Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges
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Annual Meeting -- Back on the Refuge!

4/2/2022

 
Rain has become a reliable partner in Friends events, or so it seems. It stormed for both the Summer Solstice Celebration and the Winter Solstice Celebration. Again today, storms were with us. As the photos below by Friends member Molly  Jubitz show, skies over Cedar Key were ominous when it was time to head out to the Refuge.
Picture of threatening clouds
Picture of threatening clouds over Cedar Key
Picture Picture of threatening clouds over Cedar Key
PicturePicture of threatening clouds over Cedar Key
Not at all deterred by the morning clouds, the midday deluge, and quite an abundance of no-see-ums, more than 110 members attended the 2022 Annual Meeting on the Refuge. It was the first in-person Annual Meeting in two years.
Picture of folks registering
Treasurer Linda Kimball registering members
Picture of 3 members chatting - Russ Hall, Mark Gluckman, Ken Sulak
Members Russ Hall, Mark Gluckman, Ken Sulak chatting before the program
Picture of members staffing the merchandise tables on the porch of headquarters
Board members Boyd Kimball and Dan Kline staffing the merchandise desk
The day started out cloudy, warm, and threatening. Members registered, shopped for Friends shirts and the new Butterflies of the Lower Suwannee Refuge guidebooks. Seeing each other for the first time since the February 2020 meeting, conversations were warm and happy.
Picture of Peg Hall and Debbie Meeks setting up the presentation projector
Peg Hall and Debbie Meeks setting up the presentation projector. Photo by F. E. Offerle
Picture members looking out at the rain
Here comes the rain. Lower the door!
Picture members and staff at lunch time
Doors closed against the storm. Members and staff chat.
The rain held off until the program started about 10:00. Inside, Friends President Debbie Meeks welcomed everyone. Refuge Manager Andrew Gude gave an update on accomplishments of the past year and expectations for activities in the near future. Responding to a question from a member, Andrew described efforts to manage negative impacts on wildlife caused by airboat misuse on the Refuge.
Picture of Andrew Gude giving presentation
Debbie Meeks welcomes the members and presents a Friends update. Photo by F.E. Offerle
Picture of Refuge Manager Andrew Gude presenting his update
Refuge Manager Andrew Gude presents a Refuge update. Photo by F.E. Offerle.
Debbie gave an update on the Friends accomplishments of the past year and plans for the coming one. She presented the slate of officers and directors, whom the members elected. She provided an overview of the financial status of the Friends.
Picture of 1st slide in Debbie Meeks' presentation




Friends Presentation by
Friends President Debbie Meeks




Refuge Update by
Refuge Manager Andrew Gude

Picture of 1st screen in Refuge Update Presentation, 2 maps of refuges

Dr. Marc Minno was the featured speaker. His presentation on Butterflies of the Lower Suwannee Refuge and their Host Plants was enthusiastically received.
Picture of Marc Minno giving presentation
Dr. Marc Minno giving the featured presentation. Photo by F.E. Offerle.
Picture of members at lunch tables
Picture of members at lunch tables
Picture of members at lunch tables
Members socialize over an indoor lunch.
The nature walk to Vista in the pouring rain was cancelled. However, at the end of the lunch, catered by Ken and Rose McCain, Sandra Smith presented Andrew with a symbolic key to the Vista property. She and her sister Linda Alexander recently gave up their life estate on the property, turning full access over to the Refuge for future development as an interpretive center.
Picture of Key ceremony
Member celebrate with Sandra Smith as she gives the key to Vista to the Refuge Manager
Picture Sandra Smith and Andrew Gude with symbolic key to Vista
Sandra Smith turns over the symbolic key to Vista to Andrew Gude
It was delightful to meet back on the Refuge again.
Pembroke Pines Tranny link
11/3/2024 07:23:54 pm

Great readiing your post


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Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges
P. O. Box 532
Cedar Key, FL 32625
[email protected]
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.


  • Home
    • Our Blog
  • About
    • About Friends >
      • Who We Are
      • What We Do
      • Current News
      • Contact Us
    • About the Refuges >
      • Our Refuges
      • Places of Interest
      • Hunting Brochure
    • Members
  • Join
    • Donate
  • Maps
    • Paddling Guides
    • Refuge Maps
    • Trail Brochures
    • Places of Interest
  • Vista
    • What is Vista
    • Friends' role
    • The Future
    • Cooks General Restoration
    • Window Restoration
    • Lumbering
  • Wildlife
    • Wildlife Gallery
  • Hunting
    • Overview
    • Maps
    • FWS Hunting Brochure
    • Alternative Mobility Permits
    • Hunter SignUp
  • Fishing
  • Junior Ranger
  • Search
  • Store