Here comes summer and the Oregon Chapters' of Surfrider Foundation are bring you some great beach events! Get out and enjoy what we fight so hard to preserve and lend a steward's hand! Here's what's coming up and remember to check out our events calendar for a full listing of all events!

Introducing the first ever Otter Rock N' Roll Youth Surf Contest and beach cleanup challenge in celebration of International Surf Day on June 20th..here's the skinny:
What: 18 and under surf contest, lessons, beach cleanup and stewardship activities.
Where: Otter Rock State Park
When: June 20th - 8:00 am to 7:00pm.
Registration: Pre-register by downloading the registration form here:
ISD_registration_waiver_form.doc. Deadline for pre-registration is June 17th, but we will accept beach registration (extra charge) depending on heat availability. Proudly sponsored by our local surf shops: Oregon Surf Shop, Ocean Pulse, Ossie's Surf Shop, and Otter Rock Surf Shop. All participants will recieve prizes (including best beginner). This is an event for kids and families for the joy of surfing and beach stewardship, so leave your surf egos at home and come out and support our youth and tomorrow's leaders for a day of fun in the sun (hopefully) and surf! Questions? Please send any questions for the event to cplybon@surfrider.org. Basic contest format is included on the registration form. Surf lessons come free for those entering the "best beginner" division and is open to particpants 18 and under! Big heaps of thanks to our larger sponsors Global Surf Industries, Monster Beverages, Surfing Magazine, Earthpack and the Sign Shop. We hope to see you there!!

Please take action and tell your federal representatives that you support 'Healthy Oceans' legislation. Oceans 21 (HR 21) would establish a national policy to protect, maintain, and restore the health of marine ecosystems. The bill would also promote ecosystem-based management through Regional Ocean Partnerships, and provide critical funding through the creation of an Ocean Conservation Trust Fund. Oceans 21 will provide the governance framework that we need to protect and restore our oceans ecosystems in the 21st century. It will provide real benefits to our oceans, waves, and beaches in your community. Please participate in the Alert and make your voice heard! For more info, please click here.

Please join us in opposition to HB 3058 which would allow corporations promoting Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals and related pipelines to obtain wetland-fill permits for private property over the objection of the property's owners. This precedent-setting bill would apply to "linear" utility and transportation projects and would be the first we know of in Oregon where a private corporation or governmental entity would be able to apply for and receive a state permit for property they have no rights to use or access. This misguided bill is clearly intended to fast track permitting of the proposed LNG terminals and related pipelines at a time when Oregon should be looking to renewable energy, efficiency and increased conservation of our wetlands, waterways and water quality. HB 3058 was proposed by Northern Star, the Texas energy company pushing to build an LNG terminal on the Columbia. Let's not let big Texas interests threaten our properties, wetlands and the Columbia basin. With three LNG companies proposing to build roughly 600 miles of pipelines that include dozens, if not hundreds, of wetland, river and stream crossings, HB 3058 would be a major step backwards. Take action and more information!

Cigarette butts represent the largest sector of litter on our highways and beaches. It is no secret that we have some serious problems with our cultural behavior when it comes to where we extinguish our butts. Addressing this issue takes a responsible approach to public policy to curb the litter culture. Insert public hero Deb Schallert and House Bill 2676. The bill creates the offense of unlawful disposing of cigarette butts with a Class D violation punishable by a maximum fine of $90 or community service cleaning up cigarette butts...picking up butt litter is something we at Surfrider are all too familiar with in our adopt-a-highway programs and the hundreds of beach cleanups we do. Deb Schallert was a state parks employee and was also fed up with the copious amounts of butt litter. Deb went the extra mile to advocate and draft up HB 2676. At the 11th hour last week, we were able to carry a group of youth volunteers message to Salem via a youtube video they made to raise awareness about cig. butts they were finding on their cleanups. It was a total DIY video by the kids (ages 12-15) and we helped them get it up and online, but they came up with the concept. It's less than a minute... so simple and yet so strong. In the days of deep pocketed lobbyists with fancy productions and materials, I just love it to see a glued-together, do it yourself video pop up in Salem. I just love environmental heroes like Deb, and we'd just love for you to help support this bill. Contact your representative on the House Committee on Environment and Water today and urge their support for HB 2676.

SOLV's annual Oregon Spring Beach Cleanups this year was once again a great success, setting new records for volunteers and trash and different sites up and down the Oregon coast. Over 60,000 lbs of trash was removed from the beaches through the effort of over 4000 volunteers from across the state. Surfrider Chapters and members throughout the state worked hard to organize over 9 beach captain sites and two regional zones. Major props to SOLV and of course all the volunteers who attended and pitched in for this great event. The spirit of Oregon itself depends heavily on our people and beaches. This event brings those two things together. The impact is obvious from the stats and it is events and volunteers like these that build the collective life force of positive community in Oregon...I'm moved by you all. Click on the video at right to see some highlights from Zone 7's efforts!

Did you know that the very first beach cleanup in Oregon was held under the event title ''Plague of Plastics?'' This year, Newport and Portland Chapters are taking the lead on zones 2 and 7 for SOLV's annual beach cleanup this Saturday March 28th from 10:00am-1:00pm up and down the entire Oregon Coast! Additionally zone captain chapters are helping sponsor the event giving away 500 reusable bags for volunteers participating in Surfrider captained beach cleanup zones. Other chapters and Surfrider members are pitching in by captaining 8 different beaches from Clatsop to Curry Counties! Come out and pitch in to help keep Oregon's beaches the cleanest! www.solv.org/programs/beach_cleanup_zone.asp