Agenda

6:00 PM – 10:00 PM Celebration of the Seas
Carnegie Institution for Science, 1530 P Street, NW
Join us for a festive opening ceremony. Enjoy a panel of ocean artists, listen to some marine-themed music, explore a photo exhibit or watch a few short films. This event is part of Blue Vision Summit 4 and is free and open to the public. Please register for a free ticket: click here, select Monday only. Refreshments and networking will follow the artists panel.

5:30    Doors open

6:00    Music by Mark Holmes (Theater)

6:15    Arts & Ocean Roundtable (Theater)

The Arts & Ocean Roundtable will feature four well-known ocean artists discussing how they use art to stimulate public interest in the ocean, promote awareness of ocean conservation. Sculptors Claudio Garzón and Courtney Mattison, and painters Asher Jay and Wyland will relate their personal experiences in how their art changes the hearts and minds of audiences. A scientific perspective on how art can be used in conjunction with science to help influence decision makers, presented by a staff member from the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation.

Speakers: Claudio Garzón, Asher Jay, Courtney Mattison, and Wyland
Moderator & Organizer: Jim Toomey

7:00    “Oceans in Focus” photo exhibit (Ballroom & Rotunda)

Oceans in Focus showcases the work of five Fellow Photographers from the International League of Conservation Photographers. This exhibit both highlights the beauty of marine environments and documents the negative impacts of anthropogenic activity in our oceans. The exhibit aims to inspire audiences to concrete conservation action.

Presented by International League of Conservation Photographers

7:30 – 9:30    Films (Theater)

• 7:30    One World One Ocean Shorts
  Presented by Barbara MacGillivray, MacGillivray Freeman Films One World One Ocean
• 7:45    San Francisco International Ocean Film Festival Shorts
  Presented by Ana Blanco, San Francisco International Ocean Film Festival
• 8:30    Filtering Futures: A Story of Long Island Livelihood & Shellfish
  Presented by Gareth Burghes, filmmaker
• 9:00   Disaster at Nightingale: How Tragedy Found the World’s Remotest Island
  Presented by Dr. David Guggenheim, Ocean Doctor

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013
Carnegie Institution for Science

8:00 AM    Registration (Lobby)
Breakfast (Ballroom & Rotunda)

9:00 AM    Welcome Address (Theater)

9:30 AM     Opening Session: The State of Our Seas (Theater)

1. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (Rhode Island), The Politics of the Ocean
2. Vice Admiral Peter Neffenger (United States Coast Guard), From Sandy to the Arctic
3. Erika Bergman (ExploreOcean), Inspiration through Exploration
   Description: Research and exploration define the nature of our dynamic oceans through the compelling stories they tell. These stories are powerful tools that can inspire future generations of oceanographers and explorers. ExploreOcean works to engage young adults through active participation in underwater exploration by bringing students into the field and by bringing explorers into their classrooms. We provide access to advanced marine technologies including manned submersibles, remotely operated vehicles, and other instruments to give students an opportunity to create their own stories and innovate solutions to the issues our oceans are facing.

10:45 AM    Comfort break

11:00 AM    Disaster & Restoration: From Katrina & BP to Sandy and the Next Big One (Theater)

Natural and man-made disasters routinely impact our oceans and coasts resulting in significant environmental and economic damage. The attention generated by these disasters and the availability of federal aid creates opportunities to revisit current coastal and ocean policies including development, preparation, response and how to best invest financial resources in ways that benefit our environment and coastal communities. This panel will identify opportunities and challenges presented by ocean and coastal disasters and offer recommendations for future success based on first hand experiences with the BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster and Hurricanes Sandy and Katrina.

Speakers: Clay Maitland (NAMEPA), Debbie Mans (NY/NJ Baykeeper),  Cynthia Sarthou(Gulf Restoration Network), Eric Schwaab (NOAA), Cindy Zipf (Clean Ocean Action)
Moderator & Organizer: Chris Dorsett (Ocean Conservancy)

12:30 PM    Lunch
Delicious vegetarian cuisine will be served in the ballroom & rotunda.

