SPB – Town Hall Meeting

May 24th, 2022

Poppy Bay bird's eye view

Save Popponesset Bay is a volunteer-run 501 (c)(3) organization that owns 2/3 of The Spit, with the Eastern 3rd owned by Mass Audubon. SPB maintains the Spit and Popponesset Bay for our collective enjoyment. Whether you are a beachgoer,  birder, fisherman, or boater we have you covered for year-round fun on Popponesset Bay.

Watch the full Town Hall Meeting Presentation!

Opening Remarks & Agenda

Presented by Kathy Cramer and Marlene Perkins

  • 2022 Goals  
  • Financial Summary 
  • Longer, Wider, Deeper Project Update
  • Fundraising Update 
  • Event Calendar 
  • Security Update 
  • Summer Internship 
  • Social Media 
  • Final Remarks 
  • Q&A

Board of Directors

2022 Goals

Presented by Kathy Cramer and Marlene Perkins

  • Receive approval for longer, wider, deeper channel project.
  • Raise $2M to fund LWD project
  • Educate the community on SPB
  • Increase the SPB donor base
    • More outreach to the community – Popponesset, Mashpee, Marinas
    • $30 under 30
  • Increase the community involvement
  • Recruit and train volunteers
  • Work closely with Mass Audubon
  • Partnership with Mashpee Clean Waters
  • Improve interactions and communication with the Town of Mashpee

Financial Summary

Presented by Mike Moskowitz

Longer, Wider, Deeper Project

Presented by John Malloy

SPB is working closely with the Town of Mashpee to permit a significant expansion of the Outer Channel leading to Nantucket Sound. The outer channel would be made 50′ wider, 250′ longer, and 2′ deeper.

Benefits of the dredging project include:

  • Approximately 40,000 cubic yards of sand will be made available to expand the Nantucket Sound facing beach expanding the beaches and providing much-needed protection for the sand dunes
  • Boating navigation in the channel will be greatly improved providing significant safety benefits
  • The expanded barrier beach will continue to protect the Popponesset Bay watershed, real estate, and interior channels, and act as a protect species habitat

Permitting Status

Presented by John Malloy

  • SPB has worked closely with Woods Hole Group (“WHG”) and the Town of Mashpee for the last 4-5 years to permit the Outer Channel dredging project
  • SPB has received the necessary approvals from the Town of Mashpee and expects final approval from the MA DEP shortly
  • SPB is working with the US Army Corp of Engineers to obtain the final approvals needed to move the project forward
  • We expect to receive all required approvals in 2022!

Construction Timeline & Budget

Presented by John Malloy

SPB is evaluating options to execute the dredging project:

  • SPB has worked closely with the Town and the Barnstable County dredge on multiple dredging projects
  • The Barnstable County Dredge team has made numerous improvements over the last 1-2 years and should be best positioned to execute the project efficiently, safely, and at the lowest cost

Construction Timeline:

  • We expect to execute the project in the Fall of 2022 or 2023 depending on final receipt of all permits and dredge availability

Construction Budget:

  • SPB is currently budgeting ~$2 million to execute the project

Fundraising Update

Presented by Bob Hughes & Caroline Malloy

  • Number of donors has grown from 74 in 2012 to 235 in 2021
  • 2021 Donations by Range
    • 4 families $50,000 – $100,000
    • 10 families $10,000 – $49,999
    • 10 families $5,000 – $9,999
    • 46 families $1,000 – $4,999
    • 170 families $10 – $599

Fundraising Update

Presented by Bob Hughes & Caroline Malloy

2022 Goals

  • Raise $1.5M to meet Longer, Wider, Deeper Project goal
    • Channels of fundraising: community events, private events, corporate and local business sponsorships, Giving Tuesday, and direct asks
  • Increase event calendar to foster community and raise funds
    • We have been building this strategy over the past 2 years – proving successful – 55% of yearly donations derived from events
  • Broaden donor base – increase # of donors as a result of these efforts

Event Calendar

Presented by Caroline Malloy

Security Update

Presented by Mike Moskowitz

  • Security patrols started in 2018 to help control rowdy behavior on the Spit.
  • Security patrols are on duty from Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon, including Friday and Saturday nights, starting on Memorial Day weekend and ending on Labor Day Weekend. Extra patrols are scheduled for the July 4th weekend. In 2021, we switched to Pilgrim Security, a professional security company, whose management is comprised of former police officers.
  • John Rogorzenski, a former Superintendent with the Barnstable County Sheriff’s department, is the lead person for security on the spit. John has extensive experience in de-escalating issues that arise.
  • The SPB board was very pleased with John’s performance last summer and hopefully, those that visit the Spit noticed the difference.
  • SPB’s goal is to provide a comfortable environment for everyone to be able to enjoy the Spit.

Summer Internship

Presented by Mike Oleksak & Eric BrandtSPB is rolling out its first intern program this summer

SPB is rolling out its first Internship Program this summer:

  • Interns will provide daily afternoon walking tours of the Spit and share information with walkers.
  • Interns will also help at 1-2 SPB summer events
  • Why? Interns, as Spit Ambassadors, will educate visitors to the Spit on the Spit and Bay, SPB, Mass Audubon, history, and upkeep of the area thus increasing awareness and community growth/engagement
  • Materials will be provided to the interns for talking points and to answer questions
  • This experience will be especially appealing for students studying or interested in marine or coastal issues
  • While unpaid, SPB can provide a letter of recommendation and community service hours about this summer work experience
  • If you have someone interested in interning please email us at info@savepopponessetbay.org

Social Media

Follow us on social!

With a reach of 1000+ people, we share frequent updates with our community on policies, projects, and special events. Connect with us!

Instagram: @save_poppy_bay

Facebook: @SavePopponessetBay

Final Remarks & Volunteer Needed

Presented by Kathy Cramer & Marlene Perkins

Final Remarks

  • Thank you to our Supporters
  • Truly takes a village
  • Be ambassadors for our community
  • Help us expand our donor base
  • Summer programs with Mass Audubon
  • Thank you event Friday, July 15

Volunteer Needed

  • Summer Interns
  • Fundraising
  • Website Developer (WordPress)
  • Communications/Emails & Articles
  • Grant research and writing
  • SPB advocates with Town of Mashpee
  • Mashpee Neck Marina liaison