SoCal Events and Meetings - December 2011

Here's the latest update on our Southern California Chapter events and meetings for December 2011. Most Chapters have held their elections and are wrapping up the year.  Strategic planning meetings typically take place in January to develop work plans on local environmental issues, educational programs, events and fundraisers for 2012.  Contact your local chapter and ask how you can help. No time to volunteer? Join.

MEETINGS:
12/6 - Ventura - Chapter and Executive Committee (EC) - EP Foster Library - 6-8pm
12/8 - Huntington - RAP Subcommittee meeting - Fred's - 6pm
12/8 - Santa Barbara - EC meeting - Watershed Resource Bldg - 7pm
12/7 - San Diego - Planning meeting - 7pm
12/13 - South Bay - EC meeting - 12 + Highland - 7pm
12/13 - South OC - EC meeting - 7pm
12/15 - WLAM - Chapter Mixer and Annual Elections - 7pm
12/15 - Huntington - EC meeting - 6-7pm
Isla Vista - every Wed night in the Grad Lounge, UCSB - 8pm

EVENTS - CLEAN-UPs - OTHER:
12/1 - Santa Barbara - Annual Holiday Fundraiser - SOhO - 6:30pm

12/3 - Isla Vista - CalPIRG Clean-up - Manzanita Village and Del Playa - 11am
12/3 - WLAM & South Bay - Year End Volunteer Appreciation Event - 10am

12/3 - Long Beach - Termino Ave Clean-up - 9am-12pm
12/3 - San Diego - OFG Garden Assistance Program event - 9:30am-3:30pm
12/3 - San Diego - Ocean Beach Holiday Parade - look for the Tidal Wave of Plastic float!  5pm
12/4 - ONLINE - Screening of "Bag It" for $5 - Intro with Surfrider CEO - 5pm (PST)

12/4 - Long Beach - Holiday Party & Volunteer Appreciation - The Local Spot - 4-6pm
12/4 - South OC - Clean-up at Aliso Creek - 9am-2pm
12/6 - San Diego - "Bag It!" Screening - Dempsey Holder Safety Center - 7pm
12/10 - Long Beach - CleanLB Beach Clean-up at Junipero Ave - 10-11am
12/10 - Huntington - Santa Ana River Jetties Clean-up - 8am-Noon
12/11 - South OC - Clean-up at Aliso Creek - 9am-2pm
12/15 - A Day Without A Bag - various events and locations throughout SoCal

Santa Barbara volunteers from last year's Day Without A Bag (2010)

 12/17 - Long Beach - Granada Beach 30 min. Clean-up - 1 Granada Ave - 10-10:30am
12/24 - Long Beach - Fisher-Price Beach Clean-up - 3100 Ocean Blvd - 10-10:30am

2012 Strategic Planning Meetings
help outline "how" you are going to
succeed in your environmental work.

Strategic Planning Meetings:
11/16 - Newport Beach (DONE)
12/7 - San Diego
1/21 - Ventura
1/28 - South Orange County
TBD - Isla Vista, Santa Barbara, West LA/Malibu, South Bay, Long Beach, Huntington/Seal Beach

TBA - 2012 Surfrider Foundation Super Summit!

SoCal Events and Meetings - Novemer 2011

Here's the latest update on our Southern California Chapter events and meetings for November 2011. Numerous Chapters in SoCal are gearing up for their annual elections in November and December. The success of Surfrider Foundation's environmental campaigns and programs depends entirely on YOU. Contact your local chapter and ask how you can help. No time to volunteer? Join.



Surfrider Foundation needs YOU in 2012!

