The Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education, Inc.
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I have worked with Christopher Chin and COARE over the past year around educating people about banning shark finning practices worldwide, plastic pollution and various ocean awareness projects.
COARE is an amazing company with an outstanding group of tireless advocates working towards the preservation of the oceans of this world. Christopher Chin is a multi-talented dedicated man I count myself lucky to know.
Elise DuFour
Assistant Content Editor for Google Earth, Ocean Layer
The Sylvia Earle Foundation
http://www.sylviaearlealliance.org/
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the programs, advocacy, and legislation I've been a part of and also in the people who have effected change in their lives because of the education received from COARE.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
NOT change a thing!
During an impetuous visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium on Shark Days, I was introduced to Christopher Chin, the founder of the Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education. We spoke for a while about our passions for the ocean, as well as our favorite marine species. From the get-go, I could tell that this man's passion for sharks far exceeds that of the common visitor to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. He excited me more than I realized about Chondrichthyes, and next thing I knew, I was on the volunteer list.
When the opportunity arose to work alongside Christopher Chin at World Oceans Day, this summer, I seized it immediately. We spend hours speaking to the general public, communicating the our passions for the oceans as well as shark conservation to anyone who would listen, and were quite successful in gathering signatures of California residents who supported bill AB 376.
I am proud to have worked with Mr. Chin, and would work again with him in a heartbeat.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Working with COARE educated me about sharks more than I had expected. Dialogue with Christopher Chin not only informed me, it inspired me.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I would expand this organization, if only to reach and educate more of the general public.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
What one change could this group make that would improve your volunteer experience?
Definitely volunteer tee-shirts.
Did your volunteer experience have an effect on you? (teaching you a new skill, or introducing new friends, etc.)
Not only did my love for sharks grow tenfold, but it reignited my activist flames, which combined well with my recent passion for education. All in all, it inspired me to keep talking to people, and to keep the conversation alive.
How did this volunteer experience make you feel?
I felt proud and accomplished after volunteering with COARE. I am inspired, and driven even more to protect our oceans.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
I was first introduced to COARE when I met founder Christopher Chin at a rally in San Francisco's Chinatown to raise awareness about the numerous problems with shark fin soup. That was about 2 years ago and I've been a regular volunteer since.
COARE has a way of interacting with the public and getting them interested in the problems currently facing our oceans. Everything from teaching children about sharks and the problems plastics are causing in our oceans, as we recently did during the Marine Science Institute's Earth Day celebration, to reaching out on an international level in getting a number of restaurants to stop serving shark fin soup with its SharkSafe certification program. This organization also lobbies frequently to get more laws in place that will protect the overall health of our oceans as Christopher recently did when he testified in front of the California state legislature on behalf of the plastic bag ban, as well as on behalf of the shark fin ban.
Overall I've been really impressed with the dedication and presence of this organization and all the people involved with it.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
This is a very interactive and hands-on organization and I've personally seen a lot of people change there minds in how they think about or oceans and their inhabitants. I've also seen a number of people go from just asking about what we do, to being ready to volunteer and take action after having just one conversation.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I can't think of any changes at this time, just more of what they already do.
Christopher Chin has so much passion with conserving the ocean and it really shows when he speaks to others about it. He has made me open my eyes more to what humans have done and what we can do to help stop the destruction of the ocean. It is great to work with a nonprofit who shares the same compassion as I do.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I feel very confident talking with people about the plight of the ocean. Not only with that but all the other items that COARE is involved with
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I just wish that it could have more of an appearance in the midwest...away from the ocean
I volunteer regularly with the Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research and Education (by representing them at various events in the area, as well as by helping to manage their online and social networking presence).
I have been consistently impressed by COARE's presence -- they are invited to (and attend) a large number of events nationwide, and have made a difference not just in the United States, but internationally as well. For example, COARE's SharkSafe program, which certifies restaurants around the globe as serving food that is safe for sharks (the restaurants have to vow not to serve any shark products, as well as to obtain their seafood via sustainable practices) has restaurants participating in places as far away as Indonesia (and as close to home as San Francisco).
