Judy Meyer and Gene Helfman–the Helfmeyers–taught and researched conservation ecology for thirty years at the University of Georgia. Judy’s specialty was rivers and streams, Gene’s the fishes that lived in them. They discovered the San Juans when attending separate conferences on San Juan and Orcas. Drawn immediately to the physical and biological beauty of the islands, they explored each before finding their Goldilocks choice on Lopez. Although retired, they have remained active in conservation issues as committee members, organization donors, and citizen scientists. Their collective pasts have given them a global perspective but they ardently believe that to have an impact, one has to act locally.
The Helfmeyers recently made a generous donation to SeaDoc through the transfer of stocks and in doing so became Wildlifers—the backbone of our program. If you have questions about how to transfer stock, call us at 360-376-3910 or email seadoc@seadocsociety.org.
WHAT INITIALLY INSPIRED YOU TO SUPPORT SEADOC SOCIETY?
We quickly realized that SeaDoc’s focus was on data-driven, empirically-supported environmental action. Early in our professional lives, our research focused on esoteric topics, but we soon realized that we could do scientifically important research that also improved environmental policy and helped protect the places and organisms we cared about. SeaDoc does that by supporting rigorous research, using defensible results to support their activism while educating the public about the places we all love and what can be done to protect them.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST CONCERN ABOUT SALISH SEA HEALTH?
The accumulated, ongoing, and future impacts of a burgeoning human population (of which we are a part). Almost all the insults visited on this beautiful, biodiverse region are a direct result of too many people consuming too much and excreting, exporting, and disposing of the waste, leftovers, and by-products.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE ASPECTS OF SEADOC SOCIETY AS AN ORGANIZATION?
As we’ve mentioned, SeaDoc supports and uses credible, objective research to justify its activism. But we are equally impressed with the education efforts of the staff and volunteers. As Salish Sea grandparents, we feel personally grateful for SeaDoc’s outreach to and inclusion of school-age (and older) citizens.
WHY SHOULD OTHERS CONSIDER SUPPORTING OCEAN HEALTH?
Both of us have lived on and conducted research around islands in tropical and temperate regions. The vulnerability of islands and their surroundings to human activity, through short-term pollution and carelessness and longer term climate change and ocean acidification can only be slowed via a collective effort. We all live downstream and onshore.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPECIES IN THE SALISH SEA?
Judy: Tufted Puffins (wish I would see some).
Gene: river otters, oystercatchers, and wolf eels (what’s not to love?).
Gene Helfman has recently published an eco-thriller novel about our endangered Southern Resident killer whales, with profits from sales going to orca conservation. Visit Gene’s author page.
Would you like to be featured in a future Donor Spotlight? Contact Erika Nilson at enilson@seadocsociety.org!