![]() Thanks to the generosity of more than 130 members, just over $15,000 has been raised to date in the 2017-8 Annual Appeal. That's terrific progress for which we are all grateful. It's exciting to get this far, but we still have $10,000—or 40% of our goal to raise before January 31, 2018.
We are determined to meet and even exceed our goal, but we can’t do it without you. Thank you so much for your generosity and support! ![]() THANK YOU to the more than 90 new and renewing contributing members who have helped get the BPC's third Annual Appeal off to a great start! The goal is $25,000. To date over $9000 has been realized. We're already more than a third of the way there! Your membership/contribution is the primary source of funds for this organization that helps keep our ponds clean, safe and enjoyable for years to come. If you have not yet done so, please take this opportunity to mail in your donation envelope, become a contributing member online by clicking here, and join AmazonSmile by clicking here, which donates 0.5% of your Amazon purchase year round to the the charity of your choice. (We hope you select the Brewster Ponds Coalition!) Your membership contribution for 2018 will help expand the Pond Education Curriculum to Brewster Public Schools, the groundbreaking Citizens Scientist cyanobacteria testing program and storm water remediation projects. If you did not yet read or receive our Annual Appeal publication entitled Ripples, click here to see it. If you have already become a contributing member – THANK YOU. Stay tuned for Annual Appeal progress updates. ![]() Ripples, the first Annual Appeal publication of the Brewster Ponds Coalition, is arriving now in your mailbox. Thank you to current members, new members, volunteers, and contributors who have already responded. Your membership and financial contribution is the primary funding source of the BPC and is vital to continuing important work in 2018. You’re helping to expand the Pond Education Curriculum, piloted in 2016-17, to the Brewster Public Schools as well as the groundbreaking Citizens Scientist cyanobacteria water testing program to more Brewster ponds. You’re making storm-water remediation projects more achievable through increased education and outreach. Becoming a new member or renewing your membership for 2018 is easy. Just click here to make a simple and secure contribution online and click here to become a volunteer. Donate today and help keep our ponds healthy and enjoyable for years to come. During this time of thankfulness and reflection, here are a couple ways to celebrate the beauty of Brewster's ponds and the joy they bring to our lives--and to help preserve them for tomorrow. ![]() Shop at Amazon Smile & Give Back to Ponds Shop for gifts--especially on Black Friday and Cyber Monday--at Amazon Smile and Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to the Brewster Ponds Coalition.
Thank you for Helping to Preserve Brewster's Ponds
![]() The inaugural annual publication by the Brewster Ponds Coalition (BPC) titled Ripples was mailed to every Brewster property owner this week and is also be available online by clicking here. “Brewster is unique among Cape Cod Towns in that it has over 2100 acres of freshwater ponds – the most pond acreage of any town on Cape Cod. As a result, ponds play an important role in Brewster. The goal with Ripples and our other online resources is to educate and inform Brewster property owners about the important role that we all play in keeping our ponds clean, safe and enjoyable,” said Tom Vautin, President. “We've discovered that there's quite a learning curve to understanding what is causing our pond water quality to deteriorate. We hope that Ripples will engage and educate our neighbors about what can be done to make things better for our ponds,” he continued. The publication features important information about groundbreaking cyanobacteria testing in Brewster that the BPC undertook this summer in collaboration with The Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It also contains news about a creative pond education pilot program that was launched in area schools. Ripples was designed by well-known Cape Cod artist and Brewster Ponds Coalition member/volunteer Jim Holland, whose work can be seen at The Left Bank Gallery in Wellfleet. Board member and Communications Team leader, Judy Pirani, served as Editor. Stories were written and contributed by BPC members including some on the Board. Worcester Telegram reporter and BPC member/volunteer Susan Spencer is a key contributor to Ripples and the quarterly BPC e-newsletters. A new 4 minute video is now available by clicking on the picture above or visiting the Videos Page on the Brewster Ponds Coalition Website. (Link here.) Many thanks to Lower Cape Television for their great work! This short video describes how a major storm water run off problem was resolved by neighbors working with neighbors. You'll be hearing much more about this project in January.
![]() Fifteen paddlers enjoyed the first ever Eco-paddle sponsored by the Brewster Pond Coalition on a beautiful Saturday morning. Weather conditions were ideal – a cool 62F and sunny with a slight breeze. The group discussed the impairment of the Mill Ponds complex (Walkers, Upper and Lower Mill Ponds,) causes of pond water quality degradation there and the town of Brewster's plans for remediation. A special treat was the brief coffee stop on the deck of one of the BPC members pond-front homes. This paddle was well received and you can expect another in 2018.
