Clean Water Now! CWN! COALITION ANNUAL REPORT

2008 Annual Report

The Clean Water Now! Coalition moves into its 11th year with some minor mid-course corrections. We decided that instead of the complex and unwieldy task of creating a local board and chapter of the national Keep America Beautiful campaign we'd become a Proud Community Affiliate of a more locally responsive 501 c 3 non-profit, Keep California Beautiful: www.keepcaliforniabeautiful.org

Now entering our 9th consecutive year as all-volunteer, uncompensated beach cleanup supervisors for the California Coastal Commission, it seems a more appropriate fit. We also like the breadth of KCB goals regarding graffiti removal and general blight. We look forward to working with the staff of KCB plus other Proud Community Affiliates throughout the state to help us improve the environs and aesthetics of our unique gem by the sea, Laguna Beach.

Following in our footsteps, we are glad to announce that in recent months other grass-roots organizations and surf-related activities are integrating beach cleanups as part of their contribution to our town. Surfing contests, corporate promotional venues of surfing apparel manufacturers, and the street-end cleanups we've championed and inspired are now being periodically performed to supplement our programs.

We're both flattered and encouraged by this acknowledgement regarding the value of improving local marine habitats through hands on involvement. We've challenged our community for years to step up and hopefully these individuals and groups will stay in for the long haul, not just because it's trendy!

So whether it's one of our beach cleanups or one of the others, whether it's here in Laguna or wherever you live, find a local coordinating entity and try to make a difference in your part of the world. Everyone should love where they live and do their part in maintaining it.

As the co-poet Gary Snyder put it so well: "Find your place on the planet. Dig in and take responsibility from there."