COARE's presence at events is essential to getting people involved and starting a discussion about why the oceans are so important. This brings me to another thing that COARE is astonishingly good at: motivating people to take action, and following up with them to in a way that's non-obtrusive or pushy. Their newsletters are informative and give a number of volunteer opportunities, and it's easy to be involved to whatever extent a supporter is comfortable with. I've seen a number of people approach COARE's Executive Director at events, questioning what the organization does and why they should care, and walk away ready to volunteer.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I've seen COARE convince individuals why the oceans are so important and why the way international policies towards ocean conservation are failing, and get them motivated to get involved. COARE's Executive Director has testified in front of the California state legislature in Sacramento on behalf of the plastic bag ban, as well as on behalf of the shark fin ban. COARE is a hands-on organization that is extremely effective at it's lobbying efforts, as well as it's public education.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I can't think of anything I would change at this time.
Our K-12 school in Oakland, Head-Royce School, recently featured a week-long study and celebration of the ocean. When we asked Christopher Chin to be a guest speaker, we only knew of him as someone generous with his time and energy and someone committed to ocean conservation and shark protection. We had no idea he would be able to take a few hundred middle-school kids from a state of roaring, unbound energy to enraptured focus where you could hear a pin drop. He spoke for twenty minutes or so, weaving in personal stories about shark encounters, the bad rap sharks have in the media, unreasonable human fears, the plight of the ocean, the vital role of sharks, and incredible facts about these highly-evolved animals. The assembly ran overtime from questions, and the students gathered around him afterwards to hear more. It was an afternoon I won't forget. Thanks to Christopher for engaging these young minds (and mine!) and taking them into a world they may never have ventured without him as their guide.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Their outgoing, dedicated efforts to educate, inform, and inspire.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Give them more resources and staff to further their great work.
My first encounter with COARE was the enthusiastic description detailed to me by the executive directer, Christopher Chin at the Our World Underwater Scholarship Society NYC weekend. Christopher lit up with joy when discussing COARE's Shark Safe initiatives in local restaurants, the importance of spreading ocean love to optimistic kids, and describing the potential COARE has for making change in marine conservation. It did not take him long to recruit me onto the COARE team so that I too could dedicate countless glorious hours spreading enthusiasm for marine conservation research and education across the country! I would love to see COARE's initiatives spread to cities spanning across the entire US. Its location in San Fransisco, while perfect for conducting local projects, provides a limited demographic that, in turn, limits the organization's potential for growth and ultimate success. That is why I hope to tell others along the East Coast as well as the Midwest Region about COARE. With enough determination, one can easily find all of the hidden marine enthusiasts and conservation activists that would drop everything to support an organization like COARE. That is what I intend to do! I will look in every nook and cranny of every un-obvious location to find people as passionate as Christopher to spread COARE's love for our oceans on to the next generation!
More feedback...
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
enthusiastic! He drew me in instantly and within minutes I was ready to join the cause!
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
expand its demographic! I would love to see COARE in every major American city as well as developing countries that greatly impact their coastal reservoirs. Social change comes through the spread of knowledge across borders and socioeconomic divides.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
This organization ROCKS! Not only do they EDUCATE the public about conservation of species, the need to recycle and re-use, but with the addition of Sharksafe, they have gone great strides for protection. No hidden agendas here... Great people, great reasons to support!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
seeing the brand Sharksafe go from a concept, to restaurants having a sticker indicating they are up to standards, to changes in fish distributors.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
try and spend more time fundraising for them. More funds, more exposure and events, means more support, and their message to more people.
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
helping make a change and seeing the results.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
great! like minded people, all out for the same goal.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
change worldwide perceptions. If the message were able to get out faster to more people, it might make them think where they were eating, if they were certified sharksafe, and also make choices in purchasing food, drink and product packaging.
Ways to make it better...
We had achieved more support for the organization. You can only do so much so fast, but seeing greater results would be better.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
getting the average consumer to make changes to their purchasing power. Make them understand they have the ability to make their store / restaurant buy from certified distributors, or they will shop elsewhere.
One thing I'd also say is that...
support for this organization is CRITICAL! we are killing our ocean rapidly, along with its inhabitants. Change must happen now!
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every six months
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
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