Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges

  • Home
  • About Us
    • The Board
    • Our Mission and Goals
    • Our Code of Ethics
    • Volunteer Projects
    • Calendar of Events
    • Contact Us
  • Join Friends
    • Join or Renew
    • Members
  • Maps/Trails
    • Interactive Refuge Map
    • Lower Suwannee NWR Map
    • Walk/Bike/Drive Trails >
      • Adventures on the Refuges
      • Barnett Creek Trail
      • Bats of the Refuge
      • CR 349 Refuge Cycling Tour
      • Dennis Creek Trail
      • Dixie Mainline- FWS Guide
      • Hiking Trails Along the Dixie Mainline
      • Nature Drive Guide
      • River Walk & Tram Ridge Trail
      • Shell Mound Trail
      • Turkey Foot Loop Trail
    • Paddling Trails >
      • Overview
      • 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
    • Kayak-fishing Trails
  • Science, Butterflies
    • iNaturalist Project
    • Primer on Butterflies of the Lower Suwanee NWR
    • Shell Mound Archaeological Guide
  • Records, Newsletters
    • News Briefs
    • Minutes
    • Financial Reports
    • Bylaws
    • Archives

Super Annual Meeting Yesterday!!

3/1/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture

Yes . . . Rainy.
But that didn't keep Friends away from the Refuge.

More than 120 Friends members came. They dodged the rain, or were met by the welcome crew, led by Board member John Thalacker with a golf umbrella, came to the registration tent and signed in with the Membership team  . . . Marci and Jim Wilcox, Greg Lang, Ann Webster, Mac Cox, Peg Hall, Maria Sgambati  . . . and headed off to the Silent Auction, Friends Store, and Presentation Room. New memberships, renewals, and donations at the door brought in over $800.
Picture
Picture
The Silent Auction was set up on the log cabin headquarters building and on its porch. All 60 items brought multiple bids. Thanks to all the donors who provided the items, to all the Friends who purchased the donated items, and to the organizers especially Barbara Hudson and Donna Bushnell, Friends brought in more than $2,000 from the event.
Picture
Picture
The Friends Store has always been set up under our "festival tent" in the past. Not a chance in yesterday's rain. So Board members Carmelo Echevarria and Sherry Beauchamp moved it into an office in the fire building. That worked wonderfully. The merchandise was easier to see and make selections. It was a great place to browse while you warmed up and dried off. More than $300 in items to spread the word about the Refuge were sold.
Picture
Picture
The annual overview of the refuge's work by Refuge Manager Andrew Gude, the review of the year's accomplishments by Friends president Bob Hudson, and the election and installation of officers, all were well received by the standing-room-only crowd.
Picture
Picture
Dr. Coleman Sheehy's presentation about island ecology and its affect on biodiversity captured the crowd. The question and answer session was proof of how engaging the presentation was. It seemed everyone had multiple questions and comments! Coleman is the Associate Director of the Seahorse Key Marine Lab, which is a University of Florida facility located, by special agreement with the Refuge, on one of the islands that is part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge.
Picture
Picture
Then came a part we all look forward to . . . lunch cooked by Ken and Rose McCain. Ribs, chicken, baked beans, swamp cabbage, cole slaw and rolls were abundant, as were desserts brought by members.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Just in time, the rain let up for the lunch line. The refuge staff offered a nature walk after lunch. We visited the bat house to hear from Pam Darty about the bats and the bees, walked part of the River Trail with Larry Woodward, got a preview of the new Tram Trail with Daniel Barrand who talked about the forestry history of the refuge and Vic Doig who talked about the use of prescribed fire.
Picture
Picture
It was an excellent 2015 Friends Annual Meeting and Refuge Open House.
Picture
Picture
Photos by Bill Kilborn, Milli Chapell. Marci Wilcox, Peg Hall. If you have some to share, please email friends@friendsofrefuges.org
1 Comment
Bob Hudson
3/11/2015 02:11:17 pm

Fantastic report on the Annual Meeting!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    The Refuge is open daily from dawn to dusk.

    Visitors are welcome to walk or bicycle around yellow Refuge gates.
    Lower Suwannee NWR
    Hunt Brochure
    2018-2019

    Picture
    Contact Us
    Join/Renew/Give

    We have a monthly email News Brief

    Subscribe Here

    Read It Here

    Like us on Facebook

    The official government Refuge websites
    CEDAR KEY NWR
    
    LOWER SUWANNEE NWR

    "Escape to the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge" video by Visit Florida

    Archives

    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

Picture
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.


Photo used under Creative Commons from csath07