer Sean Smith the organization is moving quickly towards diversifying its funding and increasing its outreach to more students. Major funding and contracts have been secured from the State of Louisiana, Fairfax County Schools, Cincinnati Public Schools, Loudon County Schools, Chevron and many other sponsors. In June, the organization reintroduced the annual Educators Conference and released a new curriculum, “Terminal Velocity” which focuses on physics and includes extensive information on the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Our Ocean Blue Catering team at Mystic Aquarium continues to bring great food and success to our daily lives. Under the leadership of Vice President Will Parks, the company set impressive sales records during 2011 and took over management of a beautiful new facility, Mystic Yachting Center, which can be used for all kinds of events. Ocean Blue Catering plays a critical role throughout our organization in managing sales of all programs and products, and in creating an atmosphere of trust and customer service. I am grateful for the many ways through which the team responds during times when our staff are on call and the many ways through which they provide in-kind services to other organizations including local food banks. Mostly, they make all of our events and programs a great and enjoyable success.

Finally, I want to say how proud I am of our continuing efforts to be an inclusive and accessible institution. Vice President Kelly Matis has instituted a wonderful program for special needs students at Stonington High School who work on the Mystic campus in various capacities. This has been a great experience for staff and for the students.

My sincere thanks to all of you for your continued standards of excellence and care, and for living our important mission in all that you do. We share many accomplishments from 2011, and we will share many more in 2012.