Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition

STPS South Cleanup
2018-03-03 08:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | Coconut Point Park, 3535 S Highway A1a, Melbourne Beach, FL, 32951, United States
STPS has adopted Coconut Point Park in Melbourne Beach as part of the Keep Brevard Beautiful Adopt-a-Shore project. Volunteers pick up litter on the first Saturday after the first Thursday of each month starting at 8:00 am and usually finishing by 10 am. Volunteers can receive community service hours. Materials for cleanup activities are provided, including trash bags, gloves, sunscreen and tools.

STPS North Cleanup
2018-03-03 08:00 - 10:00 | Cherie Down Park, 8492 Ridgewood Avenue, Cape Canaveral, FL, 32920, United States
STPS has adopted Cherie Down Park in Cape Canaveral as part of the Keep Brevard Beautiful Adopt-a-Shore project. Volunteers pick up litter on the first Saturday after the first Thursday of each month starting at 8:00 am and usually finishing by 10 am. Volunteers can receive community service hours. Materials for cleanup activities are provided, including trash bags, gloves, sunscreen and tools.

Lagoon & Lager
2018-03-01 18:00 - 21:00 | Hell ‘n Blazes Brewing Co., 1002 E New Haven Ave, Melbourne, FL, 32901, United States
Join leaders from the efforts to restore the Indian River Lagoon in Brevard County to Hearn about the condition of the Lagoon and the work underway to improve the conditions. Dr. Robert Weaver of the Indian River Lagoon Research Institute at Florida Tech will serve as emcee for the event.
Short presentations will be provided in the Vault room and lots of lively discussions will be held in the lounge area.

19th Annual CCA Florida Manatee County Chapter Banquet & Auction
2018-03-01 17:00 - 22:00 | Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Boulevard, Palmetto, FL, 34221, United States
Your banquet ticket includes a one-year CCA membership, open bar, catered dinner by Texas Cattle Company, and access to hundreds of unique silent auction, raffle, and live auction items!
Special thanks to Conley Buick GMC, Avid, and Arctic Air Services.

Craft Beer & Conversation: Charter Schools
2018-02-27 17:00 - 19:00 | Hell ‘n Blazes Brewing Co., 1002 E New Haven Ave, Melbourne, FL, 32901, United States
Dan Bennett, president of the Brevard Federation of Teachers, will lead the conversation on charter schools.
Registration is required.
Cost: $10 – includes a craft beer. Payment in advance only.
Must be 21 years of age or older to attend.
Registration cancellations will be accepted until February 23, 2018 at 5:00 PM

2018 Fly Fishing Film Tour
2018-02-25 16:00 - 19:00 | Premiere Theaters Oaks 10, 1800 W Hibiscus Blvd, Melbourne, FL, 32901, United States
F3T will be returning to Premiere Theaters Oaks 10 on Sunday, February 25th. The original and preeminent exhibition of fly fishing cinema, The F3T is a one of a kind experience. Each year fishy folk of all ages gather at premieres to soak up films from around the world, spin a few yarns amongst friends and dream about casts still unmade.
Ticket info will be released in January. It sold out in 2017 so don’t be late.

CCA Naples Banquet and Auction
2018-02-24 18:00 - 21:00 | Foxfire Country Club, 1030 Kings Way, Naples, FL, 34104, United States
Plans are under way for our 29th annual Coastal Conservation Association Naples Chapter Banquet and Auction! The entire event will be first class and something you will be proud to be associated with. We are seeking the help of businesses like yours to make the night as memorable as possible. Your support will allow CCA to continue to protect our marine fisheries resources.
Tickets $110/person; $200/couple; $1,200 Local Conservationist Table; $2,000 Corporate Sponsor Table. (Tickets include open bar all night, dinner and annual CCA membership. For additional information on sponsorship and advertising, don’t hesitate to ask!)
Our evening at Fox Fire will include open bar, raffle, silent auction and live auction. All of which will feature an outstanding variety of items, opportunities and adventure filled vacations. We hope you can join us! Please inquire below with any questions.

