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Upcoming Meetings
For the next few months we are encouraging everyone to practice social distancing and will be holding the general meeting lectures remotely. If you want to watch any of the lectures live, visit our registration page.

January 20, 2021, 6:30 pm.
Tom Fitz - Behind the Scenes in Wildlife Filmmaking
Click to show meeting description

Learn the story behind the story from filmmaker Tom Fitz, who will discuss working for the BBC’s Natural History Unit, Nat Geo, and more on wildlife and environmental films for the past three decades. Come for Tom’s stills, videos, and behind the scenes stories, and bring your questions!

Does Tom's name sound familiar? NEADC members may remember Tom from his amazing footage at the Boston Sea Rovers Film festival a few years ago. Another great presentation from afar thanks to Zoom!

Tom Fitz is an American cameraman, producer and director who has documented our planet's natural wonders for over thirty years. As a freelance cinematographer, Tom has worked for the BBC, PBS, National Geographic and many others. He is the recipient of four Primetime Emmy Awards for cinematography and two for outstanding series, as well as two BAFTA awards.

In 2008, Tom started Schoolyard Films, Inc. with the belief that educating today's students about the natural world and the challenges it faces is of critical importance to tomorrow's healthy environment. With Schoolyard, Tom produces films specifically for use in K-12 classrooms that are available for free with accompanying study guides to teachers worldwide.

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General Meetings are normally held the third Wednesday of each month. Until further notice, they will take place online via ZOOM. Register online for each meeting by visiting the registration page.

For more info about all our meetings, visit our Club Meetings Page

Upcoming General Meetings

For the next few months, we are holding our general meeting lectures online. If you want to attend any of them live (same time as the normal meeting times), sign up on our registration page, and we will send you the connection info a few days before the meeting

View our upcoming meeting schedule

View our previous speakers

New Years Diving

Some groups are planning New Year's dives this year - Let me know if I missed any, and I'll post them on the website!

• East Coast Divers January 1st
• South Shore Neptunes, January 1st at Pleasure Bay, MA
• SECONN Divers 57th Annual Frozen Fin Dive, January 1st at Green Harbor Beach, CT
• Old Colony Anphibians New Years Day Dive, Fort Wetherill, RI

Tips from the September Speaker

Samantha Whitcraft, our guest speaker from September provided some links to her programs, and ways divers can help:

Aggressor Adventures’ Green the Fleet Program

Sea of Change Foundation’s Brochure, About Sea Of Change video (featuring Guy Harvey), and Leading through Conservation & Research Zoom presentation/video (Foundation overview)

Sea of Change Foundation’s Reef Rescue and Rapid Response Program flyer (printable pdf) – our grant program that empowers divers as first responders to acute reef damage

Our three Sustainable Choices PSAs with Force Blue:

• Choose Safe and Sustainable Sun Protection
• Refuse, Reduce, Re-Use Single Use Plastics
• Choose Sustainable Seafood

Should you wish to follow Sea of Change and/or share from their Facebook page, they post regularly at https://www.facebook.com/SeaOfChange

Don't Let Your Membership Lapse

Even while they were closed, the New England Aquarium was still caring for animals and maintaining the facilities and exhibits. They were still keeping a crew at work, and running virtual programs.

Now that they are open with limited visitors, it's more important than ever to maintain your membership so they can continue to keep up with these expenses.

Your dive club membership ($15 add on to the Aquarium membership) allows us to have speakers every month throughout the year (which we will continue to do online).

The Aquarium launched an online advocacy tool as a way that people can show their support for the Aquarium. The tool helps visitors submit a letter to their elected officials asking Congress to support emergency relief funding for non-profit aquariums, zoos, and museums across the country. It takes less than 30 seconds and costs nothing to participate.

More Resources for supporting the NEAq:

• Emergency Relief Petition
• Mission Forward Fund
• Facebook Live Virtual Visits

Support Your Local Dive Shop!

The local dive shops across New England continue to need your business! Many are now open reduced hours or open by appointment, and still offering classes virtually or equipment servicing.

New England Diving Events Calendar

Bay State Council of Divers Meeting (01/20)
Discussion Topic: updates to the Back Beach Neighbors vs. Town of Rockport case.
BSC Website