Welcome to the St. Andrew Bay Resource Management Association (RMA)
The St. Andrew Bay Resource Management Association (RMA) is a private, nonprofit citizens' group whose members are committed to the proper management of St.AndrewBay and adjoining bays, lakes, tributaries and wetlands. RMA recognizes that the St.AndrewBay system is BayCounty's most valuable natural resource, and that the bay plays a key role in the local economy.
The major objective of RMA is to ensure that future growth is properly managed to maintain the quality and productivity of the local estuarine system.
A Letter from our President, Dr. Linda Fitzhugh
January 8, 2012
Happy New Year!
The St. Andrew Bay Resource Management Association (RMA) is looking
forward to a wonderful year and we hope that you will join us as we work
to protect the natural resources of our bay.
Don't forget,
membership dues are due January 2012!
If you have already renewed your membership, THANK YOU! We rely on
membership dues to pay for our rent, utilities, insurance and boat gas.
Unfortunately in 2011, monies from dues and donations did not cover all
of our expenses, so we are hoping that new members will join and that
former members will renew for 2012!
Events for 2012
1. The scallop rearing project has started. If you want to hang a
cage off your dock (provided water quality conditions are met) then
contact Linda Fitzhugh at lfitzhugh@gulfcoast.edu or 769-1551 X2863.
2.
Mardi Gras is approaching fast (February 10 & 11)! If you want to
participate or make donations of beads and/or money, contact Georgia
Beauchemin at 265-0189.
3. Baywatch sampling
continues monthly. If you would like to become a Baywatch volunteer or
help out in the lab processing water samples, contact Patrice Couch at Patrice.Couch@sabrma.org or call the RMA office at 763-4303 and leave a message.
4.
RMA has the spotlight at the Bay County library for the month of April
2012. In an effort to increase our exposure in the community, we asked
the librarians if we could create a display for the library. The answer
was YES and so we need help with this fun task. Contact Linda Fitzhugh
if you want to help with this.
5. Stay tuned for seagrass
monitoring/seagrass restoration updates. The seagrass restoration
project for West Bay was slated to start in May, but the DEP-Pensacola
Habitat Restoration Program scientists have requested that we start in
March! There will definitely be a call for volunteers once RMA knows
more about the timeline. But if you are interested in planting
seagrasses in less than 3 feet of water (so you are not going to get
that wet), then contact Linda Fitzhugh.
RMA wish list for 2012!
1.
Increase in membership! Do you know folks who would like to join RMA?
Please tell them about us or better yet tell us about them and we will
send a newsletter introducing RMA and all our wonderful programs to
them. And please don't forget to renew your own membership now by
visiting our Membership
Page. THANKS!
2.
New Board Members and a Secretary who can help us lead RMA in 2012!
Board meetings are open to members and our next meeting will be announced soon. Meetings take place from 6:30-7:30 pm at the RMA office on the PCMI campus.
PCMI is located at 222 E. Beach Drive and RMA is the blue building
behind the fence. The fence gates will be open so that
attendees can park near the building.
3. Increase funds through fundraising and/or grants. We need help increasing our assets!
4.
Increase RMA's exposure in the community. Do you have ideas of how we
can market RMA so that people in our area actually know that we exist?
