It's Giving Tuesday!

It's Giving Tuesday! We Invite You to... GIVE help to someone in need ~~~ GIVE to Clean Ocean Action to support our year-round ocean advocacy efforts as well as our ongoing Waves of Action to restore communities most effected by Sandy Donate HERE DOWNLOAD THIS EVENT FLYER AND HELP SPREAD THE WORD New projects are listed each day on FortheShore.org. Be sure to register your project for the December 8th Wave of Action - volunteers are standing by. This community wave of action is designed to help communities, businesses, organizations, and homeowners to work together - in the way most meaningful for them. We are encouraging Project Leaders to REGISTER FOR A PROJECT NOW - project ideas could include: beach, town, and park clean-ups, community kitchen events, food, household items, and furniture drives, neighborhood clean out and repair, or anything else your area needs! To register a project, click here or contact Clean Ocean Action at 732-872-0111. For volunteer opportunities in the meantime visit: Hurricane Relief Efforts - UPDATED DAILY

Selling Lemonade to Save the Ocean!

The kids pictured below are brothers Will and Luke, who, with their cousin, Nick, sold lemonade in front of their grandmother's home in Point Pleasant Beach to raise money for Clean Ocean Action.  Clean Ocean Action applauds their effort!!  COA loves that the kids decided to give their earnings to charity.  It is always wonderful to see children helping out the ocean and environment.  Hopefully more adults will follow suit!!

Have an ocean-themed wedding with help from COA!

Are you looking for the perfect ocean-themed
wedding or party favors?  

Look no further, a donation to Clean Ocean Action in lieu of favors is the way to go to express your appreciation as well as your commitment to a healthier ocean.  Be in true beach-babe and beach-bum style and skip the candy-covered almonds; an honorary gift to COA will be acknowledged in our annual report as well as our monthly newsletter.  

No donation is too large or small.  

Contact the Clean Ocean Action office 

at 732-872-0111 to discuss your ideas and 

create a custom design to share with your guests!

Happy World Oceans Day!

 

Here's three ways to celebrate the sea on World Oceans Day: 

 

Step 1. Sign up for Clean Ocean Action's Tour for the Shore here. 

To help raise public awareness and participation for the Clean Ocean Zone, join us on the road, at sea or on land from Cape May, New Jersey to Montauk, New York. Departing on August 10th, 2012, take back in our 15-day adventure!  Over the course of the tour, rallies, and campaign and media events will be held to garner support from elected officials and citizens.

Step 2. Be the solution to ocean pollution; donate to Clean Ocean Action!  Supporters who give $25 or more will be eligible to win a Clean Ocean Action tote bag and other beachy prizes!

Step 3. Go for a walk on the beach and bring a bag to collect some litter! 

 

"Food Glorious Food".... another reason why COA's Family Beach Ball is so incredible! 

AND...in honor of the meal you are planning for Mom on Sunday (hint, hint...) we close with our TEN TIPS for the Kitchen

The 2012 Beach Ball will serve a delectable raw bar by Lusty Lobster Seafood Market and Catering (Highlands, NJ); scallops by Fishermen’s Dock Cooperative (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ); catering by Brennan’s Delicatessen (Rumson, NJ); artisan cheeses by Wegmans (Ocean, NJ); and tiki bar by Holly Crest Wine Cellars, beer by Hunterdon Brewing Co. and Island Margaritas (Rumson, NJ).  Dessert will be provided by The Flaky Tart (Atlantic Highlands, NJ), and Sugarush (Red Bank, NJ); and ice cream by Gracie and the Dudes (Sea Bright and Middletown, NJ).  This year's main caterer - Brennan's Delicatessen uses local purveyors and local growers regularly.  Brennan's also shares a co-op farm to ensure the freshest local produce is used for each and every bite as well as plates made from recycled fallen leaves which will be featured at the Beach Ball.

At the Beach Ball, we use only reusable or compostable service ware and napkins and we are sticking to a menu that is all possible without the need for utensils; even the ice cream will be a delectable treat within an edible shell!

To boot, kids will enjoy eco-friendly crafts, re-using many household items for the projects run by our creative childrens' activities team with COA's sustainability initiatives in mind.  At the end of the day, all composting and recycling will be handled by Waste Management and WasteNot Solutions (both in the tent and behind the scenes in our kitchen and prep areas). 

Admission is $75 per adult (until Mother's Day - May 13^th), which includes admission for two children.  The event is a BYOB&C (Bring your own blankets and chairs).

