Final Report

Contract: 12-144-000-4833

Project Name: The Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Marine Debris Public Relations Campaign

Entity: Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Program Project Description: The goal of the Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach program is to remove marine debris from the Texas shoreline and promote coastal stewardship through education and outreach. The program’s mission is to protect Texas beaches. The Texas General Land Office's Adopt-A-Beach program utilizes an educational outreach campaign to increase public awareness of the threats marine debris pose to the Texas coast, and spur volunteer participation in the program’s coast wide cleanup efforts.

While other litter campaigns may also focus on public education and awareness related to marine debris, the Adopt-A-Beach program is unique in its ability to organize coastwide cleanups generating thousands of volunteers that remove nearly 500 tons of debris from the Texas coast, annually. An Adopt-A-Beach volunteer “summit” was held in 2012, providing a central opportunity for current and new volunteers to share ideas, renew interest in program participation, and promote networking amongst volunteers. In addition to the project outcomes, the results of this initiative had and will continue to have a direct impact on supporting the Texas coastal eco-tourism economies and protecting the fragile coastal environments

Summary of the public awareness and educational outreach campaign efforts that have been addressed through CMP Cycle 16 grant funds are as follows:

Task 1 Description: Development of a new statewide educational marketing and branding campaign designed to increase awareness of the dangers of marine debris.

Kick-off campaign with advertisements in printed publications and various social media outlets.

A full page ad was placed in the Texas Highways January 2012 edition. Various online ads were placed in each of the following markets: Beaumont – The Beaumont Enterprise, Houston – The Houston Chronicle, Victoria – The Victoria Advocate, Corpus Christi – The Caller Times, The Rio Grande Valley, The Brownsville Herald and The Valley Star – Harlingen. Press promotions kicked off the grant cycle with a press release distributed statewide, press releases were done throughout the cycle of the grant. Reusable grocery bags were printed and distributed at community events throughout the year. Auto litter bags with an educational message were printed and distributed throughout the cycle of the grant at community events and beach cleanups.

Task 2 Decription: Hold a video contest tasking high school students.

The contest began in January of 2012 and wrapped up shortly before the April beach cleanup. The students were asked to craft and produce an Adopt-A-Beach video Public Service Announcement (PSA) educating the public about marine debris. The theme of the contest was “Trash Travels” and the program asked high schools in the Hill County region to have their students show how the behaviors in the Hill Country directly impact the Texas coast. Although there were a limited number of entries submitted, all students understood the message well and it made it a difficult task for the judges to award the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners. Two honorable mentions were also named in the contest.

The winning PSA was shown on the local YNN station in Austin, Texas that targets viewers in the Hill Country area. The winning PSA’s were also placed on the Adopt-A- Beach program’s website and YouTube. The winning video can be viewed at the following address:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhdgJYMxcis

The General Land Office’s press office also promoted the contest with press releases distributed throughout the Hill Country area.

Task 3 Description: Create a complete advertising campaign to raise public awareness and promote the Texas Adopt-A-Beach program.

The campaign focused on educating teachers, students, the media and the general public of the potential risks associated with- and how to reduce marine debris. Lesson Plans were developed for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade. Six simple plans were developed and distributed at the annual Conference for the Advancement of Science and Teaching (CAST) in Corpus Christi in November 2012. The plans have been a huge hit and other state agencies and non-profit groups have requested the materials to use in their work. The plans were also placed on the Adopt-A-Beach program website for parents and teachers to download and use at home or in the classroom. Lessons plans can be viewed and downloaded at the following address: http://www.glo.texas.gov/adopt-a- beach/learn/lesson-plans.html

Task 3 also focused on website re-design with a focus on informing and educating targeted audiences, and increasing traffic to the Adopt-A-Beach website. The website now targets genders, adults and children with a medium to low English literacy level better than before. The website can be viewed at the following link: http://www.glo.texas.gov/adopt-a-beach/index.html. In addition, a coordinator log in section was developed for site coordinators to download information and forms. Furthermore, the online registration form was redesigned to a more user friendly form providing the ability to track registrations into specific categories. This will assist Adopt-

A-Beach program staff in understanding how well their outreach efforts work. The General Land Office’s press office promoted the launch of the new website and lesson plans in October 2012.

Also, as part of task 3, online and print ads were placed in the Rio Grande Network area to promote the 2013 Winter Texan Cleanup held on Friday, February 8th at Edwin Atwood Park in Cameron County. There was an increase in participation this year as 135 participants removed 5,400 pounds of trash from 5 miles of coastline at South Padre Island. This is normally a Winter Texan cleanup targeted to snowbirds in the Rio Grande Valley for the winter; however, a high school group from San Benito also joined efforts and helped to clean an area that normally does not get cleaned at this particular cleanup. Online ads were placed in the Corpus Christi Caller Times newspaper to promote the Coastal Bend Winter Cleanup, held on Saturday, February 9, 2013. The largest turnout in this 9th annual event took place at five sites in the Corpus Christi and surrounding areas. A total of 468 volunteers helped remove 14,103 pounds of trash from 25 miles of coastline. Results of past cleanup efforts can be viewed at the following address: http://www.glo.texas.gov/adopt-a-beach/cleanups/results.html

Task 4 Description: Organize and host a one-day marine debris summit in Galveston, Texas.

The summit was held on January 13, 2012. A host of well informed speakers spoke on an array of topics that deal with marine debris. Dr. Sylvia Earle was the keynote speaker. The 300 attendees included the general public, Beach Guardian groups, local government and community leaders, non-profit organizations, and corporate participants and sponsors. The summit provided a platform to share information about efforts to reduce beach litter, train Adopt-A-Beach volunteer coordinators, build program awareness and increase issue-based networking opportunities for program participants. Online and printed ads and press releases were all done to help promote the summit.

Task 5 Description: A one-day training and appreciation workshop for program Adopt-A-Beach volunteer county site coordinators.

A one day training for volunteer coordinators took place on January 12, 2012. The training focused on introducing all coordinators to become familiar with each regional site coordinator and build a network to share information, supplies, and assistance. Training also included Adopt-A-Beach program specific training, as well as the importance of reporting data tracked through beach cleanups with a presentation by the Ocean Conservancy. Media training was provided for the coordinators to become more at ease on the camera when conducting interviews about their cleanups. The last activity of the day included a presentation on how to build a monofilament line recycling bin. Each participant made their own bin to take home with and use in their community. A total of 49 site coordinators and 10 other Adopt-A-Beach related personal attended the training. An awards ceremony followed where the program handed out service awards to its volunteer coordinators.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2013 | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD | PAGE A5 ➤ NATION Virginia museum unwrapping New headquarters bids to end agency rivalry

