The Bend Oregon Outrigger Canoe Club, in collaboration with several other great local companies, worked with J Dub to throw a benefit to raise funds and awareness in the Foundation's work and to promote their mission. A mission which should be a priority for to us all as a community so blessed to have our very own river winding its way through this beautiful slice of Oregon. The Bend Oregon Outrigger Canoe Club, founded in 1993, is fortunate enough to utilize these waters five days a week and believes we all should play a part in respecting and maintaining our waterways, shorelines and river banks.
Our very own, long time (35 years) member of Surfrider Maureen Haney represented us at the event. The evening had it all from Hula Dancers, Hawaiian music, great food, drinks and wonderful people. All proceeds of raffle ticket sales, Sunriver beer sales ($5 per pint) and a donations box were donated to The Surfrider Foundation. In the end, the group raise $773 to go towards our Central Oregon Conservation Summit. The Conservation Summit is all about balancing recreation with conservation.
In Bend, we love our outdoor activities but if we don't balance our love for recreation with conservation then generations to come won't have areas to enjoy! The Surfrider Foundation and representatives from COCC-Outdoor Leadership, Environmental Center and Latino Outdoors are organizing the first Central Oregon Conservation Summit on September 28th and 29th. The hope of this Summit is to connect everyday citizens, conservationists, recreationalists, researchers and volunteers in Central Oregon around the biggest challenges facing our region as population and climate change amplify.
We will feature leading researchers, scientists, activists, activities and organizations working to dwarf climate change and other environmental challenges and connect with potential concerned citizens, recreationalists and volunteers to look for ways to collaborate. We hope for this to be an avenue to catalyze involvement in conservation by connecting everyday Oregonians to organizations and participate in a clean-up at Sparks Lake the headwaters of the Deschutes River. All funds generated from this event, through sponsorship, ticket sales and donations, will help fund the event and research on algae blooms throughout the region by the Oregon Lake Association in an effort to mitigate this problem which is critical to water conservation. We are excited to have one of our very own Surfrider Foundation board members Ken Meidell, who is currently a Private Equity Operating Partner at Castanea Partners as well as the CEO of Outerbike. He was previously the CEO at Dakine, COO of Outdoor Research and has a long history in the outdoor industry. Attendees will also hear from amazing experts across our region, participate in fun activities, meet local non-profits ( just to name a few joining us at the reception: ONDA, UDWC, DLT, DTA, OAS, GOB, BOC, BPTA, LO) making a difference in our region, all attendees will receive a one year membership to Surfrider, conference t-shirt, Surfrider bag, morning and afternoon snack, lunch and great outdoor swag from local outdoor organizations, like HydroFlask, REI, Patagonia Bend, Pine Mountain Sports, Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe and more! (A value way beyond the $35 registration fee!) Drinks from 10 Barrel and humm and appetizers at the Closing reception with a closing BBQ after the clean-up on Sunday with food, free drinks (thanks to Deschutes Brewery) and a band! Thanks to early support from Bend Outrigger Canoe Club, HydroFlask, Pledge for the Wild, 10 Barrel, Deschutes Brewery, REI, OSU, COCC, Patagonia Bend, Pine Mountain Sports, and Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe. If you are traveling to Central Oregonian for this conference consider signing the Visit Bend Pledge, donating at the Pledge for the Wild and check out their great resources for your stay with Visit Bend.
Learn more about agenda and speakers here and register for the event here.