For more information, including opportunities for sponsorship, please contact the COA office at (732) 872-0111, or visit www.cleanoceanaction.org.  The latest information about the Family Beach Ball can also be followed online via facebook and twitter.

Hungry yet?  Join us for the real thing on May 20th!!! 

Also, don't forget these important tips for the kitchen during your next celebration of friends and family. 

1. Avoid disposable products items such as containers, rags, and bags. If you must use disposable products make sure it is made from post-consumer recycled materials. Use and re-use wax paper and aluminum foil rather than plastic wrap and bags. and invest in reusable

2. Comply with law ~ recycle properly your local Public Works Department to learn how to recycle properly in your town. Participate in Household Hazardous Waste Clean-Up Days. If possible, start a compost pile for your garden with household scraps.

3. Use alternative cleaners vegetable-based soap (such as Seventh Generation) rather than detergent. Avoid products that contain chemical disinfectants such as antibacterial triclosan or triclocarbon, which can contaminate water supplies. For dishwashers, try using 50% washing soda (sodium carbonate) and 50% Borax or a detergent with low phosphate content. Use white vinegar to clean mold, grout stains, windows, and mirrors.

4. Keep your house clean and green doesn’t require a list of ingredients on the label of cleaning products. Look for labels that have “No Petrochemicals”, “No Chlorine”, “Low Phosphates”, and “No Ammonia”. A clean, green, non-toxic kitchen is best for you, children, pets, and the environment. 


5. Reduce plastics by using re-usable and recycled glass food storage sold in glass containers and re-use for and storage. Studies show that some plastic containers can leach chemicals into food which can cause health problems.

6. Use dish towels, cleaning cloths, and cloth napkins be used over and over. Use old t-shirts and towels as cleaning cloths. Cloth decreases your use of paper! 


7. Save energy appliances, including dishwashers, refrigerators, microwaves, and conventional ovens. Run dishwashers and washing machines only when full.

8. Don’t put harmful chemicals down the sink to decrease or limit your use of phosphates, which promote algae blooms in waterways that harm marine life. Instead, pour ½-cup baking soda down the drain followed by 1-cup white vinegar. Allow mixture to foam for several minutes then flush with 1-gallon boiling water.

9. Buy Smart from non-biased sources, such as www.goodguide.com.  

10. Look for local food - distances has a huge carbon footprint. Reduce  greenhouse gas emissions by buying locally grown produce. 

SUPPORT A CLEAN OCEAN

 Clean Ocean Action’s Family Beach Ball for the Ocean!

(Sea Bright, NJ)----You are invited to join hundreds of sea-friends and enjoy live reggae music, fabulous picnic and sea fare, and beachy fun for children of all ages at the 8^th Annual Family Beach Ball for the Ocean, a benefit for Clean Ocean Action (COA), Sunday, May 20, 2012.  This spring event will take place at the Ship Ahoy Beach Club, 800 Ocean Avenue, Sea Bright, NJ from 3-7p.m.

In our third year as a “no waste” event, the Beach Ball will celebrate with ocean enthusiasts, corporate partners, and elected officials.  It is a great opportunity for businesses and citizens to demonstrate their support of a clean and healthy ocean.  The event will feature live music by Random Test; a delectable raw bar by Lusty Lobster Seafood Market and Catering; scallops by Fishermen’s Dock Cooperative; catering by Brennan’s Delicatessen; artisan cheeses by Wegmans; and tiki bar by Holly Crest Wine Cellars, Hunterdon Brewing Co., and Island Margaritas.  Dessert will be provided by The Flaky Tart, and Sugarush; and ice cream by Gracie and the Dudes.

This year’s event includes hours of free fun for the kids, including entertainment by Mr. Scott the Music Man, and Mr. Ray (Ray Anderson).  Kids will enjoy eco-friendly crafts, game and face painting, as well as learning (on-sand) surfing techniques from Summa Love Surfing and Yoga!



Summa Love Surfing and Yoga is always a favorite!

The Family Beach Ball has expanded its menu and will feature Lusty Lobster’s famous Raw Bar, and a wonderful assortment of items from local favorite, Brennan’s Delicatessen whose sustainability initiatives align with our Beach Ball’s “no waste” theme. 

