OCEAN CITY – A year after the launch of the Ocean City Surf Club (OCSC), members are overwhelmed with the response from the local communities in driving the non-profit’s success.
The OCSC was formed to celebrate the heritage and future of the ocean community. Firmly rooted in the rich surf history of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, the OCSC supports area youth through scholarships and mentoring, and fosters respect for others, the ocean and fragile ecosystem. This non-profit, beach-centered organization welcomes young, old, local or visitor to make an effort in enhancing the community through charity, service and proactive initiatives.
“We created the non-profit and everything went a little faster than expected, which is a good thing. I figured we would have a little bit of interest but 485 members later we have been overwhelmed. It has been very successful. If we would have known it would have been this successful we would have done it a decade ago,” Shelly Dawson of OCSC said before the Mayor and City Council on Monday evening.
In their first year, the OCSC awarded $3,000 in scholarships, and partnered with Maryland Coastal Bays, the Town of Ocean City and hundreds of volunteers and students to hold six beach and wetland cleanups. OCSC “Leave Only Your Footprints” and “Surf Etiquette” programs were furthered in the Ocean City Beach Patrol Junior Beach Patrol program, local schools and bumper stickers were placed on hundreds of vehicles.
Additionally, OCSC’s Annual Longboard Weekend grew to include, not only their “legends” party, the 14-year-old team challenge, but also the return of a professional surf contest with prizes worth over $5,000.
“Be careful with what you wish for because again we had no idea that we would be this successful with so many people,” Dawson said.
Heading into their second year, OCSC has allocated $10,000 in scholarships, and will continue environmental efforts through beach awareness and dune grass planting initiatives. Youth involvement will be centered on an after-school activity class in the Stephen Decatur Middle School in the fall, as well as Junior Beach Patrol involvement in Ocean City and on Assateague Island.
“It has been an unbelievable first year. Success brings challenges and opportunities. Foremost is the responsibility to our members to continue our proactive community service. To build on our first year, we must continue to utilize our resources effectively and remain focused on our mission and not squander the generosity of our supporters. Our challenge is to engage our members, families and supporters keeping our goals in focus. This year continued development is essential to our success,” Dawson said. “With continued support from members and sponsors, 2015 will be bigger and better for the beach lovers club.”
Council President Lloyd Martin acknowledged the success of the OCSC in its first year.
“Everything you have done over the past year is wonderful, and it shows on the beach. The members of the surf club have done a great job,” Martin said.
Dawson concluded it couldn’t have been done without the club’s many members and volunteers.
“We have a lot of dedicated people and have been having a lot of fun. We are going full force forward, and are expecting another couple hundred members this year. The more money received, the more we give back,” he said. “We have unbelievable community support. The generosity of Ocean City and Worcester County… people come out of the wood work. A lot goes on behind the scenes. People show up when you need them and make these good things happen.”
The Ocean City surf community came before the Mayor and City Council in February of last year to present the concept of reviving the OCSC. At that time, Dawson had served as the executive director of the Ocean City Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation for 14 years when he announced he was stepping down from the position to head the club.
The original OCSC was first formed in 1964 by Ocean City surfing pioneers Skill and Al Johnson, along with their late brother, Carl, who were among the first to surf in Ocean City in the early 1960s. The club grew as more and more local residents became involved. As the sport grew locally, the club eventually dissolved and splintered, but it was resurrected with the announcement late last month.
The idea was the OCSC would adhere to the fundamental principles of the Surfrider Foundation, with its emphasis on environmental advocacy and clean beaches, competition, camaraderie and education but will be focused on the local surfing community.