Fall '08 Meeting of the Eastern Long Island Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation
Meeting Minutes
October 26, 2008 Meeting
After a beautiful day with large waves and ideal wind conditions, about 20 Surfrider activists dragged themselves out of the lineup to attend the Fall meeting of the Eastern Long Island Chapter at Aqua East in Montauk. Mara Dias and Tom Naro opened the meeting with a re-cap of Chapter activities conducted between May and September. Mara then summarized the Chapter’s recent educational initiatives which included:
- Water safety and Ocean ecology programs conducted by John Ryan and Joe Warren at the Interscholastic Surf Games in late May.
- Respect the Beach education program offered to 5th graders in Center Moriches, by Mara, Bob Casper and Gene Gentile.
- Respect the Beach education program and beach clean-up at the Devon Yacht Club summer camp.
A general discussion ensued regarding wider distribution of the Surfrider beach ecology video to schools this spring.
Mara summarized the status of the Bigger Better Bottle Bill which would require a 5 cent deposit on plastic un-carbonated beverage bottles. Although the bill failed to win approval in the NYS senate, we expect the bill to be re-introduced in 2009. Further, although the US senate failed to pass the Beach Act (sponsored in congress by Tim Bishop), this bill is also expected to be re-introduced in 2009. Mara then reviewed Surfrider’s “Rise Above Plastics” initiative. It was suggested that perhaps our Chapter could collaborate with others to distribute re-usable shopping bags. Finally, Mara mentioned that although the Broadwater LNG facility proposed for LI Sound was rejected by Governor Paterson, three other LNG projects may be proposed in the waters off NY and NJ. Clean Ocean Action based in NJ has information posted online about these projects as well as a petition opposing these projects. For those who want to learn more, check out:. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/689151878
Thomas Muse outlined recent activities related to the Lighthouse initiative:
- June meeting in Albany with Ms. Carol Ash and Mr. Windt Aldrich at NYS Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.
- June meeting with Mr. Fred Ander in the NYS Department of State.
- August meeting with congressman Tim Bishop, in association with Sierra Club and Nature Conservancy.
Thomas has a meeting tentatively scheduled in December to address the East Hampton Town Board.
Tom Naro indicated that since the dismissal of the eight tickets issued last year for surfing at Northbar, no new tickets have been issued. However, the NYS Park Police have ordered surfers out of the water at that surf spot and a “surfing prohibited” sign has been erected on the beach at Northbar. Tom mentioned that Eugene Alper has scheduled a follow-up meeting with Ron Foley, regional director for NYS Parks, to be held later this year.
December 5 has been set as a tentative date for a Surfrider event at Steven Talkhouse. And, a beach cleanup will be scheduled near Shinnecock for later this year.
Finally, in keeping with the Election Season…a new slate of Chapter Officers was elected….
After serving for longer than he can remember, as Chapter Secretary, Jay Levine turned over the Chapter’s official secretary’s pen to Hayley Gordon.
After a busy couple of years as co-chair, Mara decided that Motherhood is a more compelling activity than serving as co-chair, and has chosen not to seek re-election. And, following four extraordinarily busy and successful years as chair and then co-chair, Tom decided to turn over the chair responsibilities to a new cadre of Chapter leaders. Following a very exciting period of campaigning and candidate debates, the Chapter elected…as its new co-chairs…P. Claire Pertalion and Gene Gentile!!!
Other chapter leadership positions remain as follows:
- Environmental Director—Thomas Muse
- Jay Fruin - Vice Chair
- Treasurer—Steven Matzen
- Volunteer Coordinator—Mick Hargreaves
- Event Coordinators—Bill Lucey and Brian Luckey
Meeting participants rose in unison to thank Tom for his tireless work on behalf of the Chapter and Tom was presented with a beautiful, framed photo of two of the largest, cleanest waves ever to break at Camp Hero. The photo is the work of Dalton Portella.
Fall '08 Meeting of the Eastern Long Island Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation
Meeting Minutes October 26, 2008 Meeting After a beautiful day with large waves and ideal wind conditions, about 20 Surfrider activists dragged themselves out of the lineup to attend the Fall meeting of the Eastern Long Island Chapter at Aqua East in Montauk. Mara Dias and Tom Naro opened the meeting with a re-cap of Chapter activities conducted between May and September. Mara then summarized the Chapter’s recent educational initiatives which included:
A general discussion ensued regarding wider distribution of the Surfrider beach ecology video to schools this spring. Mara summarized the status of the Bigger Better Bottle Bill which would require a 5 cent deposit on plastic un-carbonated beverage bottles. Although the bill failed to win approval in the NYS senate, we expect the bill to be re-introduced in 2009. Further, although the US senate failed to pass the Beach Act (sponsored in congress by Tim Bishop), this bill is also expected to be re-introduced in 2009. Mara then reviewed Surfrider’s “Rise Above Plastics” initiative. It was suggested that perhaps our Chapter could collaborate with others to distribute re-usable shopping bags. Finally, Mara mentioned that although the Broadwater LNG facility proposed for LI Sound was rejected by Governor Paterson, three other LNG projects may be proposed in the waters off NY and NJ. Clean Ocean Action based in NJ has information posted online about these projects as well as a petition opposing these projects. For those who want to learn more, check out:. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/689151878 Thomas Muse outlined recent activities related to the Lighthouse initiative:
Thomas has a meeting tentatively scheduled in December to address the East Hampton Town Board. Tom Naro indicated that since the dismissal of the eight tickets issued last year for surfing at Northbar, no new tickets have been issued. However, the NYS Park Police have ordered surfers out of the water at that surf spot and a “surfing prohibited” sign has been erected on the beach at Northbar. Tom mentioned that Eugene Alper has scheduled a follow-up meeting with Ron Foley, regional director for NYS Parks, to be held later this year. December 5 has been set as a tentative date for a Surfrider event at Steven Talkhouse. And, a beach cleanup will be scheduled near Shinnecock for later this year. Finally, in keeping with the Election Season…a new slate of Chapter Officers was elected…. After serving for longer than he can remember, as Chapter Secretary, Jay Levine turned over the Chapter’s official secretary’s pen to Hayley Gordon. After a busy couple of years as co-chair, Mara decided that Motherhood is a more compelling activity than serving as co-chair, and has chosen not to seek re-election. And, following four extraordinarily busy and successful years as chair and then co-chair, Tom decided to turn over the chair responsibilities to a new cadre of Chapter leaders. Following a very exciting period of campaigning and candidate debates, the Chapter elected…as its new co-chairs…P. Claire Pertalion and Gene Gentile!!! Other chapter leadership positions remain as follows:
Meeting participants rose in unison to thank Tom for his tireless work on behalf of the Chapter and Tom was presented with a beautiful, framed photo of two of the largest, cleanest waves ever to break at Camp Hero. The photo is the work of Dalton Portella.
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