May 2008 Chapter Meeting Minutes

Minutes for the First Coast Surfrider Chapter meeting that met at Fionn Macool’s on 5/12/2008 at 7:00pm. For the purpose of Monthly Chapter Meeting.

Total members in attendance: 13
Presiding Chairperson: Rhea Drysdale

MAY 2008 CHAPTER BUSINESS

Recap of Past Events:

• Earth Day at the Jacksonville Landing
• 2nd Annual Sea Turtle Festival at the St Augustine Pier
• Life Rolls On (LRO)

Kathy Hayden, Outreach Coordinator, gave an update on the first two events. Kathy asked about what we are doing to follow up on people who signed up at events. Rhea discussed an email campaign calendar that can be shared by the EC and email coordinator, Dylan Murphy, to regulate blasts. After both events chapter membership is just shy of 300 and with approximately 400 on the email list. We talked about having more events in St. Augustine to reach the extended chapter. Tamil gave an update on the LRO event. There were 150 volunteers and 30 participants. Inquiry made about Surfrider being a national sponsor and members expressed interest in being an event sponsor for future LRO.

Upcoming Events:

• MySurfari art sale, tomorrow, 5/13/2008 at 7pm at Twisted Sisters.
• Huguenot Park Advisory Board meeting is Thursday, 5/14/2008 at 1:30pm at City Hall. Ericka and Rhea will attend.
• Classroom outreach opportunity with Neptune Beach Elementary on 5/15/2008. Rhea will attend and discuss water conservation.
• Springfield Community Festival – May 25th (Sunday from noon – late). Dave O’Leary might attend with chapter booth.
• Teton Gravity Research’s “Out There” movie premier update from Volunteer Coordinator, Erin Handy. Save-the-date email will be going out to chapter membership on Wednesday. Paulie Gregg coordinating music and location.
• Longboard Surf Classic. Paul gave an update and we will shoot for a 2009 date to do it right. April may be the best time to do it.
• Sisters of the Sea & First Coast Surfrider BBQ in development. Erin Handy and Val Zevins coordinating.

Special Issues

• Huguenot Park management plan finalized. Rhea discussed cut of car limit restriction, but new inclusion of “at the park’s discretion.” Talked about the new conservation zone and park usage language.
• Discussed Port Authority land purchase in Mayport and refusal to acknowledge land usage for the proposed cruise ship terminal.

Florida State Surfrider News

• DOH’s Water Quality Monitoring program budget not cut. Great news.
• FC chapter’s water testing committee is awaiting meeting with Mara Dias of SR National to reassess plan for future testing. Date unknown.
• Clean Oceans Bill passed!

Other Chapter News

• Blue Sky vending machines. Opportunity for donations from local business.
• Receipts from art auction and BT&B. Dave O’Leary handling.
• St Johns County legal bill status. Dave forwarding paperwork to national.
• Signed BT&B Thank You’s for sponsors. Paul Hayden sending out.

The meeting adjourned at 8:30pm. Minutes recorded by: Paul Hayden