• Youth Networking Lunch: Take the opportunity to meet your fellow Blue Vision Summit youth participants during this networking session which will give you the opportunity to share ideas, discuss conservation issues, and learn about ocean conservation work being carried out by young people across the country.

1:30 PM    Workshops

1. Thinking Story Like a Journalist (Ballroom)
   This fast-paced session will offer insights into the culture of journalism and some practical guidance on how to speak journalists’ language. Juliet Eilperin will provide a current perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing oceans from her vantage as a Washington Post White House Reporter and another nine years covering ocean issues. She’ll cover do’s and don’ts of communicating with the media and what it takes to attain the bar of a news story or feature in the Washington Post. COMPASS communications coach Nancy Baron will guide participants through a quick and dirty exercise on framing a story pitch and addressing the questions: “Why this? Why now? So what?” Brave volunteers will have a chance to practice a one-minute pitch and get instant helpful feedback. So bring your story ideas, and have fun with this opportunity to refine them.
   Speakers & Organizers: Juliet Eilperin (Washington Post) and Nancy Baron(COMPASS)
2. Working with Congress (Theater)
   Everything you need to know to have success on Capitol Hill starting with relaxing and being yourself.
   Speakers & Organizers: Mike Dunmyer (Ocean Champions), Sean Cosgrove(Conservation Law Foundation), Gina Davenport (Blue Frontier), Dr. David Wilmot(Ocean Champions)
3. Working with Donors (Boardroom)
   Join veteran fundraiser Chris Palmer for an intensive and enjoyable workshop focused on learning the skills and techniques needed to raise money. Participants will learn how to build relationships with wealthy donors and other gatekeepers and make an ask.
   Speaker & Organizer: Chris Palmer (One World One Ocean Foundation)

2:45 PM    Comfort break

3:00 PM    Making Climate a BLUE Issue (Theater)

The reality is climate change is already impacting our ocean and coasts. The challenge is how we as a movement can develop a unified approach and strategy to engage the public in solutions. This panel will address both fossil fuel fired climate disruptions and approaches and solutions that we can engage in as marine conservationists and stakeholders

Speakers: Lee Crockett (Director U.S. Fisheries Campaigns, The Pew Charitable Trusts),Marea Hatziolos (The World Bank), Gordon King (Taylor Shellfish), Mike Tidwell(Chesapeake Climate Action Network)
Moderator & Organizer: Dr. Lisa Suatoni (Natural Resources Defense Council)

4:30 PM    Youth Leadership for a Blue Planet (Theater)

Our planet’s marine ecosystems face growing challenges. In order to combat these challenges, it is essential for us to engage and empower young people with the knowledge and skills necessary to help protect these important environments. Join us for a discussion on the importance of youth leadership in the field of ocean conservation and learn how youth and adults can work together to help protect our planet’s oceans for future generations!

Speakers: Steve Culbertson (Youth Service America), Mia DeMezza (EarthEcho International), Annalise Downey (Teens4Oceans), Jordan Howard (5 Gyres), Rudy Sanchez (Benchley Award recipient), Urban Assembly New York Harbor School Student
Moderator & Organizer: Sean Russell (Stow It-Don’t Throw It)

6:30 PM    Networking Events (Various Locations)

We encourage you to use this time while we’re gathered in the same place to connect, discuss the issues and solutions, and move the conversation forward. If you’re interested in an issue, get a group together and go grab a drink at one of the area restaurants.

• 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM     Blue Vision Happy Hour (Stoney’s Bar & Grill, 1433 P St NW – one block away)
  After a fantastic day of panels, workshops and networking, keep the conversation going at Stoney’s Bar & Grill. They’re offering Blue Vision Summit Specials & Happy Hour! $3 Bud, Bud Lite and Stoney’s Amber; $4 glasses of wine; $3 Bud, Bud Light, Stoney’s Amber; $7 Cheese or Pepperoni pizzas and $9 Veggie or Buffalo Chicken Pizzas. Come out and join the blue movement!