mummy’s story with CT scan BY MICHAEL TARM intelligence firm Stratfor. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS “It sounds great on BY MICHAEL FELBERBAUM paper,” he said. “But get- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CHICAGO — A first- ting federal agencies to of-its-kind headquarters act in unison can be like RICHMOND, Va. — has opened in Chicago for herding cats.” Using modern technolo- 70 federal agents, police Over the years, com- gy, a Virginia museum and prosecutors to work petition has led to situa- is working to unwrap side-by-side, year-round to tions where agencies end the story behind one of fight drug traffickers — a up unknowingly target- the earliest surviving set-up meant to end inter- ing the same traffickers, Egyptian mummies. agency rivalry and mis- creating the risk that The Virginia Museum communication that can they could inadvertently of Fine Arts in Richmond hamper investigations. foil each other’s investi- partnered this week with The recent, fanfare-free gations, Riley said. a medical imaging cen- opening of the Chicago M. SPENCER GREEN/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Thus, the headquar- ter to complete a CT Strike Force building comes ters was designed to fos- scan on Tjeby (CHEH- as Mexican cartels now sup- Jack Riley, center, head of the Drug Enforcement ter camaraderie. Em- bee), its 4,000-year-old ply over 90 percent of the Administration in Chicago, points out local Mexican drug car- ployees’ desks all sit in a mummy, in hopes of narcotics in Chicago, and tel problem areas on a map in the new interagency Strike warehouse-sized room piecing together more as street gangs vying for Force office accompanied by DEA agent Vince Balbo, in with no dividers or signs information about the turf to sell those drugs kill Chicago. identifying who belongs mummy itself and better each other and bystanders to what agency. Re- understanding the early caught in the crossfire. happening,” said Riley, well as agents from the sponse teams are com- history of the mummifi- Inter-agency and de- who took the lead in push- DEA, FBI, Immigration prised of members from cation process. partment cooperation is ing for the facility. “When and Customs Enforcement, each agency. While it isn’t the first hardly a novel concept, we get information here, the IRS and a half-dozen A major focus of their time a mummy has gone but typically takes the it’s not put in a pile and for- other agencies. In another investigations will be the under the digital knife, STEVE HELBER/ form of occasional meet- gotten. It’s acted on, now.” rarity, U.S. and state prose- point of contact between only a handful from the THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ings or temporary joint Riley gave The cutors also work alongside major traffickers and time period have been task forces on specific Associated Press an one another. Riley declined local gangs, who serve as examined in this fashion. A three-dimensional image of investigations, said Jack exclusive tour of the to reveal its budget. street-level salesmen. The information gath- a CT scan from a 4,000-year- Riley, the head of three-story brick build- It’ll take time to see if That’s when traffickers ered will help provide old Egyptian mummy called Chicago’s DEA office. ing. Citing security, he the headquarters makes are especially vulnera- greater detail of the Tjeby, from the Virginia “But you can’t talk to asked the AP not to anti-trafficking efforts in ble, Reilly says, because body, create a 3-D digital Museum of Fine Arts, is shown your counterparts in once- reveal its exact location. Chicago more efficient, they meet at unfamiliar model and even recon- at the HCA Virginia Imaging a-week meetings — you The staff includes city said Fred Burton, a secu- places or use phones that struct the face of the center in Richmond, Va. have to talk as things are and suburban police, as rity analyst for the global can be wiretapped. mummy that has been on display off and on since being acquired by the technology allows them museum in 1953. to learn about the Little is known about mummy in remarkable Tjeby, who was buried in detail without invasive or a rock-cut tomb at a site damaging procedures. known as Sheikh Farag “It’s easier to unlock in upper Egypt and exca- that door of mystery to vated in 1923. discover the secrets of the What museum officials past,” said Alex Nyerges, do know is that he dates to the museum’s director. He between 2150 and 2030 anticipates incorporating BCE, a time of instability information gleaned from in Egypt, with the break- the scan into the display of down of central authority the mummy, which also and economic decline. includes its coffin and Previous research sug- other artifacts from gests Tjeby was 25 to 40 inside, such as a model of $ years old when he died. a boat and a granite statue. Shampoo Carpet or Seats .... 25 Experts hope a closer The first mummy CT Shampoo Carpet & Seats ... $40 look at data will help scan took place in 1977. But $ piece together more back then — and even Interior Detail ...... 