Thursday, May 01, 2008
STORM DRAIN MARKING - 2008
Fellow Surfriders and friends of clean water...May marks the beginning of the fourth season of Catch Basin Marking (Catch Basins are the grated inlets in streets that channel water to the City's storm drain systems). The Portland Chapter of Surfrider Foundation continues with its Community Service Project sponsored by the City of Portland. The City provides all the necessary supplies to volunteers and volunteers provide the enthusiasm. (that's YOU!) Since we began this project, Surfrider volunteers have marked approximately 850 catch basins. Every month, we will meet on the third Tuesday and the following Saturday morning for a couple of hours (except May). I will have maps showing the locations of the catch basins in the area and all the supplies. Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty. Bring your family, bring your friends, bring your neighbors ... this event is open to all volunteers! WHERE: SE Schiller St (two blocks SOUTH of SE Holgate St.) & SE 43rd Ave.
WHEN: Tues, May 20th at 6 PM. If it looks like rain will fall 12 hours either side of this time, I will postpone the event to Sat, May 31. If you have a question about the weather conditions or anything else please feel free to call ... For the Oceans ...John Thompson @503-936-8052.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Cinco De Mayo: Plastics Campaign Event
On May 5 at 7pm, Portland Chapter will host Monterey Surfrider Activist, Ximena Waissbluth's traveling presentation on marine debris and the effects of plastics in our oceans at Ecotrust Building, Billy Frank Jr. Conferenc Rm (721 NW 9th Ave). This event will mark the kickoff of Portland Surfrider's statewide plastics campaign. Ximena's presentation will last about 45 minutes. The purpose of the event is education and networking for non-profits and activists working in the Portland area who are interested in building a coalition for change on our state's relationship to plastics in the environment. Much of the evening will be devoted to hob-nobbing, and Portland Surfrider will provide free Hot Lips Pizza and beer. Come and invite your friends!Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Our Ocean Event at Lucky Lab: April 24th
When: Thursday, April 24th, 6:30pmWhere: The Lucky Lab, 1945 NW Quimby, Portland
Who: Featuring Oregons newest statewide official, Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian, and folks interested in preserving Oregons coastal waters.
Who: Featuring Oregons newest statewide official, Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian, and folks interested in preserving Oregons coastal waters.
Why: To add Portland voices to the current statewide conversation on how to keep our ocean healthy!
Learn more about establishing marine protected areas (including marine reserves) along Oregons coast. We need you to help preserve Oregons unique coastal legacy. Our Ocean is a coalition of Oregonians working together to build an ocean legacy of a healthy marine environment and vibrant coastal communities. For more information, please contact Annie Birnie, aebirnie@gmail.com or (503) 449-3983
Monday, April 14, 2008
Musical Chairs
The Portland Chapter is saying goodbye to long time member and past chair Mike Albers. Mike was extremely influtential as chair over the past year and a half. Transitioning into the chair position in a pinch, Mike helped establish the chapter's legal clerk position and expanded the capacity for Portland Chapter to engage in huge statewide issues from wave energy to water quality. Mike also started and saw through the First Saturdays program, creating coastal outreach opportunities for the chapter and helping to expand membership. Mike is moving south to CA to pursue legal opportunities in criminal justice...we'll miss you Mike! Stiv Wilson, Vice Chair, was nominated as temporary chair and elections for chair and vice chair will be held at the next chapter meeting. Nominations are currently open for these two positions. Current nominations are: Stiv Wilson - Chair and John Koenig for vice chair. Follow the below link for the April Chapter Meeting Minutes:
april_minutes.doc Pictured at right is raging activist and temporary chair Stiv Wilson. In this picture he waxes on about the fight for coastal preservation, singing "Don't Stop Believin"
