October Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, Oct 6th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Longleaf Room at Five Rivers Delta Resource Center.  Juli Day, MBCKC member, will present on the five week road trip adventure she had this summer in celebration of her retirement. She traveled from North Carolina to Pennsylvania into New England, then Canada and down through Wisconsin paddling different bodies of water along the way.

Notes from September's meeting:
Thank you to Dr. Ruth Carmichael for her time and fantastic presentation on the Northern Gulf of Mexico Manatees. We learned fascinating facts about Manatees this evening; one surprise is that they often travel in ship channels! and although they usual cruise 3-5 mph, can reach speeds of 35 mph! and their migration from Mobile Bay to Crystal River can take as little as one week (imagine that), or 2 months, depending on their mood and their motivation!

Also, thanks to Harriet for leading the meeting.

Paddles and Events

Events

Saturday, Sept 19th - 28th Annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup
 http://www.alabamacoastalcleanup.com/ 

Saturday, Sept 19th - Kayak Safety Classes
Time:   8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Where: Fairhope Pier, north beach area

Cost: $55 + $5 ACA insurance fee (ACA members waive the $5 fee)
Instructor: Hank Baltar, ACA Coastal Kayaking Instructor, Level III, Retired Navy
Register: MUST register for this class, minimum of five for the class to be held. Please register by September 7th.
Call or email Hank to register, 904-610-9287 or kayakhank@gmail.com

Thursday, Sept 24th - Archaeology Kayak Tour
 http://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/gulf-breeze/2015/08/16/archeology-kayak-tour-launch-gulf-breeze/31821839/

Saturday, October 10th - Paddle Bayou La Batre
Paddle Bayou La Batre is the only event like this in our area!  Don't miss it!  To register:
www.paddlebayoulabatre.org

Sunday, October 11th - Alabama Scenic River Trail's Fall Delta Paddle
Alabama Scenic River Trail Delta Paddle, led by Bob Andrews - 251.367.4144 - Rice Creek to Indian Mounds and back
http://alabamascenicrivertrail.com/

September Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, Sept 1st at 7:00 p.m.   The title of this month's presentation is "Shallow Water Phantoms:  Understanding Northern Gulf of Mexico Manatees" which will be presented by Dr. Ruth Carmichael.

Dr. Ruth H. Carmichael is a Senior Marine Scientist at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and an Associate Professor of Marine Sciences at the University of South Alabama. She came to Alabama from Maine, where she was Assistant Professor of Marine Science at the University of Maine-Machias. Carmichael holds an MA (1998) and PhD (2004) from Boston University at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA. She is Director of DISL’s Manatee Sighting Network and operates the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network. She is an Editor for four scientific journals, Past President of the Gulf Estuarine Research Society, Co-chair of the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program’s Science Advisory Committee, and newly elected Member-At-Large for the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation.

DISL’s Manatee Sighting Network

Founded in 2007, the Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Manatee Sighting Network is the only formal manatee sighting network in the U.S. The Network receives and maps sightings from all along the Gulf of Mexico coast. The program is committed to sharing data with other researchers, managers, and the public. The Network provides valuable information regarding where manatees live and what they do while in Alabama and Mississippi waters.
 The Network is housed at DISL on Dauphin Island, AL.