Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges

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      • Details: Paddles 1 - 4 >
        • 1. Fishbone Creek
        • 2. Shired Creek
        • 3. Sanders Creek
        • 4. Cat Island
      • Details: Paddles 5 - 8 >
        • 5. Lock Creek
        • 6. Lock Shingle Creek
        • 7. Gopher River
        • 8. Sandfly Creek
      • Details: Paddles 9 - 12 >
        • 9. Barnett McCormick Creek
        • 10. Shell Mound - Hog Island
        • 11. Shell Mound - Long Cabbage Island
        • 12. Atsena Otie
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Join the Friends Meetup Group

2/24/2019

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The Friends are now on Meetup.com
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Sign up for a free account and join the Friends of the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge in the Cedar Key area to receive updates. We will have guided walks, invasive species eradication sessions (Pepper Busters!) and lots more on our calendar.
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2019 Annual Meeting

2/23/2019

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The 2019 Friends Annual Meeting attracted a near standing-room-only crowd of about 140 folks to Refuge headquarters today.  The weather was kind this year, especially compared to the rainy, cool days we had each of the past two Annual Meetings.

New Friends shirts, hats, earrings, and mugs sold briskly, perhaps because while shopping members were able to hold board-member Margie VanLandingham's 9-week old puppy.
Outgoing president Bill Dummitt provided an overview of the highlights of the past year, including the Welcome Desk program, expansion and enhancement of the Shell Mound interpretive program, trail guide development, and nature walks.
President John McPherson previewed the next year. Friends now has a presence on Meetup.com, progress continues on planning for future Vista property use and on enhancements to Shell Mound trails. Friends archives and Bylaws updates also are planned.
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Bill Dummitt
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John McPherson
The new board was elected and outgoing members acknowledged. The term of office is from Annual Meeting to Annual Meeting.

Officers:
  • President, John McPherson (serving until 2020)
  • Immediate Past President, Bill Dummitt (serving until 2020)
  • President Elect, open (serving until 2020)
  • Treasurer, Linda Kimball (serving until 2021)
  • Secretary, Ed DeHaan (serving until 2021)

New and re-elected Board members, serving until 2021:
  • Joe Hand, Debbie Jordan, Dan Kline, Kit Lane, Roger McDaniels, John Thalacker

Continuing Board members, serving until 2020:
  • Libby Cagle, Boyd Kimball, Bob Lewis, Debbie Meeks, Margy VanLandingham

Outgoing Board members:
  • Russ Hall
  • Jim Hoy
  • Doug Maple
  • Linda Tyson
Russ Hall highlighted the work Friends are doing to document species on the Refuges through iNaturalist.org.
Refuge Manager Andrew Gude overviewed the year's activities on the Refuge. His positive and encouraging presentation highlighted the many achievements of the Refuge despite the fact that the number of staff members has decreased from 15 to 5 in the past three years and that the government was shut down for a month. He credited the staff, community, and Friends with keeping Refuge momentum moving forward and supporting the Refuge's vision and goals.
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Joe Hand, Dan Kline, Kit Lane, John McPherson, Linda Kimball
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Russ Hall
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Refuge Manager Andrew Gude
Shari Blisset-Clark, president of the Florida Bat Conservancy was the featured speaker.
Walks were available in the afternoon to the River Trail, Shell Mound, and Dennis Creek guided by Bob Lewis, Jay Bushnell, and Bill Dummitt respectively.
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Shari Blisset-Clark
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    The Refuge is open daily from dawn to dusk.
    The Refuge Manager Andrew Gude can be reached by text or phone at 703.622.3896.
    Hunting Information from the Refuge Manager
    The print version of the  2019-2020 Hunt Regulations Brochure is now available at Refuge headquarters. For an digital version,
    Click on the Photo Below

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    For Information about getting a Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge Hunt Permit and a Deer Bag Report, Click Here
    To Apply for a Permit to Hunt on the Lower Suwannee Refuge,
    Click Here

    For a copy of the Deer Harvest Log, Click Here
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    CEDAR KEY NWR
    
    LOWER SUWANNEE NWR

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Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges
P. O. Box 532
Cedar Key, FL 32625
friends@friendsofrefuges.org

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.