A pair of custom-made Surfrider Foundation socks • A Surfrider
Transcription
A pair of custom-made Surfrider Foundation socks • A Surfrider
Jim Moriarty CEO, Surfrider Foundation photo: Tiffany Gill Visit Jim’s Blog http://www.surfrider.org/jims-blog Here are a few of the awesome upcoming events in the Surfrider world. See you there... To submit your chapter’s event for consideration, please email alexis@surfrider.org October Continuing the Rising Above Plastics tradition, the Surfrider Foundation will educate and activate throughout the month of October (aka Raptober) about the harms of single-use plastics and what we can do to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in our marine environments. Raptober.org November 15 Ocean animals cannot protect themselves, especially from manmade threats including habitat encroachment and pollution. That’s why Surfrider launched the exquisite sculpture collection “Ocean Armor,” currently on display at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. November 15 is the last day to view, so be sure to stop by. Oceanarmor.org November 23 Give a gift that gives back to our oceans, waves and beaches this holiday season. The Surfrider Foundation holiday gift membership goes on sale today and is guaranteed to keep you warm whether you’re at the beach or on the slopes. December 31 Don’t forget today is the last day to make a gift to the Surfrider Foundation so that it appears on your 2012 tax return. Any amount is appreciated and will go toward protecting and preserving our coastlines for everyone to enjoy. Donate today! Sadly, in the year 2013 we will not be faced with comedic anecdotes like those featured on old episodes of “Late Night With Conan O’Brien.” Our country (and world) will be making tough decisions as they relate to global warming, rising sea levels, a hot election year and developments in how nonprofits connect with their supporters. We tapped Surfrider Foundation’s CEO, Environmental Director and Legal Director to hear their thoughts on what lies ahead for coastal environmentalists. Nonprofit Trends Today and Beyond The definition and essence of a nonprofit is shifting. It’s clear that they must embrace some key characteristics regarding how they work, interact with supporters and maximize impact on their mission. The difference between nonprofits and for- profits is increasingly blurry. Why do we put more emphasis on an accounting distinction than impact on a mission? It turns out we are doing this less and less. Tom’s Shoes is a for-profit organization that addresses humanitarian needs… it’s also a major retail brand. Pick what’s more important to you… or pick both. Understandable relevance. We are busy people. Nonprofits need to present their mission in simple, relevant terms. I think of this point as “billboard simplicity;” we have three to five seconds to communicate why we matter and why you should consider supporting us. The age of fluff communications is dead. Personal and sharable. We are social beings; we want to be part of a community. Connect people at a personal level and make it super easy for them to share their experiences with friends. Going to a great restaurant by yourself isn’t the same as going with close friends. Open. We are better when we share. All organizations have some element of intellectual property that is unique to them but if we’re honest with ourselves it’s a tiny amount of what they’re about. The majority should be shared far and wide. The best ideas of the last 2,000 years were those that were open and shared. Packaged engagement. Don’t make people work too hard to figure how out they can engage. In fact, make the first step as simple as writing a 140-character tweet. With a strong idea and an easy onramp… people engage. Certainty regarding investments. Organizations must increasingly answer questions about what they do with money before questions are asked. They need to answer by providing clear, non-jargon explanations such as “you give us this amount of money and we will do that amount of work.” Kickstarter does this well, so does Charity:Water. These trends are all good for Surfrider Foundation. From informing our members and donors how their funds have supported our mission to protect the world’s oceans, waves and beaches to connecting monthly with thousands via the internet and making their initial engagement seamless, we are wonderfully positioned for these trends and embracing them as we lead the coastal preservation charge into 2013. -- Jim Moriarty Bag Bans and Access Issues on Top 2013 begins in the wake of November elections, the results of which will affect the tactics and targets of many of Surfrider Foundation’s advocacy campaigns. In terms of litigation and legislation, here are some of the major action items we can anticipate in 2013… More Bag Bans Continuing The Fight To Save Naples Having helped Hawaii find success with a statewide bag ban through the county-by-county method, Surfrider is poised to help other states move away from single-use plastic bags. Statewide legislation has already been proposed in several states – Surfrider anticipates that 2013 is the year Ban the Bag campaigns will see success in both local municipalities and the state legislature. Additionally, Surfrider will likely be defending local bans in court. Los Angeles County and San Francisco have been sued by bag manufacturing representatives in California. Surfrider will employ our litigation advocacy resources to defend these RAP victories in court. The Santa Barbara Chapter has defended the precious area called Naples on the Gaviota Coast for over two decades, in court, at the Coastal Commission, and in front of the County Board of Supervisors. 