MRC Rain Barrel Workshop
2018-02-24 10:00 - 11:00 | Lagoon House, 3275 Dixie Hwy NE, Palm Bay, FL, 32905, United States
February MRC Rain Barrel Workshop
Cost: Free rain barrels are offered to the first 60 people registered.
You must be present at the workshop to receive your free rain barrel. Your registration for a free rain barrel includes all of the materials needed to construct your rain barrel.
Join the Marine Resources Council (MRC) and Brevard County Natural Resources Management team to learn the benefits of collecting rain water, the positive impact rain barrels have on the Indian River Lagoon and how to construct your own rain barrel!
The workshop includes introduction to the MRC, a dialogue of how rain barrels can help save the Indian River Lagoon, a demonstration on how to build a rain barrel and building your vown rain barrel to take home.
A special thanks to Brevard County Natural Resources Management for their continued support of MRC and our efforts to save the Indian River Lagoon!
For water quality information, please visit http://www.brevstorm.org.
For more information on the MRC please visit SaveTheIRL.org.
We hope you will be able to join us at this event! The Marine Resources Council is a multi-faceted charitable organization, committed to engaging the community in actions to save the Indian River Lagoon.

Sustainability Workshop "Nice & Native"
2018-02-23 19:00 - 20:30
This Workshop is FREE and is part of the City’s Sustainability Action Plan’s Green Achievement Target #7 (Public Workshops). “Nice & Native” is the second workshop as part of a series of workshops designed for community outreach & sustainability information.The “Nice & Native” workshop will take an in-depth look at native plants and how they relate to the environment and their benefits for reducing the impacts of stormwater on the Indian River Lagoon and surrounding environment. Additionally this workshop will review and comment on programs that are available to residents and contractors that provide an outline for creating “Florida Friendly” and “Lagoon Friendly” lawns. Also we will look at the previous workshop and the “Desoto Parkway Drainage Basin Stormwater Enhancement Project”, as an example of bioswales and how they benefit the community. This workshop will also talk about the overall concept of the workshop series and the Sustainability Action Plan. Additional topics that will be discussed and other projects and volunteer opportunities in 2018

Restore Our Shores
2018-02-22 19:00 - 20:30 | Unitarian Universalist of the Space Coast – Friendship Fellowship at Pineda, 3115 Friendship Pl, Rockledge, FL, 32955, United States
During this 30-minute presentation, you will get an ecological review of the Indian River Lagoon. As well as, learning what Brevard Zoo’s Restore Our Shores program is doing to help restore the Indian River Lagoon and why volunteer involvement is so important.
(Doors open at 6:30 pm. — Free and open to the public.)
Gisele Nieman is a native Floridian who grew up right here in Brevard County. She spent her childhood in, on, and around the water constantly asking questions about the world around her. To continue exploring her passion for marine life, she studied at the University of West Florida earning a B.S. in Marine Biology with a minor in Psychology. She has had the pleasure of working at the Brevard Zoo since January 2017 as a Lagoon Restoration Specialist and couldn’t be happier! Working on the Restore Our Shores team allows her to restore her beloved Indian River Lagoon while educating others so they can be conservationists too!

Preview: Indian River Lagoon Report Card by MRC
2018-02-22 18:00 - 21:00 | Gleason Performing Arts Center, 150 W. University Blvd Melbourne, FL, Melbourne, FL, 32901, United States

Feb. Chapter Meeting
2018-02-21 18:00 - 21:00 | Standard Collective Studio, 559 w. Eau Gallie Blvd., Melbourne, FL, 32935, United States
Monthly meeting to learn about and discuss upcomings events, campaigns and programs. All welcome! Come and bring a friend. Enjoy the social 1/2 hr starting at 6 pm. and network with other passionate coastal defenders! CLEAN WATER, HEALTHY BEACHES!!

Speak Out Against Offshore Oil Drilling!
2018-02-19 13:00 - 19:00 | Maxwell C King Center, 3865 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL, 32935, United States
Every 20 years, the Governor, Senate President, Speaker of the House, and Chief Justice, put together a panel of individuals to look at Florida’s state constitution and suggest amendments. This is called the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC). One of the amendments (P 91) the CRC is considering is a ban on oil and gas exploration in our state waters (generally up to three-miles offshore).
This is our chance to save our beaches for our kid’s kids!! Please come out and make a short statement. Bring your children – it’s a great lesson in civics. Don’t just ‘Like’, pick up the Mic!!!

