A Letter from the Chairman
Seacology has made some exciting changes that will help us to save more island habitats and cultures than ever before by becoming far more professional: 1) Seacology has established an independent office in the San Francisco Bay Area. Seacology has previously borrowed office space from Inside-Out (established by Seacology Board Member Bill Marré) in Provo, Utah, Nature's Way (founded by Seacology Board Member Ken Murdock) in Springville, Utah and the National Tropical Botanical Garden in Kauai, Hawaii. We now have our own office in Berkeley, California. 2) We have hired an outstanding executive director, Duane Silverstein. Duane was so impressed with the potential of Seacology that he left after 18 years his former post as head of the prestigious Goldman Environmental Foundation to join us. 3) For the first time, we have hired full-time staff. Previously Rita Despain, Lorraine Clark, and Marilyn Asay have done a marvelous job of day to day administration of Seacology, but they have had to juggle Seacology with their own work. Now, Karen Peterson has joined Seacology's staff as Program Associate, allowing us to initiate and track far more projects than ever before.
None of these innovations will necessitate any change in Seacology's core philosophy. We will continue to focus on saving island habitats and peoples through innovative projects, such as building schools, medical clinics, and water supplies in return for establishment of village forest and marine preserves. We will continue to work on the village level directly with indigenous peoples and focus on producing tangible results. And we will continue to use 100 percent of all donated funds for the projects, without any monies being used for salaries, administrative overheads, office expenses, etc. In a world where non-profit overheads vary between 20 percent to 75 percent of donated funds, how can Seacology do this?
The answer lies in Seacology supporters like you. Private businesses, foundations, and individuals with long-term Seacology connections (including board members) have always supported Seacology's administrative expenses so that all donated funds can be completely devoted to projects. We are confident that thoughtful friends, companies and foundations will continue to contribute funds targeted specifically for Seacology's administration so that we can continue to direct 100% of all donated funds to Seacology projects. Unless donors specifically direct funds to administrative expenses, their donations go completely to Seacology's projects. We also conserve dollars by avoiding traditional fund-raising campaigns, high-powered appeals, and fund-raisers so our energies can be focused on initiating and completing projects on islands. Our funding basically comes from the heart, from people who care and want to help preserve island environments and cultures throughout the world.
Recent and current Seacology programs include flying fox conservation initiatives in Micronesia, the establishment of mangrove preserves in Taiwan, maintenance of the Rainforest aerial walkway in Samoa, surgical correction of birth defects in Tonga, establishment of a tribal education center for First Nation peoples in British Columbia, and seed money for a national park in Madagascar. All previous Seacology projects have been accomplished without paid staff. Imagine how much more we can achieve with a small, but highly experienced staff led by Duane Silverstein and Karen Peterson.
I thank you for your generous support of Seacology, which makes these projects possible. Each of these projects is small but each one means a great deal to villagers. Each project has made a significant difference. Because of your support, Seacology continues to work towards saving the world, one island village at a time.
Cordially,
Paul Alan Cox, Director