2013 promises to be an active year in all three arenas and through outside negotiations, as the Chapter looks for a permanent solution to stop development and save Naples. Defending The Texas Open Beaches Act Surfrider will fight in court to defend the strength of the Texas Open Beaches Act. This quintessential piece of legislation recently suffered a loss at the hands of the Texas Supreme Court majority in Severance v. Patterson. This decision reversed the state’s long held legal recognition of the dynamic shoreline and the associated public easement for this Galveston Island case. However, there is another similar and far-reaching case, Brannan v. Texas, in which Surfrider Foundation is a party that will be heard after the November elections change the composition of the state Supreme Court. Strandsgate Continues After a strong Superior Court ruling in favor of Surfrider Foundation in June of 2011, the City of Dana Point and Headlands developer quickly appealed the decision and thereby stalled any action to remedy the illegal gates impeding public access to this Orange County beach. All parties have briefed The Appellate Court, but due to backlog the Chapter does not expect to have a ruling until early 2013 - when they expect a decisive victory! -- Angela Howe We’will Face Down The Effects Of Global Warming The Election, and A Water Supply Shortage As we wind down 2012 and look forward to 2013 there is a lot of potential change on the horizon ranging from the political landscape to changes in our weather systems and climate. Surfrider Foundation’s Environmental Department has taken a look at the tea leaves, and provide these predictions to mull over as we head into an uncertain future. The November federal election results in either Presidential efforts or Congressional bills requiring the government to open the East and West coasts to new offshore oil drilling. This could mean oil leases off of California, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. need to look at managed retreat and how it is beneficial longterm. Over the last two years there has been a steady onslaught of bills from the House of Representatives trying to force leasing for new offshore oil drilling off the East and West coasts. None of these bills survived the Senate, but if Republicans win the Senate or the Presidency, it is highly likely those bills will gain more traction. New offshore oil drilling is not the answer. Learn more about the bills and what actions you can take by visiting Surfrider’s Not The Answer blog. The New York Times published an editorial in August that sums up water conservation and recycling. El Nino conditions bring increases in warmer water, storms and coastal erosion to the West Coast drawing attention to sea level rise adaption and managed retreat. The same conditions temper the East Coast hurricane season. We are on the cusp of an El Niño. El Niño conditions traditionally increase storminess and high surf conditions that create severe erosion conditions along the coast and remind us of the challenges we face between protecting beaches versus protecting coastal development. With an increase in coastal erosion, properties are at risk. Rather than placing permanent structures in front of homes and other coastal properties for protection, we Continued extreme water shortages motivate increased conservation and water recycling for municipal drinking water supply. “For decades, Americans have typically handled drought the same way. We are asked to limit watering our lawns and washing our cars, to fully load dishwashers and washing machines before running them, to turn off the tap while brushing our teeth. When the rain comes, we all go back to our old water habits. But just as the oil crisis of the 1970s spurred advances in fuel efficiency, so should the Drought of 2012 inspire efforts to reduce water consumption.” Surfrider Foundation will achieve its 250th coastal victory protecting our oceans, waves and beaches. Between 2006 and 2010, Surfrider set a goal of achieving 150 victories on coastal, ocean and surf protection. That cadence of 30 coastal victories a year has continued and even increased of late. Sometime during 2013 we’ll likely hit our 250th victory, a significant milestone toward achieving our mission of the protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network. -- Chad Nelsen O’neill t Get even more Surfrider Foundation gifts at Swell.com Rear View Add Nonprofit Shopping Mall to your web browser and select Surfrider Foundation as your charity of choice! The holidays are here and so are cooler temperatures…Surfrider Foundation wants to help you keep your loved ones warm from head to toe with the 2012 Holiday Gift Membership! • • • • • A pair of custom-made Surfrider Foundation socks A Surfrider Foundation classic beanie 6 issues of the digital Making Waves 2 membership stickers A 20% discount at swell.com Order by December 13th to guarantee delivery by the holidays. Visit our website today to place your order *Available November 23rd The Barefoot Spirit Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey founded Barefoot Cellars in 1986. Instead of advertising, they chose to get the word out about their product by supporting nonprofits, including The Surfrider Foundation. For over two decades, Barefoot has continued this long-standing tradition. Their new book, “The Barefoot Spirit, How Hardship, Hustle and Heart built a Best Selling Wine” is about the spirit behind the brand. Their book chronicles the humble beginnings of the famous Barefoot brand from the laundry room to the boardroom. It describes how Barefoot and Surfrider met in a tiny office at a strip mall in San Clemente, and