There’s not much more you can do for Maw but take her to the movies. So off we go. With thanks to our wizard Photoshop techie Charlie, and some help from Debra Hamilton at DFG Sacramento (Audo-visual Specialist), we got some dandy shots that have been enlarged and prepared in Read more [...]]]> MAW Goes to the Movies

There’s not much more you can do for Maw but take her to the movies. So off we go. With thanks to our wizard Photoshop techie Charlie, and some help from Debra Hamilton at DFG Sacramento (Audo-visual Specialist), we got some dandy shots that have been enlarged and prepared in a kind of PSA “ad” that will precede movies at the Coast Cinema and drum up volunteers. A special rah-rah to the first MAW-er who makes it to the movies and tells us what it was like. Supposed to start up this weekend.

County Fish & Game Commission Refuses $$ for MAW but BOS gives $2500

As you know from the last Bulletin, the Commission rejected MAW’s application and Rod’s individual separate one to set up an interpreter/translator service available to the wardens in the field. Accompanied for moral support by Bill and Marilyn, plus Maribeth (the fiery Filipina), Rod appeared before the Board of Supervisors to ask that 5 of the 10 grants be sent back for study as failing to comply with state law and local standards. The BOS roundly ignored his entreaty but one member added $2,500 to the overall allocated $43,000, as there are additional funds the Commission inexplicably chose not to distribute. This helps for sure but ignores the principled question placed before the Board.

R.A.I.D. sues Board of Supervisors over Grants

A small group of disgruntled coast residents, collectively called Residents Against Improper Disbursements (RAID) sued the Board over its approval of the 5 challenged grants, requesting that they be returned to the Commission for re-evaluation and that the Commission be instructed to develop a real set of guidelines and scoring system for grant applications. Next hearing is April 16 on a motion for preliminary injunction.

Wild & Crazy Opening of Season + Good Beacon Publicity

Those on duty this past weekend had some real adventures, as the email report from last Saturday detailed. With the high surf and currents, it is amazing that no lives were lost. Bill is working with Danny Hervilla (MVFD) to see about some devices that would let us communicate directly with the Coast Guard in Noyo.

Meanwhile, the Beacon ran a nice front page piece in the April 1 (last week’s) edition with photos from our March 20 training session. Quick grab a copy if you haven’t seen it yet! The paper may run something on the Charlie + Bill rescue assist last weekend.

Development of Administration of MAW

We’ve begun implementing a “North Sector” and “South Sector” approach so that volunteers can more conveniently work in the area in which they live. As you know from prior emails, Bruce Leaman has graciously offered his services as a kind of “captain” for the North Sector. He will keep supplies at his house and help to coordinate the scheduling of patrols and beach booths. Rod, Charlie and Bill have been passing this chore among them for the South Sector.

We’re trying to de-centralize and have the teams work out their own details and arrangements for connecting and doing the job efficiently. Let us know how this works out (but give us a couple of weeks to see!)

Ride-Alongs with Wardens

Some volunteers got to do this last fall, enjoyed themselves and learned a lot. Let us know if you missed it and want to do a tour.

Equipment & Resupplies

We are working with what we have now but, using the grant from the county, have gone ahead to order 12 new jackets and some yard signs (“Abalone Watch. Stopping Poaching.”) for use by landowners and MAW volunteers. The jackets are being printed now. The signs should arrive before this weekend. Marilyn at Out of this World is shopping for some good deals for us on additional binoculars and tripod stands for them.

Volunteer Certifications

Everybody or nearly everybody has sent in their certification forms. Please be sure you’re on the list of those that have. If not, please do ASAP.

Date: Saturday, March 20 from 10 – 1

This will be H-O-T!

Location: Abalone Room, Little River Inn (around back of inn office and restaurant)

New and returning volunteers are urgently requested to attend (and to RSVP to Rod, Bill or Charlie) for this all-star extravaganza. RSVP and show early Read more [...]]]> SPECIAL SPRING TRAINING PROGRAM

Date: Saturday, March 20 from 10 – 1

This will be H-O-T!

