Call for 2020 Volunteers: DEMA Mentorship Committee

In late 2019, DEMA launched a new Mentorship Program.  Any current DEMA Member may participate in this program, which is designed to help diving industry mentors and mentees learn from each other.

Mentoring is a proven way to provide learning and development opportunities to both parties.  In the diving industry, many new professionals are seeking ways to navigate a career path in the industry that allows them to make a living while embracing a unique lifestyle. Seasoned diving professionals understand the need to adopt a succession plan for the industry that brings in new and excited professionals with great ideas and unique skills.  Veterans of the industry can help guide new professionals through many of the obstacles they may encounter on their professional journey, while these veterans also learn new skills in the areas of technology, social media, and more.

To assist in matching and managing the Mentorship program, DEMA has established a Mentorship Committee and is seeking member volunteers for a one-year position. 

Committee members will evaluate applicants and help match mentors with mentees using established criteria.  Committee members will also assist in overseeing the paired parties for the duration of the mentorship period. 

Committee members will receive information on mentorship supervision and matching criteria and can expect to meet periodically by conference call and in-person at DEMA Show 2020.

INTERESTED?Download DEMA’s Mentorship Participation Handbook and apply online to serve on the Committee. Please apply by 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time on February 20, 2020.

ALERT - Please Support the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary by Signing This Letter of Support

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects a complex, interconnected ecosystem with different habitats and wildlife. The Florida Keys Restoration Blueprint and Draft Environmental Impact Statement offers an opportunity for the industry to address these issues, restore habitats and protect marine wildlife.  

Diving and the dive industry depend upon sustainable interaction with the marine environment for its very existence. We serve as strong stewards for the marine environment and we need to protect the marine environment and marine life.  WE NEED YOUR HELP!

DEMA and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation have teamed together to write a letter of support for many of the important elements of the Restoration Blueprint.  Please take the following actions to help amplify support for the Florida Keys.

1. Include your signature on this Take Action Letter for dive organizations and businesses.

You can include your signature by sending us your first and last name, affiliation and organization/business name to publicpolicy@dema.org by close of business January 27, 2020. DEMA will submit the signed letter on behalf of those who have asked to be included to Regulations.gov.

2. Share DEMA’s Take Action Letter with Your Membership, Colleagues, and Community and ask them to sign too: Feel free to forward this notice or use it as a template to reach out to your colleagues and community.

3. Use this Letter to Start Your Own Letter and Share with Your Staff:If individuals want to sign a letter of their own, they can use this letter as a starting point and send it directly to Regulations.gov (Docket Number NOAA-NOS-2019-0094).  Please consider sharing this with your staff and ask them to engage in the public process.

Please submit your first and last name, affiliation and organization/business to publicpolicy@dema.org by close of business on January 27, 2020.