The meeting was called to order at Humbrews.  Officers present:
Jen Savage – President
Scott Willits – Treasurer
Debbie Topping – Secretary

Treasury:  Scott Willits reported on the Chapter bank balance which he felt was low especially considering the promised contribution to the Trinidad Land Trust had not been made.  He had run the annual report and found that spending was up in 2011 and stressed the need to monitor and document gear sales very closely especially when used as raffle prizes.  The addition of Mary Lou Willits as “merch girl” was expected to help with that task as she will riding herd on the inventory and keeping track of the income received (or not) for all gear.

Clean-up Report:  In the ongoing fight against beach litter and litter in general which will eventually wash down storm drains into the bay, Debbie Topping updated the group on the December cleanup of Mad River Beach where five full buckets of nails were collected as well as a large quantity of broken furniture and other household trash left on the beach from bonfires.  

Jen Savage noted that Supervisor Jimmy Smith is willing to help where needed with the problem of beach litter.  She is working with the Tobacco Education Network and United Indian Health Services as part of tobacco education and “Hold On To Your Butts” campaigns, focusing on the tobacco litter problem, especially on ‘tavern row’ on the Arcata Plaza.. Video ad campaigns are being planned as well as intent to post photos and videos taken at the Cleanups on the Chapter website and Facebook page.  The group discussed getting business sponsors to gather employees of those businesses to help with cleanups in the area of the business.  It was suggested that New Navy Base Road between Samoa Beach and the Coast Guard Station be considered for a cleanup as it is not a designated highway so is not “adopted” but is littered heavily and directly adjacent to the beach.  A Highway cleanup was scheduled for the following Saturday at 10:00 am.

Humboldt Waste Management Authority meeting was scheduled for later in the week.  With regular “Ban the Bag” representatives out of town, several in attendance planned to attend the meeting.  

National member and future Chapter member, Roger Strickland, introduced himself and the suggestion to promote Surfrider as an “ocean lifestyle” as well as a “waterman’s mentality” in order to attract members who do not surf.  

UPCOMING EVENTS
February 9 – Ocean night at Arcata Theater Lounge
February 14 – Meeting at Humbrews  6:00 pm

Meeting adjourned at 6:54.  Respectfully submitted,

Debbie Topping, Secretary

To all of our members, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  December brought fantastic turnouts for our beach clean-up and Ocean Night. Also, thank you to all the volunteers who helped make Surfrider’s “Day Without a Bag” successful. Humboldt Surfrider is starting the New Year with the same momentum we ended with!  This year Surfrider will be building more support from the community for our “Ban the Bag” campaign.  To jumpstart these efforts we have created an online petition to generate signatures.  Check it out here. Help us spread the word  by sharing with your friends and family or on Facebook.  We look forward to seeing you in the new year!

Ocean Night
6:30PM Thursday, Jan. 5 at the Arcata Theater Lounge
Come hang with our friends at Humboldt Baykeeper and Ocean Conservancy for a night of ocean environmental documentaries and epic surf flicks.  January’s films are Under the Sun and Manufacturing Stoke.

Baykeeper Arts Alive
6PM Saturday, Jan. 7 at Humboldt Baykeeper
Arts Alive at Humboldt Baykeeper (217 E Street, Old Town, Next to Ramone’s) will feature nautical-inspired copper sculptures from Scott Hemphill and the musical stylings of Kenny Ray and the Mighty Rovers.  Stop by to sign a petition supporting a ban on single-use plastic bags in Humboldt County and learn more about how to reduce the plastic trash flow to our coastal environment.  Refreshments will be served.

Humboldt Surfriders Meeting
6PM Tuesday, Jan. 10 at Humboldt Brews
First 2 pitchers of beer are FREE!  Join us to find out about our beach and highway cleanups, water quality testing, our ‘Ban the Bag’ campaign and much more!

Humboldt Waste Management Meeting
6:30PM Thursday, Jan. 12 at the Eureka City Council Chambers 531 K St.
The Humboldt Waste Management Authority (HWMA) should be introducing the ordinance that will ban single-use plastic bags at their next meeting.  This will be a great opportunity to remind the HWMA that we want to see the bag ban passed and to show our support.  Surfrider encourages you to attend or to let your representatives know your opinion.

Highway Clean-Up
10AM Saturday, Jan. 14 at Seawood Drive Exit 
Please join Surfrider for our monthly cleanp-up! This month we will meet North of Trinidad off HWY 101 on Seawood Drive road exit.  We provide all supplies for picking up trash so just bring yourself and a friend! Questions? Email humboldt@surfrider.org. We’d love it if you’d drop us a line if you’re showing up.

Ocean Night takes place tomorrow night (Thursday, Jan. 5) at the Arcata Theatre Lounge. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., movies start at 7 p.m. As always, Ocean Night is all-ages and admission is by donation. Movie descriptions below – check them out! See you tomorrow night!

Under the Sun Trailer from www.KORDUROY.tv on Vimeo.

Under the Sun is a documentary film exploring the roots of surfing commercialism. Often dark and subversive, Under the Sun strikes a compelling story through stunning surfing and never-before-seen 1970s footage.

Starring Dave Rastovich, Nat Young, Beau Young, Rabbit Bartholomew and Dean Morrison. Soundtrack by Shawn Lee, Band of Frequencies, Afro Dizzi Act and Low Pressure Sound System.

Winner of Best Action Sports Film at the Newport Beach Film Festival 2008, Best Independent Film at the Huntington Beach Surf Film Fetival 2008, Best Documentary and Cinematography nominee Surfer Poll Awards and Official Selection in the Cucalorus Film Festival.

Nightmare Before... ?

In becoming the multi-billion dollar industry surf culture is today, a great paradox has risen. Surfers are directly connected to the earth’s pulse and yet a majority of the materials used are environmentally toxic. This story begins in the 1960s, the golden era of surfing, a time of innocence and discovery.

Fast forward to December, 2005 and the closing of Clark Foam for environmental reasons. Not only was the event a wake-up call for many to shift from petroleum-base products to more eco-friendly materials, it also reframed the foundation of a stagnant culture.

Enter an era where the new generation is completely changing what it means to be a surfer. Manufacturing Stoke is an introspective look into the surfing culture’s struggle to be beneficial unto itself – from wooden surfboards, handplanes and alaias to recycled blanks and organic clothing, wave riding is taking on a new soul.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Humboldt-Baykeeper/110928125607214

Thanks to all the grocers that invited us to table: Wildberries, Eureka Natural Foods, Ray’s Arcata and McKinleyville.  Thanks to Sandy and MaryLou Flippin for their generous donation of ink and to the Eureka Rescue Mission Thrift Store for donating t-shirts.  Finally, thanks to all the people that signed our petition for the bag ban and that care about our marine environment.  You people rock!

Big thanks to Dr. Grafman and his students for compiling this compelling data.

Locations Are: 11AM – 1 PM at Eureka Natural Foods, Wildberries, Rays Arcata and Ray’s Mckinleyville.

The thousands of nails found from beach fires are left over from people burning wood pallets. Burnt pallets leave a mess of nails making it unsafe to walk on the beach.

If you missed out on this months clean-up take note that Surfrider has a clean-up on the second saturday of each month.  Next month is our adopt-a-highway clean-up  on January 14.  We meet North of Trinidad off  HWY 101 on Seawood Drive road exit.  We always provide supplies!