Wednesday Feb 9th (6:30PM) Suncoast Chapter will be holding a meeting at the Post Card Inn’s 2nd Floor Meeting room.  Come out and hear what the scientists have to say about the T-Groin experiment, the chapters plan for the campaign, and where you can help the campaign.

There is BIG news to share, be there to get stoked!!!

6300 Gulf Blvd

St Pete Beach, 33706

Jan 22nd, the Suncoast Surfrider Foundation puts on their annual holiday party to give thanks for their successful 2010 year while also jump starting the 2011 season. The Suncoast Surfrider Foundation had one of its most successful years to date accumulating 25 events under their belt. Reaching over 3,000 on the year, the chapter put forth their Plastics, Offshore Oil drilling, and Upham Beach protection campaigns in full force.

[Read more...]

Dear Friends,

The 23^rd Annual Hillsborough River and Waterways cleanup broke all records! We had over 1,300 volunteers who marked 150 storm drains, planted 4,500 plants, removed 2.21 tons of invasives and picked up almost 4 ton of litter.  I think it was a rather successful event!

The Rollin’ on the River Picnic was Tampa Bay Beautifications’ way of thanking our volunteers for their efforts.  Your participation in this event helped to exemplify the importance of environmental stewardship.  Your educational message was well received by our volunteers and very much appreciated by TBB!

Thank you for assisting us in achieving our mission- to provide environmental education and volunteer opportunities that develop individual responsibility and environmental stewardship. It was a great day for all! We truly appreciate your involvement, support and friendship!

Please don’t hesitate to ask for our partnership in your mission/events.

Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,

Pat

Patricia A. DePlasco, Education Program Coordinator

Tampa Bay Beautification

By Victoria Spera

From what seemed to be just an imaginable idea quickly became a reality. With timeless
dedication, a touch of creativity, and a commitment to Surfriders Rise Above Plastic Campaign,
a powerful message was voiced; a pledge to reduce single-use plastic bottles and plastic bags.

Surfriders’ Rise Above Plastic (RAP) campaign is a national initiative that aims to reduce single-
use plastic’s as it jeopardizes the integrity of our oceans and coastal ecosystems. Tampa’s local Suncoast
chapter is the first Florida chapter to bring the issue to the community by and large. The effort is
twofold: educate the public to reduce consumption of single-use plastic and hold local producers of
plastic accountable to ultimately reduce their production.

The first step has been an enormous success. The Suncoast chapter has empowered
approximately 20 members and community citizens to participate in educating the public. The
underlining principles of the campaign have manifested into a piece of art; a life-sized wave made of
PVC pipes, chicken wire, and over a thousand plastic bottles.

The idea originated with much thought and the overall purpose is to convey the message that every
individual effort can collectively make a difference with respect to ocean conservancy on both a local
and global scale. Every individuals pledge is written on a blue-shaded piece of construction paper and
placed into a clear plastic bottle located on the wave. This is to simulate a ‘message in a bottle’. Each
individual effort would collectively turn the wave from clear to blue; and there you have the message.

The construction of the wave occurred over the course of two beach cleanups, and after 20 plus hours
of sweat and labor from members and volunteers. The time was well worth it; the plastic wave recruited
19 members, raised approximately $600 dollars, made headlines on network television, and gained
around 300 pledges from local citizens.

Going forward, your Suncoast Surfrider Foundation is excited to execute its next piece of artwork
involving recycled bottle caps. Also on task are several educational craft sessions involving the
recycling of plastic bags, bottles, and milk cartons. More to come! And as always, Recycle the Love!

To see more pics click Read More

[Read more...]