Meet Our Members: Ann Hemme and Mary Bourassa
Once a Teacher, Always a Teacher
Ann Hemme and Mary Bourassa Put Their Skills to Work for Manatees

Save the Manatee Club volunteer Ann Hemme (above, center) shares information on manatee migration with visitors to the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. (Photo courtesy of Ann Hemme.)

When Ann Hemme and Mary Bourassa retired from teaching, they may have left the regular workday behind, but they didn’t lose their love of learning or their interest in educating others. Instead, they found they had time for another love in their lives: endangered manatees. These days, you’ll find Ann and Mary putting their skills to work as valuable volunteers for Save the Manatee Club.

A collector of manatee memorabilia, Ann Hemme is native to New York and moved to Florida in 1967 with her husband and three sons. She taught 2nd grade in upstate New York and did substitute teaching for grades K-9 in both New York and Florida before retiring. She first discovered manatees on a canoe trip in Crystal River with a friend. “It was on a day when it was virtually full of manatees,” says Hemme. “It was fantastic, and I have been a member of Save the Manatee Club and a parent of Howie the manatee since that time.”

Save the Manatee Club Volunteer Ann Hemme
Hemme (at left) interacts with young visitors to the Blue Spring Manatee Festival in Orange City, Florida. (Photo by Terry Nearing.)

Hemme began her volunteer efforts by staffing education tables for Save the Manatee Club at art and environmental shows. "To add a little spice, I brought some of my manatee books, magazines, and other goodies to display with the Club literature," she says. After showing her memorabilia on Collector’s Day at the Florida Museum of Natural History, she was asked to participate in the museum’s “Dr. Discover” children’s programs, which she continues to this day. Hemme helps staff SMC education booths at the Crystal River and Blue Spring manatee festivals. She is also a volunteer speaker for the Club and does presentations for school and community groups. And she’s always available to help a teacher or student on a manatee project. “I did a lesson one year for my daughter-in-law’s 3rd grade class, and I also supplied some grandchildren of friends the materials to do a 4th grade research project,” says Hemme. Knowing her love of manatees, friends bring her news articles and books. “I’m always on the lookout for info on the manatee,” she says.

Mary Bourassa is nearly a Florida native. Originally from Illinois, her parents moved to Florida when she was just five years old and established a successful glass and hardware business in Ybor City. In 1971, Bourassa began teaching English at Eisenhower Junior High in Riverview, Florida, and later taught senior high and college classes in the Tampa Bay area. While teaching high school, Bourassa and a colleague co-sponsored an environmental club called “The Green Lions” and won first place in a manatee education contest sponsored by Save the Manatee Club. The group wrote and presented a manatee-related skit, organized a manatee drawing contest at a nearby elementary school, and displayed the drawings at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo for Earth Day. They also adopted many manatees from Save the Manatee Club. “That year, 1991, I adopted my first manatee, Ariel, who I’ve adopted every year since,” says Bourassa.

Save the Manatee Club Volunteers at the Parker Manatee Aquarium
Last November, SMC volunteer Mary Bourassa (center, top) and her colleague, Mary Freeney, gave a manatee presentation at Leto High School in Tampa, prior to a kayak trip the students took to see manatees. (Photo by Jessica Miller.)

When Bourassa retired from teaching in 2002, she decided to become more actively involved by volunteering for Save the Manatee Club. She started out by staffing education booths at festivals and events. “I soon drafted my husband to accompany me on weekends,” she says. Last year, Bourassa started doing speaking presentations on manatees at area schools. In addition, both Bourassa and Hemme participate on the Club’s Email Action Alert Team, sending messages to decision makers on a range of issues affecting manatees.

Both Hemme and Bourassa believe teachers are a natural choice when it comes to doing volunteer work. “Teaching has honed my gift of gab, helped me to appreciate the potential of every human being individually, showed me the power of community involvement, and taught me to analyze and organize my approach to disseminating information to suit varying audiences,” says Bourassa. Hemme agrees, “Teaching gave me experience to be in front of a group and communicate so the audience could understand my message,” she says.

If you are a teacher and considering volunteer work for Save the Manatee Club, both Hemme and Bourassa are enthusiastic. “Hop on board,” says Hemme. “It’s a fun trip to take. There are many wonderful books out there to help get anyone who is interested the information they need to make conversation with booth visitors, and SMC does a fantastic job of getting supplies to anything in which I have ever taken part. “

“Come on out,” echoes Bourassa. “Our booths are fun places. The children are eager to learn and delightful, and you will meet friendly folks wandering under the Florida sunshine. For those of you who still yearn to teach, presentation opportunities abound. No stress, no papers to grade...merely students eager to know how they can make a difference by preserving this majestic animal for their children and grandchildren to see. Promoting the preservation of this animal will make you feel good. The manatees will thank you!”

(l-r) Save the Manatee Club volunteers Lisa Almeda and Mary and Omar Bourassa at Snooty's 2009 birthday party at the Parker Manatee Aquarium in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo courtesy of Mary Bourassa.)


Volunteer for Manatees!
"Ann, Mary, and everyone aboard Save the Manatee Club's wonderful Volunteer Team provide vital support to help meet our growing needs," said Janice Nearing, the Club's Volunteer Coordinator and Director of Public Relations. "Each of our volunteers bring their own unique contribution to our cause and the only thing we need is more of them! Come aboard our 'Volunteer Team' and help us spread our conservation message to thousands of people. What a difference we can make together!"

Consider signing up to help staff a manatee education table:
First, fill out the Club's online volunteer application form, become a member by adopting a manatee, then look through the list of Upcoming Events on the Club's volunteer page to find an event close to you.

Live out of state? Let us know about an event in your area where you'd like to table for Save the Manatee Club. Show your support by taking part in our many activities and efforts to help Florida's manatees.

And check out the Club's Volunteer Rewards Program!


  Betsy the manatee

Mary Bourassa is the adoptive parent of Ariel, a manatee who lives at Elie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Ariel was just two weeks old when she was rescued with her mom Amanda. Now grown up, Ariel is a regular at the park education programs, often lifting her head out of the water to "smile" at the visitors.
  Howie the manatee

Ann Hemme is the adoptive parent of Howie, a manatee who frequents the warm waters of Blue Spring State Park in the winter. Howie has been known to winter at the park since 1971. One of Howie's favorite activities is to tip the research canoe -- complete with researchers in it!

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