how Michael and Bonnie used their wine business to get the word out about Surfrider and their goals. “Instead of offering $2 off your cheese, we actually asked our customers to Hang Ten for Surfrider – $10 that is,” said Bonnie. Surfrider Foundation Members will be able to purchase the pre-release EBook now and get the print version delivered for free in January. “The Barefoot Spirit” is available at www.barefootwinefounders.com. Tax Laws Set to Change The 2001-2003 tax cuts expire at the end of 2012 and lawmakers remain deadlocked over what to do about it. This being an election year, there has been much discussion but little action on the issue. If no changes are made prior to year-end a new rule will kick in for 2013 that limits the value of itemized deductions - including write-offs for donations. Lawmakers have also discussed limiting the value of write-offs to 28% in any new legislation. As a result, gifts made in 2012 may save more than gifts in future years and donors may want to consider accelerating gifts they had previously planned to make over time. To find our more please consult your tax advisor or contact Surfrider Foundation’s Director of Development at (949) 492-8170. ‘Tis the Season With summer over and the holidays upon us, now is the ideal time to consider an investment in the Surfrider Foundation. A year-end charitable donation is like giving and receiving a gift at the same time…you’re giving to the Surfrider Foundation, and receiving continued enjoyment from our oceans, waves and beaches that give you so much happiness throughout the year. If you make a gift to the Surfrider Foundation before December 31, 2012 and itemize your deduction on your tax return, you may be able to significantly reduce your income taxes for the year. Many states also allow income tax deductions for charitable gifts, so often the tax savings are even higher than those generated by the federal income tax deduction alone. There are numerous ways to make a gift to the Surfrider Foundation – from outright cash donations, to gifts of stock or property, to planned gifts such as bequests. To learn more, click here or contact our Director of Development at (949) 492-8170. Remember, every gift helps, no matter the amount, and we greatly appreciate it. Happy holidays and best wishes for a wonderful New Year! Double Your Gift By Using Free Money Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match any charitable contributions made by their employees. Most companies match dollar for dollar, while others double or triple match their employee’s gift. Some corporations even set aside millions of dollars annually for matching gifts, and only a small portion of these funds are ever used. If your company offers gift matching, take advantage of it and make a donation to the Surfrider Foundation for the continued protection of our coastlines. Not sure if your company offers gift matching? Find out by contacting your human resources department or by emailing us at membership@surfrider.org. EAST COAST SOUTH COAST WEST COAST HAWAII By: Ed Mazzarella Chapter activists joined environmental groups, legislators and concerned citizens in a final push to update the state’s bottle deposit law at a rally in front of the Statehouse in Boston. Despite the support of an unprecedented number of legislators, towns and a majority of the public, the bill still faces opposition from the beverage industry. Good Harbor Beach Gets A Good Cleaning * Click for more images Luau Focuses On Bag Bans The Rhode Island Chapter did a great job of linking an event to a campaign by throwing a massive Luau at Easton’s Point that focused on their local bag ban initiatives. Lisa Wagenbach Blackstone Catering, Matunuck Oysters, Newport Storm, Narragansett Beer, Barefoot Wine and Thomas Tew Rum helped organizer Lisa Wagenbach make the luau a delicious fun event. Fatulli’s Bakery even made Ban the Bag cupcakes! photos: Rhode Island Chapter No sooner had the Chapter recovered from the luau when they supported a bag ban in Barrington, RI. photos: Massachusetts Chapter The Massachusetts Chapter hit the beaches up north with a beach cleanup in Gloucester at Good Harbor Beach. In these days of shrinking city budgets, Good Harbor Beach, like more and more municipal beaches, has a carry in – carry out policy with no trash services. This cleanup was particularly welcome especially with some trash still coming in from the ocean. They are also still finding plastic disks from the March 2011 sewage treatment plant mishap in New Hampshire. photos: Massachusetts Chapter Massachusetts Chapter Makes Final Push For Bottle Deposit Law * Click for more images * Click for more images EAST COAST SOUTH COAST WEST COAST HAWAII Beach Rescue Projects In Long Island A Success On a hot, sticky Saturday in June, the Eastern Long Island Chapter hosted a Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project cleanup in Hampton Bays. Vice Chair Joe Carrello Jr. schlepped the gear and led the crew, which consisted of current and new activists. After the cleanup, volunteers enjoyed food and Barefoot Wine at Tide Runners. The Central Long Island Chapter did a great job turning out members, the general public and a few elected officials in Long Beach for their Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project. Close to 50 people came out to join Larry Moriarty, Marvin Weiss, Jeremy Thornton, Tim Clare, Dan Volpe, sitting and former City Council Members, and the current City Manager. Danielle Puccio of Barefoot Wine provided a great spread at the Beach House to celebrate a job well done. NYC Chapter Kicks Off Beach Rescue Project In Rockaway photos: NYC Chapter The NYC Chapter kicked off