45 biographical informa- when Tjeby had his first tion, such as Tjeby’s spe- imaging scan in 1986 — the GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE cific age, diet and cause technology was fairly Tel. 956.504.0437 of death. They also will primitive, and little could Oversized Entrance thru Rear Please look at the materials be seen, said Jonathan 725 Paredes Line (front) • 1076 Makintosh (rear) used to mummify the Elias, director of the body and the amount of Akhmim Mummy Studies /LPLWHGWLPHRQO\VXEMHFWWRFKDQJHRUFDQFHOODWLRQVZLWKRXWSULRUQRWLFH1RWYDOLGLQFRQMXQFWLRQZLWKRWKHURIIHUVRUGLVFRXQWV soft tissue that has sur- Consortium, a Pennsyl- vived, and will determine vania-based organization Breakfast Served whether organs have that has collected imaging been removed, as they data on about 30 mummies Monday - Friday were in mummies from and offered to help the NOW ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS FOR 8 am - 11 am later periods. Virginia museum analyze VALENTINE’S DAY Lunch Buffet Researchers say the its information. DINNER & PARTY CELEBRATION! 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COASTALCURRENT.COM FEBRUARY 1, 2013 COASTAL CURRENT WEEKLY 39 WWW.VALLEYMORNINGSTAR.COM CONTINUED FROM A1 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2013 ★ A7 Punxsutawney Phil predicts early spring The Associated Press mid-Atlantic, The prediction is made and we get warmer weather the movie’s release, said Punxsutawney Phil during a ceremony over- soon,” said Mike McKown, Katie Donald, executive PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA. — emerged from his lair seen by a group called the 45, an X-ray technician director of the Groundhog An end to winter’s bitter Saturday in front of thou- Inner Circle. Members don who drove up from Club. About 13,000 attend if cold will come soon, sands but didn’t see his top hats and tuxedos for Lynchburg, Va., with his Feb. 2 falls on a weekday. according to Pennsylvania’s shadow. the ceremony on mother. Phil’s predictions, of famous groundhog. Legend has it that if the Groundhog Day each Phil’s got company in course, are not always right Following a recent furry rodent sees his shad- year. the forecasting depart- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS on. Last year, for example, stretch of weather that’s ow on Feb. 2 on Gobbler’s Bill Deeley, president of ment. There’s Staten Island he told people to prepare included temperatures well Knob in west-central the Inner Circle, says that Chuck, in New York; Groundhog Club Co-handler for six more weeks of win- below freezing as well as Pennsylvania, winter will after “consulting” with Phil, General Beauregard Lee, in Ron Ploucha holds the ter, a minority opinion record warmth, tornadoes last six more weeks. But if he makes the call in deci- Atlanta; and Wiarton Willie, weather predicting groundhog, among his groundhog in the South and Midwest he doesn’t see his shadow, phering what the world’s in Wiarton, Ontario, among Punxsutawney Phil. brethren. The Northeast and torrential rains in the spring will come early. Punxsutawney Phil has to others noted by the Regional Climate Center at say about the weather. National Climactic Data and the best, Cornell University later list- MARCHAN Phil is known as the Center “Groundhog Day” Punxsutawney partisans ed that January to June as “seer of seers” and “sage of Web page. the warmest seven-month FROM A1 insist. racketeering, aiding and sages.” Organizers predict- “Punxsutawney can’t The 1993 movie period since systematic abetting extortion and ed about 20,000 people this keep something this big to “Groundhog Day” starring records began being kept in the sentence he received in mail fraud, after a jury weekend, a larger-than- itself,” the Data Center said. Bill Murray brought even 1895. December on charges of found him guilty of all normal crowd because “Other prognosticating more notoriety to the “We’ll just mark it up as bribing Limas in exchange counts. Groundhog Day falls on a rodents are popping up to Pennsylvania party. The a mistake last year. He’ll be for an ad litem appoint- Hanen also stipulated weekend this year. claim a piece of the action.” record attendance was correct this year,” McKown ment and favorable treat- that Marchan is not to “I just hope he’s right Phil is the original — about 30,000 the year after said hopefully. ment. practice law, and must per- Marchan had argued form 100 hours of commu- that his appeal raised at nity service. CAKE Hanen also recom- least one significant ques- FROM A1 on in the baked goods con- home school, entered truf- lot of bidders right now,” mended that Marchan tion of law or fact, and that test. fles in the baking contest. she said. a favorable decision would attend an anger-manage- “I’m going to donate 50 “It was a yellow cake She found the recipe on It eventually brought likely result in a reversal of ment program. percent of my earnings to shaped like a Hampshire the Internet. “I’ve used it $250 at auction. his conviction or a new the American Cancer hog,” he said. It sold for $80 before and I really, really Casie is planning to go to trial. Hanen disagreed. [email protected] Society,” she said. at auction. liked it,” she said. Texas State Technical Hanen sentenced Comment on this and other stories @ Although she does not He plans to go to the Competition in the College-Harlingen for her Marchan on racketeering, www.valleystar.com