Gibraltar Island, OH Stone Laboratory, Ohio State University’s Island Campus on Lake Erie, hosted two visits from Ohio State’s President’s Club, the university’s premier donor society, in June. At each event, 70 President’s Club members were able to experience a day on Gibraltar Island, visiting laboratory facilities, meeting students, and taking a science cruise onto Lake Erie. The visit also gave Ohio Sea Grant a chance to introduce new visitors to its work on the lake.
"We truly love to explain Ohio State’s role on Lake Erie to influential and energetic supporters of the university”? says Dr. Jeff Reutter, Director of Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Lab. “I could tell that many of them had not known the tremendous role Ohio State played in bringing about the rebirth of Lake Erie and the role it still plays on Ohio’s north coast."
Initiated by Amanda Smith, Assistant Director of Development in the College of Food, Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, and Cheryl Sefchick, Director of President’s Club Services in the Office of University Development, the event showcased facility improvements made during recent renovations, as well as the research, education and outreach efforts going on every day at Stone Lab.
"The visitors from the President’s Club were a fun group to work with”? says Reutter. “They were very interested and appreciative of what we are doing to address the 3 E’s — education, economy, and environment — with our research, education and outreach programs. Ohio State is truly blessed to have such a wonderfully loyal and generous group of supporters."
“We wanted to create a unique way to thank supporters of the university with a partnership between Stone Lab and the President’s Club”? explains Smith. “This tour was an exclusive opportunity in recognition of President’s Club members’ ongoing generosity to the university. Our President’s Club members are also some of Ohio State’s greatest ambassadors. They exhibit spirit for and pride in our university. Sharing with them Ohio State’s ”˜hidden gem,’ Stone Lab, gave them one more point of pride and one more reason to love Ohio State.”?
Activities during the visit included a tour of the South Bass Island Lighthouse and the Aquatic Visitors Center, both managed by Ohio Sea Grant. Current students working on Research Experiences for Undergraduates at Stone Lab presented their projects during a reception hosted by the Friends of Stone Laboratory before guests took a Stone Lab vessel to Gibraltar Island for lunch and a tour. The visitors also took a science cruise onto Lake Erie, and many attended a history demonstration at Perry’s Monument.
“We thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and although we knew that Ohio State was doing research at the bay, we did not know the extent of the research at Stone Lab”? says A Willard Emch, one of the visitors. “We enjoyed meeting and getting to know the staff. They were very professional and from our point, doing major work with regard to the environment of the lake.”?
Located on the 6.5-acre Gibraltar Island in Put-in-Bay harbor, Stone Laboratory is the Ohio State University’s Island Campus on Lake Erie and the education and research facility of the Ohio Sea Grant College Program. The Ohio State University’s Ohio Sea Grant Program is part of NOAA Sea Grant, a network of 32 Sea Grant programs dedicated to the protection and sustainable use of marine and Great Lakes resources. For information on Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Lab, visit ohioseagrant.osu.edu.
Contact
Ohio Sea Grant Columbus Office, 614.292.8949, stonelab@osu.edu.
Event photos are available at www.flickr.com/photos/ohioseagrant/sets/72157630284749944.