• 7:00 PM    Ocean Frontiers Film Screening & Panel Discussion (Carnegie Institution for Science, Theater)
  Join us for a special Blue Vision Summit 4 screening of the highly acclaimed film, “Ocean Frontiers”. Audiences across the country are raving about this film. Far from doom and gloom, “Ocean Frontiers” takes us on an inspiring voyage to seaports and watersheds across the country where we meet an intermingling of unlikely allies, of industrial shippers and whale biologists, pig farmers and wetland ecologists, sport and commercial fishermen, port operators, reef snorkelers and many more, all of them embarking on a new course of cooperation, to sustain the sea and our ocean economies. A panel discussion with experts including Sean Cosgrove (Ocean Campaign Director, Conservation Law Foundation) and Pete Stauffer (Ocean Program Manager, Surfrider Foundation) will follow the film. Free and open to the public.

• 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM     Morning Meeting (Dirksen Senate Office Building – Room 562 – Constitution Avenue and 1st Street, NE Washington, DC 2000)
  • An opportunity to convene and hear from members of Congress before we break into state or regional groups and make office visits.

• 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM    Meetings with Congressional Offices (Various offices on Capitol Hill)
  • You’ll visit offices as part of a group. We’ll train you in advance (see Tuesday agenda) to ensure you’re prepared. Meetings will be arranged in advance of the Summit by state representatives. Any citizen can meet with a member of Congress. This will be focused on educating the members and their staffs on ocean issues.
  • This year we are asking Congress to support full implementation of The National Ocean Policy that is designed to promote a healthy and resilient ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes—and their safe and productive use. This common sense policy supported by President Obama is crucial to the health of both the nation’s environment and its economy.In addition we are supporting The Safety and Fraud Enforcement for Seafood (SAFE Seafood) Act and Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Enforcement Act of 2013, two issues that have bipartisan support on Capitol Hill. The SAFE Seafood Act would require full traceability for our seafood and help prevent mislabeling, thereby protecting consumers, honest fishermen, and the ocean. Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, or pirate fishing, is a global problem that poses a serious threat to the commercial viability and environmental sustainability of fish stocks and other marine wildlife.

6:00 PM    Peter Benchley Ocean Awards Ceremony (Carnegie Institution, Theater)

• The 6th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards will be given during a ceremony at the Carnegie Institution of Science. The ceremony is included with BVS4 registration and the ceremony is free and open to the general public. This year’s recipients are President Macky Sall of Senegal, Nancy Baron and COMPASS, Dr. Boris Worm and Dr. Heike Lotze, Congressman Ed Markey, Sean Russell, and Karen Garrison and Kaitilin Gaffney. Her Deepness, Dr. Sylvia Earle, will be the Master of Ceremonies.

7:30 PM    Peter Benchley Ocean Awards Dinner (Ticketed event)

• A ticketed and intimate dinner will be held at the Carnegie Institution following the ceremony. The dinner is not included with BVS4 registration but can be purchased for an additional fee. Click here for more information on the Awards.

9:00 AM    Networking Breakfast (Ballroom & Rotunda)

10:00 AM    Healthy Ocean Hill Day Report Back (Theater)

Share your experience, report back on the Hill meetings you had.

Moderators: Sean Cosgrove (Conservation Law Foundation) and Dr. David Wilmot (Ocean Champions)

11:00 AM    Next Steps

This session will be about building your community-based blue power. You’ll get tips on how to follow up on Healthy Ocean Hill Day in your congressional home districts and states and link your seaweed activities with national actions by maintaining a year round vigilance with your elected officials.

Presenters: Richard Charter (OCS Coalition), Randy Hayes (Foundation Earth)

12:00 PM    Protecting the Ocean – From your town to this town (Theater)
Benchley Award recipient and Congressman from California, Sam Farr will participate in conversation with three accomplished youths: fellow Benchley Award recipients Sean Russell and Rudy Sanchez and 5 Gyres representative Jordan Howard.

Speakers: Representative Sam Farr (California), Jordan Howard (5 Gyres), Sean Russell(Stow It-Don’t Throw It), Rudy Sanchez (Benchley Award recipient) .

1:00 PM Lunch (Ballroom & Rotunda)