Our Mission
Mission
A little over 25 years ago three people in Malibu, California found out that their favorite wave was about to be destroyed. Think about that for a second.
Think about something you love… something that gives you enjoyment. Taken away.
First Point, pictured to the right, the quintessential perfect, California wave was about to be destroyed. Those three people organized and worked with the local municipalities until they were satisfied that their efforts to preserve that iconic wave would be successful.
This was the genesis of Surfrider Foundation.
Today, we are doing this same thing in about 15 countries around the world.
Our mission is the protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network.
You can think about that as three concepts. “Protection and enjoyment”, we don’t want to put a velvet rope around a beach and tell people to keep off. We’re surfers, we’re beach goers, we’re watermen… we enjoy the coasts. We’re a user group. Next up is “oceans, waves and beaches.” Think coastlines, we’re engaged with environmental issues that affect our coastlines. “Powerful activist network” speaks to how we go about this mission. We are a grassroots organization. We’re local in many coastal regions.
We’re moms, we’re surfers, we’re kids and teens… we’re you. We’re engaged to protect what we love; oceans, waves and beaches.
The Suncoast Chapter proudly upholds Surfrider’s mission on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Our territory expands from the marshy coastline of Citrus County to the emerald green waters of Marco Island.
Re-established in 2007, the Suncoast Chapter beach activists keep Florida beaches cleaner in many ways.
The Suncoast Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization whose mission is the protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network.
Suncoast Chapter Board Members
Chair: Scott Orsini
What I do for fun: Surf, Bike, Play with my kids, reading and music
Why I am a Surfrider: The beach belongs to everyone and everyone should be able to enjoy a
clean, safe beach.
Unusual talents: Skilled at negotiation and good people skills
Favorite Surf Spot: Sunset Beach and Playalinda
Vice Chair: Ron Henkel
Favorite Surf Spot: My favorite surf spot is “County Line” in Southern California, thereafter I love Surfers Beach in Puerto Rico. My favorite local spot is Sunset…
Volunteer Coordinator: Casey Hyland
What I do for fun: Anything that involves the outdoors and breaking a sweat in the meantime… Yoga, surfing, wakeboarding, stand up paddleboarding beach volleyball, boating, kayaking, fishing, camping, hiking, climbing, skating… I like to be outside whenever possible!
Why I am a Surfrider: I believe it is my responsibility to give back to the environment for all of the happiness it has given to me over my lifetime. Pretty much every free moment I’ve had since diapers has been spent on the water or at the beach… it is a part of “me” and I want to do whatever I can to ensure others get to enjoy its splendors also. We should always leave the beach cleaner than we left it and Surfrider is a wonderful organization that does just this and so much more for the oceans !
Unusual talents: I don’t know if this is a “talent” but I have a certain knack for organizing. I love to go to into my friends kitchens or closets and organize their space to be more efficient: )
Favorite Surf Spot: There is no way I could ever pick just one… I hope to have favorites from all over the world one day
Treasurer: John Kurz
What I do for fun: SUP, surfing, hiking, generally anything outdoors. Indoors: Judo and Aikido.
Why I am a Surfrider: I want to help preserve a clean ocean for my kids and everyone else.
Unusual talents: I’ve been called perfectly ordinary.
Favorite Surf Spot: For SUP you can’t beat North Lido in Sarasota when the swell is right. Three breaks will get you a nice long ride on a perfect day.
Secretary: Katy Swanson
What I do for fun: I enjoy doing anything outdoors.If it includes getting out into nature, i’m into it.
Why I am a Surfrider: I have been an islander my whole life. I spent the first 23 years of my life on Long Island and when i moved to Fl, I moved to one of the barrier islands, then when i lived in Jax, I lived on the east side of the ditch and tried my best not to cross it. I can’t imagine not having the ocean near me. We are at a tipping point; where the effects of societal pollution are beginning to be felt. The oceans may seem vast and resilient, but the truth is they are acidifying and plasticizing, there is less biological diversity, both on the coasts and in the oceans because of our voracious consumption, and we keep going on as though these things are not happening. Surfrider Foundation is committed to protection and enjoyment of our oceans, waves and beaches, and i support these efforts, if not for myself but for the seventh generation.
Unusual talents: You would have to decide for yourself on this one. Everything I do is unusual. 
Favorite Surf Spot:Crossroads. It’s where I learned balance on a board in the water.
Meeting Location
New Chapter Meeting Location and Day
Chapter Meetings are currently being held at either Johnny Reno’s Grille and Watering Hole, which is located directly on the St. Pete Pier, or at The Post Card Inn! The Post Card Inn is located on beautiful St Petersburg Beach. Our meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month! The meetings run from 7-8:45 pm. The agenda starts at 7:30pm. We usually take some time out to decompress from our long day at work for the first 30 minutes
You are invited! We look forward to seeing you there! ~
The Post Card Inn-
6300 Gulf Blvd,
St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Johnny Reno’s Grille and Watering Hole
800 2nd Ave NE, St Petersburg, FL
Have an event, news, or comments?
Please use the form below to contact us or email suncoast@surfrider.org. You may also friend request us on Facebook . We check Facebook daily and you will get a quicker response…
You can also contact us at the following address:
Surfrider Foundation Suncoast Chapter
P.O. Box 22974
St. Petersburg, FL 33742
