Save the Date for Annual Meeting

Our annual meetings are regularly held on the last Saturday of February. However, because of continuing concerns about Covid and because Refuge manager Andrew Gude cannot be sure that the refuge will be allowed to have an event in February with more than 50 attendees, we are postponing the meeting until Saturday, April 2, 2022.

We still plan to hold the meeting in-person at the Refuge, following the Covid protocols in place at the time. Pre-program activities will start at 9:30, including signing-in, renewing your membership if you wish to do it that day rather than online, chatting with other members, and shopping for Friends merchandise. 

Gathering before the Meeting

2020 presenter Dr. Ken Meyer

The Program will start at 10:00. Refuge Manager Andrew Gude will update us. Friends will highlight achievements of 2021 and plans for 2022. 

​Dr. Marc Minno will be the featured presenter. A renowned butterfly and native plant expert, he will talk about butterflies and the plants that are crucial to them.

Dr. Marc Minno

Dr. Minno has studied the ecology, systematics, and biogeography of butterflies and moths for much of his life. 

He received a B.S. degree in entomology from Purdue University, a M.S. degree in entomology from the University of California at Davis, and a Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Florida. 

He currently works as an ecologist for Eco-Cognizant, Inc., a home-based consulting firm operated by spouse Maria Minno. 

Since moving to Florida in 1982, Marc and Maria Minno have worked toward conserving the state’s rare, unique, and imperiled plants and animals. 

Marc frequently gives presentations and workshops on butterflies to local chapters of the Florida Native Plant Society, North American Butterfly Association, Audubon Society, and other conservation groups. 

He is a past president of the Southern Lepidopterists’ Society and is a research associate with the McGuire Center at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. (as described by Quick Reference Publishing) 

At Vista 2020

Lunch 2020

Lunch will be catered by Ken and Rose McCain. Following lunch we will have a field trip to visit the Vista property.

These links will bring you to posts about the in-person Annual Meeting 2020 and the Zoom Annual Meeting 2021.