april_minutes.doc Pictured at right is raging activist and temporary chair Stiv Wilson. In this picture he waxes on about the fight for coastal preservation, singing "Don't Stop Believin"
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Chapter Meeting Next Tuesday
Next Portland Chapter meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8th, 7:30-8:30 at the Back Stage Bar (upstairs room) behind the Bagdad Theater. Agenda can be found clicking on link below:
april%20meeting%20agenda.doc
april%20meeting%20agenda.doc
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
March Chapter Meeting Minutes
Follow the link below for the Portland Chapter March meeting minutes. Next meeting is planned for April 8th, upstairs at the Backstage Bar (3702 S.E. Hawthorne next to Bagdad Theater). Hope to see you there! Contact Mike at chinookdiefirst@yahoo.com for more information. March Chapter minutes: Surfrider%20PDX%20March%2011th.doc
Big Artillery Plans for Mt. Hood Meadows
One week ago Ralph Bloemers, staff attorney at the Crag Law Center, and I met with the powers-that-be at Mt. Hood Meadows (MHM) concerning their fast tracked avalanche control expansion proposal. We feel strongly that the resort skiing, backcountry skiing and climbing public need to know about this proposal and its potential effects on Mt. Hood and how the mountain is trafficked. Said powers-that-be were presented with our summation and analysis last week. Please click the following Portland Snowrider blog URL that contains the meeting summation and analysis:http://snowriderpdx.wordpress.com/2008/03/26/mount-hood-meadows-avalanche-control-expansion-proposal/ - Michael Halle
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Surfer Staph?
Of lately, some concerns have been raised regarding recent infections surfers have been contracting in the Seaside area. Rumors of contaminated water and surfers hospitalized with staph and MRSA cases have left some folks surfing for answers and raising more questions. So what's going on here? I checked in with one Seaside affected surfer (foot pictured with lanced staph infection) and the local health and human services to find out more. Here's what I find out:
Currently, the health department has received very limited information regarding the recent infections (I was the first person to contact). This is in part due the the fact the these cases aren't necessarily "reportable" from an epidemiology perspective. Many doctors which see these cases do not culture the infections, so the type of staph infection (MRSA being an antibiotic- resistant strain and one of the worst) isn't reported to the health department. With limited information to link cases, it's extremely difficult to categorize this as an "outbreak", and at this point it's probably safest to say that this could have come from just about anywhere and is not an "epidemic" or "outbreak". If you or someone you know has had a recent infection, they themselves can report this to the health department and find out more information: Clatsop County Health and Human Services 820 Exchange St, #100 Astoria, OR 97103 (503)325-8500. Additionally, attached below is a background fact sheet on staph and MRSA from the Hawaii Department of Health:
mrsa%5B1%5D.pdf
mrsa%5B1%5D.pdf
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Last Tele-Tuesday Tonight 7PM at Mt. Hood!
Up to 4 volunteers receive free ski passes to the bowl for the afternoon/night. Check out the details at the link below: http://snowriderpdx.wordpress.com/2008/02/29/mas-tabling/The weather forecast looks clear AND cold. Almost perfect. If you haven't seen or heard the good news last week we received final approval for a Let It Ride http://www.letitridethemovie.com//) fundraiser this coming fall. Ideally we we will show the documentary in Portland and Hood River on consecutive nights.
Thanks,
Michael
michael@mhalle.com
Thanks,
Michael
michael@mhalle.com
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Beach Cleanups Are Coming March 29!
Please let us know if you'd like to help us volunteer or captain a clean up site for the annual event!
Surfrider Volunteer Contacts for Captain and Volunteer Coordination:
North Coast: Jocelyn Gary at garyjocelyn@gmail.com
Mid Coast: Beth Wiley at wileybe@onid.orst.edu
Yachats to Florence: Gus Gates at ggates@surfrider.org
North Coast: Jocelyn Gary at garyjocelyn@gmail.com
Mid Coast: Beth Wiley at wileybe@onid.orst.edu
Yachats to Florence: Gus Gates at ggates@surfrider.org
