It was a chilly December afternoon as the Shrewsbury-Towne-Monmouth Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution assembled at the Salt Creek Grille in Rumson for their annual Holiday luncheon.
As the event was called to order, Regent Leslie Clark introduced the afternoon’s guest speaker, the founder and executive director of Clean Ocean Action and 2024 New Jersey Woman of the year, Cindy Zipf.
“Cindy is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a PA in geography and marine affairs, with a special emphasis in marine science. As many of us who grew up in this area can remember, in 1984 the waters off the New York and New Jersey coast were known as the Ocean Dumping Capital of the world.
In response, Cindy formed the Ocean Action Coalition of 20 organizations, as a founder and a staff of 1. Cindy expanded the Coalition to over 120 organizations and a professional staff of 10 full-time employees.
Since Clean Ocean Action’s beginning in 1984, she has been at the helm of this lingering ocean pollution-fighting machine that is the only full-time ocean advocacy organization dedicated exclusively to the New York and New Jersey marine environments.”
As Cindy Zipf approached the dais she was met with wild applause. “…it all starts with each and every one of you and what your relationships are to the ocean.…” she began.
For the next 20 minutes, she spoke of the ocean and the joy that it gives coastal dwellers.
But she also talked of pollution, overfishing, new wind farms and marine mammal deaths. For example, the crowd learned of 69 whale deaths in 2 years off the coast of New Jersey which seem to coincide with sonar soundings and the construction of wind turbines for offshore power transmission. As of yet, the data regarding these deaths are inconclusive.
As she spoke in her conversational manner, the group listened in rapt attention, drinking in facts and figures and realizing that, even though our bay and oceans have come along way since the 1980’s, there is still a lot of work to be done. Clean Ocean Action and Cindy Zipf gives the Ocean a voice.
As the presentation ended, Shrewsbury-Towne Monmouth Chapter Regent, Leslie Clark asked Cindy to approach the Dais. “The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, has a conservationist award, it’s a national award, and it’s the highest such award that the National Society has.
The award recognizes those whose distinguished conservation records show that they go above and beyond, with sustained efforts to improve the environment and/ or educate on conservation issues.
The candidate nominated must be sponsored by a chapter and should have at least 2 letters of recommendation written by non-DAR members (recommendations were written by Joseph Hempel, Mayor of Rumson and Senator Joseph Carrillos) and apply for and receive state and the national DAR approval.
We are honored and proud to award Cindy Ziff with the prestigious DAR Conservation Award.”
In addition to the National Award presented to Ms. Zipf, several chapter members received acknowledgement for the anniversary of their memberships: Dorothy Gay and Harriett Howard celebrated their 50th anniversaries, while Ann Leuin celebrated 60 years as a member of the Shrewsbury-Towne-Monmouth Chapter the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
The DAR was founded in 1890 and has over 190,000 members in 3,000 chapters around the world. Any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineal descent from a Patriot of the American Revolution may join, regardless of race, religion, or creed.
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a non-profit, non-political organization. For more information: https://www.dar.org/national-society/outreach
Photo Credits: JF Grodeska, cover photo: Leslie Clark Presenting Cindy Zipf with Award