the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project this summer in Rockaway Beach. More than 100 volunteers came out to the beach located in the Queens borough, removed dozens of bags of trash, and collected signatures for the Ban The Bag campaign. All volunteers who helped make Rockaway “Barefoot Friendly” were treated to a post-cleanup party at Bungalow Bar with a live musical performance by Joshua Radin. * Click for more images EAST COAST SOUTH COAST WEST COAST HAWAII Mississippi River Chapter Holds Inaugural Cleanup photos: Mississippi River Chapter The new Mississippi River Chapter in Memphis hosted their inaugural cleanup event along the banks of the Mississippi River at Tom Lee Park on August 3rd. The cleanup brought a diverse group of 30 activists together to clean up the city’s largest riverfront park. The City of Memphis donated tools and has supported the Surfrider Foundation’s efforts on the Mississippi River waterfront. Volunteers collected 47 pounds of recyclables and 60 pounds of litter and trash debris. The Chapter brought attention to the need for permanent pollution controls implemented along a historic cobblestone waterfront area of the city. The Chapter continues to work bi-monthly to clean up trash, bottles, and cans that are commonly discarded in the area. On September 15th, the Chapter, with support from the University of Memphis and several prominent businesses, hosted a cleanup along the waterfront and constructed permanent pollution controls in the riverfront runoff areas. Chapter Debuts Film To Raise Awareness Of Plastics The Miami Chapter hosted the debut of the documentary, “Bimini to Miami Blue Water Challenge.” The film shares the story of Miami Watermen, Bill Whiddon and Thaddeus Foote, who made history on June 9th by becoming the first to cross the Gulf Stream on stand-up paddleboards - all to raise awareness for the Rise Above Plastics campaign. At the event, the Miami Chapter also unveiled the MyBeach pledge campaign, designed to instill a sense of individual ownership and respect for local Miami-Dade County beaches. Florida Chapters Hold Hands To Oppose Offshore Drilling On August 4th, Surfrider Foundation’s Florida chapter network participated in Hands Across the Sand. The events ranged from paddle-outs and beach cleanups to simply joining hands on the beach for 15 minutes. The Palm Beach County chapter had over 200 participants in their event, including local elected officials and state legislators. Clean Upham The Surfrider Foundation’s Suncoast Chapter teamed up with Barefoot Wine for a cleanup of Upham Beach on July 21st. The volunteers hand sorted all of the trash that was collected and found more than: 1,000 straws, 850 cups, 800 bottles and 1,000 bottle caps. EAST COAST SOUTH COAST WEST COAST HAWAII The Ikkatsu Project Is Underway Students Spend Summer Sampling Coastal Waters Ken Campbell, an active member of the Washington South Sound Chapter, took a lead role in documenting the effects to the Washington coastline from the 2011 Japan tsunami. Ken, a highly regarded expert on kayaking, is working with two other established kayakers. The team (the Ikkatsu Project), has successfully accomplished all three legs of the expedition to the remote Washington coast researching tsunami debris. These efforts have not gone unnoticed as national media outlets such as CNN, “National Geographic” and the “New York Times” have reported on the team’s voyage and finding, which will be released in a documentary this fall. The South Sound Chapter sees this as a perfect opportunity to increase awareness of tsunami debris and coastal protection in general. The expedition has found large amounts of plastic debris brought to the Washington Coast from the tsunami but they recognize this as part of a larger problem. As a result, the group is in the early stages of planning an informative campaign, and also plans to utilize the expedition documentary as a rally point to present information relevant to the Surfrider Foundation’s mission. The goal is to develop a base of educated and passionate activists who can educate the public and work with local and state policy makers to address the effects of the tsunami. Learn more about Ken and the Ikkatsu Project here. Even though school was out for the summer, Western Washington University students weren’t wasting their time relaxing by the pool. Thirteen interns joined the Northwest Straits Chapter to conduct water sampling at Larrabee State Park outside of Bellingham, WA to keep this local and beloved park open to water recreation. “So far I’ve really enjoyed the Larrabee internship. Most people have no idea that there are high levels of bacteria in the water and are very interested to learn about it,” says intern Alyssa Bettinger. photos: Surfrider Foundation The students put in a grand total of 3,700 volunteer hours over the course of the summer, and continue testing for water contamination threats such as Enterococcus and fecal coliform bacteria while learning new and valuable testing information and techniques. Their work is not just particular to scientific water testing as the interns also inform park recreationists on the importance of the BEACH Act as well as the efforts of SSA Marine to build North America’s largest coal export terminal in the midst of the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve. Under the leadership of Chapter President Eleanor Hines, the interns have put forth a coherent message to preserve the beautiful coastline areas of the Salish Sea while learning new science and new grassroots organizing skills. photo: Shutterstock.com EAST COAST SOUTH COAST WEST COAST HAWAII Newport Chapter Wraps Up A Packed Summer The Newport