Annual Meeting

Great news!
The CDC Covid tracker now rates Levy County as LOW.
Come join us RAIN or SHINE at the Friends Annual Meeting.
Doors open at 9:30 a.m. for registration and for Friends merchandise.
Presentations begin at 10:00.
Updated April 1

Happily, we are meeting at the Refuge, in-person, for our Annual Meeting on Saturday, April 2.  We re-scheduled from February to April because of the Covid situation. We know this is likely to make the Annual Meeting smaller, since so many of our members have returned to their other-season homes by now. But despite fewer attendees, our day's agenda is mostly back to pre-pandemic normal.

Wouldn't you know . . . the weather forecast, as of March 28, predicts a rainy day. That has happened before and the forecast improved by our meeting day. Indeed, the weather has tended to be good to us. Regardless, we will meet. Rain or shine.

9:30 a.m. 

• Gates open
• Check-in. The meeting, including lunch, is free for current and life members. Non-member fee is $10 per person. Membership can be renewed, or fee paid, at check-in.
• Friends merchandise booth will be open with special Annual Meeting discounts. We can now take credit cards, if the cellular connectivity is good that day. Please bring cash or checks, in case Square won't work. Also, it saves Friends from paying processing fees if you buy with cash or a check. We appreciate being able to use all your purchase for programs.
  
• Butterflies of the Lower Suwannee NWR guidebook will be available to purchase.

10:00 a.m.

• Refuge Update, Refuge Manager Andrew Gude
• Friends Update, incoming President Debbie Meeks
  

11:00 a.m. 

• Featured Presenter -- Dr. Marc Minno
• Featured Presentation -- Butterflies and Their Host Plants

Marc Minno is a renowned butterfly and native plant expert, having studied the ecology, systematics, and biogeography of butterflies and moths for much of his life.  Since moving to Florida in 1982, Marc and Maria Minno have worked toward conserving the state’s rare, unique, and imperiled plants and animals. 

12:00  Lunch, catered by Ken and Rose McCain. Board Members are bringing desserts. If any members would like to also bring some, they would be welcome. It is hard to imagine "too many sweets."

1:00    Nature Walk to Vista (rides provided for those who prefer them). Annual Meeting participants will be able, in small groups, to walk through the main house at Vista for short visits, if they wish.

Although everything will probably never be fully back to pre-pandemic normal, the great news is that the Covid-19 Community Level in Levy County has moved from High to Medium.

There are no limits on the number of attendees at events at the Refuge. The CDC still recommends wearing a mask if you are at high risk of illness, staying up-to-date with Covid vaccines, and not attending an event when you have symptoms of being ill.

Further changes are possible, of course. If they come up, we will send a News Brief to inform you. We also will post in this blog and on the homepage of this website.

We look forward to seeing you on April 2 at the Refuge.

See video from the 2021 Annual Meeting here.
See photos from the 2020 Annual Meeting here.