1. February Chapter Meeting February 4, 2015

2. 2014 Recap Chapter membership grew 20% Increase in volunteers & activists Partnering with local businesses and other non-profit groups Successful cleanups around CLT Averaged over 120 lbs. taken from area lakes and rivers Most common items Cigarette butts, water bottles, cans/bottles, fishing line/tackle Launched Chapter campaigns Rise Above Plastics Eco Friendly Gardens Cannon School Presented RAP & EFG to entire 5 th grade class Sets stage for possible QUAD program Template for future school initiatives Engagement Active in community through events Tuck Fest, All At Once, Beach Party, Tawba Fest

3. 2015 Objectives Membership Growth Campaigns Rise Above Plastics Education in the CLT area on the need to reduce & eventually eliminate single use plastics Eco Friendly Gardens Reviving our watershed by applying CPR (Conservation, Permeability & Retention) to our landscapes & hardscapes

4. 2015 Objectives, cont. Offshore Oil Drilling & Seismic Testing BOEM has announced plans to allow oil exploration in the Mid & South Atlantic in its 5 yr plan Opens up our beaches and coasts to vulnerability Potentially damaging tourism & fishing industries ($4.7B industry in the Carolinas) Dept. of Interior estimates over 138,000 marine animals could be harmed or killed What can we do? Education & awareness Public comment period

5. 2015 Events Monthly Chapter meetings & Sub-Committee Meetings Cleanups Tabling Events Festivals and showcases (Tuck Fest, Tawba Fest) We need volunteers to assist Special interest groups and presentations Schools & Universities Council meetings

6. We Need You Chapters are grass roots – All volunteers Need a mix of members, activists & volunteers Role depends on your interests/background & needs Leadership positions Volunteer Coordinator Events Coordinator Sub committee Volunteer at events/cleanups Activist role in our campaigns & mission Sign up or renew today!

7. Appendix

8. Seismic Testing/Offshore Oil Below are links for additional reading regarding the BOEM decision to open the Atlantic http://www.surfrider.org/campaigns/entry/seismic-surveys- mid-and-south-atlantic http://www.surfrider.org/campaigns/entry/seismic-surveys- mid-and-south-atlantic http://www.boem.gov/Five-Year-Program-2017-2022/ For a list of public hearings, click on the link below http://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog/entry/white-house-proposes- new-drilling-in-the-atlantic-arctic-time-to-speak-out http://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog/entry/white-house-proposes- new-drilling-in-the-atlantic-arctic-time-to-speak-out To submit a comment to the NCDENR visit the site below http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/cm/offshore-surveys Can also submit comment via email to: Michele Walker, Public Information Officer Michele.walker@ncdenr.gov

9. Calendar of Events Monthly Chapter Meetings Held the 1 st Thursday of the month Monthly Clean Ups Held the 3 rd Saturday of the month Tabling Events Tuck Fest – US National Whitewater Center April 17-19 World Water Day – TBD March 22 Continue to check our Facebook page and website for updates

10. Chapter Contacts Chair – Tony Dobson (803)415-2922 chair@charlotte.surfrider.org Vice Chair – Chris Sullenger (Sully) vicechair@charlotte.surfrider.org Treasurer – Adam Aldrich treasurer@charlotte.surfrider.org Secretary – Jeffrey Lee secretary@charlotte.surfrider.org Chief Marketing Brah – Brad Michael marketing@charlotte.surfrider.org Follow us on the web and our social sites http://charlotte.surfrider.org https://www.facebook.com/SurfriderFoundationCLT Twitter - @CLTSurfrider Instagram - SurfriderCLT