MEETINGS:

11/1 - Ventura - Chapter and Executive Committee (EC) - EP Foster Library - 6-8pm

11/1 - South OC - EC status and planning - 6:30-8:30pm

11/3 - HB/SB - RAP mtg - 1st Thu of every month - Shorebreak Hotel

11/8 - SD - RAP mtg - 7pm

11/9 - HB/SB - EC - Location TBA - 6-7pm

11/10 - Santa Barbara - EC - 7-9pm

11/16 - Newport Beach - Planning & Elections - Blue C Advertising - 5-7pm

11/16 - San Diego - Chapter mtg - Forum Hall in UTC - 7-9pm

11/17 - South Bay - Chapter Mixer and Annual Elections - Location TBD - 7-9pm

11/21 - Long Beach - EC - 7pm

Isla Vista - every Wed night in the Grad Lounge, UCSB - 8pm

EVENTS/OTHER:

11/3 - Santa Barbara - MLPA Community Mtg - Watershed Resource Center - 7-8pm



MLPA Community Meetings - November 2011

11/5 - WLAM - Yoga & Beach Clean-up at Topanga SB - 10am

11/5 - Long Beach - Termino Ave. Clean-Up - 9am

11/5 - Newport Beach - 1st Sat Clean-up - 54th/Seashore - 3-5pm

11/6 - South OC - Clean-up at Aliso Creek - 9am-2pm

11/6 - San Diego - OFG Hands on Workshop in Oceanside

11/9 - Long Beach - Eco-Week at CSULB - by campus bookstore. 11am-2pm

11/9 - San Diego - MLPA Community Mtg - Encinitas Community Center - 7-8pm

11/12 - Long Beach - CleanLB Clean-up - 10am

11/12 - HB/SB - Clean-up @ South Bolsa Jetty - 8am-Noon



Sep 24 2011 clean-up with Volcom in Huntington Beach

11/12 - San Diego - Clean-up at Cardiff SB - 9-11am

11/15 - South Bay - MLPA Community Mtg - SEAlab - 7-8pm

11/19 - Long Beach - Granada clean-up - 10am

11/19 - San Diego - Clean-up at Moonlight Beach - 9-11am

11/26 - Long Beach - Fisher-Price clean-up - 10am

11/26 - HB/SB - Clean-up @ 6th St/Northside of HB Pier - 8am-Noon

11/26 - San Diego - Clean-up at Ocean Beach Jetty - 9-11am

11/29 - South OC - MLPA Community Mtg - OC Sailing & Events Ctr - 7-8pm

LOOKING AHEAD:

12/1 - WLAM - Chapter Mixer and Annual Elections - 7pm

12/3 - WLAM & South Bay - Year End Volunteer Appreciation Event - 10am

12/3 - San Diego - OFG Garden Assistance Program event - 9:30am-3:30pm

12/4 - Long Beach - Holiday Party & Volunteer Appreciation - 4-6pm

December - Annual Save Gaviota Holiday Fundraiser

City council bans smoking on the Strand and greenbelt

http://www.tbrnews.com/articles/2011/08/04/manhattan_beach_news/news01.txt

by Carley Dryden (Updated: Wednesday, August 3, 2011 6:01 PM PDT)

The loopholes for outdoor smoking in the city of Manhattan Beach have been closed. City Council approved an ordinance Tuesday night to prohibit smoking on the Strand and along Veterans Parkway (the Valley/Ardmore Greenbelt). In 2004, City Council banned smoking on the beach, the pier and in recreational facilities such as parks, athletic fields, tennis courts and basketball courts. “The Strand has become a de facto smoking room because of the no-smoking beach policy,” said resident Craig Cadwallader. “The cigarette butt issue is serious. Cigarette butts are thrown into the sand and the gutters and are toxic to ocean life. I see kids put them in their mouth.” Interim City Attorney Christi Hogin said the ordinance was prompted by two big conclusions — secondhand smoke is hazardous, even outside, and cigarette butts are the primary source of litter. The U.S. Surgeon General said there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke, which is categorized with toxic automotive and industrial air pollutants. Secondhand smoke exposure causes 73,000 deaths among nonsmokers each year in the U.S. and causes lower respiratory tract infections, like pneumonia and bronchitis, in as many as 300,000 children in the U.S. each year. While the city is ahead of the curve when it comes to low smoking rates, said Lisa Santora, chief medical officer for Beach Cities Health District, more than 11 percent of adults in the city still smoke. The lowest smoking prevalence rate in L.A. County is 5.6 percent, she said. Smoking is an issue close to a couple council members’ hearts. Mayor Pro Tem Wayne Powell, who urged the Council to put the ban on its Work Plan, lost his father at age 52 due to smoking-related illness. He lost his mother, also a smoker who suffered from lung disease, to a stroke. Councilwoman Amy Howorth said smoking also led to the death of both of her parents — one to esophageal cancer and the other to emphysema. Councilman David Lesser, while noting the importance of the ban’s implementation, questioned if the city would be able to enforce it. “Quite frankly, the majority of folks recognize where they can and cannot smoke and are very compliant,” said Police Chief Eve Irvine. It will not be mandatory to immediately cite someone, Irvine said, especially if the person is from out of town or otherwise unaware of the ordinance. The first ordinance violation comes with a $50 fine, doubling to $100 for the second violation. Additional violations within the same year would each be punishable by a fine of $250. Robert Berger, project director of Project Trust, who helped lead the smoke-free beach movement in the city, said the social norm has changed. “Smokers now have to accommodate nonsmokers. They realize more and more not to do it when they impact others. These policies are self-enforcing,” he said.