Stand Up Speak Out! Central FL CRC Public Hearing
2018-02-19 13:00 - 19:00 | King Center for the Performing Arts, 3865 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL, 32935, United States
The Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) convenes once every 20 years to examine the Florida Constitution and propose changes for voter consideration. Florida is the only state in the nation that offers this unique process. These proposals could be on the November 2018. ballot and critically affect reproductive rights, privacy, separation of church of state, LGBT rights, voting rights, and immigrants rights in our state. We encourage all Brevardians to attend and participate in this historic process.
The public hearing will be held from 1:00-7:00 PM. Individuals who fill out an appearance form by 7:00 PM will be given an opportunity to speak.
Excellent Resources from the ACLU
https://www.aclufl.org/en/campaigns/constitution-revision-commission
About The Constitution Revision Commission (CRC)
http://flcrc.gov/About
Commissioner Proposals
http://flcrc.gov/Proposals/Commissioner
Active Proposals
http://flcrc.gov/PublishedContent/ADMINISTRATIVEPUBLICATIONS/CRCActiveProposalsHearings2018.pdf
Contact info for all the Commissioners if you also want to call or email them http://www.flcrc.gov/Commissioners
******************
From the League of Women Voters of Florida:
“Worst of the Worst” Proposed Amendments
If the ballot summaries of the proposals making our list of the “Terrible 10” were to give an accurate description of the proposed changes – here’s what Floridians would be asked to do:
Proposal 4 – Delete the No Aid provision from the Florida Constitution’s “Religious Freedom” protections and open the door to Floridians’ tax dollars potentially funding religious indoctrination, proselytizing, and discrimination
Proposal 22 – Eliminate all existing privacy protections, including reproductive rights, from Florida’s Constitution except for those specifically relating to informational privacy. It does this by narrowing the privacy clause so that it only applies “with respect to privacy of information and the disclosure thereof.”
Proposal 29 – Require mandatory use of the error-prone E-Verify program, potentially denying thousands of authorized immigrant and even citizen workers the ability to work without any meaningful avenue to seek redress.
Proposal 43 –Mandate term limits for local school board members rather than letting voters in the school districts decide how long a member can serve their community.
Proposal 45 – Give tax dollars to private schools through school vouchers including religious schools – creating a system of publicly funded education separate from our free public schools
Proposal 71 – Take sole control of charter schools away from local school boards and allow decisions about local education needs to be made at the state level.
Proposal 72 – Tie the hands of future elected leaders and severely limit Florida’s ability to invest in public education, mental health care, affordable housing, roads and bridges, parks, beaches and workforce training programs by requiring a supermajority vote of the Legislature to raise taxes or fees.
Proposal 95 –Allow the state to preempt any local ordinances that big business can claim interferes with commerce between counties and other jurisdictions – such as living wage ordinances, protections from wage theft, local hiring preferences or local protections for the environment and natural resources.
Proposal 96 – Needlessly claiming to protect victims of crime while not providing any meaningful benefit to victims, interfering with the rights of the accused, and making it more difficult for the state to convict criminals.
Proposal 97 – Make it close to impossible for the constitution to be changed by initiative, by the Legislature or by any commission in the future.

Press Conference preceding Melbourne's CRC Hearing
2018-02-19 12:30 - 13:00 | King Center for the Performing Arts, 3865 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL, 32935, United States
Local organizations and community leaders will host a press conference before the Florida’s Constitution Review Commission (CRC) Central Florida public hearing to countdown the worst proposals being considered by the Commission.
Please join us and invite your family & friends. Details are below→
WHAT: Press Conference preceding Melbourne’s CRC Hearing
WHEN: Monday, February 19, 2018
TIME: 12:30-1:00pm
WHERE: Eastern Florida State College, King Center, Melbourne
WHO: Brevard community leaders along with representatives from the League of Women Voters of the Space Coast, Florida National Organization for Women (NOW), Brevard NOW, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition, AFL-CIO Space Coast Labor Council and others
ATTIRE: Please no partisan clothes/signs, or candidate logos. The focus of this press conference is on the CRC.
Are you press? Please contact Eli Logan at Lilorn1315@gmail.com to learn more.
——————————————————————————————
Florida’s Constitution Review Commission (CRC) will host their last Central Florida public hearing on Monday, February 19th from 1:00pm – 7:00pm in Melbourne, Florida at Eastern Florida State College’s King Center.
This is a critical opportunity for your voice to be heard. We encourage Central Floridians to attend this CRC hearing, and you can learn more about the meeting here: https://www.flcrc.gov/Meetings/PublicHearings
If you wish to speak at the hearing, please use this form: https://www.flcrc.gov/UserContent/Publications/PublicHearingAppearanceRecord.pdf

Hightower Beach Cleanup
2018-02-18 09:00 - 10:00 | Hightower Beach Park, 815 Highway A1A, Satellite Beach, FL, 32937, United States
The Humanist Community of the Space Coast invites you to help keep Hightower Beach clean. This cleanup takes place every other Sunday from 9 AM until 10 AM. Please contact Mary Froment at mcm.froment@gmail.com for more information.

