 Several former members renewed their memberships at the Annual Meeting and several new members joined Friends of Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys NWRs that day. Hooray! Our membership numbers are now at an all-time high.
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The sun was shining. The no-see-ums were flocking. It was an almost perfect day for an outdoor Annual Meeting at Refuge headquarters.
More than 140 members gathered for the event. They signed in and visited the welcome tables to chat about Friends Welcome Desk activities in Cedar Key and around the Refuge. The Junior Ranger program launched and several members picked up workbooks so their young friends could participate in the program. The full report from Friends 2020 study of the historical, cultural, and architectural assessment of the Vista property captured a lot of attention with its almost 500 pages of photos, drawings, and stories.
The new poster that shows all maps and brochures about the Lower Suwannee Refuge was on display. Members were eager for on-the-spot tutorials from the QR-savvy in the crowd. Using a QR code, any map or brochure can be downloaded to your phone while you are on the Refuge, in areas with decent cell tower coverage.
The presentations by Refuge Manager Andrew Gude, outgoing Friends president Debbie Meeks, and incoming Friends president Ginessa Mahar gave broad and deep overviews of Friends actions and impact.
Friends membership chart showed fall off during the pandemic and rising numbers now. The revenues and expenditures reflected similar pandemic trends, plus the increased actions related to Vista, now that the donors have turned it over fully to the Refuge, and to new initiatives such as the Junior Ranger program.
Dr. Ken Sulak's featured presentation was received with great interest and enthusiasm. If you missed it, you missed a detailed and personal look at the stories of Florida's early settlers, their triumphs and hardships.
Lunch was a highlight, as always, with the feast prepared by local stars Ken and Rose McCain. The River Trail Walk, led by John Thalacker, had more than a dozen participants. The Vista visit had at least that many and especially attracted members who had not previously seen the gifted-property. Hearty folks participated in both walks.
It was a welcome change from the virtual meeting two years ago during the height of the pandemic, and from the stormy weather than kept us hunkered down inside the meeting area last year.
It is Almost Time -- Saturday, February 25. As has been our tradition, Friends Annual Meeting will be on the last Saturday in February at Refuge headquarters. It is located off State Road 347 between Chiefland and Cedar Key. The official address is at 16450 NW 31 Pl, Chiefland, FL 32626. Friends members do not pay a fee to attend the event, including the program, lunch, and afternoon nature walks. The fee for those who are not Friends members is $20 per person. Pre-program activities will start at 9:30. They include:
It appears that the weather will be ideal for Friends, |
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Program activities will start at 10:15. They include:
- Welcome by President Debbie Meeks
- Refuge update by Refuge Manager Andrew Gude
- Friends update by President-elect Dr. Ginessa Mahar
- Election of the 2023 Board and Officers
- Featured presentation by Dr. Ken Sulak, Finding Florida - Crossing the Lower Suwannee River in the 1800s: Early Ferries, Bridges, and Trestles.
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After the Featured Presentation, while lunch is being set up and served, the information and discussion tables will be open again.
Lunch will be about noon. Ken McCain will cater.
Afternoon Exploration Options
Afternoon Exploration Options
- Walk to Vista. See the property with its Suwannee River view and the
Cook's House. Tour the Main House's interior. Board members will act as docents. - For those who prefer a nature walk, John Thalacker will lead a guided stroll on the River Trail.
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Several presentations are coming soon about the Refuges. Check them out below. The next one is this Thursday.
Thurs, Feb 16 at 5 p.m. -- Friends' president Debbie Meeks and board member Denise Feiber What to Do and See on a Visit to the Lower Suwannee Refuge
Thurs. Mar 2 at 5 p.m. -- Daniel Barrand, Refuge Forester, USFWS/LSNWR The History of Cummer Mill and John McPherson, Friends board member Restoring Vista
Thurs. Mar 9 at 5 p.m. -- Dr. Ginessa Mahar, Friends president, Ancient Aquaculture and Fishing Practices: New Insights from Shell Mound.
Sat, Mar 11 at 10:30 a.m. -- Dr. Ken Sassaman Amazon Travels: How the Ceremonial Gatherings of Modern Tribal People Inform Archaeological Perspectives on Shell Mound
Thurs. March 30 at 5 p.m. -- Friends board member Barbara Woodmansee, Butterflies of North Florida
Thurs. Mar 2 at 5 p.m. -- Daniel Barrand, Refuge Forester, USFWS/LSNWR The History of Cummer Mill and John McPherson, Friends board member Restoring Vista
Thurs. Mar 9 at 5 p.m. -- Dr. Ginessa Mahar, Friends president, Ancient Aquaculture and Fishing Practices: New Insights from Shell Mound.
Sat, Mar 11 at 10:30 a.m. -- Dr. Ken Sassaman Amazon Travels: How the Ceremonial Gatherings of Modern Tribal People Inform Archaeological Perspectives on Shell Mound
Thurs. March 30 at 5 p.m. -- Friends board member Barbara Woodmansee, Butterflies of North Florida
Wishes do come true! Friends member John Douglass has sponsored the Junior Ranger badges. Hurray and many thanks from the kids, and all the other Friends.
Our Junior Ranger booklet is about to go to press. We also need to order badges to give the kids when they complete the exercises. The minimum order is 200 badges and costs $240.
Covering that cost is high on our Wish List for this month. If you would like to be a badge sponsor, email friends@friendsofrefuges. We expect to be ready to launch the program by the time of the Annual Meeting in February.
Here is the final draft of the booklet.
Covering that cost is high on our Wish List for this month. If you would like to be a badge sponsor, email friends@friendsofrefuges. We expect to be ready to launch the program by the time of the Annual Meeting in February.
Here is the final draft of the booklet.
 Lower Suwannee NWR Junior Ranger badge |  Junior Ranger Workbook |
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. |
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