Chapter had an awesome summer full of events from tsunami marine debris landing at local beaches to the Otter Rock and Roll event on International Surfing Day. This year’s Otter Rock and Roll youth surf contest and beach cleanup challenge attracted hundreds of families and individuals, the biggest year yet with fabulous participation and sponsorships. Check out highlights from this year’s event. Finally, the Chapter is working to tidy up their Ocean Friendly Garden project at City Hall. After two years, the garden has significantly grown, replacing a barren landscape next to Newport City Hall with one that not only retains and filters stormwater from the building, but also looks beautiful! Portland Gears Up For Expanded Bag Ban New Coos Bay Chapter Surfrider Foundation’s Portland Chapter had a busy summer, ramping up their efforts and planning for the expanded, better bag ban in Portland. One year after passing an ordinance to ban plastic bags in the larger grocery and retail outlets, the Chapter set a goal to expand that policy to all retailers and include a fee on paper bags. From their Barefoot Beach Rescue Project to creative fundraising partnerships with The Clymb, the Chapter has reached new audiences and built support for their campaign work. A warm welcome to our newest Oregon Chapter in Coos Bay! It has been a long road of planning for this group, organizing over the past two years, running events and programs, and finally taking the step to become an official chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. Big kudos to Chapter Chair Carmen Matthews, whose work and leadership led to the founding of this group. Coming up soon is the “Stand up for the Bay” event, which will include a costume theme. The Coos Bay Chapter Executive Committee includes: Chair Carmen Matthews, Vice Chair Brett Pruess, Treasurer Loren Harwood, Secretary Annie Pollard and Volunteer Coordinator Elise Fields. EAST COAST SOUTH COAST WEST COAST HAWAII Making Waves In Siuslaw The Surfrider Foundation’s Siuslaw Chapter is making waves with great cleanup events, fundraisers and programs for volunteer and member growth. Massive respect to chapter volunteer Brittany Getz who organized this year’s Foam Fest Fundraiser that raised over $1,600. From Hands Across the Sand to beach BBQ and cleanups, the Chapter has maintained a steady presence at their local beaches. Coming up this month is the Chapter’s first annual Fall In The Water event, where they intend to launch their “white trash campaign” to eliminate polystyrene in Florence and engage new members and volunteers through fun, water-based activities like a stand up paddle race, relay and beach cleanup challenge! San Francisco Chapter Issues Statement On Ocean Beach Master Plan In response to the Mayor of San Francisco’s statement on the Ocean Beach Master Plan, the Surfrider Foundation’s San Francisco Chapter released the following statement in response: “We are pleased to have participated in the SPUR-led government/public stakeholder process to protect and enhance the Ocean Beach shoreline. The organization is especially supportive of the Master Plan’s goal of beach restoration for the Sloat area. At this point in time, Surfrider has two primary concerns going forward. First, a major beach replenishment project is about to result in a pair of new sand dunes at the Sloat erosion area. Our organization generally supports this project as a way to improve beach access and visual aesthetics and to slow erosion. However, Surfrider would like to stress that sand replenishment is not to be confused with a sustainable long term plan - as was sought through the Master Plan process. The new sand is likely to wash away, bringing only temporary relief to the shoreline. Additionally, the replenishment effort would have more value if all hazardous debris was removed before the sand drop. Second, Surfrider continues to advocate for the relocation of the Lake Merced Tunnel in the upcoming feasibility study for Sloat. A lot of taxpayer dollars have already been spent trying to maintain the tunnel at its current site. The results have been disastrous. The Sloat area shoreline looks like a concrete landfill. The tunnel’s integrity remains under threat by the ocean. By relocating the Lake Merced Tunnel away from the water, vulnerable infrastructure would gain better security, the beach would be properly restored and millions of dollars in ongoing maintenance costs would be avoided.” Surfrider looks forward to working with SPUR and other stakeholders as the Master Plan now enters the implementation phase. New developments will continue to be reported on the Chapter’s erosion blog. EAST COAST SOUTH COAST WEST COAST San Luis Obispo Chapter Kicks Off Keeping It Blue HAWAII Open Martin’s Beach photo: Shutterstock.com The San Luis Obispo (SLO) Surfrider Foundation Chapter officially kicked off a new Blue Water Task Force project called “Keeping It Blue.” The project is geared toward monitoring the local waters of SLO County, which has had two sewage spills in the last four months. The Chapter is promoting local community awareness through hands-on water testing. Bob Voglin, Jennifer Blonder, and the Flanagan Brothers have set up the lab housed by the Sea Life Center and are now working to publicly display weekly testing results. The Sea Life Center focuses on education, and the Chapter is able to use the lab as an interactive tool with school age children. Recently Carson Spoo, a third grade student at Ocean View Elementary School, was able to take a water sample from Avila Beach Lagoon and complete the entire water testing process. With guidance from Jennifer Blonder, Carson was able to discover that the water in the