Hello Fellow Lovers of the Nature Coast !
PLEASE SAVE THE DATE (Saturday March 7th) for a Nature Coast Strategy and Visioning Gathering to help create a Nature Coast Coalition and develop a shared strategic vision for how we protect and preserve the Nature Coast . This informal gathering of conservation and community leaders from the Nature Coast and around Florida is intended to strengthen the shared work under way to protect this amazing place. Additionally we can lay the groundwork for expanded and more coordinated efforts in the future including a new Nature Coast website, a large public Nature Coast Conference, and effective advocacy.
WHO – Conservation and community groups, leaders, and activists who care about Florida ’s Nature Coast
WHAT – A Strategic Vision Gathering to Develop Shared Goals and Plans to protect the Nature Coast
WHEN – Saturday March 7th, (see schedule below) from 12:30pm to 5:30pm
WHERE – Paramount Plaza and Hotel in Gainesville, Fl. (2900 SW 13 Street, Gainesville, FL)
WHY- The Nature Coast is our last best chance to get it right along the Gulf Coast of Florida
PLEASE RSVP ASAP FOR THIS EXCITING CONSERVATION COMMUNITY EVENT! You can RSVP by emailing Joe Murphy of the Gulf Restoration Network at joe@healthygulf.org or call him at 352-583-0870. Space is somewhat limited and we need your RSVP for planning and logistics.
To keep costs low we’re asking folks to eat lunch on their own before the meeting, but we’ll be providing snacks and drinks during a break. Unfortunately the facility does not allow food to be brought in from the outside.
WORKING AGENDA:
9:00AM – 12:00pm Flights with SouthWings
SouthWings, www.southwings.org, invites you to experience a bird’s eye view of the Nature Coast . The flight route will compliment the issue areas discussed in the meeting. Flights will be available from the Gainesville Regional Airport to look at issues of development and habitat impact and mining and watershed impacts from 9-noon on March 7th. Space is limited and flights are subject to change based on weather conditions. A flight request and pre-flight paperwork are required but there is no charge for participating in a flight. If you would be interested, please contact Caroline Douglas at caroline@southwings.org or 828-225-5949.
12:30pm Slide Show from famed Florida nature photographer and advocate Eric Zamora (Images of the Nature Coast , Nature Coast website)
1:00PM – 2:30PM
Presentations on Key Nature Coast Issues (roughly 30 minutes per presentation with questions)
Economic Benefits/Ecosystems Services of the Nature Coast
The Big Habitat Picture: Uplands to Seagrass
The Future of Water in the Nature Coast
Short Break with snacks, drinks
2:45PM Small Group Visioning and Strategy Discussions with facilitators
The objective of the working groups would be to address the same questions with facilitation to get at:
Vision for the Nature Coast : What do we want the Nature Coast look like in 10, 20 years, and how do we get there?
Communication Strategies and Public Relations: Web site, Nature Coast Conference, brochures, audience.
Funding this work: Revenue sources, projected needs, how do we get there?
4:45PM Wrap Up and Report Out from Small Groups, Next Steps
5:30PM Optional social event in Gainesville
Joe Murphy
Florida Program Director
Gulf Restoration Network
352-583-0870 (office)
813-468-0870 (cell)
Florida Office:
34413 Orchid Parkway
Ridge Manor, Fl. 33523
joe@healthygulf.org
www.healthygulf.org
