Matt Bolton, a student at Florida Gulf Coast University is putting on a beach clean up for a class project.  Come out and help clean the beach!

Why did you join Surfrider?

I got involved because I love the water and I wanted to give something back.

What are your favorite Surfrider activities?

Beach cleanups and other volunteer functions. Oh yeah, and great parties!

What can you recommend to others on how to be more Ocean Friendly?

Join Surfrider and find out how you can contribute to a healthier environment.

Why should others get involved in Surfrider?

If you enjoy the water you need to protect it.

Why did you join Surfrider?

My parents taught me a deep respect for the environment for as long as I can remember.  When I started surfing it was a natural attraction to become a paid member of Surfrider.  Then when Upham was destroyed and there was no group protesting the destruction I knew I had to get involved.
What are your favorite Surfrider activities?

Hands down protests, it’s empowering to let your voice be heard.  A close second is action alerts; it feels great to write a local politician about an issue that’s important and get an actual personalized letter or email back.  I’m not sure if many people realize that sometimes it really only takes a few letters/emails/phone calls to really make a difference.
What can you recommend to others on how to be more Ocean Friendly?

If you own a home adopt Ocean Friendly Landscaping.  Surfrider has a good amount of resources to help show you how to implement changes that WILL affect the ocean. http://www.surfrider.org/ofg_cpr.asp Also on a local level IFAS has a great program that can help guide you http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/
Why should others get involved in Surfrider?

There are a lot of good organizations to get involved in, but the fact is if the ocean and beaches are let to go to hell the rest of the earth is screwed.  Surfrider is driven by hard working volunteers, without the volunteers the organization would not exist.

Why did you join Surfrider?

I have always been so so interested in protecting the oceans, beaches, and all that surrounds us. Nature isnt always capable of taking care of herself and it’s up to us (as Surfrider members) to step up!

What are your favorite Surfrider activities?

I always enjoy beach cleanups – so much progress is made in one day and it’s amazing to see your hard work payoff. However, I would gladly give up cleaning the beach in exchange for people picking up after themselves! Oh – I also love when creativity takes over and we bring new/fantastic/fun ideas to the table!

What can you recommend to others on how to be more Ocean Friendly?

Clean up after yourself! Carry an extra reusable bag and pick up trash when you see it – when walking out to the beach for example. Oh, and if you havent already, sign our plastic wave and pledge to reduce your dependency on single-use plastics! Trade in your plastic bags and water bottles for reusable ones.

Why should others get involved in Surfrider?

I 100% recommend getting involved so that you can check out what Surfrider has to offer. There’s something for everyone and new ideas are always welcome!

Shifts are as follows:

Saturday, Oct 16: 9a -11a, 11a – 1p, 1p – 3p, 3p – 5p

Sunday, Oct 17: 10a – 12n, 12n – 2p, 2p – 4p

Please consider donating 2 hours of your time to help your Suncoast Chapter make a difference!

Contact: Suncoast@surfrider.org

Our Suncoast Chapter has a vital role in the overall planet remediation and our ways of co-existing. We must join together in effort and advocate our love for the beaches and waterways.

As one way to participate in the larger changes taking place in the world, we are calling on all members to consider being active members. Whatever your level of environmental knowledge or if you only have an hour or two a month, we need you!

We are asking for your help in taking on some responsibility for keeping our activities moving forward, being well received, and having a successful turnout. Together we can make our chapter stronger and more effective with greater member participation.

Local Conservation Advocate:
Informs the chapter of local environmental events relating to our mission. Writes position letters to the other organizations for the chapter.

Surf Shop Liaison:
Informs the chapter of local surf shop events. Arranges chapter involvement with store owner/event organizer.

Concert Liaison:

Informs the chapter of local concert events. Arranges chapter involvement with Band Manger/venue for the chapter to set-up a table.

High School and Middle School Coordinators:
Works with school representatives to inform of planned beach clean-ups/other events offering volunteer hours.

Training will be provided. If you are interested email suncoast@surfrider.org

Beach Clean Up Committee: Organize a calendar of clean up events including 3x a year for Twin Piers/Bradenton, our adopted beach. Duties include: obtaining any needed permits, bags, gloves, water, etc.  (Easy part is Keep Pinellas/Manatee Beautiful will help a bunch when coordinated with them). Promote the event and talk to surf shops and/or local businesses about donating their time or items for prizes/giveaways. Talk to other environmental groups about participating or holding a joint event. Send a budget to the treasurer, if needed.

Fund Raising Committee: Work with Jimmy to create engaging ways to raise funds in support of the chapter’s efforts. Promote the event. Event planning experience a plus but not required.

LocalS: Work with Scott O. on promoting and distributing the LocalS Campaign to better the surfing experience – and safety – for one and all!

Tabling Events: We would like to have the chapter’s table tent and flags at as many local events as possible. Work as a group, team, or individually to get us visual in the community.  Event coordinators are responsible for the equipment, table layout with Surfrider gear, information, and being prepared to educate the public about Surfrider Foundation.

No Oil Drilling Campaign: Work with Thomas and Victoria on stopping the senseless quest for drilling and promoting clean energy solutions.

Rise Above Plastics Campaign: Work with Julie and Victoria on the campaign which was started in 2008. Several California Surfrider Chapters have successfully lead the way through online blogs, videos and tool kits to help other chapters along through the beginning, middle and end of the campaign. Using their guidelines and the creative thinking from our own talented pool of members, the chapter can take an active step towards eliminating the use of single use plastics on the Suncoast. Plan the campaign; educate the public on the effects of plastic, design positive events to promote the use of re-usable bags and recycling plastic bags. Speak to the public and to public officials on the issue, make re-usable bags with logo, coordinate with area environmental groups to team up on campaign strategies, and approach them about aligning with them on an event.

Upham Beach Campaign: Work with Jessica on helping rid the beach of the geo-tubes. Surfrider National’s stance is against all new forms of coastal armoring. Make your voice heard and help spread the word on the financially expensive experiment, which if built in rock, will be Pinellas County’s largest environmental mistake. Side note: the campaign will also lay the foundation to help preserve other breaks where similar actions are taking place.

If you have any questions or want to volunteer for any of these committees please contact suncoast@surfrider.org