lagoon tested positive for fecal matter that exceeded state standards. Carson and Jennifer called the County Health Department and were able to notify them of the results. The local Junior Guards are also taking water samples from the ocean to further promote community awareness and to get younger generations involved as stewards for our local beaches. The SLO Blue Water Task Force is looking forward to testing more beaches as the project grows. The San Mateo Chapter and volunteers held a protest at the locked gate of Martin’s Beach. Upon purchasing the land in 2008, the new owner reversed a decadeslong practice by the previous owner of allowing public access to the beach usually for a small, per-person fee. The attorney for the secretive owner of the property offered a vigorous defense of the decision to close the beach to outsiders. Former San Jose city attorney Joan Gallo, who represents Martins Beach LLC, the listed owner of the crescent-shaped beach, declined to confirm that the man behind that entity is Silicon Valley venture capitalist Vinod Khosla. However, recently the attorney offered a first public explanation of the owner’s legal position. “It’s a fundamental constitutional property right that’s at issue here,” said Gallo, referring to an owner’s right to control or deny access to property. “There is no right of public access,” said Gallo. “The access has always been private by invitation.” The San Mateo Chapter, surfers, environmentalists and families who used to visit the beach claim that, in cases where the public historically has had continuous access to the coast through private property, the state can enforce the preservation of that access. San Mateo County has enlisted the California Coastal Commission in its fight to reopen the private road leading to the beach. “As far as we’re concerned, he’s violating the Coastal Act,” said Chapter Chair Edmundo Larenas. “It really is a big loss to the public.” SOUTH COAST WEST COAST Pier Plaza Home To Surfrider Foundation Cigarette Ash Cans Pier Plaza in “Surf City” is the newest location for Surfrider-branded cigarette ash cans, thanks to the hard work of the Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter. In June, activist Don MacLean installed four butt cans on 5th Street and Pacific Coast Highway at The Strand. As a shocking reminder to the problem of cigarette butts on our beach, the Chapter proudly displays large containers of butts picked up from previous cleanups at most of their cleanups and events. Ventura Chapter Releases Ocean Friendly Gardens Video The Ventura Chapter has released a video short about the Ocean Friendly Gardens program in Ventura. This fun 3-1/2 minute video by Rich Reid (Watershed Revolution) tells the story through footage shot during the 2012 OFG series including time lapse video from the Chapter’s work day and interviews with chapter members. The Chapter has entered this video in the Ventura Watertake1 contest, so please help out by voting in the People’s Choice Contest after watching the video! HAWAII New Hampshire Cleanup Through The Eyes Of A Southern Californian Nancy Hastings, Surfrider Foundation’s Southern California Regional Coordinator, was vacationing back east and decided to hit a NH Chapter beach cleanup at Hampton Beach. One of the coolest things is how the NH Chapter connected with the Huntington Beach Chapter (Nancy services the HB Chapter) and now uses HB reusable bags for their cleanups. That’s one great aspect of being affiliated with SF because you’re part of a large network of like-minded volunteers who are willing to share their resources and experiences. photo: Nancy Hastings EAST COAST EAST COAST SOUTH COAST WEST COAST HAWAII San Diego Chapter Brings Ocean Friendly Gardens To Ocean Beach This past Spring, Surfrider members, volunteers, advocates and those interested in improved water management policies enjoyed an informative walk around an area of San Diego suffering from significant erosion issues, which are resulting in damage to nearby Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. To bring attention to this problem, the Chapter started off with a Lawn Patrol and threw a Garden Party. Morgan Vondrak, a local Landscape Designer, led the group activity and demonstrated how to create an Ocean Friendly Garden. The Chapter followed up by inviting local residents, activists and politicians to our first Garden Party at the Ocean Beach Hotel in June. “The event was a beautiful evening of music, wine, and appetizers, but more importantly we introduced local homeowners to our Ocean Friendly Gardens Program” said Susan Krzywicki, Chair of the Ocean Friendly Gardens program. The event offered an opportunity for residents to get answers on how to make a positive impact on their community. This is especially of concern in the Sunset Cliffs area - recently named one of the top-five “disappearing places” in the country. EAST COAST SOUTH COAST WEST COAST Surfers Unite for Tijuana River Estuary Habitat Restoration Early morning, Saturday July 14th, for the first time in Surfrider history, volunteers worked toward restoring California’s largest coastal wetland reserve – Imperial Beach’s Tijuana River estuary. In no small part thanks to promises of a Barefoot Wine sponsored after party, a tireless team of over fifty men, women and children went beyond simply picking up trash. For three dusty, sweaty hours, volunteers pulled, shoveled and piled invasive plants and other weeds, all the while delicately respecting any Buckwheat flowers and other native fauna sprinkled about. They courageously pick-axed and chiseled through intractable, arid dirt and granite chunks. Once the clearing was complete, the volunteers