CommunityGrows Board Retreat

3.30.14-AB-Retreat_IMG_6065On Sunday, March 30, 2014, our CommunityGrows Advisory Board held their annual advisory board retreat at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA in the Marin Headlands within the Golden Gate National Parks. We were thrilled to be offered this space by one of our Advisory Board members, Heather Groninger, who is the Human Resources Director and IT Manager at the Marine Mammal Center. 
One of the highlights of the day was having our friend, former Advisory Board member and consultant, Oscar Wolters-Duran facilitate the day. He was able to bring much history and direction to the agenda and activities.
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Our outcomes were to identify the strengths and interests of advisory board members and how they can best support CommunityGrows, identify key tasks and deliverables, develop a board work-plan and leave the day with a defined role.
During the lunch break we got to visit the different areas of the Marine Mammal Center, which is a nonprofit veterinary research hospital and educational center dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of ill and injured marine mammals – primarily elephant seals, harbor seals, and California sea lions. We watched as volunteers entered holding tanks for these animals to feed them and care for them. It is an amazing program that relies on thousands of volunteers to help staff rescue, rehabilitate and release these animals back into the wild.
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The Marine Mammal Center also has an education program that teaches nearly 30,000 students and adults each year about marine mammals and the urgent need for environmental stewardship of earth’s marine environments, with the goal of inspiring ocean conservation. Their school programs are designed to support the California State Academic Standards for science. Additionally, their Youth Crew provides teenage ocean stewards with hands-on experience as volunteers working with animal care crews or as education docents.
It was a great day with lots accomplished and enjoyed. Thank you everyone!
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