Weekly News Digest from Mote

Community Revs Up for Plug In Day: "Electrify the Island" Sunday at Mote • Oct. 9: Learn How to Volunteer at Mote - and Get Free Coffee • Oct. 18: Mote's Night of Fish, Fun and Fright • Oct. 26: Mote's Annual Oceanic Evening • Siesta Key Crystal Classic Tickets, Sponsorships and Donation Ops Online 

Community Revs Up to "Electrify the Island" Sunday at Mote
Sarasota County Issues Proclamation • Free Public Electric Vehicle Expo and Media Op Sunday

Sarasota County issued a proclamation Tuesday, Sept. 24 honoring National Plug In Day: Electrify the Island - the local event on Sept. 29 at Mote Marine Laboratory that is part of a nationwide celebration of electric vehicles. From left: Sarasota County Commissioner Charles Hines, Dr. Michael P. Crosby, President and CEO of Mote Marine Laboratory, Nigel Mould, Mote Trustee and Co-Chair of Electrify the Island, and Chris Sharek, Atkins Environmental Engineer and Co-Chair of Electrify the Island. (Credit Sarasota County)

The Sarasota County Commission issued a proclamation Tuesday, Sept. 24 honoring National Plug In Day: Electrify the Island — a celebration of electric vehicles and sustainable energy that will take place Sunday at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. (Click here for the full text of the proclamation.)

“Electrify the Island” is the Sarasota-based festival for the nationwide celebration National Plug In Day. This free event will take place from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, on the grounds of Mote on City Island, Sarasota. Mote is a world-class marine science and education institution that launched a Sustainable Energy Initiative in 2012 to enhance the Lab’s environmentally sound practices (www.mote.org/energy).

Details for the Public

• Event timing: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29 festival followed by 4:30 post-event EV rally
• Location: Event takes place on the grounds of Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway on City Island, Sarasota. Post-event EV rally will be a drive to the BeachHouse Restaurant on Anna Maria.
• What to See and Do: Electrify the Island will feature a plug-in electric vehicle (EV) expo, ride-and-drive sessions that allow visitors to test some of the sleekest EVs around, including cars from Tesla, Ford, Chevrolet and Nissan, along with vendors focused on sustainability and energy efficiency, educational booths and great food.
• Mote discount: Event attendees will receive discount admission to The Aquarium at Mote on Sept. 29 only: $10 for adults, $9 for seniors (65 and older) and $5 for kids (ages 4-12). Age 3 and younger free. Hand stamps for the discount will be available at the Plug In Day. You must show the stamp and request the discount at time of ticket purchase on Sept. 29. It may not be used for a refund after your purchase and the discount is not valid with any other offer. Mote admission not required to attend Plug In Day.
• More information: Visit www.mote.org/pluginday.

Media Opportunity

• What: Sarasota Mayor Shannon Snyder will present a proclamation honoring National Plug In Day: Electrify the Island, and Carolyn Mason, Chair of the Sarasota County Commission, will also speak in honor of the event, following remarks from event Co-Chairs Nigel Mould, Trustee at Mote Marine Laboratory, and Chris Sharek, Atkins Environmental Engineer. Interviews will be available afterward.
• When: Noon on Sunday, Sept. 29
• Where: Outside of Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway on City Island, Sarasota. (Remarks will take place near the whale fountain in front of the main entrance to The Aquarium.)
• RSVP: Media should contact Hayley Rutger at hrutger@mote.org or 941-374-0081. Your RSVP will allow us to update you if plans change.

Event partners:

Event organizers thank the following sponsors: Tesla, Sarasota Ford, Sunset Chevrolet, Gettel Nissan and Region Solar.

Oct. 9: Learn How to Volunteer at Mote — and Get Free Coffee!

Share the wonders of the sea by becoming a Mote volunteer. Join us from 10 a.m.-noon on Weds., Oct. 9 for a casual coffee reception and open house that allows you to meet area residents and snowbirds who volunteer at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. 

The reception is in the Jean Purcell Hendry Conference Hall at Mote's Ann and Alfred Goldstein Marine Mammal Research and Rehabilitation Center, 1703 Ken Thompson Parkway in Sarasota.

Mote seeks Aquarium volunteers for our admissions, membership and welcome desks, visitor education and especially to help in our gift shops. 

Volunteers are the lifeblood of Mote, supporting everything from cutting-edge marine science and education to administration and outreach.

Volunteers at Mote receive special training sessions with Mote scientists and staff and enjoy The Aquarium at Mote for free. Learn more about volunteer opportunities at: www.mote.org/volunteer

RSVP required by Oct. 7. Contact Lisa Kinsella at 941-388-4441, ext. 438, or lkinsella@mote.org. Current available positions are for ages 18 and older.

Buoys and ghouls of all ages are invited to dress up in costume for a Night of Fish, Fun and Fright from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2013, at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.

Discover creatures from the deep in a safe and fun trick-or-treating zone and explore “Dr. Frankin-Fish's Icky-ology Lab" (recommended for children 8 and older).

Unearth shark teeth in “Coffin Creek”, enjoy deep sea delights in the “Diner of the Dead" and take part in an education program geared toward ages 2-5. And don’t miss our signature underwater pumpkin carving in our spooktacular shark tank!

Tickets are available for $6 per person online through Oct. 16. Tickets at the door are $8 per person for Mote Members or $10 per person for nonmembers. (Children age 3 and younger are admitted free.) More information: www.mote.org/halloween

Tickets and Sponsorships Available: 
Mote’s Annual Oceanic Evening on Oct. 26

Enjoy an elegant evening dedicated to the future of our oceans during Mote’s annual black-tie fundraiser Oceanic Evening. 

Tickets and sponsorships are available now for the event, which takes place from 6:30 – 11:30 p.m. Oct. 26. at The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive. Individual tickets are $250 per person, and multiple sponsorship levels are available. For a full listing, visit www.mote.org/oceanic and click the link "sponsorship and tickets."

This year’s Oceanic Evening theme is “Exploring the Future," highlighting Mote President and CEO Dr. Michael P. Crosby's vision for the future of Mote's world-class marine science and education, along with the next generation of marine scientists. 

All proceeds from Oceanic Evening benefit the world-class marine research, education and outreach of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.

For ticket and sponsorship information, please contact Stacy Alexander at 941-388-4441 ext. 509, stacyalexander@mote.org

Event information is online at www.mote.org/oceanic.

Sponsorships, Tickets and Donation Opportunities Available Online for 
Siesta Key Crystal Classic Master Sand Sculpting Competition

Sponsorships, tickets and donation opportunities are now available online for the Siesta Key Crystal Classic Master Sand Sculpting Competition taking place on Nov. 15-18 at Siesta Beach. Sponsors will receive: high visibility before and during the event, the opportunity to participate in a collaborative community event and a way to visibly support the cultural arts and our beautiful Siesta Beach. All proceeds will benefit Mote Marine Laboratory's Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program.

Visit www.SiestaKeyCrystalClassic.com to:

• Purchase four-day admission tickets for $10
• Purchase four-day VIP parking permits for $49
• Purchase a sponsorship package starting at $100
• Donate any amount.
  

For full information about sponsorships or donations, visit the Web site or contact Chastanna Niemann at the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce at 941-349-3800.

For more information about Mote Marine Laboratory, please visit www.mote.org or contact Hayley Rutger, Public Relations Coordinator, at 941-388-4441, ext. 365, cell: 941-374-0081 or hrutger@mote.org