situated hopeful seedlings, beneath sheets of fresh, vitamin-rich planting soil. California’s coastal wetlands are nearly extinct and, as a resting place for a variety of migratory bird species, this one is particularly crucial. Each year, over-crowding in the Tijuana River Valley, under-regulation, and tens of thousands of cubic yards of illegally dumped trash and raw sewage ensure maintenance costs are increasingly less manageable. Without increased volunteerism and sponsorship, the Tijuana River estuary stands little chance for survival. Thanks to Barefoot Wine, Tijuana River Estuary Reserve, and Hunter PR for making this event such a great success. photo: San Diego Chapter “It was truly inspiring to see the community of Imperial Beach, San Diego come out and work together to protect our community’s natural habitat and I was honored to be a part of such a great cause,” said Barefooter Carrie Finley. “We were up to our hands and knees in dirt for three hours but treated the 50 volunteers to a well deserved after party at Sea Coast Grill and thanked them all with a toast of Barefoot Wine and Bubbly!” HAWAII Newport Beach Chapter Banning Ranch Development Statement In August the Newport Beach Chapter spoke before the Newport Beach City Council in opposition to the proposed Banning Ranch Development, stating their support for Plan B – The General Open Space Designation – that is listed in the Draft EIR as the environmentally superior alternative. Setback In Save Gaviota Campaign The effort to preserve the last 20 miles of the Gaviota Coastline has spanned nearly 20 years. In August a decision in the Santa Barbara Superior Court prolonged the possibility that dozens of mansions, guest homes, garages, and an equestrian center will be developed along the eastern gateway of the Gaviota coast, at Naples Beach. “The next step will be to move this battle to the California Coastal Commission,” says Santa Barbara Chapter Chair, Sandy Lejeune. Read the full story on ESPN. EAST COAST SOUTH COAST WEST COAST ISLANDS Oahu Chapter Shows Concern For Water Quality The Oahu Chapter is concerned that while the Department of Health took water samples from 144 beaches statewide last year many beaches were either untested or tested less frequently than what the state’s plan calls for. For example, the beach in front of Fort DeRussy is calm and good for swimming. But it hasn’t been tested for contaminants in over a year. “I don’t think we should take that kind of a gamble, not testing the waters,” Surfrider Foundation Field Coordinator Stuart Coleman said. The state only has five employees who do water testing, and one covers all of Oahu. “The limitation of federal funds matched with the state cutbacks that we’ve endured over the past few years reduced the amount of monitoring that we can do,” said Gary Gill, Deputy Director of the Department of Health’s Environmental Health branch. photo: Shutterstock.com “The Surfrider Foundation works with DOH’s Clean Water branch,” Coleman said. “They have good people working there, but they’re just understaffed and under-funded.” Coleman further stated that without adequate testing capability and the funds to do it, the state is in a dangerous place. “These budget cuts at the national level are really penny wise and pound foolish,” he said. Read the full story here. THE SURFRIDER FOUNDATION OPERATES THROUGH A NETWORK OF GRASSROOTS CHAPTERS WHO TAKE VOLUNTEER ACTION TO PROTECT OUR OCEANS, WAVES AND BEACHES THROUGH CAMPAIGN, PROGRAM AND EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. ARGENTINA • AUSTRALIA • BRAZIL • CANADA • EUROPE • JAPAN ALASKA • CALIFORNIA • CONNECTICUT • DELAWARE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA • FLORIDA • GEORGIA • HAWAII • ILLINOIS MAINE • MARYLAND • MASSACHUSETTS • MICHIGAN • MINNESOTA NEW JERSEY • NEW HAMPSHIRE • NEW YORK • NORTH CAROLINA • OREGON • PUERTO RICO • RHODE ISLAND • SOUTH CAROLINA • TEXAS TENNESSEE • VIRGINIA • WASHINGTON • WISCONSIN CONNECT WITH A CHAPTER NEAR YOU !!! October 18th marks the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act (CWA), landmark legislation designed to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of our nation’s waters. The CWA established national water quality standards, including those used to open and close beaches. The CWA also sets permit and monitoring requirements for discharges of pollutants into federal waters from both point sources such as factories or sewage treatment plants and nonpoint sources such as residential and agricultural run-off. The CWA has accomplished much in the last 40 years, particularly in addressing point-source pollution, but more work needs to be done. • Nearly half of all US rivers, lakes and streams are still not swimmable and fishable, largely because of non-point source pollutants. • Pollution continues to plague our beaches. There were 23,481 beach closure and advisory days in 2011. • Old and leaking water infrastructure wastes freshwater and dumps untreated sewage into our waters. The EPA estimates that 3.5 million peo- ple become sick each year from contact with raw sewage from sewage overflows! Chapters and activists across the nation are tackling water pollution issues in their own communities. Their cumulative efforts make up Surfrider’s Clean Water Program. Chapters are testing their beaches for pollution, installing Ocean Friendly Gardens and sharing the vision of our Know Your H2O program to advance the CWA goals of “fishable, swimmable and drinkable” water and to provide a host of other community benefits, such as natural beach replenishment, coastal habitat restoration, and sustainable water management. The hallmark of good governance is adaptability to current