Chapter Meeting Minutes
September 18, 2024
Tiny Turtle
6:30 Call to order – Nina Hunt, Vice Chair Welcome! Cocoa Beach City Commissioners candidate’s forum
Participants in the Candidate Forum:
- Angela Cobb (Running for Commissioner, Seat 2)
- Joshua Jackson (Running for Commissioner, Seat 2)
- Michael Johnson (Running for Commissioner, Seat 3)
- Tim Tumulty (Running for Commissioner, Seat 3)
- Keith Capizzi (Running for Mayor, Seat 1)
- Dave Netterstrom (not present, read submitted speech) (Running for Mayor, Seat 1)
EC/Program/Campaign Reports
- Chair Report: Kris - absent
- Grants:
- One Lagoon grant: City of Melbourne unanimously approved the project! Several people made great comments after I informed them the good news!
- Some contributed to letters of recommendation for the grant: here are the comments:
- Virginia Barker, Brevard County: ‘Determination prevails!’
- Nikki Caldwell, Melbourne Park/rec: ‘you are very welcome. It is a pleasure working with you. Looking forward to the improvements you will be making in the park! ‘
- Senator Mayfield: ‘Thanks for letting me know. Can’t wait to see the enhancement to the park ‘
- Ken Parks, MRC: ‘Persistence pays off!’
- Craig Wallace, IRL Coalition: ‘Congratulations! All your hard work finally paying off.’
- Some contributed to letters of recommendation for the grant: here are the comments:
- One Lagoon grant: City of Melbourne unanimously approved the project! Several people made great comments after I informed them the good news!
- We have created and purchased yard signs for our OFG work in progress!
- New tshirts are in the works!
- MRC had a 24th IRL assembly, Kris attended as Surfrider and participating as a facilitator. LEED & Green Infrastructure was her topic to lead a groups for discussion.
- We are working on the OFG page on our website, update with our projects and what how important it is for Florida environment
- We encourage everyone to VOTE
- Beach cleanups - if you are a member and are cleaning beaches on your own, make sure to log your hours + trash here!
- Grants:
- Vice Chair Report: Nina - November event start promoting! Sun, Sand & Surf November 2, Beach clean up, yoga, music, and fun surfing contest. If there are any local businesses that would like to be a sponsor, please contact Nina! We need help loading all equipment from storage and bring Saturday morning. Who has a truck or can help??
- Secretary Report: Kelly absent
- Treasurer Report: Chris absent. Nina to report
- Blue Water Task Force BWTF: Kris absent, Nina to report
- Ballard, Eau Gallie River at all sites lit, Pineda & Eau gallie boat ramp, Ramp Rd contaminated last week We will be testing for the next 2 months 10 additional sites/weekly up the Eau Gallie river. Isensys, will be testing along side of us as well, trying to locate.
- We will be getting the samples not from the shore, but from a wave runner.
- Paris Olympics, triathlon water contamination did you see??
- Volunteer Coordinator: Deb Richardson - absent
- Social Media Chair – Kelly absent - Make sure to mark as going + share the November event on FB!
- Ocean Friendly Gardens– Bill absent - please check our events calendar for 2 upcoming dune plantings coming up thie year!
- Ocean Friendly Restaurants – Joanie
- Working with Longdoggers & a cafeteria in FIT to become OFR certified!
- Beach Bucket Foundation - no report
Past Events Recap
- August General Meeting was cancelled due to storm and flooding at Intracoastal brewery
Upcoming Events
- 9/21 International Coastal clean-up w/ KBB: S. Thousand island, See KBB website for many sites to volunteer at
- 9/22 World Rivers Day Kayaking Cleanup: Postponed - more info on a rescheduled event soon!
- 10/10 Day in Life, ORCA:
- need to reach out to them and watch training & RSVP to them so they know who is volunteering. They have several schools involved.
- 10/11 Sponsored private beach clean up
- 10/16 Monthly meeting: Intracoastal Brewery, Speaker, Dr. Lindeman from FIT, ‘Fishes of Nearshore Hardbottom Reefs of East Florida’
- 10/18-20 Surfrider 40th anniversary in California! Kris (Chair), Chris (Secretary), & Nina (Vice Chair) will be attending
- November 2: Sun, Sand, Surf Event! 8 am - 12 pm @ Lori Wilson Park. Beach clean up, DJ, yoga, and surf fun! More info to come.
Updated/New Business
- Surfrider Space Coast members surf fun day in October! Let's gather for a fun day of surf & socializing with other members & volunteers. More to come!
- Anyone want to help plan ribbon cutting event for our OFG projects? Press releases?
General Meeting Adjourn