ANNAPOLIS - In a pair of scoping meetings scheduled for May, Coastal Conservation Association Maryland (CCA MD) will take the first step in bringing two new local chapters of Maryland’s leading saltwater fisheries conservation organization to Southern Maryland. Due to interest from local members and citizens public scoping meetings will be held on May 9 in Solomons and May 15 in Chesapeake Beach.
“We have received many letters and phone inquires from residents who want to bring local chapters to their communities,” said Bill Curry, chairman of CCA MD and Lusby resident. “It's clear to us that Southern Maryland anglers are eager to contribute to the continued growth and success of CCA MD, but more importantly, to the conservation and protection of the public's marine resources.”
CCA MD, a state chapter of a national non-profit conservation organization with chapters in 18 states and over 90,000 members, gets it strength from the grassroots by organizing volunteers at the community level. Through a network of strong local chapters, CCA MD hopes to increase awareness of fishery issues and improve its ability to impact decisions using its growing grassroots political network.
“The purpose of the new chapters is twofold,” said Brooke MacDonald, assistant director for CCA MD and Deale resident. “First, to provide our members and the public in these areas a way to meet other anglers where they can learn about fishing and conservation, and second, to spread CCA MD's grassroots web to more parts of our state.”
The Solomons meeting on May 9 is at the Old Solomons Pier, 14375 Old Solomons Road. The Chesapeake Beach/Deale meeting is on May 15 at the Chesapeake Beach Community Center, Room (A), Chesapeake Beach Water Park, 4075 Gordon Stinnett Avenue. Both meetings are open to the public and will begin at 7 p.m.
CCA was recently featured in Field & Stream along with four other conservation organizations in an article titled “Small Groups, Big Results” and received the International Game Fish Association’s prestigious Conservation Award in January. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about CCA MD and how you can help bring it into your community please join us at one of the meetings scheduled for May. For more information, contact Brooke MacDonald toll-free at 888.758.6580 or by email at brooke (at) ccamd.org.