MET members are available to facilitate meetings that seek to address community issues. Sometimes, groups with traditionally conflicting interests need assistance in finding common ground. Other times, groups with a unified interest need help moving their strategies to the next level. Our staff has received training in facilitation skills and group decision-making processes and, as neutral brokers of information, we are experienced in navigating complicated coastal and marine issues. The following is a list of some of the meetings that Marine Extension Team members have been asked to facilitate or moderate:

Paul Anderson

• Regional Association of Ocean Observing Systems Advisory Board, serving as facilitator over the next two years.

• Northeast Consortium Technical Panel Review, moderator, Portsmouth, NH.

• Maine Fisherman’s Forum (March 2-4, 2006), president and moderator, Rockport, ME.

• Maine Coastal Conference (April 10, 2006), steering committee member and moderator, Rockport, ME.

• NOAA Senior Research Council, representing the Sea Grant Association, Boulder, CO.

• National Assembly of Sea Grant Extension Leaders, representing the Sea Grant Association, Rincon, PR.

Sherman Hoyt

• Muscongus Bay Forum, Clam Management around the Bay.

• Community-based Fisheries Management Roundtable, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME.

• Aquaculture informational meetings, held all along the coast to bring citizens together with regulators and industry members to discuss specific aquaculture leases.

Dana Morse

• Aquaculture informational meetings

• Maine Fishermen's Forum, sea scallop enhancement sessions (2002-2005)

Natalie Springuel

• Island Heritage Trust, MDI Affordable Housing meeting.

• Downeast Sustainable Tourism meeting, public/industry meeting to provide feedback to statewide nature-based tourism initiative.

• Hancock Point coastal access, meetings of selectmen and users of the ramp to help them identify solutions.

• Taunton Bay and Bay Management Study, meetings of outreach committee and public meetings.

• Allied Whale, daylong strategic planning retreat for College of the Atlantic’s Marine Mammal Research Group.

• Mount Desert Island Mussel Forum, public information session about mussel farming.

• Mount Desert Island Youth Forum, public meeting to catalyze youth and adult partnerships.

• Mount Desert Island Herring Meeting, public meeting bringing together naturalist tour guides and fishermen to examine herring population issues.

Esperanza Stancioff and Keri Lindberg

• Maine Healthy Beaches Southern Maine Forum, Wells, ME.

• Collaborating to Improve Beach Water Quality, Biddeford, ME.

• Willard Beach Survey Report and discussion with South Portland, ME.

• Androscoggin and Sagadahoc Health Officers Association, Bath, ME.

Kristen Grant

• Our Future By Design: a four town regional planning process, workgroup and community workshop facilitation.

• Coastal Access in Southern Maine: an open discussion among regional stakeholders (June 2, 2006), steering committee facilitation.

• Maine Beaches Conferences 2000-2003, 2005, 2007, steering committee facilitation.

• Protecting Our Children's Water: MBLR, York River and Kennebunk River Watershed Council, council facilitation.