Location: Abalone Room, Little River Inn (around back of inn office and restaurant)

New and returning volunteers are urgently requested to attend (and to RSVP to Rod, Bill or Charlie) for this all-star extravaganza. RSVP and show early for coffee/Danish. We begin at 10 sharp with some training information and materials by Charlie, a brief talk by DFG marine biologist Pete Kalvass, then we’ll adjourn for a hands-on MAW training by way of observation of two mysterious divers in Van Damme, doing simulated ab diving and some simulate legal and illegal stuff. We’ll then reconvene for brown bag lunch (must bring your own) and de-brief discussion. DFG Warden Eric Bloom will be present. An event not to be missed!

Abalone season reopens April 1 – We will be scheduling patrols and new on-site stationary observers beginning the weekend of April 3 and 4. Please bring your calendar books to the training session.

County Fish & Game Commission Dumps MAW Grant Application

As you know from the last Bulletin, Bill Lemos and Rod Jones prepared a grant application for $5,000 to the local F&G Commission (Craig Bell, Chairman). The Commission gets its money from fines levied on game violations, especially abalone cases. It makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors about who should be funded. The MAW application was for equipment and to hire a part-time administrative coordinator (5 hrs/wk) to assure MAW functions well this season. Rod filed a separate application on his own to prepare an operating system that would make interpreters available to wardens when investigating or apprehending non-English speaking individuals. Both Bill and Rod also drove to Ukiah to attend a Commission meeting to present the applications and to answer questions.

Without explanation, the Commission rejected MAW’s application and Rod’s individual separate one (to prepare). Of the $43,000 it had available to disburse, the Commission instead chose to recommend that the Board of Supervisors award Campbell Timberland Management Corporation (owns most of the old G-P lands) $2,500 for a Pudding Creek Dam project, to provide the federal Bureau of Land Management $5,000 for some Garcia River estuary waterfowl pond project, and hand $13,500 to the North Coast Fishing Association for something designated as “legal funding – FERC lawsuit.”

This leaves us high and dry for money to obtain key needed supplies or to reimburse for those already purchased with private dollars. If this situation bothers you as much as it does Bill, Rod, Maribeth and Charlie, we’d urge you to the Board – HYPERLINK “mailto:BOS@co.mendocino.ca.us” BOS@co.mendocino.ca.us. Bill and Rod plan on attending the Sups meeting on March 17 to ask they not follow the Commission recommendations.

Look for MAW at the Coast Cinemas!

Yes, MAW is getting famous. Local Starz is a company out of Washington that produces those mini-commercials that precede the coming attractions. LS has agreed to help us with a free promotional advertisement about MAW that explains what we do and solicits volunteers. Charlie is using his Photo-shop expertise to help prepare the presentation.

Ride-Alongs with Wardens

Some volunteers got to do this last fall (a “get-to-know-a-warden” program) with positive results for both the wardens and MAW-folks. We can work on scheduling additional sessions in the Spring if volunteers are interested.

Welcome to New Volunteers

Additional new residents signed up over this winter season for possible volunteer help as we begin the new season. We welcome you and look forward to meeting with you on March 20.

Equipment & Resupplies

Our present inventory is sufficient for now to allow individuals to purchase and retain their own gear, if desired. As mentioned in the last Bulletin, seamstress Joan Venturi volunteered to sew patches on our new two-color caps. We’ve also got 4 additional magnetic car signs. Contact Rod if you wish to purchase your own equipment at cost (this also helps MAW):

Pullover jackets/silk-screened: $30 each

Yellow caps + patch: $8.50 each ($5 for cap + $3.50 for patch)

Magnetic car signs: $12 each

Volunteer Certifications

We have signed certifications from these volunteers: David Jordan, Donal Bettencourt, Caleb Cimmigotti, Wilbur Phenix, Mary Rack, Charles Wall, Dave Paoli, Jan Stickle, JoAnn Stickle, Arthur Williams, Bruce Leaman, Ed Murrell. If your name is not here, Rod doesn’t have your form.

BE SURE TO RSVP ON THE MARCH 20 TRAINING SESSION

Ride-Alongs with Wardens

Some volunteers availed themselves of the opportunity to accompany a warden (the “get-to-know-a-warden” approach) on part of the wardenws shift, with largely positive results. Comments of “riders” are included at end of this bulletin.

Welcome to New Volunteers

A number of new volunteers stepped forward late in Read more [...]]]> 1. Tabling and Public Outreach

Ride-Alongs with Wardens

Some volunteers availed themselves of the opportunity to accompany a warden (the “get-to-know-a-warden” approach) on part of the wardenws shift, with largely positive results. Comments of “riders” are included at end of this bulletin.

