September 16th, 2009
Suncoast Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation
Chapter Meeting
Angry Pepper
Duhme Rd
St. Petersburg, Fl
Minutes
Call to order 7:19pm
Welcome and thank you for coming. Nice to see new faces among the tried and true in the group!
The big news of the night is the word that Nicole Elko was fired from her position as Pinellas County's Coastal Coordinator. The chapter has learned that the county sited conflict of interest as on of the main reasons why this position was let go. Sorces tell us they do not plan to fill this position. What does that mean for Upham Beach and the t-groin project? In the short term, the fill project that was supposed to happen in the fall of 2009 won't be happening. The chapter chair followed the paper trail of Elko's final months and found that the permitting process for the fill project was not completed. Therefore no fill project or the removal and repair of the failed bags can happen. At the earliest this project may be completed in the spring of 2010. Those who've been to the Upham Beach site recently say the bags are a mess, it "looks like garbage" as groins 1 and 2 are destroyed. On the note of the different committees involved,Beach Stewardship Committee, invited Suncoast Chapter to make a presentation to the committe on the chapters findings and facts. The chapter is considering declining this invitation as the Beach Stewardship Committee are ultimately not the decision makers when it comes to Upham Beach. Cited in this decision was the fact that a certain member of the committee went to the Barrier Island Gazette and misstated Surfrider. The article can be found here http://barrierislandsgazette.com/Archives/2_14/Arch0214_4.html.
Ericka, Surfrider Florida's coordinator is very busy with the Oil Drilling campaign. The Cocoa Beach chapter is head chapter for Florida on this campaign and Suncoast chapter is working on getting a committee together to help say no oil drilling off Florida's coast line. Surfrider joins with many other organizations on this issue. Currently there are two notorious oil spills in Texas and Austrailia which are proving very difficult to clean up.
The chapter wants to see about getting more involvement from north Pinellas county activists. We'd like to see more people actively involved in Suncoast's issues, as is the theme so often reiterated. So on October 10th, the chapter has been invited to the Beach Bar on Mandalay to help kick start north county activism. Bands, surfboard raffle, information table included in this event. It was asked if anyone from north county was in attendance at tonights meeting? One person.
Kudos to Brandi and Andre and Pete for the dune planting project on Madeira Beach. We strive to continue our efforts on this beach in the spring of 2010 with the goal to completely replant all of the dunes up and down Madeira. The chapter started the project at Archibald Park where volunteers planted over 180 new live plants in the dunes directly behind the picnic tables. Go on out and take a look! There's more work to do at this particular site where some barrier posts need to be relocated so that the efforts in preserving the dunes can continue.
It's noted at this time that being an active part of this chapter is a learning experience for everyone involved. It's up to activists to come up with ideas to accomplish important issues in our area. On a personal note to each and every one of our members, don't think you have to do it all on your own. There are many brains available in the chapter to "tap into" to help on issues and see your great ideas flourish.
The new Cocoa Beach Chapter on the east coast of Florida wants to challenge Suncoast Chapter to a surf competion on their turf. It's possible that Suncoast Chapter members interested in such an event may be able to get really good rates on hotel rooms at the Holiday Inn on Cocoa Beach. Key members from Suncoast chapter will continue to discuss the details with key members of the Cocoa Beach Chapter. "They are a bunch of good guys over there." We're told.
It was voted into record that Angry Pepper is the place to hold chapter meetings on the 2nd Thursday of every month. None opposed.
Reminder; as part of Manatee County's Adopt A Shore Program, Suncoast Chapter has adopted a slice of beautiful shore line along Bradenton Beach. To keep this special honor the Chapter is required to host a beach clean up 3 times a year. A major clean up happens every spring and fall and this year in the summer a cigarette butt count happened. The next clean up date for this beach is scheduled for October 19th. Check your chapters website for complete details.
Meeting closed 7:53pm.