Programs

Image courtesy of NASA

Partners for Stennis is a regional catalyst for growth in the two state region of Mississippi and Louisiana. Partners members provide leadership to develop, sponsor and support a wide range of projects to promote, enhance and grow opportunities through this unique federal and commercial city—Stennis Space Center.

Leadership is a choice. You can play a role as a citizen and business for space, earth and ocean exploration. Get involved and participate as an active member of Partners through one or all of the many programs we offer.

Image courtesy of CSE

Citizens for Space Exploration
A multi-state organization comprised of U.S. taxpayers who support America's investment in space exploration. Members are private citizens, small business owners, students, teachers, space and non-space business representatives, and county and municipal officials.

The Citizens for Space Exploration mission is to promote awareness of the benefits of human space exploration and support for NASA and the Vision for Space Exploration.

Representatives from Citizens for Space Exploration travel to Washington, D.C. annually to meet with members and staff to discuss the benefits of space exploration.

Image courtesy of INFINITY

INFINITY at NASA Stennis Space Center will be a new, state-of-the-art science center where visitors will have fun exploring the farthest reaches of outer space, the uncharted depths of the oceans and the varied layers of the Earth.

The center will house a “Science Express” activity center, an immersive theatre, a Space Gallery and an Earth Gallery.

Visitors will be able to sign up for “Missions,” playing the role of “scientists in training.” Through this state of the art science center, future generations will be motivated to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math - careers that are available at Stennis.

Located on 200 acres at the Mississippi/Louisiana border, the center is estimated to attract over a quarter million visitors annually. INFINITY is slated for opening in 2009. Members of Partners will provide advocacy and support to make this dream reality.

Image courtesy of State of Mississippi

Capitol Day – Raising awareness about the space program with our state and federal lawmakers is a vital mission. The education of elected officials facilitates the understanding that funding space exploration is both a prudent and wise investment.

Each year members of Partners for Stennis travel to the Mississippi state capital in Jackson for this purpose.

After the February 2006 trip, Mississippi lawmakers showed their appreciation of “the state’s great treasure” by providing a big boost for the INFINITY project: The legislature approved an additional $4 million in bond money earmarked for the Science Center. This combined with the $6 million already approved brings the total to $10 million that the state has allocated to the project.

In 2008, Partners will travel to Baton Rouge to meet with members of the Louisiana State Legislature. For more details, contact Tish Williams

Image courtesy of NOAA

Assist to Business
One of the Partners For Stennis missions is to promote the opportunities available to private sector businesses seeking to work with Stennis Space Center. We have assembled a list of resources that exist expressly for this purpose.

Image courtesy of NOAA

Quarterly Membership Meetings
Membership meetings bring together leaders in the business, federal, state and local government , all actively seeking ways to promote the Stennis Space Center and the opportunities it provides the surrounding communities.

Whether you are a member of Partners or not, please join us and learn more about initiatives at Stennis.

Image courtesy of NASA

Quarterly Business After-Hours
This business after hours events will provide members and those interested in becoming members, with a unique opportunity to connect with community leaders, contractors - large and small - and with local and federal officials in a relaxing social environment.

Speakers Bureau

The NASA Speakers Bureau Program has been established to share how space program technology affects our daily lives. The program at Stennis is made up of scientists, engineers, and other employees available for lectures and presentations to civic groups, schools, etc. along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and throughout Southeast Louisiana.

Speakers Bureau topics include:

Overview of Stennis Space Center
SSC Economic Impact
Space Benefits/spin-offs
Doing Business with NASA
NASA Education Programs

The US geological survey - Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility has a similar program. If you are a school teacher, festival or conference organizer, or civic group, we would be pleased to come share the facts about water and earth science with your class, festival, or civic group.

Image courtesy of NOAA

Partners For Stennis Committees
Our members work in ten different groups with specific focuses to achieve a high degree of effectiveness. For example, in 2005 our Governmental Affairs Committee was instrumental in keeping a Naval facility open at Stennis Space Center.

Alliance & Communications Committee: Develop and strengthen relationships with organizations and partners that will strengthen the development and growth of SSC programs. Communicate with the SSC organizations to better understand the current and future missions. Communicate plans and successful events of SSC organizations through the news and websites media to the public.

Budget & Finance Committee: Develop annual budgets to finance the operation of the Partners organization and obtain approval of the Partners Board.

By-Laws Committee: Review the By-Laws annually and, if required, make recommendations for changes to the Board.

Executive Committee: The elected officers of the Board working with staff members that execute the approved actions of the Board and provide leadership and vision for new initiatives for plans, policies, programs, and projects of the organization.

Fund Raising & Membership Committee: Develop a plan and program to raise and increase the funding and membership base of the organization to operate.

Governmental Affairs & BRAC Committee: Remain aware of all actions that may be taken in the national, state or local governments that may impact the current and future programs or organizations at SSC. Monitor all plans and actions of DOD on BRAC plans.

Katrina Impact RRR Committee: Participate in the Hurricane Katrina Impact Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal plans and programs to protect and improve the SSC workforce, programs and the communities in the SSC region.

Nomination Committee: Make annual recommendations for Board officers.

Program & Events Committee: Develop and recommend special program speakers and key events for quarterly membership meetings and other special events for the year.

Strategic Planning Committee (Education, Training, Infinity): Review the Partners Strategic plan annually to assure that the mission, goals, objectives and strategies support and complement the NASA SSC Strategic Plans. Make recommended changes to the Board as appropriate when revisions are necessary.

Join Us (pdf)
Assist to Business
Economic Impact