Welcome to New Volunteers

A number of new volunteers stepped forward late in the season but early enough to get in at least one “tour of duty” with a more seasoned volunteer. This puts MAW in better shape in preparing for the April 1 re-opening of abalone season.

A special welcome to: Caleb Cimmiyotti, Agnes Woolsey, and Joel Schwartz. Others could not squeeze into the program but expressed interest in participating in the Spring, including Ann Brown, Sue Cameron, and Barbara Rice. We look forward to MAW growing and developing in the next few months!

Money Grant – Fish & Game Commission – December 8 Meeting

MAW has submitted an application to the Mendocino County Fish & Game Commission for funds to acquire additional “trappings” (jackets, caps, two-way radios) and to reimburse for past expenditures. The Commission meets on December 8 and Rod, Charlie and Bill will attend on behalf of MAW. Funding occurs in April 2010, so we remain on a shoestring presently. The grant also seeks money to hire a part-time (5 hours/week) administrative person to help with scheduling and overall coordination. Two folks have already stepped forward with interest if we get the funding.

Activities – December & Beyond

The MAW mission for the next few months until April is uncertain. DFG will be consulted to see how we might assist but activities surely will slow a lot. Tentatively, we have a 2010 welcoming potluck planned for January and then a full-on half-day training session probably in March. Let us know if you have additional suggestions or ideas.

New Equipment & Resupplies

Our present inventory is sufficient now to allow individuals to purchase and retain their own gear, if desired. Local seamstress Joan Venturi volunteered her services to MAW for sewing patches on the new two-color caps, taking over for Maribeth, who was hand-sewing each cap. We’ve also got 4 additional magnetic car signs. If you wish to purchase at cost:

Pullover jackets/silk-screened: $30 each

Yellow caps + patch: $8.50 each ($5 for cap + $3.50 for patch)

Magnetic car signs: $12 each

Please contact Rod for any purchases.

Volunteer Certifications

We are missing signed certifications from these volunteers: Gaines/Nickel, Smith, Woolsey, Cimmiyotti. Please sign and leave with Rod for safekeeping. Thanks.

Developing Two MAW Bases

We’ve effectively divided our work area into Sector 1 (MacKerricher to Jughandle) and Sector 2 (Russian Gulch to Navarro Beach). For the Spring, we are planning on establishing a separate “base” for each sector for the convenience of members living and patrolling those areas. Bruce Leaman has graciously volunteered to do a garage set-up similar to Rod/Maribeth’s MAW HQ. Bruce is just off Hwy 20 about a mile from Hwy 1. We’ll divide up equipment, etc. for easier mobilization. Comments?

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Excerpts from Ride-along Logs:

Bruce: Don Powers and I hiked a good distance, then crawled up to the edge of the hill to observe four divers. I saw one take four abalone and Don saw the other three high-grade or take over-limit and pass off. We slipped away, climbed over the large fence, and went back to Don’s truck in order to locate the divers’ truck. We waited and Don issued citations to the divers. It was dark then but we were not done. With headlights off and Don wearing night-vision goggles, we drove the Mendocino Headlands. It was weird sitting in the truck going down the road in the pitch black not being able to see a thing.

Rod: My warden was Eric Bloom. It was a challenge keeping my 60+ legs moving as fast as Eric! Through bramble and thicket, we finally perched over a group of 8 divers and observed a long while. There was a possible violation, which, upon investigation, ended up not being one. We inspected some catches and moved on. Two citations were issued at Glass Beach for undersize and over-limit. Like Don, Eric worked into the night by flashlight. And we were challenged by a big apparent language barrier in one case.

Ed: I went with Patrick Freeling, departing south from Van Damme and checking several dive locations en route to Moat Creek (south of Point Arena) We observed a party of divers in the water from the bluffs for about an hour and then checked catches in the parking lot. I enjoyed the experience but was left unsure where I fit into this picture and whether what I observed and how I helped with as a ride a long observer carries over into my MAW activities.

Shelly: Eric Bloom and I started at the GP cliffs, laying on our tummies and observing three divers who ended up doing the right thing. We contacted them on their return to their vehicle and Eric checked their cards, etc., while having a friendly chat with them. I think the ride-along is an excellent idea, as is having MAW act as a deterrent with high visibility.

