Mobile Bay National Estuary Program Community Action Committee Meeting. May 22, :00 p.m. 6:30 p.m.

Transcription

1 1. Call to Order Mobile Bay National Estuary Program Community Action Committee Meeting May 22, :00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Original Oyster House Mobile Bay Causeway Spanish Fort, AL Meeting Objectivesa. Reorganize and reenergize the Community Action Committee b. Develop a stormwater education marketing team c. Develop sub-committees on major community initiatives 2. Welcome and Introductions AGENDA 3. Discuss Purpose and Objectives of CAC (See attachment) The purpose of this committee is to bring together grassroots organizations for networking, information sharing, issues development, and cooperative training purposes that support the development of grassroots capacity for undertaking environmental activities on a place based scale. 4. A Community Based Stormwater Outreach Campaign: Update and plan outline a. Additional campaign issues 5. Next meeting date 6. Adjourn

2 Community Action Committee May 22, 2012, 5 p.m. Original Oyster House on the Causeway Minutes Attending: Edward Struthers, Fowl River Civic ; Mark Berte, Alabama Coastal Foundation; Danny Dillard, City of Daphne (for Ashley Campbell); Roberta Swann, MBNEP; Kathy Eddy, MBNEP; Casi Callaway, Mobile Baykeeper; Beth Nichols, Mobile Baykeeper; and Denise Godoy, Good PR. Walter Ernest, Weeks Bay Foundation, arrived during the meeting. Ms. Swann opened the meeting at 5:10 p.m. and introduced Casi Callaway. Ms. Callaway explained that a Stormwater Media Campaign is being created by Ms. Godoy s firm, Good PR, because people do not understand the problems associated with stormwater runoff. She said we need to take small steps because regular people don t know about the problems and the message needs to be aimed at a broad audience. Ms. Godoy s firm will put together a stormwater campaign with materials that can be branded with each participating organization s logo and distributed through each organization s network. The campaign will be aimed at the coastline. Later we can decide about moving up the watershed with the message. Ms. Godoy said her tool kit will include press releases, a media contact list, social media tools, scheduled events and a set of compelling, cohesive messages to detail the challenges, opportunities and successes. Mr. Berte asked how we can reach beyond the choir that already understands the problem. Ms. Swann said that the goal is to change behavior by repetition of the message, using different media and to make sure our messaging is backed up by science and tied to quality of life issues. Mr. Struthers expressed a concern that there can be rebellion against trying to change behavior. Mr. Berte said that trash has to be part of the short term and long term messaging. Ms. Swann said that A Redfish Tale addresses stormwater runoff and nutrient pollution. FishSlap, the second video in the series, addresses litter and pollution carried to waterways by runoff. Together, these videos will help educate the public about proper stewardship. Ms. Callaway talked about Muddy Water Watch and the Volunteer Field Observer programs and the new Swim Guide as ways the public can monitor water and get involved. Ms. Swann mentioned the rain barrel workshops and a demonstration cistern at Daphne City Hall and suggested developing a map of such locations to show the public what is being done and what can be done. Ms. Godoy suggested a matrix of who does what and how stormwater affects different areas.

3 Ms. Swann discussed ownership of watersheds and getting people to understand in which watershed they live and to take responsibility. Ms. Godoy suggested educational messages on water (utility) bills. Ms. Swann recommended reviewing the EPA s program, What Does Water Mean to You? and consider a competition aspect, possibly a video challenge to the Stormwater Media Campaign. Mr. Berte asked if we should explain habitat needs. Ms. Swann said the campaign needs to stay focused on stormwater. Efforts to wrap other environmental issues in to the same messaging will dilute the stormwater message. Ms. Godoy said an executive committee needs to be formed to work with her and she will develop a professional invitation with a hook for the initial call to action. The meeting was concluded at 6:20 p.m.

