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SWS Member Meeting
January 9 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Monthly Member Meeting – Featured Speaker Joe Mangiafico

Joseph (Joe) Mangiafico is a diving aficionado and has spent hours and hours diving on both the east and west coasts. Joe has scuba dived for 31 years and started diving the same year his spouse, Tabitha, was born! Joe (and Tabitha) graduated from the University of Connecticut with a BA in Marine Sciences and double minor in Maritime Archeology and History. Joe taught diving at University of Rhode Island and, more recently, at NOAA based in Seattle (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association). Joe’s career spans everything underwater from military (Navy) to research to technician to equipment specialist to teaching. Here in Washington (and elsewhere), Joe and Tabitha have enjoyed community science data collection for REEF (REEF Environmental Education Foundation).
The January 9 program features Tabitha’s photos, Joe’s videos, and Joe telling stories and describing the marine life the rest of us rarely get to see. Joe will add a 9-year missing person mystery they recently helped solve.
scroll down to see the Business Meeting Agenda
Monthly Member Meeting Agenda
Meeting is via Zoom – the public is invited and welcome to attend. Zoom Link Below.
Facilitator: Sue Salveson
10:00 am – 10:45 am: Sound Water Stewards Business Meeting
Reports and Updates from
- Board President – Kris Holley or another officer
- Executive Director – Judi Sladky
- Sound Waters University – Tom Hiegler
- VET (Volunteer Education and Training) Committee – Allison Hiltner
- Study Groups initiated by Class of 2022
- Jan 9 – Zero Waste Study Group first meeting – led by Sego Jackson
- Jan 17 Groundwater/Hydrogeology Study Group first meeting – led by Douglas Morell
- Study Groups initiated by Class of 2022
- Community Science Committee – Jeanie McElwain or another lead
- Stewardship Committee – Kelly Webb – next meeting Jan 10
7 pm to 8 pm – featured speaker, “Life Below the Surface of the Salish Sea”
Featured Speaker – this month we’re doing something a little different – the speaker will present in the evening to accommodate his work schedule. We are thrilled to announce that Joe Mangiafico will present underwater photos and videos and describe the local marine life he and Tabitha have seen while scuba diving in the Salish Sea. Totally local fabulous stories and pictures!
see more below
10:45 am – 11:30 – breakout rooms for Camano and Whidbey Islands
In the breakout rooms, we will go round-robin asking members how you would like to be involved in the year ahead – what projects, activities or committees do YOU plan to lead or participate in? The visual of each of you talking about your plans will help newer members get to know everyone, put faces to names, and learn about opportunities from the way you describe them — AND help build the calendar for the year ahead! Please plan to participate! For reference, see SWS Volunteer Opportunities.


Above Tabitha and Joe are pictured with Joe Gaydos who is a keynote speaker for SWU 2023.