Many thanks to guides Jay Olin, Doug Smith, Nancy Gustafson-Smith, and Konrad Schultz and to all who participated. Today is Your Last Chance to Sign Up for BPC Member-Only Upper Mill Pond Eco-Paddle on Sept 9th8/22/2017
![]() This could be YOU paddling on our upcoming Upper Mill Pond! Eco-Paddle Tour! Deadline today. BPC Member-Only Upper Mill Pond Eco-Paddle Tour
Saturday, September 9, 2017 Saturday's weather looks great! Join your fellow BPC members as we paddle around Upper Mill Pond. Take in the beautiful scenery and learn about efforts to preserve Brewster's ponds. Hear about the impairment of the Mill Ponds complex. What has caused it? What steps can you take to make things better for ponds in Brewster? Do you know about BIG BLUE - the town's new eco-harvester? See video of its maiden voyage on Walkers Pond and learn about how phosphorus will be removed from that pond in this manner. Learn about the BPC's new Citizen Scientists who have coordinated with APCC in testing for cyanobacteria in Upper Mill Pond this summer. Arrival Time: 8:30 am for 9:00 am launch, trip ends around 11:00 am Participation Fee: $10.00/paddler Bring your own kayak; volunteers will help load and unload your kayak Launch site & route information emailed to confirmed registrants Eco-Paddle Information Join us for our first, member-only eco-paddle!!! During our two-hour trip, we''ll paddle around Upper Mill Pond, taking in the scenery, like the iconic Eagle Rock, with stops along the way to learn about water impairment impacts like historic cranberry bog practices and water improvement programs like the Town's weed harvesting as well as the Pond and Lake Stewards (PALS) and the BPC Citizen Scientist pond monitoring programs. Space is limited to 15 paddlers, so please reserve your spot early Advanced registration is required Registration Deadline: Thursday, September 8 To Register and Pay $10.00 Event Fee: Click here Additional Information - Participants must be able to handle a solo kayak for 2+ hours - Participants must be at least 15 years of age - Dress for water sports - Bring your own kayak, water safety flotation device, sunscreen, snacks, and drinks Questions: Email [email protected] or call 508-258-9801 Counterclockwise from top left: The 2017 BPC board members; Keynote Speaker Andrew Gottlieb, Executive Director for the Association to Preserve Cape Cod; members listening to BPC President Tom Vautin's presentation; and 2017 Splash award recipient Nancy Gustafson-Smith [in middle] with Board members Sue Searles [left] and Karen Malkus-Benjamin [right]. Almost 70 people attended the 2017 annual meeting held at the Captains Course in Brewster MA. Members mingled and enjoyed a full breakfast buffet before BPC President Tom Vautin called the business meeting to order. His presentation highlighted BPC 2016/2017 activities, FY 2016 finances, and future outlook. Then Konrad Schultz, BPC board and Nominating Committee member, led the reelection of board members John Keith, Judy Pirani, and Tom Vautin to three-year terms.
One fun meeting moment was the presentation of the 2017 Splash Award to the person who made a splash through his or her contributions to improve the water quality, beauty, or natural habitats of Brewster's Ponds. Board members, Karen Malkus-Benjamin and Sue Searles, donned waders and pond exploration gear to honor recipient, Nancy Gustafson-Smith, for all her hard work, flexibility, and good cheer while working on our Pond Education Program and other events. And a big thank you to keynote speaker, Andrew Gottlieb, Executive Director for the Association to Preserve Cape Cod. He drew upon his 30+ years of environmental protection and elected municipal government experience to give a thoughtful discourse on the need for everyone to get involved nationally, statewide, and locally to maximize impact and action on environment issues. Left: Brewster Conservation Trust president Hal Minis presents the award to Brewster Ponds Coalition president Tom Vautin at the BCT annual meeting. Right: Closeup of Award We're excited to announce that we received the Brewster Conservation Trust (BCT)'s annual Conservationist of the Year award at the BCT annual meeting on Thursday, August 10, 2017. Hal Minis, BCT president, cited our leadership and actions in conserving Brewster's ponds when presenting the award.
We thank the BCT--not only for presenting us with their prestigious award--but for all their guidance and advice in helping the BPC grow and evolve from a fledging organization to the point where we can viably work on our mission goal--preserving and sustaining Brewster's beautiful ponds. This award is for YOU--our supporters and volunteers--who have been there every step of the way. Your involvement made this award possible. Thank you. |
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