Surfrider Foundation - Organizational Communication
... Surfrider informational message: to protect our oceans, waves, and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education, has been delivered to surfers and ocean users in many coastal communities throughout the United States and the world. Instructional and training messages are used within the organization to create better chapters and chapter programs. 3. In order for the Surfrider Foundation to achieve their strategic goals, they must continue to enhance their use of pop culture, the media and internet technology to carry the Surfrider message in and beyond the membership to beach-goers, coastal dwellers and the public at large. 4. It is vital that the Surfrider Foundation’s message is informative and taken sincerely by the receiver. Surfrider, being a volunteer organization, needs all the volunteers, members and public awareness it can possibly gain. (e) The Surfrider Foundation strives on accommodating feedback. Members attend local chapter meetings every other week to bring up and help with new and past concerns, opinions and ideas. For example, a few years ago, while attending a local chapter meeting, a man brought up the idea of creating a boom to capture debris in the Santa Ana river jetty, which spits out into the Newport Beach ocean. The concept was widely accepted and with the help of Surfrider we now have multiple booms saving our beach. In addition, Surfrider conducts quarterly seminars which allow problem solving workshops for improving and protecting the coastal environment. (f) The Surfrider Foundation is an open system. Surfrider owes much success to permeable boundaries. The external publics are: Surfrider Chapter activists, current and past members of the Board of Directors, staff of other coastal environmental organizations, surf industry professionals, coastal specialists in local, state and federal government, and others who are knowledgeable about the Surfrider Foundation. Since, Surfrider is a community-based organization; it’s easy for them to distribute up-to-date, science-based information regularly into the community, through local chapters via: internet, publications, flyers and regular beach clean ups. (g) 1. The Surfrider Foundation is faced with a challenging coastal zone problem. Coastal zones are the most densely populated areas in the world. An estimated 75% of American’s will live within 80 miles of the coast by 2025. In order to protect living resources from public destruction; Surfrider must enhance their social relationships with the community. 2. The Surfrider Foundation should assist local chapters in identifying and prioritizing critical coastal areas. Chapters may want to break into smaller groups and have more leaders, each focusing their attention on one priority area. Beginning by, developing community awareness of conservation strategies for long term management and protection of these areas. 3. The Surfrider Foundation should also assist chapters in a change in social relationships. Surfrider chapters should seek out potential partners in selected conservation efforts, including other chapters, local interest groups, and public agencies, as well as in identifying and requesting possible funding sources for assistance. Surfrider should provide hands-on training to members and community participants through literature reviews, analysis of aerial photographs, field verification and ecological assessments. Schools are a good place to start, and will teach the young beach-goers respect for the coastal area. Plus, school’s usually insist on community service hours upon graduating, what a great place to find volunteers and possibly new members. Conclusion (a) Surfrider Foundation is a volunteer organization made up of people with a common goal to protect and re...