Suncoast Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation
Meeting Minutes
January 14, 2010
Location: Angry Pepper
Duhme Road, St. Pete, FL
Called to order 7:02pm by Jessica
Website update 95% complete, need banner graphic. SR Atlanta helping to make the new website happen. He needs our input on the website banner.
March 11th will be the next Chapter meeting. The chapter voted to hold meetings 6x a year.
Hands Across the Sands happens on Feb 13th, 2010 at Upham. Event doesn't qualify for Give a Day, Get a Day program through Disney because it’s political.
It was suggested that perhaps the ISD event this year on June 20th would be a good day for the Disney program.
The chapter end of the year party was a huge success! Thank you to Lara, Ron & Thomas. Thank you Bands. Thank you Brandi & Andre. Thank you Daquiri Deck. A lot of new people stepped up and helped out, and we had one of the best turnouts yet.
Board shifting: Ron stepped off the board. The chapter voted to eliminate the at large positions. Jake stepped off the board. Have 5 now, Don, Jason, Jessica, Julie and Scott.
Ron suggested we need new people to step up and help out. He also suggested we get another fund raiser like the Texas Holdem poker tournament.
Jake will stay as the lead on the website.
Upham: It was suggested that the chapter completely make a photograph diary of sand movement on Upham Beach and continue doing that through the summertime fill project scheduled there. That way the chapter has a complete data base of sand movement. Both National and the chapter lawyers have made this suggestion.
The chapter may need as much as $25,000 to win Upham. With that Jessica asked the chapter to vote on moving $ from the business cards and BWTF to Upham. Members present approved this move. Mike is to ask the person who set up the movie if it’s ok by him that the chapter moves earmarked money from BWTF to Upham.
Roger asked if we could get other Org's involved? Jessica advised no other orgs will come on board with this.
Jessica did a residency search for those living in the condos on Upham Beach. There are really only about 30 full time residents living there. The rest are vacationers. Compared to 150 solid members of SF Chapter. We've made a huge effort so far towards saving Upham. The chapter has learned that Dr. Elko is being CC'd in on some of the official communication concerning Upham. Specifically DEP paperwork. We've got some press people looking into that more.
Oil drilling: The chapter was asked to vote on taking some money from the Dunes project to pay for a plane to fly over on the HANDS day. Jimmy says he might be able to get a pilot friend to fly over that day. The chapter would pay for fuel. But there is a possibility of aerial photos and video.
HANDS happens from 12-2pm rain or shine on Feb 13th. Press will probably be on land for this event. The chapter also has the possibility of getting an amphibian banner float out in the water that says "not the answer" on 4 sides.
Katy Swanson from Repower America attended the meeting. She's also from Jacksonville SF Chapter.
Business cards for the chapter may be out by the April Meeting. Just depends on the website action. Also in April we have chapter elections.
Jason Morey did a very nice financial statement for the chapter. In short the chapter has in excess of $10,000 in assets and cash in bank. The chapter needs to make about $16,000 this year for campaigns.
Anything else?
Beach Theater wants us back for another movie night.
Daiquiri Deck wants us back for another event.
Possibly do a movie night once a month? That's something to discuss.
Adjourned: 8:24pm.