Association Adds New Partnerships In 2011
A steadily improving financial "bottom line" has allowed our Association to forge new partnerships with several other organizations in 2011. One of those, the Nestucca River Anglers, rears and releases 100,000 fall chinook annually. A very healthy percentage of adult salmon are returning this year to the Nestucca from that project.
Another exciting program now underway involves a comprehensive digital history of the dory fleet over the past 110 years. Linfield College's Department of Theatre and Communication Arts spearheads the effort. At this time, about 30 longtime dorymen and women have been interviewed and the beginning of the new webpage is found at this Linfield College site.
An improved working relationship with the Nestucca Fire and Rescue Department should help keep the traffic lane open at the Cape in 2012. Also, our Association has supported the concrete plank beach access ramp, both financially and with hundreds of hours of volunteer labor.
The safety of beach-goers, other user groups and our dory vessels has been a cornerstone in our Mission Statement since 1996. The new safety brochure is in its second printing.
We continue to offer student scholarships in the amount of $500 each and we are pleased to financially assist the local school district with the "BackPack" program, whereby students are sent home at the end of the week with food to tide them over until the next Monday when school lunches are available. It's a great all-volunteer "direct aid" effort for the needy.
The Memorial Wall at the Cape is a beautiful addition describing our heritage.
Of course, we allocate much of our effort toward local, state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to fisheries and the environment. The challenges are never-ending and we attempt to transmit as much information as we can to our nearly 500 members as well as our networking association partners.
And, since our 50th anniversary of the famous "Dory Derbies" begun in 1959, we now partner with the Chamber of Commerce for the annual "Dory Days" celebration on the third weekend in July. Also, the "Blessing of the Fleet" at the Cape brings many dories and families together on either the first or second Saturday in June.
Do You Want to be a Member?
You can. Even if you don't own a boat. Look for the Dorymen's membership form on this website. You can be assured that almost all of your contribution will go to the programs (and more) mentioned above.
Our Mission:
To protect, defend and promote the traditional cultural and economic values of the dory fleet, and specifically
To protect the usual and customary access to, and use of, the public beach at Cape Kiwanda for all the traditional activities associated with dory vessels, and
To maintain and improve all traditional vehicle and pedestrian access and vehicle parking on public lands at Cape Kiwanda, and
To support safety regulations consistent with traditional dory vessel practices, and
To actively seek laws and regulations that provide the maximum recreational and commercial fishing opportunities consistent with realistic conservation of the resources, and
To establish and support projects and events that promote the traditional, cultural, historic and educational values of the dory fleet.
--Amended and Approved August 28, 1999