events. While we celebrate the accomplishments of the CWA over the past 40 years, we also look forward to adapting and enforcing the intent of the CWA for decades to come. -- Mara Dias Questions t a t s n e z i A e s with Jes A rogue journalist and surf addict, California native Jesse Aizenstat is not your typical surf journalist. Rather than traveling to some of the most exotic places on the planet, Jesse had the opportunity to surf from Israel to Hezbollah-controlled South Lebanon for “The Surfer’s Journal.” His travels exposed him to the region’s violent conflict but also afforded him the opportunity to surf some of the most pristine waves the Mediterranean Sea had to offer. After the memorable experiences of carrying a board bag through military checkpoints, over an inland desert and even through Syria, Jesse decided to write a novel and create an interactive iPad app titled “Sufing The Middle East.” After a segment on the ISD web-a-thon, we caught up with Jesse to talk about surfing and the environment. Check out Jesse’s book on Amazon.com 1 What do you love most about surfing? Bob Dylan sings “He not busy being born is busy dying.” For me SURFING is the ultimate act of rebellion against mortality. There is something in the beauty of the ride—and the adventure in getting there—that’s as timeless as anything I’ve encountered on this Earth. 2 Where is your favorite spot to surf and why? It’s gotta be Jalama Beach, just north of Santa Barbara, CA. It’s filled with sharks, great lefts, cold water, and about as much Wilderness & Experience as any deviant soul could ask for. It’s a place that reminds me of the Hunter S. Thompson quote I use to open my book: “The edge is still Out there.” 3 What do you feel is the biggest threat to our oceans? General indifference. Over-population. The slow sickness of human pollution taking hold and giving this fine planet a mean case of whooping cough. It’s nothing cerebral. Just the that humans are responsible for pollution and it’s time we grow up and own it with a little more than “excuse me.” 4 Why do you feel it is important that people care for and protect their oceans, waves and beaches? Well, there is clearly the rudimentary issue of Survival. That’s a trip we all can get wired into. The ocean is the backbeat of life. To poison and kill what comes from it is a slow suicide for us all. For those of us who swim, surf, and play in the ocean, I mean, how could you argue? It’s one of the sexiest things we have going . . . And nobody likes to ruin a sexy thing. 5 Tell us five things you do to ensure the health of our oceans and your favorite break(s). 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Publicly shame litterers Expose them out in the surf line-up Sign up gross polluters for spam email and credit card mailings Preach like a Kentucky pastor about some doomsday sea apocalypse Make you laugh and help Surfrider continue to inspire $150,000+ $500 - $999 Donations In Honor of: The David and Lucile Packard Foundation Paul M. Angell Family Foundation EarthShare Marisla Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation Resources Legacy Fund Foundation Harold Appleton CA Dept. of Fish and Game Elizabeth Callard Mike Day Sabina Deaton Alex Gutt J.G. Hastings David Hill Jason Jeralds Joe Kaneda Carole Lanier/EI Surf Shop Lisa Longo Sean Murphy NOAA Karen Renaldi Carl Rieger Mark Romanini YourCause, LLC Kathy & Scott Barker’s 40th Anniversary Christian Surfers Matt Danon Dan Dawson Sonja Dighe Susan Gagliardi & Chris Higa The guys at the Rare Beer tent William Homer’s birthday David Jaynes Ethan Kruteck Thomas Kenneth Stuhrmann III Surf the Musical Kristopher Kimball & Amy Tetreault Miranda Watson $10,000 - $24,999 Donations In Memory of: Aveda Southwest Joyce Beall Mike Berrill Phil Cicconi Aron Bryce Gunner Dillon Henry Aunt Susan Hildreth Jay Hodge Brian Hoover Hunter MacDonald Ally Morrell Jimmy Morrissey Robert Perry Cooper Plaxco Jeffrey Loren Ross Rev. Dr.Dennis Shafer James Stautberg Margaret Davis Welling Surfing Magazine SWELL Transworld SURF Western Federal Credit Union $50,000 - $100,000+ Barefoot Wines Billabong Offield Family Foundation $25,000 - $49,999 $5,000 to $9,999 California Department of Fish and Game Five Flags Tourism Group, LLC Qvest II, LLC $2,500 - $4,999 California Coastal Commission Climate Solutions First Wind Energy Samantha Kahan RaceRaiser Justin Simcock Teva Membership Partners $1,000 - $2,499 Long Doggers Eateries, Inc. Microsoft Matching Gifts Program Mulu, Inc Network For Good Pacer Foundation Retail Innovation Group, Inc ON BEHALF OF THE WORLD’S OCEANS, WAVES AND BEAC THESE INDIVIDUALS, FOUNDATIONS AND CORPORATIONS FOR THEIR photo: Tiffany Gill CHES THE SURFRIDER FOUNDATION WOULD LIKE TO THANK GENEROUS SUPPORT RECEIVED DURING MAY THROUGH JUNE 2012. 215 victories since 1/06. The Surfrider Foundation’s goal was to win 150 environmental campaigns by the end of 2010. For a list of these victories please visit our website. 2012 Board Of Directors Chair – Steve Shipsey Vice Chair – Brooke Smith Secretary – Sean Ahlum Meridith Blascovich Meg Caldwell Mike Harmon Leanne Fremar Michael Marckx Anthony Radaich Shaun Tomson Walter Wilhelm David Wilmot QUAD INSTARGRAM Making Waves Staff: Editor In Chief – Alexis Henry Layout/Design – Ian Swanson Contributors – Steve Blank, Mara Dias, Angela Howe, Edward Mazzarella, Jim Moriarty, Chad Nelsen Contributing Photographers: Tiffany Gill Cover Photo: Tiffany Tiffany Gill Gill A Publication of The Surfrider Foundation A Non-Profit Environmental Organization P.O. Box 6010 San Clemente, CA 92674-6010 Phone: (949) 492-8170 / (800) 743-SURF (7873) Web: www.surfrider.org Email: info@surfrider.org photo: Tiffany Gill