 

Family Beach Ball for the Ocean is generously hosted by Ship Ahoy Beach Club.   This year’s Salt Water Taffy Sponsors are Medallion Financial Torcon.  Skee Ball Sponsors are Becker & Poliakoff, LLP, The Huber Family, and Shore Point Distributors.  Cotton Candy Sponsors are Gordon Litwin, Monmouth Memorial Park Cemetery Association, New Jersey Natural Gas, and, Victor Maisano, CPA - German, Vreeland and Assoc. Frog Bog Sponsors are Kennedy & Ward Insurance Company, Main One Marina, The McDonald Family, and Chip and Maria Schulz. 

In-kind support is generously provided by Guaranteed Plants & Florist, Mr. Scott the Music Man, Ray Anderson, Beach Chik Designs, New Age Flooring, The Hall Family, Sandy Hook Child Care Center, Ship Ahoy Beach Club, The Salty Dog, Sperry Tents of New Jersey, Summa Love Surfing & Yoga, Waste Management, WasteNot Solutions, and all of our generous auction donors.  See this year's auction highlights!!

Admission is $75 per adult (until May 13^th), which includes admission for two children.  The event is a BYOB&C (Bring your own blankets and chairs).

For more information, including opportunities for sponsorship, please contact the COA offices at (732) 872-0111, or visit www.cleanoceanaction.org.  The latest information about the Family Beach Ball can also be followed online via facebook and twitter.



   

Thanks to The Flaky Tart!



Groove to the sounds of Random Test

  

Thanks SHCCC - your creative activities are always a hit!



Guest Blogger: Quincy Mumford

I remember the first time I ever heard about Clean Ocean Action. It was a few years back, and I just started my career as a local musician. Because I was new, I naturally looked up to the other great and well know bands in the Asbury Park area. My father told me that DeSol and P Dub Assassins were playing a benefit concert on the boardwalk in Asbury Park. I loved both of these bands and still do very much. Before I jumped in the car to go see the show, I asked my father what the event was for. He told me it was to raise money for an organization called Clean Ocean Action. I liked the sound of the name, but I wanted to find out more about this organization and see if there was anyway for me to get involved. We went to the show, both bands were amazing, and I picked up a bunch of information to see how I could get involved. 

                It turned out that my dad had been working with Clean Ocean Action for years, by donating a ton of food for their events (my father is a chef). Because my music is very beach inspired, and I grew up surfing and living only a mile from the beach, I felt like it made sense to be involved musically with COA. As my name grew a little bigger in the area, I contacted COA to play for one of their events. It was at a beach club in Sea Bright, NJ , where they were raising money for COA and raising awareness about the over use of plastics. Walking into the outside tent was mind blowing! They had plastic tops hanging from the tent as decorations, massive beach balls everywhere, and tons of amazing food. I remember eating so much I could not move! My band (Quincy Mumford and the Reason Why) played with another great local band that day, Random Test Reggae Band. We both got a great response, and I could see a promising relationship with COA. Since that day, my family has been a big supporter of COA, and I have turn on a lot of other people to COA because they deserve the support.

                When the band and I got the idea a few months ago to record a live album, it made sense to involve some organizations and put some money in their pockets. We came up with the idea to record a live album and DVD over the course of two days, we picked March 2nd and March 3rd, 2012. We planned for it to be three shows over two days, Friday night, Saturday night, and Saturday during the day for an all ages crowd. There are so many people that have been telling us that they love us even better live then our records. Well, we listened, and now we are putting on these three shows to please our fans! We felt like it would be a great idea to involve some organizations, Clean Ocean Action came to mind first. We gave them a call, along with Surfrider Foundation, and told them that we wanted to donate all of our ticket sales for these live shows to them! We got some great sponsors involved to cover the cost of production, so that all of the proceeds made from these shows, will go straight into Surfrider and COA’s pockets! 

                I have always been a big fan of Clean Ocean Action. Not just because they keep our beaches clean, or keep the plastic bags out of the ocean, or keep our ocean wild life healthy. I am a fan of COA because of their real “go get ‘em” attitude. They are always the first to come up with new ideas, and plans to keep the ocean the way it should be. Like their new plan to create the first ever “Clean Ocean Zone”. When we had a meeting about the show, they told me about the Clean Ocean Zone, and it blew my mind! COA is smart, active, and an effective organization. They are strong, with a great support from the community. I am proud to be connected with them, and I am stoked to have them on board for the recording of our live album. It is going to be a great event full of good vibes, good music, and all for a great cause. Get your ticket today at quincymumford.com!

Cheers!

Q-Mumf

Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas From Clean Ocean Action's Staff

With the holidays closing in, Clean Ocean Action is sharing a few ocean-friendly ideas for your loved ones this year.  Enjoying the holidays with friends and family is made that much better knowing it is done in an environmentally responsible way!

