Surfrider branches play a key role in promoting the organisation, its values and goals. Branches also play an important link between our members and our national office which assists in the coordination and promotion of Surfrider events and activities.

The Surfrider Foundation is keen to see our network of branches expand around Australia. The following guidelines have been established to assist Surfrider members around the country who wish to organise a branch in their local area.

What is a branch?
A branch is a group of people with common goals and aims who wish to pursue local issues and projects under the banner of the Surfrider Foundation.

Branches can range in size from 5-50 people. They can meet as regularly as once a month or once a week. Branches share a common set of goals and represent a range of regional issues.

Legally, branches are members of Surfrider Foundation Australia Ltd which gives branches the right to use the Surfrider logo, name and resources. Surfrider branches are part investigator, coastal 'watchdog', scientist, lawyer, environmental educator, public advocate, researcher and media representative.

Branches play a key role in getting the job done at the grassroots level whether it is highlighting ocean pollution problems or implementing a dune revegetation program at the local level. They are the hands, the feet and the voice of the Surfrider Foundation.

How do I start a Surfrider Foundation Branch?
Any group of people wishing to form a branch must have the permission of the National Office.

The Surfrider Foundation has spent many years at the local, National and International level building up a credible organisation with links to business, government, community groups and industry.

In order for the National Office to give a branch permission to use our name and logo we need the prospective branch to meet a series of minimum guidelines to ensure that the branch has the best chance of succeeding in the future.

To become a branch of the Surfrider Foundation the interested group of members must follow a series of steps and complete an Application Form to organise a Surfrider Branch. This Application is then presented to the National Board of Directors of Surfrider Foundation Australia for endorsement.

In organising your first branch it is recommended that you contact the National Office for a copy of our LOCAL ENVIROGROUP MANUAL. This has advice and practical ideas for people wishing to form a Surfrider Branch.

Organising A Branch
First and foremost organise your first meeting, most Surfrider Branches are formed when a group of concerned ocean users come together to achieve a common goal whether it be the phasing out of an ocean outfall or revegetation of a dune or coastal area.

Your first meeting needs to be attended by more than five (5) paid up members of the Surfrider Foundation. Make sure that everyone who attends the first meeting records their name and address on paper for future reference.

In order to make a submission to the National Board the following steps need to be followed and documented at the meeting.

(a) Elect office bearers. For the benefit of the first meeting it is important that you nominate people to chair meetings, record the meetings and handle any money raised at meetings.

The following Office Bearers should be elected at the first meeting: 1. President 2. Secretary 3. Treasurer
do this through a simple nomination procedure as outlined on page 7 of the LOCAL ENVIROGROUP MANUAL. It is important that all nominations and elections are recorded in the minutes of this first meeting.

(b) Formal intent to become a Branch of Surfrider Foundation, once your office bearers have been elected, members need to vote on a formal motion applying to become an unregistered branch.

The following motion should be put to members for comment and voting; MOTION: "That the members of the Surfrider Foundation present at this meeting formally apply to the National Board of the Surfrider Foundation to become an UNREGISTERED BRANCH under Article 6 of the Surfrider Foundation Articles of Association." Moved (first nominee) Seconded (second nominee).

(c) Formally adopt a branch name. The members present next need to decide to call the branch a name in keeping with the identity of the local area.

For instance the Northern Beaches Branch identifies with the northern beach suburbs of Sydney. The Gold Coast Branch identifies with the Gold Coast while Cronulla identifies with a specific area in Sydney.

The following motion should be put to members for comment and voting MOTION: "That the UNREGISTERED BRANCH be called the _____ BRANCH" Moved (first nominee) Seconded (second nominee)

(d) Endorsement of Mission Statement of Surfrider Foundation The next step at your first meeting is for the prospective branch to formally endorse the Mission Statement of the Surfrider Foundation and adopt the National Office Articles of Association as the guiding principles for the running of the Branch.

The following motion should be put to members for comment and voting MOTION "That the __________Branch resolves to become a member of the Company of Surfrider Foundation Australia Ltd and resolves to abide by the Articles of Association of the Company." Moved (first nominee) Seconded (second nominee).

(e) Branch boundaries, the meeting needs to define boundaries so that there is no clash with any other Surfrider Branches in your area when it comes to membership or issues. It is important at this point that your branch propose that the National Board a series of postcodes as representing the core constituency of your branch.

The following motion should be put to members for comment and voting MOTION "That the NATIONAL BOARD endorse the following postcodes as representing the boundaries of the ________BRANCH. (List postcodes)" Moved (first nominee) Seconded (second nominee).

(f) Proposed business plan, The National Board would like to see an indication of what sorts of events and activities you propose for the next twelve months. This list should include the following: proposed regular meeting venue / date, proposed opportunities for fundraising (band night etc?), identification of major environmental issues local or national/international, promotion strategies newsletters, websites etc.

(g) Sending in your formal application to organise a branch. At the end of the meeting the office bearers need to fill out a formal: APPLICATION TO ORGANISE A SURFRIDER BRANCH (available from National Office) and send it to the National Office for endorsement by the National Board accompanied by the following documentation:

1. Completed APPLICATION TO ORGANISE A SURFRIDER BRANCH.

2. Minutes of the first meeting including motions and list of office bearers.

3. List of interested members from first meeting.

4. Proposed business plan.

Upon receipt of your application your branch will be notified within 30 days as to whether your application has been successfully endorsed by the National Board or not.

Once successful you will receive a full copy of the National Office Branch Guidelines and copy of the Articles of Association.

From there the fun of being involved in Surfrider starts and the challenge of making our oceans 'cleaner' and our coasts sustainable begins.