President's Message May 14, 2012
Sarasota Bay Watch held its annual Sister Keys Clean Up Saturday May 12, 2012 at the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant in the Longboat Key Village. One hundred and ten volunteers showed up to lend a hand, get a one year membership to Sarasota Bay Watch and have lunch on the bay courtesy of Ed Chiles and the Chiles Group. It was a perfect day with low humidity, a brisk wind to keep the bugs at bay and sunny skies. At the end of the day a large dump truck was filled with debris ranging from tires to toilet seats. The Town of Longboat Key Public Works Department lead by James Linkogle helped transport people, provided trash bags, and hauled the trash away. Longboat Key Marine Office Shawn Nagell slowed boat traffic in the inter-coastal waterway to protect volunteers and Captain Tracy Dell of the Kathleen D Sailing Charters provided a boat to ferry participants back and forth from the Mar Vista.
The success of events like the clean-up shows that people are eager to get involved with the health of the bay. Give them an opportunity to help and they will gain a new appreciation of the resource.
Our next event is slated for June 9, 2012. The Second Annual Scallopalooza is one our most exciting and rewarding projects to date. In 2011 we partnered with the Sarasota Yacht Club to raise funds for a multi-year scallop restoration effort in the Bay. Our first year was a sellout as 200 citizens turned out to show their support. The organization raised over $14,000.00 which allowed us to release four million baby scallops in the Bay. Recently Mote Marine’s Sarasota Bay Explorer reported finding baby scallops in the area we seeded. While the evidence is anecdotal, there is a good chance that these may be a result of the release. With the success of the second event we will be poised to conduct one of the most complete multi-year efforts ever undertaken. The idea that our children and future generations might have a chance to scallop in Sarasota Bay is compelling. If you wish to join us for the Second Annual Scallopalooza and take part in this historical undertaking click here for more information and to sign up.
All the Best
RUSTY CHINNIS
President of the Board
Our premier event. The Sarasota Yacht Club hosts this annual fundraiser, now in its second year, that launched our scallop restoration project. It is a fun evening of entertainment, presentations, silent auction, and food. The event starts at 6 PM. Ticket prices are $75 per person. A table for 10 is only $700, and table for 8 is only $560. Donation and sponsorship opportunities available. Be a part of it! 
