Every extra dollar a member gives helps benefit the greater good of Bethany Beach.
To renew membership
Members in 2018 now have two options to renew their membership for 2019.
- In response to the normal US Postal mailing that will be delivered in early February.
- Electronically through the BBLA website. Click here. Note Member ID and Town Owner # are on the US Postal mailing
Folks that were not members in 2018 also have two options to join BBLA.
- In response to the normal US Postal mailing that will be delivered in early February.
- Electronically through the BBLA website. Click here. Note Property ID and Town Owner # are on the US Postal mailing
History of electronic dues renewal for 2019
Last year, a number of members asked for an option to renew their BBLA membership and pay dues electronically. The Board responded by working with BBLA’s technical consultant-contractor to provide an electronic option.
We began by sending 2018 members an email on January 8th (reminder on Jan 17) with a link included in the e-mail to start the process. Many renewed. Feedback was over 95% positive. Click here for all member comments on the process.
Several members identified a need for improvements. The Board responded to develop a way to start the process through the BBLA website.
We learned the following from members:
- Many said the new option worked. 200 members renewed electronically. In a short survey,. 95% said the process was easy. Comments included:
- “Good easy system.” “Fast, efficient and cost effective-no issues”-great work.”
- “Paypal worked fine.” “Very easy. No additional mailing and sending checks.”
- A number of members felt the process needed improvement to make it easier or to further address concerns about security of personal data. Clicking on a link in an e-mail to bring a member’s individual record was a concern. UPDATE- Working with our technical consultant-contractor, we rapidly changed to the website based method shown on the renewal documents. Information now goes through the BBLA website after an individual log in. All payment information in PayPal is encrypted as it was previously. Note those who did not renew electronically will receive the normal postal mailing. It is possible a few will renew while the postal mailing is on route.
Electronic dues renewal is part of the BBLA Board’s commitment to increasing the options for electronic communications with members.
The 2018 Annual Meeting was held on Sat June 23 at South Coastal Library with a large turnout of approximately 80 people
Click here to see the Presidents Report on Behalf of the Board, It includes the meeting agenda, comments on transitions within the BBLA Board, as well as significant activities in the past year in each of BBLA's four major purposes. Members approved the bylaws change and elected the following as BBLA officers: President-Patrick McGuire; Vice President-Kathy Sierra; Treasurer-Susan Fried; Recording Secretary- Mary Louise Embrey; Membership Secretary-Tracy Mulligan.
Members received presentations on beach replenishment and on Tidal and Rainwater Flooding. Click here for the presentation from Charlii Miller of ECSI on Tidal and Rainwater Flooding in Bethany Beach.
Dinker-Irvin museum on target for 2020 opening
Although the Dinker-Irvin museum has been moved to its permanent location, and renovations have been underway, the finished restoration is still more than a year away. There has been significant interest in seeing the inside restoration, so the committee is looking at the possibility of opening it for a couple hours a day for a day or two beginning in July 2019. For more information see the link below: http://www.coastalpoint.com/45120/feature/chac-dinker-irvin-museum-target-2020-opening
Senator Carper spoke in Bethany Beach on October 26, 2018 about the recently adopted Water Infrastructure Act of 2018.
The bill was adopted by Congress on a 99-1 bipartisan vote. His description of the bill included
"For our state, this bill ---includes a new $75 million program to address critical beach nourishment projects along our coasts. "
Background information on Flooding in Bethany Beach
BBLA Members received a presentation on Tidal and Rainwater Flooding at the 2018 annual meeting. Click here
The Army Corps of Engineers did a study on the “viability of implementing flood risk management solutions for the tidal and coastal storm flooding problems that occur with the Town of Bethany Beach Delaware.". It is our understanding that the Town has its engineer reviewing the study. Click here for the study
Here is basic information from the Town on flooding, -posted in 2010 and still useful. http://www.townofbethanybeach.com/DocumentCenter/View/35/Flood-Prevention-Information
Emergency Prepardness
The Town has considerable information about emergency preparedness on their website at
http://www.townofbethanybeach.com/55/Emergency-Preparedness
Pedestrian Safety Measures on Collins Street Considered
On January 18, 2019 the Town Council conducted a well-attended hearing to review engineering plans and hear public comments on the proposed creation of a 5-foot wide walkway, on part of the Town’s public right-of-way property on the south side of Collins Street, from Half Moon Drive to Kent Avenue. Individuals were also allowed to ask the Town engineer questions about the proposed project.
The proposal was developed to address serious and growing concerns about pedestrian safety on the street. Without a sidewalk, pedestrians walk in the street, which is one of the most heavily travelled streets for vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles in Town. Available information indicates that the right-of-way property deeded to the Town for Collins Street was 40-feet. The paved street is now a relatively narrow 20-feet wide, with 10 feet of unpaved right-of-way on each side. The Town engineer recommended construction of the proposed walkway on part of that unpaved right-of-way to provide a safe walking area out of the vehicle travel lanes for the many pedestrians who use Collins Street to travel to and from the beach, boardwalk and downtown Bethany Beach.
From the numerous public comments at the hearing it appears that the main options for Council consideration and decision at some future date are:
- continue the status quo (Council considered a similar safety proposal in 2009, but did not take any action);
- advise/direct pedestrians to use the sidewalks on Garfield Parkway (Route 26);
- install speed bumps and stop signs to slow, discourage and reduce vehicle traffic on the street, and study the results before doing anything further; or
- construct the walkway and also install speed bumps and stop signs, as recommended by the Town engineer.
The Council is expected to decide on a course of action in the next few months. We will keep members informed of further developments.