Weekly News Digest from Mote

Mote Declared Cultural Organization of the Year by Sarasota Chamber

Mote Marine Laboratory was declared Cultural Organization of the Year today, May 10, by The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce during the 23rd annual Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Small Business Awards, which drew 500 business and community leaders to celebrate small business and honor winners in seven categories.

"We are honored to receive this award, and we and thank the Sarasota business community for their untiring support of Mote's science, education and outreach programs," said Dr. Kumar Mahadevan, President and CEO of Mote. "This award is a real tribute to the team effort, dedication and passion of our 200 staff, 35 trustees, 60 advisory council and board members and 1,665 volunteers."

Mote is an independent, nonprofit marine science institution dedicated to today’s research for tomorrow’s oceans and to informal science education and outreach for all ages. This winning combination sets Mote apart from its peers worldwide and makes the Lab and its public outreach facility, The Aquarium, perfect Southwest Florida gems.

Mote’s renowned marine science extends worldwide and the Lab has drawn visiting scientists from Japan, Israel, Mexico, Cuba and numerous other nations for collaborative research and conservation. At the same time, many of Mote’s research programs are designed to benefit endangered or threatened marine life, ecosystems and local communities in our own backyard.

Mote contributes to local economies through its active participation in local economic development and tourism organizations, through its public Aquarium, a major draw for visitors, through increasing educational opportunities in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math), through developing and patenting new technologies and through its eco-friendly seafood programs, best known for producing Mote Farm-Raised Caviar.

The 2013 small business awards winners are:

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
SouthTech

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR
Center for Building Hope

YOUNG BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Cutting Loose Salon

CULTURAL ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR
Mote Marine Laboratory

International Business of the Year
CHARITY & WEISS International Realty LLC

WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Dulcy Kushmore

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Taelor Scheuer

• For more information about the Small Business Awards, visit: http://www.sarasotachamber.com/

Mote volunteer Tommy Vaughan-Birch (left), recipient of a National Tourism Week Award, celebrates with her husband Norman and Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County, during a ceremony Thursday at Westfield Southgate.

Visit Sarasota County announced the winners of the 2013 National Tourism Week Awards Thursday, including a volunteer from Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.

During the ceremony held at Westfield Southgate Mall, Mote volunteer Tommy Vaughan-Birch received an award for Guest Service Excellence.

Vaughan-Birch has been an outstanding Mote volunteer for more than 23 years. She brings the oceans to life for visitors as an Aquarium docent, monitors local sea turtle nesting as a member of Mote’s Sea Turtle Patrol, teaches new volunteers about coastal ecology and serves as a community ambassador through Mote’s Speakers Bureau. In 2012 alone, she gave more than 30 presentations to a total of about 2,000 people.

All winners in each of the categories below (except Voice of Sarasota) were nominated by their peers with the winner being voted on by a selection panel comprising members in the hospitality industry. Both nominees and winners were recognized at Thursday’s event.   

Full list of winners:

Voice of Sarasota: Nik Wallenda

Guest Service Excellence-Management: Kate Hedding at Crow’s Nest Marina Restaurant

Guest Service Excellence-Front Line: Barbara Slater of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

Guest Service Excellence-Heart of House: Kevin Greene of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

Guest Service Excellence-Lodging: Carol Clark of Holiday Inn Lido Beach

Guest Service Excellence-Volunteer: Tommy Vaughan-Birch: Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium AND Barbara and Ian McKenzie of Doctors Hospital of Sarasota

• Media Contact at Visit Sarasota County: Lynn Hobeck Bates, 941-955-0991 ext. 103, lhobeck@visitsarasota.org

Mote Marine Laboratory released a rehabbed sea turtle nicknamed “Fargo II” Monday, May 6 from Lido beach while thanking supporters from Wells Fargo, which recently donated $12,500 to Mote’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital. Fargo II is the second turtle Mote has named to thank Wells Fargo for its support, following another sea turtle released in 2011.

Fargo II, a loggerhead sea turtle, was returned to sea by Mote caregivers joined by Wells Fargo staff and a crowd of well wishers.

“At Wells Fargo, we are dedicated to supporting our communities and natural environments by giving to local organizations that make a difference,” said Leah Flores, President of the Wells Fargo Community Bank, Greater Bay South.  “We are proud to support Mote’s Sea Turtle Hospital, and it’s exciting to see them return such an amazing animal to the wild.”

Mote’s Sea Turtle Hospital has treated more than 400 sea turtles since 1995.  All sea turtles are threatened or endangered, so rehabbing and releasing them is crucial to the species’ survival.

Sea turtle "Fargo II" is prepared for return to the wild Monday on Lido Key by Mote Marine Laboratory staff, who thanked supporters from Wells Fargo for their recent donation to Mote's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital.
From left: Jenna Rouse of Mote Marine Laboratory, Greg Natiello and Leah Flores of Wells Fargo.

Fargo II was admitted to Mote on March 7 after being found floating and lethargic in an area of Charlotte Harbor affected by Florida red tide, a type of harmful algal bloom. Mote staff provided immediate critical care to the turtle, which was weak, breathing poorly and showing signs of edema, or swelling caused by accumulating fluid - symptoms that may occur due to red tide toxins. The turtle gradually began accepting food and received supplements and iron injections. By late March, Fargo II had improved greatly and caregivers began planning to release the turtle.

• How to help: Your support can help turtles like Fargo II “go far” after release. You can donate to Mote’s hospitals for sea turtles, dolphins and whales at: www.mote.org/hospitalhelp.

Founded in 1955, Mote Marine Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)3 research organization based in Sarasota, Fla., with field stations in eastern Sarasota County, Charlotte Harbor and the Florida Keys. Donations to Mote are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Mote is dedicated to today’s research for tomorrow’s oceans with an emphasis on world-class research relevant to conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity, healthy habitats and natural resources. Research programs include studies of human cancer using marine models, the effects of man-made and natural toxins on humans and on the environment, the health of wild fisheries, developing sustainable and successful fish restocking techniques and food production technologies and the development of ocean technology to help us better understand the health of the environment. Mote research programs also focus on understanding the population dynamics of manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks and coral reefs and on conservation and restoration efforts related to these species and ecosystems. Mote’s vision includes positively impacting public policy through science-based outreach and education. Showcasing this research is The Aquarium at Mote, open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 365 days a year. Learn more at www.mote.org.

Contact: Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236. (941) 388-4441 or info@mote.org.