A Tribute to Senator James M. Jeffords

photo: Senator Jeffords sitting in his chair in the front of the US Senate Environment & Public Works Committee hearing room, Dirksen 406! Oh, the hearing binders! :)



The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep.
And miles to go before I sleep.

- Robert Frost



This wraps up Senator James M. Jeffords' final statement as the Ranking Member of the US Senate Environment & Public Works Committee. What a really amazing boss. My name is in this statement - what a sad day.

While looking for a photo of our softball team I stumbled upon this really sweet blog post written by another former member of the team, who I never got to meet because he left the Senate before I started.

I borrowed this 1998 "Jeffords Vermont Saps" softball team photo from that blog post. I still have my team t-shirt somewhere:

San Diego Surf Shop Goes Green thanks to the Action Sports Environmental Coalition

Received this Facebook message from San Diego Surfrider today:

PB Surf Shop Grand Reopening PARTY!!! Saturday November 21st 2009 6:00pm - 11:00pm.

Pacific Beach Surf Shop is proud to announce the opening of the Action Sports Environmental Coalition GREENROOM within the shop. The shop undergoing a remodel that will include an organic and sustainable clothing section, a stage to host LIVE music, film and speaking events and a new surfboard gallery to showcase San Diego's best and most creative shapers.

This party will be the start with Live music from Human lab and The Growlers. As well as our line up of talented arts such as: Jesse Miller, Theo Hetherington, and other eVocal artists with food, drinks, and festivities. Come and be a part of a new experience as we move forward to be the "community surf shop" that will bring a wide range of events to the surf and beach community. For more information on the event please call PB Surf Shop at (858)373-1138.

If you are going to attend the party then you can RSVP on Facebook, here.


I don't remember how I first became aware of the Action Sports Environmental Coalition, but I really enjoyed it when ASEC member Tom Campion testified @ Senator Boxer's May 24, 2007 Environment & Public Works Committee hearing “The Issue of the Potential Impacts of Global Warming on Recreation and the Recreation Industry.”


photo: the hearing.

You can read a great blog post about their day on Capitol Hill, titled "ASEC Members Go to Washington, Bring Skateboards, Make History" here. Here's an excerpt:

World class skateboarder Bob Burnquist became a part of American history as the first person to bring a skateboard into the U.S. Capitol building in its 214 year history. Burnquist, joined by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), was on his way to the Senate dining room for lunch with fellow members of the Action Sports Environmental Coalition (ASEC).


photo: Bob Burnquist, from his blog.

You can check ASEC out here on their Ning page.

“ASEC utilizes its collective assets to broaden the horizons of conscious consumption--paving the way for skateboarders, surfers, snowboarders, BMX bikers, and those passionately involved in the sports to achieve lasting sustainable benefits for individuals and community institutions. Like these sports, ecological sustainability is not just a trend--it is your chance to get involved and take action in a movement, and to leave behind those companies that only take from you, unconcerned about your needs, your body, your mind, and the fact that you do have a choice. This is your chance to lead, follow or be left behind.”

Oregon Public HS Students + City Government = Change

photo: students testing water quality samples through their involvement with Surfrider's Blue Water Task Force Program.

Yesterday the Surfrider Foundation's Water Quality Coordinator, Mara Dias, circulated this good news --

Communicating scientific data to the public and decision makers can be very challenging, but it is absolutely necessary if we hope to affect change for the better in our communities.

Kudos to Oregon's Astoria High School students who are participants in Surfrider's Blue Water Task Force Program, their teacher and Surfrider Foundation Oregon volunteers for putting together this very simple, yet very effective photo montage and raising the awareness of a water pollution issue at one of their local beaches.



This video was shown at a city council meeting in Cannon Beach, Oregon and made the front page of the local newspaper. In response, the City of Cannon Beach has formed a special task force to look into this issue and will hopefully lead to better public notification and pollution source identification work.


photo: This picture from Indian Beach in Cannon Beach, OR shows Seal Rocks - rough coastal outcroppings just offshore.


Read more about this campaign on the Surfrider Foundation's Blue Water Task Force Blog.




photo: Mara Dias testifying @ EPW hearing. Over her right shoulder in white is Surfrider DC Chapter member Michael Childs.

Mara is a strong voice on water quality issues. Mara was invited to testify before Senator Barbara Boxer's US Senate Environment & Public Works Committee for the June 27, 2007 hearing "Protecting Water Quality at America's Beaches." You can read the text of her testimony here.