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Remarks Delivered at the January 24 2010 Friends Annual
Meeting
Good afternoon Friends!
Exactly one year ago this
meeting was opened by outgoing President Jay Brenner after
leading those in attendance on a glorious Cypress Swamp
stroll.
Jay passed away January 17th after a long
illness. He had two final requests on the day he died: 1) to
be buried in the Eternal Light Cemetery on the east side of
Rt.#441 slightly north of the Refuge as it overlooked his
beloved Loxahatchee, and 2) to ask all who wish to
make
memorial donations in his honor to make them to the Friends.
Although the family was not able to fulfill his first
request, we are working with them on the second. Donations
in Jay's memory can be made by check to the Friends of
Loxahatchee or by credit card through our secure website
using PayPal. We are also working with the Refuge staff on a
fitting memorial that I can assure you will have to do with
continuing to educate visitors to Loxahatchee on the wonders
and marvels to be found in a Northern Everglades Cypress
Swamp.
The last 12 months seem to have flown by with
projects and initiatives. The highlights from my perspective
follow.
- A beautiful GATOR TALES newsletter was
restarted (two issues) under the inspiring leadership of
Lance Warley.
- Our annual Photo Contest was expanded
with the help of the Everglades Photo Society.
- Our
website under the guidance of George Berman has added a
staff section, expanded photo gallery coverage, and many
hyperlinks to related sites.
- The Gift Shop offerings
were greatly expanded under the watchful eyes of Harvey
Eisen and Frank Budofsky.
- Elinor Williams put together
another stunning calendar and kept you all well informed
with monthly email updates.
- We hosted a Friends of the
Florida Refuges Conference. More of you should have
attended. The lineup of presenters included Evan Hirsche,
NWRA President; Charlie Pelizza, Pelican Island Refuge
Manager; Mark Musaus, Deputy Chief SE Region; and Dudley
Edmondson, naturalist and wildlife photographer-and that was
just the morning! The afternoon included Tom Strickland,
Asst Sect of the Interior; and Sam Hamilton, Director of the
USFWS. The weather was perfect and the day was awesome.
- And of course the new exhibits which opened in October
with all the attendant events and programs befitting the
occasion.
For 2010 there is still much work to be done. My two major goals:
- We need to expand our
Speaker's Bureau-volunteers who go out into the community to
give presentations about Loxahatchee to civic and
neighborhood groups. We will train you and provide
materials, logistical, and technical support.
- We will
reinstitute the Art Contest which was very successful for
many years. We need help in planning and carrying out this
initiative.
Let me hear from you and thanks for joining us today.
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