2017 Year in Review: Surfrider Foundation, Jersey Shore Chapter!
2017 was a great year for our chapter and the Jersey Shore as a whole! We raised money for worthy causes, continued the fight for beach access, helped to educate the public on climate change and plastic pollution, gained new members and had a lot of fun doing it!
First, thank you to everyone who came to our Holiday Hangout at Last Wave Brewing! The event was a huge success and a great time. We gained 58 new and renewing members!
Before we move on to 2018, we would like to “wrap up” some of the highlights of this year:
DEFEAT OF ORDINANCE #1143 – DEAL’S PLAN TO CHARGE $100 FOR PARKING
April 2017 - Our chapter worked hard to defeat proposed Ordinance #1143 in Deal, which would have charged the public $100 for parking passes to access Deal’s southern beaches. We argued that ordinance violated the Public Trust rights under New Jersey and federal law. Ultimately, Ordinance #1143 was tabled.
Dune Grass Planting in Spring Lake
Dune Grass planting in Spring Lake, January 7, 2017.
January 2017 - This was in the snow but some hearty souls came out for a chilly dune grass planting on January 7th.
Dune grass planting in Bradley Beach
Later in January, over 100 volunteers came out to plant dune grass that the chapter bought. American Littoral Society helped with logistics and volunteers, the Bradley Beach Environmental Commission helped spread the word, and the Buttered Biscuit provided hot fresh coffee!
EARTH DAY RALLY ON THE ROOF!
April 2017 - The Chapter’s Earth Day event, the “Rally on the Roof!” was a great success this year at the Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten. The Chapter raised over $3,300 to purchase beach badges for families in need in furtherance of their beach access campaign.
With hundreds in attendance, elected leaders and environmental speakers highlighted the afternoon. Speakers included Joyce Grant (environmentalist), Joe Woerner (former Chapter Chair), Amy Quinn (Deputy Mayor of Asbury Park), Jen Lampert (Biergarten Owner and AP Women’s March Founder), and Andrew Chambarry (Chapter Co-Chair).
Three lucky winners took home grand prizes: 8′ Kai foam board, 6’6″ Custom Takanassee Handshapes board and a 1960’s vintage American Western flyer bicycle. The Chapter plans to hold this event every year to celebrate the Earth and raise money for a great cause!
Facebook Photo Album: https://www.facebook.com/pg/SurfriderJSC/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1486404468060890
HANDS ACROSS THE SAND
May 2017 - We had a great Hands Across the Sand event with the Sierra Club in May. About 30 people came to Bradley Beach to show their opposition to offshore drilling and hear from the Mayor, Sierra Club leaders and Surfrider Foundation volunteers. Hands across the Sand was started by a Surfrider Foundation member in Florida and has grown into its own organization and a worldwide movement. Our event was one of 100 events in the US and there were some in other countries.
Facebook Photo Album: https://www.facebook.com/pg/SurfriderJSC/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1515504655150871
ASBURY RALLY TO SAVE NORTH END BEACH
June 2017 – In June we held a rally to save Asbury’s north end beach from development. The rally will began at the proposed development site with speeches from Amy Quinn (Asbury Park Deputy Mayor), Joe Woerner (Former Asbury Councilperson) and Andrew Chambarry (Chapter Chair). We then marched to iStar’s office in Asbury Park on the boardwalk and taped postcards to their windows and doors!
Facebook Photo Album: https://www.facebook.com/pg/SurfriderJSC/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1626518137382855
ASBURY PARK FAMILY DAY
August 2017 – The Chapter held Family Day at the North Beach of Asbury Park for a free day of surf lessons, food and fun for local kids! The event was a huge success! It was amazing to see so many kids stand up and surf their first wave!
Facebook Photo Album: https://www.facebook.com/pg/SurfriderJSC/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1594391307262205
Some other highlights of the year include:
- MANY wonderful new and returning volunteers;
- Co-sponsored events with Philly Surf Crew;
- Partnership with Hi-Tide;
- Bradley Beach bans intentional balloon releases;
- Keyport dune grass planting;
- People’s Climate March in D.C;
- Ocean Frontiers III Film at Monmouth University;
- New Jersey Premiere of “A Plastic Ocean” at Monmouth University;
- Environmental Awareness Fair in Deal;
- Multiple Rain Barrel Workshops;
- East Coast Chapter conference in South Carolina;
- Tabling Bouncing Souls concert and surfboard raffle;
- Tabling AP Surf Music Fest and surfboard raffle;
- International Surfing Day Happy Hour and Beach Cleanup
Thank you all for another wonderful year at the Jersey Shore. We hope to ring in the New Year stronger together than ever to protect our oceans and coasts. See you at the next event or meeting!
More photos from the year:
