Issue 355, October 18, 2026

“Sharks are beautiful animals, and if you’re lucky enough to see lots of them,
that means that you’re in a healthy ocean.  You should be afraid if you
are in the ocean and don’t see sharks.”
– Sylvia Earle

Are you a fan of Shark Week? Have you ever had a question about sharks and didn’t know who to ask? Do you have a favorite shark, or have you ever wondered about the tagging and data collection that helps scientists understand these animals?

 Well, Wednesday is your time to come by and ask those questions from the man on the front line of collecting this data. We are very excited to welcome Chris Fischer, Founder and Expedition Leader of OCEARCH, as he takes some time out of his busy schedule to visit with us. OCEARCH is home ported right here in Jacksonville, Florida.

Friends, I think we need a bigger boat…

Mark Geil
2026 President

Issue 354, October 11, 2026

“Breast cancer, whether I like it or not, is part of my family’s story.
That’s why I am so passionate about raising awareness because
I have seen firsthand how it can impact others.”

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this cause has affected my life personally, I have two surviving sisters who both faced the disease. Survival rates for the first five years after treatment have risen dramatically since 1985, from the mid 70% range to over 90% in recent years, and both of my sisters have surpassed that benchmark by a lot, which fills me with gratitude. Just because we have these stronger survival rates does not mean we should take our foot off the pedal; continued research, screening, and support remain essential.

We need to reach a point where we can remove the words “Breast Cancer Awareness” from our lexicon because that will mean we have cured this disease from our society. Until then, don’t let your loved ones forget how much they mean to you! We only have one life to live, so make it the best.

Take care of yourself & your loved one…
Mark Geil
2026 President