Outdoor smoking, polystyrene nixed in Hermosa

http://www.easyreadernews.com/36561/smoking-ban-hermosa-beach/

October 26th, 2011 | 11:21 am by Robb Fulcher in Hermosa Beach

The Hermosa Beach City Council banned smoking in most public areas, including pier plaza. Photo by Alene Tchekmedyian

The Hermosa Beach City Council on Tuesday said no to outdoor smoking in broad common areas, tentatively banned the use of polystyrene takeout containers by restaurants, and said yes to the broad outlines of a seven-city bicycle master plan and a Vitality Cities plan for a more walk-able and bike-able town.

“This is a magical night in here tonight,” said Craig Cadwallader of the Surfrider Foundation’s South Bay Chapter, as the council painted the town green.

The council imposed the most aggressive outdoor smoking ban known to local officials, nixing smoking at all outdoor dining areas, the popular Pier Plaza, the city pier, the Strand, the greenbelt parkway that bisects the town, and all city parks and parking lots.

The ban, set to begin March 1, 2012, was approved by a 4-0 vote with Councilman Kit Bobko absent for the later portions of Tuesday’s meeting.

Officials who studied outdoor smoking bans in other cities said it would likely be self-enforcing. Some council members expressed concern that no smoking on the Plaza could push nighttime smokers into residential neighborhoods, but they hope the smokers will gravitate instead to the commercial areas of Beach Drive, which parallels the Strand.

Before the vote, representatives of health and environmental organizations asked the council for the ban.

Former Councilman George Barks, noting that he was going to be on the losing side, made a plea for the “personal freedom” of smokers and potential economic harm to businesses.

Smoking already is banned on the city-owned beach.

While the smoking ban had been foreshadowed by previous council discussions, the polystyrene ban surprised some observers. Previously it had been supported only by Councilman Jeff Duclos, but on Tuesday he was joined by Councilman Peter Tucker and Mayor Howard Fishman.

Tucker told ban supporters that the tide had turned against polystyrene, a material that flakes into tiny pieces and litters the beach and ocean.

“As one president said, my ears ring with your voices,” he said.

Tucker pointed to other industries that have adapted to governmental strictures, and said the dining industry would not face undue hardship.

Fishman said he had more information on polystyrene Tuesday than he had before. He said the ban has support from some local restaurants that have voluntarily stopped using the material.

Councilman Michael DiVirgilio said the ban is an “aggressive” approach to use in a small town. He argued unsuccessfully for a six-month period before the ban in which eateries would be asked to dump polystyrene voluntarily.

He took pains to say that he would favor a ban if gentler methods failed to excise polystyrene. He pointed out that he and Tucker are running for reelection, and said he also heard the voices supporting the ban.

“Mr. Tucker and I are running for office. Who misses that?” he said.

“I have put myself in front of the Mack Truck of banning polystyrene,” DiVirgilio said.

Bobko said the ban represents “the raw application of the government’s power.”

The bike plan, approved only in concept, would add 9.4 new miles of bikeways in Hermosa, in part by painting bicycle lanes onto Aviation Boulevard.