Beachside Cleanup with Keep Brevard Beautiful
2018-02-17 13:00 - 15:00 | Coconuts On the Beach, 2 Minutemen Cswy, Cocoa Beach, FL, 32931, United States
We are still feeling the effects of Hurricane Irma. With the recent heavy surfs, there has been massive amounts of plastic washing up from the ocean bed. Because this plastic has been circling the ocean for 4 months, it has broken down into pieces the size of colonels of corn and even smaller. It will take an ongoing community effort to tackle this problem and keep our beaches beautiful. Please come out and bring your innovative ideas on how to pick up these small pieces from our beaches. Can you fill an entire bucket?
We are challenging all Residents to the Beach Bucket Challenge… It’s basically like the ice bucket challenge but instead of ice water being dumped on your head, we are challenging you to fill a 5 gallon bucket with trash instead. “No dumping involved”. Tag your photos with #beachbucketchallenge and share them here for your chance to win prizes from local beachside businesses…
We will be heading out tomorrow at 1:00pm to pickup trash off our local beaches, and would like to challenge our local residents to do the same. Please go enjoy an afternoon on the beach with friends, at your normal home break, and donate some time to clean it up. Please invite all of your neighbors along. If we all join in together we can make a major difference.
Tag your photos with #beachbucketchallenge and share them here for your chance to win prizes from local beachside businesses.

Monthly Meeting of Space Coast Chapter CCL
2018-02-17 12:00 - 14:00 | Suntree Viera Public Library, 902 Jordan Blass Dr, Melbourne, FL, 32940, United States
Citizens Climate Lobby is a non partisan volunteer based group working to build the political will for national legislation for effective solutions to climate change

CCL Fl Space Coast Monthly Chapter Meeting
2018-02-17 12:00 - 14:00 | Suntree Viera Public Library, 902 Jordan Blass Dr, Melbourne, FL, 32940, United States
Citizens’ Climate Lobby, CCL is working to build the political will for legislative action. For more information please sign up at
http://www.citizensclimatelobby.org

North Brevard Litter Patrol
2018-02-17 08:30 - 10:30 | Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, 4745 Helen Hauser Blvd., Titusville, FL, 32780, United States
The next litter patrol in North Brevard will meet at Cracker Barrel near the I-95 exit at 0830 a.m. on Saturday, February 17. Plastic bags and safety vests will be provided. Bring sunscreen, bucket and gloves. Invite a friend.

North Brevard Litter Patrol Cleanup
2018-02-17 08:00 - 10:00
North Brevard Litter Patrol’s next cleanup will be Sat, Feb 17, location TBD.

Shore Stories - Melbourne
2018-02-15 18:00 - 21:00 | Hell ‘n Blazes Brewing Co., 1002 E New Haven Ave, Melbourne, FL, 32901, United States
This free showing is being held in conjunction with our monthly social mixer. As the Trump administration announced plans to open nearly all U.S. waters to offshore drilling, people across the country are standing up. This plan opens the floodgates to dirty and dangerous offshore drilling, threatening coastal economies that rely on clean and healthy oceans. This radical offshore drilling free-for-all is a clear example of politics over people, ignoring widespread local and state opposition.
Join us for Shore Stories, six short films that highlight the grassroots resistance taking place across the US, as well as stories from past oil and gas exploration – including the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster. After the films we’ll discuss the proposal and how you can get involved in resisting these disastrous plans.
Join us to stand together to protect the coast, and learn how we can keep up the fight to say NO to offshore drilling!

