Good things happen when good organizations work together. Coastal Conservation Association – Santa Barbara Chapter (ACC-SB) and Santa Barbara Elks Lodge #613 unite heads and hearts for two events in April; and maybe you and your family/friends can participate in at least one of them – maybe both.
The first event will be at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20 at Elks Lodge, 150 N. Kellogg Ave. near Calle Real in Goleta (visit https://www.elks.org/lodges/home.cfm?LodgeNumber=613).
CCA-SB hosts a fun public event with entertaining/informative speakers and dinner available. Admission is free, Mexican dinner is $30, and they have a bar.
The plan is to release video during dinner time at a new reef site deployed in coastal waters near Ensenada by Fish reef project.
After dinner, Captain Jason Diamond and Jaime Diamond, owners of Santa Barbara Landing (a newly revised version of Sea Landing in Santa Barbara) will talk about their impressive short/medium/long term plans for the future of this local establishment. longstanding tradition that connects people to the ocean and islands for fishing, whale watching, sightseeing and other excursions. To see www.stardustsportfishing.com.
The event will be an opportunity to learn more about the good works and aims of the Coastal Conservation Association and Elks Lodge in their beautiful building. I definitely plan to attend and get involved, since I’m involved with both major organizations.
If you need to do so, you can register on site to become a member of the CCA (or online at www.joincca.org) and you can get information to apply for Elks Lodge membership. The CCA works for healthy and well-managed fisheries and access to them, as well as for the improvement of fish habitat. The Elks Lodge helps our community in many ways, including serving our beloved veterans.
The second event is a fishing charter to benefit veterans, organized by the CCA and paid for by the Elks Lodge. Veterans don’t have to pay anything to fish. The voyage will take place aboard the Stardust departing from Santa Barbara Landing at 7 a.m. on Friday, April 22. Jaime and Jason Diamond have scaled down the charter making it a true community event to benefit our veterans.
At the first event on April 20, Captain Jason will talk about plans for the trip and provide an overview of gear, bait and techniques.
There may be a spot or two left for veterans, although many vets have already signed up. You can check with event organizer Dave Lopez, Col., USAF (Retired), who was the brains and muscle behind both events. His email is [email protected]
I find it comforting when multiple organizations collaborate and multiple local businesses get involved. The president of our local ACC chapter is Captain Tiffany Vague from Wave Custom Fishing Rods.
I hope you’ll consider coming to the April 20 event at Elks Lodge for a fun night where you get to know the good people involved with both great organizations.
– Captain David Bacon operates WaveWalker Charters and is president of SOFTIN inc., a non-profit organization providing boating opportunities to those in need. To visit softininc.blogspot.com to learn more about the organization and how you can help. Click here to read previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.
