Julia and Jim: Surfrider Activists
"We need to empower our Surfrider members at the grassroots level. Surfrider thrives because individual members willingly join their time and energies to protect our ocean, waves, and beaches." That's Julia Chunn, Surfrider and marine environmental activist, speaking out as a staunch advocate of the grassroots member as the key to Surfrider's continuing success.
Julia's insight of the critical role of members comes through her service as former Chair of the San Diego County Surfrider Chapter, and Advisory Committee Member as the San Diego Chapter Policy Coordinator. Julia urges Surfrider leaders to consider grassroots solutions to future challenges, "We need to find new ways to unleash grassroots activism to meet the continuing threat to the ocean environment." It’s no surprise that Julia’s views resonate with that of fellow marine environmental activist, Jim Moriarty, Chief Executive Officer of the Surfrider Foundation.
Although as Surfrider CEO, Jim takes a global perspective through the eyes of Surfrider’s chapters in large and small cities on six continents, he continues to emphasize the incredible power of people at the neighborhood-level, “Nothing has the power of a person standing up for what they believe. We are about giving people an onramp for that kind of participation in coastal societies. And when individuals band together, they become a potent, relevant and effective force aimed at coastal conservation.
Jim explains how Surfrider measures success, “Our mission statement ‘...protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves and beaches...’ is the cornerstone of everything we do. That said, in order to ensure we’re operating as effectively as possible we measure and manage our day-to-day work. We set a goal of 150 coastal wins by 2010, right now we’re slightly ahead of schedule having logged number 70 recently. Our business of coastal conservation is at least as important as any other entity, thus we employ similar tools to manage our progress.”
Like Julia and Jim, HUI300 emphasizes the importance of grassroots activism and encourages people to help in watershed and beach cleanups according to their own schedules. With this flexibility, each Hui member can complete their annual 100 eco-service days toward their Hui’s 2008 marine environmental victory.
Meet the HUI300 Challenge and your Hui’s victory will be recognized in 2009!
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Read more from Jim at Surfrider's CEO Message and Jim's OceanWavesBeaches blog:
http://www.surfrider.org/whoweare4.asp
http://oceanswavesbeaches.blogspot.com