4 Mobile Bay National Estuary Program Community Action Committee Meeting Five Rivers Delta Center Thursday, September 26, 2013 at 11:30 Agenda 1. Welcome and Introduction 2. Overview 3. Five year strategy 4. Who should be at the table 5. Election of co-chairs 6. Alabama Water Watch 7. Next meeting 8. Adjourn

5 Mobile Bay National Estuary Program Community Action Committee Meeting Five Rivers Delta Center Thursday, September 26, 2013 at 11:30 Minutes Attendance: Ossia Edwards, Prichard Environmental Restorative Keepers Lavonne Reed, Prichard Environmental Restorative Keepers Tuan Do, Boat People SOS Dennis Hatfield, Little Lagoon Preservation Society Mark Berte, Alabama Coastal Foundation Evan Corneille, Alabama Coastal Foundation Ashley Campbell, D Olive Working Group Leslie Gahagan, Wolf Bay Watershed Sam St. John, Fowl River Area Civic Lloyd Culp, Friends of Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge Larry Freeman, Bon Secour River Protection Harold White, Fowl River Area Civic Jim Horner, Fairhope Environmental Advisory Board Stefanie Christensen, Mobile Baykeeper Brian Carson, Mobile Bay Kayak Fishing Casi Callaway, Mobile Baykeeper Patsy Parker, Town of Perdido Beach Ellen Leslie, Town of Perdido Beach Gary Gover, Fairhope Environmental Advisory Board Ray Mayhall, Fowl River Area Civic Ben Raines, Weeks Bay Reserve Foundation Kendall Dexter, Mobile County Wildlife and Conservation David Dueitt, Lake Forest Improvement Committee

6 MBNEP Staff: Roberta Swann, Kelley Barfoot, Christian Miller 1. Call to order CAC Chair Casi Callaway called the meeting to order at 11:35 a.m. 2. Welcome and introductions Mrs. Callaway welcomed attendees and asked for each to introduce themselves to the group. Mrs. Callaway introduced Mrs. Roberta Swann and asked that she facilitate the meeting. 3. CAC overview Mrs. Swann opened the meeting by giving an overview of the Mobile Bay NEP. She discussed the MBNEP Management Conference and each of the committee roles. Mrs. Swann discussed the MBNEP s focus areas of ecosystem status and trends, restoration and protection, technical assistance and capacity building, community awareness, education and involvement. She discussed the Community Action Committee s past accomplishments, challenges, gaps, and current opportunities. Mrs. Swann gave an overview of the development of the new CCMP and what people value most about living in coastal Alabama. She asked the group how the CAC can protect these values over the next five years. Mrs. Swann showed the group the Recommended Priority Actions (Recognize and Promote Existing Initiatives, Involve Residents, Educate and Comment). Mrs. Swann discussed the importance of having a plan and charged the group to develop a five year strategy. 4. Who should be at the table? Mrs. Callaway gave a short overview of the next steps for the CAC and asked if anyone should be added to the CAC. Suggestions made: Baldwin County Trailblazers, SmartCoast, Alabama Wildlife Federation, Coastal Conservation, Coastal Fisherman s, Alabama Rivers Alliance, Public Works Departments (representative). 5. Election of co-chairs Mrs. Swann gave a short bio of each candidate, Casi Callaway and Leslie Gahagan. She opened the floor for any additional nominations, no additional candidates were nominated. Mr. Mark Berte made a motion for Mrs. Callaway and Mrs. Gahagan to be co-chairs for the CAC. Mr. Ray Mayhall seconded the motion. Mr. Christian Miller briefly discussed the Alabama Water Watch program. He stated this was a good opportunity for each group to monitor their local water ways. Mrs. Callaway made a suggestion to schedule the next CAC meeting and asked the group for the best time, location and days. The group responded that lunch time on Thursdays was best and for the location to be at Five Rivers. The next meeting is set to be open to the public on Thursday October 17, 2013 at Five Rivers Delta Resource Center from 10:30 1:30. Meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.