Surfrider Foundation Chapter National Update Spring 2004 This update is produced by Ed Mazzarella (emazzarella@surfrider.org), Director of Chapters at the Surfrider Foundation National Office in San Clemente, CA.
Cover of the 'Preliminary Report' recently released by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy.	U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy Report (What is Surfrider Foundation's Involvement in its Development, Release and Implementation?) Development The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy was created as part of the Oceans Act of 2000. The commission was created to make recommendations to the President and Congress for a national ocean policy. The commission's recommendations were mandated to address issues ranging from the stewardship of marine resources, pollution prevention, to enhancing and supporting marine science, commerce and transportation. The Surfrider Foundation National staff provided and coordinated public testimony for two of the commission's major hearings in June and April 2002. We provided official testimony before the commission in Oahu and Washington State as well as official written comments. In August 2003, we initiated an "action alert" directed at Congressional Representatives, Senators and Governors urging them to consider several critical recommendation areas. The action alert was directed towards these individuals because a preliminary report was scheduled be released to them for comments prior to its official release to the President and Congress. It was imperative that our Governors and Representatives ensure a comprehensive review and revision of this nation's ocean policies. Dr. Michael Orbach, Chair of Surfrider Foundation's National Board of Directors was the only official scientific advisor to both the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy report and the PEW Ocean Commission report. Release of the Report Surfrider Foundation was invited by the Ocean Commission to participate in two very important events held in Washington DC on April 19-20, 2004. On April 19th, Surfrider Foundation National Board of Director, Mark Spalding represented the organization at an advance briefing for stakeholders meeting on the public release of the Commissions Preliminary report. This meeting included non-governmental organizations, academia, government agencies, industry associations and others. On April 20th, Surfrider Foundation representative Mark Spalding attended the official release of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy Preliminary Report at the National Press Club Ballroom in Washington DC. At this event, Commission chair, Adm. James Watkins, and other Commission members discussed the major findings and recommendations contained in their preliminary report and took questions from the media. On April 20, 2004 the commission released their preliminary report to the nation's Governors. The report, which comes on the heels of last year's Pew Oceans Commission Report, found that pollution, over-fishing, increased coastal development, altered sediment flow and dramatic declines in water quality have significantly impacted the health and safety of our oceans, waves and beaches. The findings from these two reports go beyond just ecological implication. The issues identified affect the health and welfare of surfers, swimmers, beachgoers, fishermen and other ocean recreationalists. Implementation The release of the Commission s Preliminary Report is the first part of a two-stage process. On April 20th, the report was made available for review and comments by the nation's governors and interested stakeholders. The comment period will end on May 21, 2004. Stage two begins after that date, when the Commission will review all the comments received prior to preparing and delivering its final report to the President and Congress, including detailed recommendations for a coordinated and comprehensive national ocean policy. Now that the preliminary report has been released Surfrider Foundation National Headquarters is in the process of coordinating official written comments from the organization and our chapter network. On May 13th, at the Seattle Aquarium, Surfrider Foundation National will have a panel discussion to bring public attention to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy report and provide public input to Washington State Governor Gary Locke for his comments to the Commission. Participating on the panel will be Surfrider Foundation's National Executive Director, Chris Evans, Governor Gary Locke, U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy members Bill Ruckelshaus and Mark Hirschman, Earth Day Founder and President of the Bullitt Foundation Denis Hays and People for Puget Sound's Executive Director, Kathy Fletcher. On May 17-18, 2004 in Washington DC, Surfrider Foundation National Representatives, Chris Evans, Kevin Ranker and Ed Mazzarella will participate in a strategy meeting with the Ocean Conservancy, Environmental Defense, NRDC and the National Environmental Trust to look at the overall congressional, grassroots and media strategy around the report. The roundtable meeting brings together national and state environmental leaders to strategize national and statewide initiatives to address critical ocean and coastal issues. The Surfrider Foundation National office is coordinating our involvement in the "Blue Vision Conference" which is planned for July 11-13, 2004 in Washington DC. The conference, following the release of the report, is designed as an inaugural event to unify various "blue groups" as a political constituency while also educating lawmakers on the need for an American Oceans Act. This is meeting is open to chapter members who wish to attend and we will send out invite information as soon as the details are finalized. It will be important that all Surfrider Foundation attendees coordinate their participation with Ed Mazzarella. This will help ensure that we speak with a unified voice. Next Steps-Short Term Surfrider Foundation National Headquarters is helping to coordinate written comments on the report from our organization to respective State Governors. Each state Governor has until May 21, 2004 to supply written comments to the commission before it submits it recommendations to the President and Congress. It's important that we urge our Governors support key report recommendations. This comprehensive report addresses issues core to the Surfrider Foundation mission. Surfrider Foundation National Headquarters will assist in strategizing and work with our chapter network to identify how the report's findings can be used to leverage existing chapter campaigns and issues.
