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BBLA Annual Membership Meeting
Here's what you need to know:
- DATE: 6/26/2021
- TIME: 10:00 - 11:30 AM
- VENUE: Zoom Conference (required registration link below)
- AGENDA: Business Items/Membership Votes/Invited Speaker from South Coastal Village Volunteers
For over 50 years, BBLA members have been gathering annually to participate in the business meeting required by the 501(c)4 BBLA Bylaws. Despite COVID-19, BBLA made sure the annual requirement was met in 2020 via a Zoom conference.The meeting was successful and well-attended. The BBLA Board of Directors decided to use the Zoom conference platform again in 2021 because of COVID-19 restrictions and in the hope of achieving greater membership participation. BBLA thrives as a membership organization when more members are aware of BBLA business and become more involved with the improvement and preservation of the beach community we all share as property owners.
This year, the membership will be voting on a proposed amendment to the Bylaws to change the procedures for Board nominations from the membership. In addition, members will be able to virtually meet the BBLA officers and other Board members, hear an update on the many areas of accomplishment over the past year, and future plans based on direction provided by the membership survey. Time is also being allotted for an invited guest speaker. You will hear a short presentation from one of BBLA's donation recipients - South Coastal Village Volunteers. A representative will explain how this important effort is being implemented in the Bethany Beach area.
Advanced registration is required for participation in the Annual Meeting. Please register now using this link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Your membership and input is valued by the association and the Board of Directors is looking forward to "seeing you" on June 26th.
Spotlight on a BBLA Donation Recipient
Consistent with language in the BBLA Bylaws, “...to carry on charitable, educational and civic work for the improvement of the Town of Bethany Beach...,” each year BBLA makes donations to worthy organizations and activities that benefit the community and the surrounding areas.
In 2020, the Southeast Sussex Ministerium became a first-time BBLA recipient to assist with the tremendous increased need for the various food pantries they support. The Ministerium is now composed of 15 member churches whose work serving people in need has been especially important in this time of the pandemic.
Here are some specifics on what the group effort was able to accomplish with donations:
- maintained well-stocked food pantries
- provided a food service for the food insufficient on Tuesday evenings from mid November to mid March
- provided about 500 meals
- provided gift cards to an area fast food restaurant
- distributed cereal and toothpaste, as needed
- covered about $6000 in utility bills for those in need
BBLA reaching out to help our neighbors survive during difficult times is only possible due to the generosity of its membership - many thanks.
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NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTORS:
Diane Fogash -- Jerry Hardiman -- Claire Loftus -- Chip Smith
Mary Louise Embrey (writer/editor)
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Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
This is an area that was flagged by the membership through BBLA's 2020 Membership Survey. With the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Garfield Parkway being the busiest pedestrian crossing in the State of Delaware over a 12 hour period in peak season, BBLA is addressing the issues associated with the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists throughout the Town in the following ways:
- BBLA Board Member Diane Fogash was approved to be a member of the Town's new Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Committee, Chaired by Council Member Faith Denault.
- In ongoing BBLA discussions with the Mayor and the Town Manager, safety suggestions are being further emphasized.
- Through the periodic Beach News editions, members are made aware of various improvements, such as flashing caution lights at some Rt.1 crosswalks, and repainting bike lanes and crosswalks around Town.
- BBLA volunteers aim to help raise awareness amongst residents and visitors about the current biking laws and safety tips.
For your convenience, you can access an on-line version of a pamphlet issued by the Delaware Department of Transportation on bicycle riding throughout the state.
Here are some highlights for bicyclists:
- Helmet is required by law if under the age of 18, but recommended for all ages.
- Headphones must not cover both ears.
- Obey all traffic signs & signals and ride in the same direction as traffic.
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National Wind Energy Project Initiative
The BBLA Board of Directors continues to monitor the potential development of wind energy projects between 15 and 20 miles offshore between Ocean City to the south and Rehoboth to the north.
The BBLA website has an initial article about wind farms, in general, and, specifically, the proposed Orsted/Skipjack Wind Farm.The article contains photos, lists pros and cons, summarizes several local views, and lists references for those interested in more comprehensive information.
On March 29, 2021, the Biden Administration published a Fact Sheet, “Biden Administration Jumpstarts Offshore Wind Energy Projects to Create Jobs.” National Climate Advisor, Ms. Gina McCarthy, and four key Cabinet officials met with “state officials, industry executives, and labor leaders to announce new leasing, funding, and goals that employ President Biden’s whole-of-government approach” for a clean energy revolution.This action begins some of the critical coordination work necessary to carry out the requirements of Executive Order 14008 on building a new American Infrastructure and clean energy economy that will create millions of jobs, including those in a new and thriving offshore wind energy industry up and down the Atlantic coast.
The President’s plan to advance wind energy projects will create good-paying union jobs, provide new sources of clean energy, lead to new and ground-breaking research and development, data sharing, and interagency cooperation.
In an article published on March 29, 2021, Reuters reported that the Administration expects that the nation would see port upgrade investment related to offshore wind energy projects of more than $500 million.The Administration also announced that it will provide $3 billion in public financing for offshore wind energy projects through the Department of the Interior.
The implications of this initiative for the proposed Orsted/Skipjack Wind Energy Project are not known at this time.The BBLA Board will continue to monitor and report on both the Biden Administration’s wind energy project initiative and the Orsted/Skipjack Wind Energy Project.
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