Charlie, Maribeth and Rod set up a MAW display table and spent a day at the Subsurface Progression’s benefit Abalone Cook-Off at Noyo Harbor last Saturday, setting up a MAW booth with the vendors and others, including DFG. We met and talked with lots of folks and ended up recruiting two more volunteers, Read more [...]]]> Public Outreach

Charlie, Maribeth and Rod set up a MAW display table and spent a day at the Subsurface Progression’s benefit Abalone Cook-Off at Noyo Harbor last Saturday, setting up a MAW booth with the vendors and others, including DFG. We met and talked with lots of folks and ended up recruiting two more volunteers, bringing our total roster to about 20 (with some in reserve and ready to begin next April).

New volunteers are asked to take the 12 minutes or so required and watch the video on the new 2008 ab regs. Just go to:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-amfcNwTjI

Money Grant

MAW will be submitting an application to the Mendocino County Fish & Game Commission later this month for a cash grant that will allow us to acquire additional “trappings” (jackets, caps, two-way radios) and to pay for things already acquired. Awards are made in December, but funds are not sent until April. So we’re working a shoestring, it seems, until we can get funded. The grant also seeks money to hire a part-time (5 hours/week) administrative person to help with scheduling and overall coordination.

Activities Completed and Still Scheduled for October

Braving stiff 20 mph winds, a team of Ed Murrell, Charlie Lorenz, Jim Gaines & Linda Nickel headed out Sunday afternoon (October 4) during low tide, accompanied by videographer Terry Vaughn (FogSpinner Productions). Vaughn is assembling a documentary movie about abalone fishing from its folk lore to the current sportfishing status and has recruited Charlie to help him meet divers and generally learn the ropes. The water was so wicked that the group only found two inexperienced and foolish divers heading into the water, under conditions that themselves surely protected the abalone from exploitation!

Monday, October 5 was a whole different day – sunny, still, water flat. This shift consisted of Rod, Maribeth, Bruce Leaman and new volunteer Shelly Smith. Van Damme proved very active with 6-8 divers entering the water when the group arrived about 3:30 p.m. The situation seemed to demand thorough surveillance, so all four remained on-site to watch activities. One group of four divers aroused some concern and they were monitored for about 90 minutes by Bruce and Shelly. Rod and Maribeth explored trails out behind the cemetery to observation points for divers who had headed south. Eventually, it appeared that all divers were rule compliant and those contacted expressed gratitude for our work, noting that they were quite aware of being watched from the bluffs when they saw all the yellow jackets and caps.

Scheduled for Saturday, October 17 from 3-6: Charlie, Dave Paoli, Charles Brandenberg, and Toby Tobkin.

And, for Sunday, October 18 from 3-6: Charlie, Kim Webster, Joan Gulich

Activities in November & Beyond

DFG wardens have advised that there are some low tides in the second week of November that will likely draw a host of additional abalone hunters to the coast. The negative or near-negative tides appear at these times:

Thursday 12th at 2 pm, Friday 13th at 2:45 pm, Saturday 14th at 3:30 pm, Sunday 15th at 4:15 pm, Monday 16th at 5:00 pm, Tuesday 17th at 5:30 pm, and Wednesday 18th at 6:15 pm

That’s a week long schedule and a real challenge to see if we can cover all or a large part of it. Please advise Rod, Charlie or Bill of your availability on any of these dates.

New Equipment & Resupplies

Everything we have has been purchased by member contributions or donated. Hopefully the F&G Commission grant will change that. Meanwhile, we’ve ordered more jackets and caps, in part because some volunteers expressed a desire to own their own apparel. Because of limited quantities ordered, our price isn’t too good. Maribeth has graciously volunteered to hand sew the patches on the caps as a real nice touch. Here’s our cost on items FYI:

Pullover jackets/silk-screened: $30 each

Yellow caps + patch: $8.50 each ($5 + $3.50)

Magnetic car signs: $12 each

If members wish to buy their own of any of these items, please contact Rod ASAP. New jackets will be in next week and caps have just been ordered. Car signs are on hold but can be easily obtained if you like the idea of just carrying two in your trunk for immediate use (probably an excellent idea for exposure when you’re out and about, even if not actually observing).

Volunteer Certifications

We are missing signed certifications from these volunteers: Gaines/Nickel, Smith, Tobkin, Brandenberg

Volunteers Lacking Email Address: It would be real helpful to have 6 self-addressed, stamped envelopes to cut down on administrative time in sending notice. Thanks.