Surfrider Foundation 20th Anniversary logo	Organizational Communication Manual of Policies, Procedures and Operations The Surfrider Foundation Manual of Policies, Procedures and Operations is completed and is in its final review stage. This manual is a comprehensive, concise and ready-to-use resource that provides everything needed to understand Surfrider Foundation's Standard Operating Structure (Procedures). This handbook is a reference that can be used at every level of the organization, designed to avoid many of the common organizational problems that arise at a chapter level, occur between the national headquarters and chapter network and between chapters. The anticipated release date is scheduled for June 1, 2004. SF 20-Year Anniversary Chapter Events Coordination As you're aware Surfrider Foundation National Headquarters will host our 20 Year Anniversary Summit on October 16-17, 2004 in Costa Mesa, California. In addition, we are planning other related events throughout the year, as are some chapters. To coordinate all these wonderful events we want to develop a national master calendar of events that we can circulate throughout the chapter network and membership. This assists with two really important internal communication purposes as well: One, it provides national with a master list of chapter event dates so we don't plan a conflicting event and Two; it provides your fellow chapters with ideas for events. Please consider this an official request for important event dates that you have scheduled for 2004. You can email me at emazzarella@surfrider.org or send them via mail by May 24th. 20-Year Anniversary Chapter Speaking Guide Surfrider Foundation National Headquarters has developed a 20-year anniversary strategic speaking guide. This guide provides the chapter network with outreach ideas that honor the legacy of the Foundation, and that do so in a manner that will build chapter members, articulate chapter goals and accomplishments and possibly identify new sources for funding and donations. This resource manual is being developed by Jeff Duclos, a public relations professional. Jeff is a former member of our National Board of Directors, former Chair of the Malibu Chapter and is currently active in the South Bay Chapter as well as the Chapter & Program Committee of the National Board of Directors. We realize that the guide's release is late in the event season, but we feel the information provided could be utilized beyond our anniversary. It is not mandatory that your chapter participate in these suggested functions.
	National Headquarters Information Technology (IT Assistance) Surfrider Foundation National Headquarters has contracted with a professional IT firm to provide technical assistance to the national office. These services include, upgrading our entire network, email systems and upgrading and serving the Foundation's computers. Membership Department The Surfrider Foundation's Membership Department is currently going through a major overhaul. Membership Manager, Jenna Oldfield is developing a comprehensive and updated department operating plan, which includes; reevaluating and improving our membership partner programs, reevaluating and improving our direct mail program, redesigning our membership t-shirts and upgrading our member database systems as well as creating a strategic plan for recruiting and retaining members.
Pratte's Reef logo	Environmental Related Events 4th International Surfing Reef Symposium The Surfrider Foundation and the University of Southern California School of Engineering are co-hosting the 4th International Surfing Reef Symposium on January 12-14, 2005 in Manhattan Beach, California. This biennial conference will foster an open dialog between surfers, scientists, ocean enthusiasts, and coastal zone managers on the topic of surfing science, artificial surfing reefs, human impacts on surf zone environment and the economy of surfing. To learn more about the conference visit: http://www.surfrider.org/reef4 Coastal Society Conference Surfrider Foundation National Staff members, Chad Nelsen, Rick Wilson and Kevin Ranker will be participant in plenary sessions, panel discussions and workshops that provide participants with opportunities to learn more about the wide range of tools and methods employed in coastal governance and stewardship. The conference will take place on May 23-26, 2004 in Newport, RI. Chad Nelsen is a member of the U.S. Commissions Report on Ocean Policy panel discussion at this conference. Kevin Ranker is a member of the Northwest Straits Commission panel discussion at the conference with other key folks from the Pacific Northwest. The Northwest Straits Commission is being looked at as an example of" Regional Ocean Council" recommended to be replicated nationwide by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy Report.
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