take cooking class at University of Texas at Austin baked goods category at the basics, then transfer to conspiracy to commit school, she is still receiving and go on to law school. “I fair is fierce, Heather said. Texas A&M University a good education in culi- want to be an attorney.” “Especially the decorated Kingsville. STONEWALL nary arts, she said. Paola Castro, 8, of cakes. The competition is “I want to be a teacher or In addition to being too Paredes Elementary School pretty tough.” an agriculture teacher,” she FROM A1 formed a public facilities busy to take a cooking class in Brownsville, won first Her truffles sold for $80 said. corporation that would at school, she isn’t old place with her entry of at auction. Brooklyn Carrizales, 13, Plans to renovate the help them fund the project enough yet anyway, Cara Grandma’s Swedish Casie Vasquez, 17, of Los an eighth grader at Vela building constructed in in the event they decide to said. Cookies. They sold for $50 Fresnos High School, won a Middle School in 1926 include the replace- buy the building. Although she doesn’t see in the auction. second place ribbon for her Harlingen, entered a “cow ment of a broken Otis ele- Padilla said the housing herself baking for a living, it Her teacher, Diana s’mores cake. The recipe cake” made from a fondant vator that once ran from authority would not use is important to her. She Anzaldua, had a party and was found on the and Oreo cake mix, she the hotel’s first to third federal money to fund wants to be able to bake at suggested the recipe, Paola FoodNetwork.com website, said. It sold for $160. floors, Padilla said. what he called a “commu- home, especially for the said. “She told us to bake she said. He said preliminary nity project.” holidays. something.” Anticipating a good [email protected] plans include construction The agency would use Alex Garcia, 16, a sopho- Heather Cantu, 12, of price for her cake, she was Comment on this and other stories @ of an elevator tower on the its public facilities corpo- more at San Benito High Polished Cornerstone anxious to hear the auction www.valleystar.com building’s south side that ration to raise money from School, won grand champi- Academy in Los Fresnos, a results, she said. “I have a could cost about $500,000. across the community, he “The price tag begins to said. escalate when you consid- The project would pre- er these new components serve the city’s historical to make it a safe building,” landmark from further he said. deterioration and install Padilla said the old ele- fencing to keep out van- vator would remain in the dals who have stolen ceil- hotel lobby. ing fans and stripped cop- “We would leave it there per wiring, Padilla said. for aesthetic and historical He said preliminary value,” he said. plans call for a project that Padilla said plans would could renovate the build- LADIES make doorways accessible ing’s first floor to house the to wheelchairs. agency’s administrative CLASSIC TALL “We have to make sure offices and commercial In chestnut, $195 the building is accessible office space, while the sec- BAILEY BUTTON at all entries,” he said. ond and third floors could In chestnut, $165 Padilla said ramps may offer low-income Section 8 MINI BAILEY BUTTON be built over steps that lie housing. In chestnut, $135 below the building’s exteri- Owner Omar Cuevas is or doors. asking about $220,000 for Suite and bathroom the building, Padilla said. doorways would be Cuevas boarded up the widened to allow wheel- old hotel in October before chairs to enter, he said. pleading guilty to building Padilla said the project violations for which he would construct wide faced $12,500 in fines. stairways to provide emer- [email protected] gency exits, replacing the BAILEY BUTTON TRIPLET building’s original narrow In chestnut, $230 stairwell. Comment on this and other stories @ Housing authority com- www.valleystar.com missioners Thursday YOUR CLASSIC SHORT In chestnut, $155

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For more information or to volunteer • 1-877-TXCOAST • texasadoptabeach.org Texas Adopt-A-Beach Receives National 2012 Take Pride in America Award

The Texas General Land Office's Adopt-A-Beach program does more than any other volunteer program in the nation to care for public lands, according to the U.S. Department of Interior. Since 1986, approximately 439,000 Adopt-A-Beach volunteers have picked up more than 8,400 tons of trash from the Texas coast. For these efforts, Adopt-A-Beach was again recognized with the Take Pride in America Award for top corporate-sponsored event October 11, 2012 in Washington, D.C.

Take Pride in America is a national partnership program created to promote public lands stewardship. Showcasing volunteerism and conservation efforts, the Take Pride in America award provides national exposure to outstanding public lands stewardship activities. One of only five national recipients for 2012, Adopt-A- Beach is receiving the award for the third time.

Photo(top-left): Volunteers clean-up Galveston Island with Commissioner Jerry Patterson.

Photo(right): Commissioner Patterson is seen helping a cub scout clean up Port Aransas.

Photo (left): Volunteers participating in a clean-up on Bolivar Island.