Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges
  • Home
    • Current News
  • About
    • About Friends >
      • Who We Are
      • What We Do
      • Current News
      • Contact Us
    • About the Refuges >
      • Our Refuges
      • Places of Interest
      • Hunting Brochure
  • Join
    • Donate
  • Maps
    • Paddling Guides
    • Refuge Maps
    • Trail Brochures
    • Places of Interest
  • Wildlife
    • Science
  • Hunt & Fish
    • Hunting
    • FWS Hunting Brochure
    • Fishing
    • Hunter SignUp
  • Search
  • Store
    • Shirts
    • Hats
    • Books
    • Earrings
    • Gift Donation
    • On Sale

Annual Meeting Success

3/24/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Kit Lane, Ed DeHaan, Russ Hall, Bob Hudson, Bob McKinstry, David Meeks ready to greet rain-soaked Friends. John McPherson holding the door for Ann Webster as she escapes the rain to go view the Bill Kilborn Photo Contest.
Picture
Carmelo Echevarria helps Lori Enblom shop, while others browse on the porch.
It rained hard for the 2016 Friends Annual Meeting as it had for the 2015 Annual Meeting, even though we moved the meeting from February to March. At least it was not as cold as in 2015!  Despite the torrential rain during the 9:00 to 10:00 registration hour, more than 130 people came out for the day on the refuge.

The sales on the porch, where our Friends Booth retreated to stay dry-ish, were brisk. Our new hats and re-stocked tee-shirts sold well, meaning more revenue for our projects and more awareness of Friends of Refuges when we wear our Friends-logo items around town.
Picture
Bill Dummitt and Anne Lindgren ready to register the Members when they arrive.
The Bill Kilborn Photo Contest had 36 entries and sales of the entries brought almost $500 in revenue that will cover the cost of the new benches on the Tram Ridge Trail. Thanks to all the photographers and the bidders on the photos. Before they went up for sale, we all got to vote on our favorite photos. The winners were  Ben West in first place, a tie in second by Ann Kamzelski and Frank Morgan, and Don Gambrell for 3rd place.  The rest of us who entered were happy to be part of it, and to have many of our photos sold to help fund the benches.
Picture
Joyce DeHaan, Susan Kadar, and Brenda Boleyn consider their photo contest votes.
Picture
Ann Kamzelski and Donna Bushnell helping organize the Bill Kilborn Photo Contest
Picture
Voting, then bidding on favorites.
Picture
Milli Chapell and her dog Sophia visit with Donna Bushnell as others browse at the Bill Kilborn Photo Contest
Picture
Votes being considered
Picture
Ben West and his 1st place photo
The meeting itself was entertaining and got a nice write up in the Cedar Key News. Donna Bushnell led a fun installation of officers, as usual. Newly elected President Maria Sgambati highlighted the year's accomplishments and future plans. Featured speaker Dr. Tom Hoctor gave us an overview of the Big Bend of Florida as a key component of the state's conservation picture. Kenny McCain and lots of Friends members provided great lunch fare and desserts.
Picture
Picture
Picture
left to right at installation of officers and directors: Maria Sgambati, Bill Dummitt, Peg Hall, Libby Cagle, Russ Hall, Donna Bushnell, Bob McKinstry, Debbie Meeks, Paul Ramey, Margy Van Landingham
Picture
On the far right is John McPherson, who wasn't in the photo above.
Picture
Roger McDaniels explaining the Brazilian Pepper Eradication Project
Picture
Picture
Featured Speaker, Dr. Tom Hoctor, from University of Florida
Picture
John Nesbitt and Ron Black, the volunteer Shell Mound Unit who welcome visitors and maintain the area
And then came lunch, with Kenny McCain's ribs and chicken, Bushnells' baked beans, lots of slaw, broccoli, and swamp cabbage, and desserts brought by the members.
Picture
Roger McDaniels, Jerry and Kathy Lawrence waiting for lunch and chatting with other Friends members
Picture
Susan Kadar and Milli Chapell wait in line with Sophia
Picture
Picture
Lunch line
Picture
By the time lunch ended, the sky had cleared. Nevertheless many of us chose to stay indoors and hear the presentation by Refuge staff about history, prescribed burning, sustainable forestry, and wildlife preservation. Friends member Jerry Lawrence, who provided the photos below, spoke for all of us saying he found the whole day to be highly informative, especially in regards to how the refuge was acquired over time, its strategic importance to wildlife and resource preservation in the State of Florida, and the vision to take care of the land and water for future generations.
Picture
Refuge Manager Andrew Gude
Picture
Refuge Forester Daniel Barrand
Picture
Refuge Deputy Manager Larry Woodward
Picture
Refuge Fire Specialist and Biologist Vic Doig
Others of us walked the River Trail, or the Tram Ridge Trail with Friend member Donna Thalacker and President-elect Russ Hall as guides.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Donna Thalacker points out an endangered orchid to Ed DeHaan and Jack Enblom
Picture
It was a great day and we are already looking forward to next year's event.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    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.


  • Home
    • Current News
  • About
    • About Friends >
      • Who We Are
      • What We Do
      • Current News
      • Contact Us
    • About the Refuges >
      • Our Refuges
      • Places of Interest
      • Hunting Brochure
  • Join
    • Donate
  • Maps
    • Paddling Guides
    • Refuge Maps
    • Trail Brochures
    • Places of Interest
  • Wildlife
    • Science
  • Hunt & Fish
    • Hunting
    • FWS Hunting Brochure
    • Fishing
    • Hunter SignUp
  • Search
  • Store
    • Shirts
    • Hats
    • Books
    • Earrings
    • Gift Donation
    • On Sale