Cut Back on Plastic Wherever Possible! 

When choosing toys, games, gifts, etc, pick the ones with the least packaging, choose to wrap the gifts yourself (with re-used newspaper from your recycle bin!), and re-use those giant bags stores give you as garbage bags or food shopping bags (not in that order).  Plastic takes several hundred years to degrade – and in the meanwhile it’s choking our oceans, our marine life, and our beaches!

Gift Idea: Reusable Coffee Mugs/Water Bottles

Sometimes explaining to your friends and family why they should have re-usable coffee mugs and water bottles isn't enough.  This Christmas you can take the extra step and get one for them!  People may not realize how many plastic water bottles and Styrofoam coffee mugs are used every day.  Often, after that one-time use, that plastic and Styrofoam end up as ocean pollution.  Your friends and family will feel better knowing that their daily trip to the coffee shop won't cause harm to the ocean!  Check out COA's re-usable bottles here.

Have a Party for your Friends and Family!
Gifts are great, but so is a pot-luck dinner.  Making special meals for your loved ones is a treat not to be missed! Make it even more meaningful by having a donation-raffle: pass around a basket to collect donations, have everyone write down their favorite non-profit organization and drop them in another basket, hat or stocking; shake, stir, mix up the names, and then have someone select one (or two) as the "winning" organization.  In the holiday spirit, any size gift matters!

Stories, not Stuff!

Reduce the accumulation of useless material objects by giving a gift of experience.  There are plenty of waste-free options for holiday gifts. Gift certificates, tickets for sports games and shows, music lessons, and travel adventures will always be welcome and come without all that gift-wrap. You can also think outside of the box and create a personalized booklet with coupons for getting out of chores, eating out, or staying up late.

Happy Holidays!!

Clean Ocean Action Achieves Highest 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator!

Happy Thursday from Clean Ocean Action!!

First and foremost, exciting news from Charity Navigator ("America's premiere independent charity evaluator") - Clean Ocean Action has achieved the highest rating - 4 Stars - given!  After detailed calculations and machinations, Charity Navigator gave COA a score of 65.96 out of 70 - one of the highest ratings of ocean-focused public interest groups in the nation!  Read more here: http://goo.gl/ui9gy.

Second, we just wanted to check in with everyone and make sure that our Blog followers had ready access to our other online personas.  Feel free to check out these other avenues of interacting with Clean Ocean Action!!

Twitter:

• @CleanOcean
• Our favorite hashtags, predictably, include: #ocean, #beachsweeps, #marinedebris, #COZ, #NYBight, #BarnegatBay, #NJFertilizer, and others!

Facebook:

• www.facebook.com/CleanOcean
• "Like" us on facebook and you'll be hit with a wave (but not a big "fill-my-inbox" wave) of information, events announcements, donation options, and links to this blog (when we post new stories)!

Internet:

• www.CleanOceanAction.org
• Your source for everything Clean and Oceany.  We've got links on the homepage to all of our media sites, our donation and gear shops, issues, programs, events, education opportunities, and even a host of pages on COA staff and special campaigns!

Fun, Ocean-Friendly Gifts for you and yours! (Happy Cyber Monday!)

  

Check out our new and improved ONLINE STORE.  Treat your family and friends to organic cotton totes, stainless-steel water bottles, bandanas, and more while supporting our ocean protection work!  Gift memberships are also a great fit for those on your list who have everything.  Call Emily at COA's office, 732-872-0111 if you would like to order by phone.

Click. Vote. It's THAT easy!

Hey friends, we hate to be a pest, but we REALLY need your help!  Clean Ocean Action is in the running to recieve a $5,000 donation from United Teletech--but it's all based on votes from YOU! 

You can make a difference in just 3 easy steps:

1.  Click Here.
2.  Vote for Clean Ocean Action (you don't have to
      leave your email, but you can if you want more
      info!)
3.  Share/Like/Forward/Re-Tweet to all your
     friends. 


If EVERYONE we knew took just a few minutes to vote & share, we are confident we'll end up on top.

Click now and vote!

Save Money and the Ocean

Our friends at United Teletech Financial – a long-time supporter of the Beach Sweeps – are running a program that could save you money and make some money for Clean Ocean Action. If they can save customers $1,000,000 in interest payments – which would be a good thing, and they’re determined to do it – they will donate $5,000 each to two charities based on your vote. Go to http://jerseysaves.org/ where you can vote for Clean Ocean Action (or one of four other charities who already get more support than we do). Leaving your email address is optional, but if you would like more information on United Teletech’s interest saving program, by all means, sign up.

