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The Support Bonaire News - 2003-12-01
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Greetings!

Just a quick update for the Friends of Support Bonaire

- Two new projects for funding
- Locking in donations as 2003 donations
- If you're on Bonaire January 1st...

Read on...

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Two new projects for funding

We have added two new projects to the Support Bonaire Web site:

New Project 1:

Support Bonaire's Bonaire Coral Health Project

Fundashon pa Bon Koral (which also goes by the name of 'Coral Resource Management') is taking an innovative approach towards conserving Bonaire’s magnificent coral reef. Founded by former Bonaire Marine Park manager, Kalli DeMeyer, the organization is working to strengthen local conservation efforts by giving advice, providing training, access to tools and information and assisting with fund raising and capacity building. Exchanges of staff and stakeholders with other Marine Parks planned for 2004 will substantially enhance the management capacity of the Bonaire National Marine Park, while the development and completion of a much needed management plan will help to guide its future management efforts. Articles, lectures and weekly “open house” sessions raise awareness about protected areas and coral reef issues and build local support for conservation. Fundashon pa Bon Koral is also working hard on a UNESCO transboundary marine World Heritage Site nomination, which would recognize Bonaire as an area of outstanding universal value. You can become a critical part of this pioneering work by donating to Support Bonaire’s Bonaire Coral Health project.

Further Details at: http://www.supportbonaire.org/CRM.html

and New Project 2:

Support Bonaire's Marine Park Youth Education Project

One of the many things the Bonaire National Marine Park does on Bonaire is help educate Bonaire's youth about the marine environment - for example, that it is not indestructable, that it needs to be cared for, and that the marine environment needs to be respected. The 'Turtuganan di Boneiru' ('Turtles of Bonaire'), which started in 1993, is an educational program for children from 8 to 12 years old and presents opportunity for children to be introduced to the sea in a playful way and to learn about it and its inhabitants. Among the activities involved is teaching youngsters to snorkel. The Junior Ranger Program is for boys and girls from the age of 12-18 years old and serves a different purpose, which is to make the youth aware of the values of preservation of the reef, and to introduce them to the skills and basic knowledge needed to become Ranger of the Bonaire National Marine Park. This is intended to also make them aware of possible professions in the area of marine protection. Support Bonaire strongly supports such educational efforts, and funds donated to the Support Bonaire Marine Park Youth Education Project will go to the Bonaire National Marine Park to help support their Turtuganan di Boneiru and Junior Ranger programs.

Further details on this project at http://www.supportbonaire.org/BNMP-Turtuganan.html

Both of these projects have also been added to the list from which you can select where to have your credit card-based donation to Support Bonaire applied, joining our existing Bonaire Animal Shelter, Donkey Sanctuary, and Maria Hoppner Foster Home Projects.

That donation page can be found at http://www.supportbonaire.org/Make-A-Donation-To-Support-Bonaire.php

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Locking in donations as 2003 donations

Please note that in order for us to acknowledge donations as having been received in 2003 so that you can potentially apply them to the 2003 tax year when you file your tax forms with the IRS next year, you need to make your on-line credit card donations on or before Tuesday, December 30th. If you plan to donate by check, please make sure the check arrives at our Norfolk, Virginia offices by Monday, December 29th.

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If you're on Bonaire January 1st...

If you will be spending New Year's on Bonaire, please come and join myself and Linda at our home at Kaya Rotterdam 2 for our annual potluck BBQ, starting at 3pm on January 1, 2004. You will have an opportunity to enjoy good food and good company, including most of Support Bonaire's Board of Directors and many other people who love and care for Bonaire. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions about this casual, annual event.

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That's all our news for now.

Thank you for your support of Bonaire!

Sincerely,

Jake Richter
President, Support Bonaire, Inc.

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