Feb. Social Mixer
2018-02-15 18:00 - 21:00 | Hell ‘n Blazes Brewing Co., 1002 E New Haven Ave, Melbourne, FL, 32901, United States
The Sebastian Inlet Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is having a blast!
Our chapter is working on many initiatives to protect our beaches and help keep them beautiful. We’re having so much fun in the process that we’re inviting more people to join us. Therefore, we’ve teamed up with one of our favorite local breweries to have a monthly social mixer. Come out to meet like-minded folks in the community and make some new friends. Each of our monthly social mixers will feature some quick updates on our local and national projects, but we’re mostly getting together to have fun!

2nd Annual Beanie Beach Clean Up
2018-02-11 11:00 - 14:00 | Lori Wilson Park, 1500 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL, 32931, United States
The first clean up of the year!!! A little later then last year but its still “winter” so the theme is beanies not bikinis! We will meet at Lori Wilson State Park at 11am and clean our way to Coconuts on the Beach where you can stop for lunch or enjoy the rest of the day at the beach! We will also coordinate a car pool option to drive back to the park if necessary or you can walk back whenever you please!
If it is too hot to wear beanies..play along and bring one for a group photo!

Women of Action
2018-02-10 11:30 - 14:30 | Suntree Country Club, 1 Country Club Dr, Melbourne, FL, 32940, United States
The League of Women Voters of the Space Coast honors “Women of Action” on Saturday, February 10, 2018.
Three local women will be recognized for their achievements at a luncheon to be held at the Suntree Country Club, 1 Country Club Drive, in Melbourne at 11:30 A.M.
Guest speaker will be Isadora Rangel, Florida Today’s Public Affairs and Engagement Editor.
The Honorees are Jacqueline Chandler, Stacia Glavas and Laurilee Thompson.
Jacqueline Chandler – Founder and President of I Am Proof, Inc. – a group mentoring program for young men to provide life skills needed to build character and self-determination.
Stacia Glavas – Founder and CEO of Brevard Rescue Mission – an organization formed to break the cycle of homelessness among women with children.
Laurilee Thompson – Founding member and driving force behind the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival and dedicated advocate of the protection of Florida’s natural resources.
Cost: $35 for members and $40 for non-members.
Menu choices include Sole stuffed with crabmeat, London Broil with red wine mushroom sauce or Vegetarian Lasagna. Meal includes salad, rolls and beverage.
RSVP deadline is February 2, 2018.
Payment must be made in advance. To register with menu selection, go to http://www.lwv-spacecoast.org (Events).
For more information, contact Doreen Archer at 321-622-4071 or doreenarcher1@gmail.com.
*Honorees::

Party in the Park
2018-02-10 10:00 - 15:00 | Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, Fort Pierce, FL, 34949, United States

Paddle With Manatees
2018-02-10 10:00 - 12:00
Details
‘Tis the season for manatees.
We will put in at French Landing, a public boat ramp at the end of the road that brings visitors to Blue Spring State Park in Orange City. Do not enter the state park. Parking is along the side of the road after you drop off your kayak (or canoe) and gear near the (unimproved) ramp.
A “new and improved” Meetup interface exhibits profound glitches when trying to set a location. Here is the address: 2398 W. French Ave, Orange City, FL 32763
The mouth of the Blue Spring Run is a short paddle from the put-in. We cannot paddle up the run but we can loiter and view the sea cows from our boats. Then we will continue up-river and explore Snake Creek. On our way back, we will dock at the state park, get out, view manatee from the boardwalk and eat lunch.
Aside from the usual kayaking gear bring socks and shoes to change into for walking in the park. A short hike is an option. We will leave the park when we feel like it and paddle back to French Landing. The 2:00 PM “end time” is not to be trusted.
There may be an “Iron Ranger” where we dock. So bring a few one dollar bills just in case. There are restrooms and concessions at the park. Rentals are available from St. Johns River Cruises (where we put-in). Call (386) 917-0724 for costs and reservations.
This may be a popular outing. Please do not plan to attend unless you RSVP via Meetup.com. If you have not paddled with me before, please expect and respond to an email message via Meetup. I will ask a few questions to screen participants for safety reasons

Sandy Paws Beach Cleanup
2018-02-10 09:30 - 11:30 | Canova Beach Dog Park, 3299 S Highway A1A, Melbourne Beach, FL, 32951, United States
Canova Beach Cleanup, Melbourne Beach
Hosted by Sandy Paws Brevard
2nd Saturday of each month
930am-1130am
Contact: hfsteinberger@yahoo.com