Download and Donate!

Looking for some great new summer tunes to rock on the boardwalk?  Well, it's your lucky day!

Clean Ocean Action is thrilled to announce that we have joined with Medeski Martin & Wood and Patagonia to bring you music that will help fill your iPod, but also your mind with peace--because when a fan, activist or customer purchases “Back and Forth” for $.99 via the Patagonia Music Collective, net proceeds will directly go to Clean Ocean Action in the artist’s name.

The tracks will be available at www.patagonia.com/music, through a dedicated iPhone^® app and a web widget player on participating artist’s websites.

Showing your support has never been easier--you're litterally one click away from a fresh new beat and a cleaner ocean.

It's a nice day, for a white wedding!

In the words of Billy Idol, “It’s a nice day for a white wedding (and a healthy marine environment)!”

Are you looking for the perfect ocean-themed wedding or party favors?  Look no further, a donation to Clean Ocean Action in lieu of favors is the way to go to express your appreciation as well as your commitment to a healthier ocean. 

Be in true beach-babe and beach-bum style and skip the candy-covered almonds; an honorary gift to COA will be acknowledged in our annual report as well as our monthly newsletter.  No donation is too large or small. 

We have come up with some elegant and creative ways to notify your guests about the donation - please call our office and we can share all the fun ways to spread the word about your gift. 

Who's in your top 5?

We can all be philanthropists. It doesn’t matter how much money you give.  The thing that makes philanthropy different from spontaneous giving is the intentionality.  Do you give with a purpose?

If you or your family plans to set aside $100 per month (if you have more to set aside, just add zeros to this example), you will have $1,200 to give away to organizations you feel are making the world a better place. So, who do you give to?

You might start by making a list – of causes, of organizations – just make a list. Then talk with your spouse, your partner, your children, your dog, about the organizations you think are doing a good job.  Take a night and do some research online. 

• Do you like organizations with celebrities? 
• Do you like global issues like the rainforest? 
• Do you like organizations that protect and defend the waters you swim and play in all summer along the New York and Jersey Shores? 
• What matters to you most?

Now pick your top 5.

We think Clean Ocean Action will be in that top 5!  We'd also like to hear who's sharing our company.    Please post your list here (click on the word “comments” below).

COA recieves Charity Navigator's Prestigious 4-star rating!

Clean Ocean Action received notification today that for the second consecutive time, we have earned Charity Navigator’s coveted 4-Star rating for sound fiscal management. Why blog about it?  First, we have more to say about it than can fit in a tweet.  Second, in a society where skepticism reigns and imitation can be passed off as original, we think it’s kind of nice to have the country’s premiere rating service affirm our success and reliability.

From Charity Navigator:

Only 20% of the charities we rate have received at least 2 consecutive 4-star

evaluations, indicating that Clean Ocean Action consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, and outperforms most other charities in America. This “exceptional” designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Clean Ocean Action from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust. [okay, the emphasis is mine]

For 27 years, Clean Ocean Action has led the fight to preserve the coastal waters of New Jersey and New York. Since the BP Oil Spill, many other organizations have been drawn to the offshore battles we have been fighting for decades. We welcome their support, but we’d like to emphasize that investing in our close-to-the-ground, grassroots coalition model is the most effective use of your philanthropic dollars.

Regardless of the size of your gift, you want your donations to matter. So, how do you know if your $50 or $5,000 is being put to good use? At Clean Ocean Action there are 2 important ways:

1.  You can see the work we do

• Think of what New Jersey beaches looked like in the 1980's compared to what they are today? Through our Beach Sweeps program, in 2010 alone, 8,000 COA volunteers picked up 450,000 pieces of garbage at 70 sites from Sandy Hook to Cape May.
• Our beaches are also cleaner because of the work we’ve done to increase public support for change at the local, state and federal level (work you may not have seen, but you can certainly see the results).

2.  Charity Navigator’s 4-Star Rating

Have we mentioned that already?  Did you see the part about how COA “outperforms most other charities”?  You get the point.

When it comes to the environment, we hope that you’ll give as much as you can. Every bit is appreciated. But give Clean Ocean Action a closer look when it comes to setting your giving priorities for 2011. Are we in your top three?  Should we be?  

Make a secure donation online, now, at www.cleanoceanaction.org/donations.