You might say that Tally Garfield is “hooked” on The Coalition for Buzzards Bay. Whether in her role as a Coalition Board member, a Baywatcher water quality monitor, the Swim Buzzards Bay finish line co-chair, or a Coalition office volunteer, Tally’s enthusiasm for preserving the health of Buzzards Bay is evident—and contagious. “When you do work for a group for a long period of time, the first thing that’s important is a passion for the mission,” she says. “That’s the thing that hooked me [about the Coalition]. Once you acknowledge the mission and it gets you in the gut, you start volunteering your time.”

Tally says her longtime relationship with the Coalition has provided her with an “amazing education on the science of the Bay, water quality, and the issues surrounding it.” “I’ve realized that in working on behalf of nonprofits, you can’t help but get an education, whether it’s the mission of the nonprofit, or the running of a nonprofit,” she says. “My work with the Coalition has given me a much broader understanding of how ecosystems function... Read more here

Nine Buzzards Bay communities have received critical oil spill emergency response equipment from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Coalition Marine Policy Specialist Ben Bryant joined Governor Romney and state and local legislators at a press conference at New Bedford’s Fort Taber Park on November 4th as the Governor presented representatives from New Bedford, Westport, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, Marion, Wareham, Bourne, Falmouth, and Gosnold with trailers containing thousands of feet of boom materials, absorbent pads, and other protective equipment. Dartmouth previously received a trailer last June.

Funding for the trailers comes from the Oil Spill Act Trust Fund, an account set up as part of the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act of 2004 to receive a two-cent per barrel fee on all petroleum products shipped into Massachusetts. The Coalition worked closely with legislators, Attorney General’s office, and Governor’s office to craft and pass the Oil Spill Prevention Act and was instrumental in developing the Buzzards Bay Geographic Response Plan, a document intended to guide local responders in the first 24 to 48 hours of a major coastal oil spill... Read more here

Photo above: Ben Bryant addresses the crowd as Governor Romney, Massachusetts legislators, and Mayor Kalisz look on.

The Coalition for Buzzards Bay will be a part of the Waterfront Historic Area League’s (WHALE's) Holiday Shops at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, December 2 – 3 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Stop by our booth and pick up a Coalition hat or t-shirt for someone on your holiday gift list!

Holiday Shops 2005 is a wholesome, family event featuring quality holiday shopping designed to promote fine crafts, gifts, artwork, and gourmet items. Enjoy at great shopping, live entertainment, holiday cheer, refreshments, horse-drawn wagon rides, dozens of children's activities and much more. Admission is free!

Avoid traffic, long lines at the mall, and support a good cause—shop the Coalition's online store for all of your holiday gifts.

Pick up one of our popular Save Buzzards Bay baseball caps—which can be personalized with one of 20 Bay harbor and cove locations—or choose from a variety of short and long-sleeved t-shirts.

Coalition members receive a discount on most items. Click [here] to start your shopping today!

Coalition Baywatcher Richard Golen was recently featured in Volkswagen's "Force of Good" ad campaign which promotes the company's 2006 New Beetle through encouraging fun, goodness, and volunteerism. The campaign includes ads in recent issues of Oprah, Allure, Real Simple, and other national magazines.

Richard, a Baywatcher for Clarks Cove, is profiled on Volkwagen's "Force of Good" interactive website. Click [here] to visit the site where he highlights his water quality monitoring work for the Coalition as one of his "good deeds."

Note: From the "Force of Good" homepage, click on the "Beetle People" link. Richard is pictured second from the left (with his Baywatcher sampling pole!)

The Coalition for Buzzards Bay is a member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance.