| Last Stand's Annual Membership meeting, January 23, was
well-attended and quite enjoyable. In the beautiful
surroundings of The Studios of Key West, members and guests
enjoyed good company, good food and drink, and an
enlightening and riveting keynote address by noted Florida
journalist and author Cynthia Barnett. Her book
Mirage: Florida and the Vanishing Water of the Eastern U.S.,
asks the question "Can
we save our
greatest natural resource before it disappears forever?
(right) Volunteers at the reception table welcome
arriving Last Stand members. |
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Following the social half-hour, President Al Sullivan
led off the business meeting by summarizing our 2008
accomplishments and ongoing programs and challenges.
Treasurer Mark Songer gave a rundown on our
organization's fiscal health, which due to generous support
of our members and funders, is sound. The 2009
Directors were then elected. A special thank-you
was in order for Margaret Domanski, who recently retired
from our Board of Directors. Margaret, thanks for your
several years of dedicated service to
Last Stand!!
(left) Al Sullivan, President,
reviews Last Stand's many 2008 accomplishments |
| The awards presentation followed, beginning with a
moment to remember Jim Malcolm, Bicycle and Pedestrian
Coordinator for the City of Key West, who passed away a few
months ago. Amy Lachat Lynch then presented our Green
Leadership award to to GLEE (Green Living and Energy
Education), with Alison Higgins, GLEE's President, accepting
the award. David Lybrand then recognized Key West City
Commissioner Teri Johnston as an outstanding Voice of
Reason. Our Green Public Servant award went to Annalise Mannix, Key West's Engineering Services
Manager, who coordinates the city's "Clean and Green"
program, with Jody SmithWilliams presenting the award.
(right) George
Halloran remembers Jim Malcolm and his dedication to Key
West quality of life. |
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Amy Lachat Lynch presents our
Green Leadership award to GLEE, Alison Higgins accepting the
award for GLEE. |
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Key West City Commissioner
Teri Johnston was given a Voice of Reason award. |
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City of Key West Engineering
Services Manager Annalise Mannix was presented Last Stand's Green
Public Service award. |
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Journalist and author Cynthia
Barnett gave the keynote address, Water Sustainability
and the Future of Florida. |
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Vice President Annette Liggett then
introduced the keynote speaker, Cynthia Barnett. Ms.
Barnett is a Florida journalist and author, whose 2007 book
Mirage: Florida and the Vanishing Water of the Eastern U.S.
chronicles how the eastern U.S., with once abundant water
resources (especially Florida), has squandered this precious
resource such that shortages and water wars once unique the
the western U.S. are now known even in Florida.
An interesting and not-to-be-proud-of
statistic Ms. Barnett included in her talk is that while
statewide, Floridians have made modest reductions in per
capita water consumption since 2000, we in the Keys have
not. |
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Last Stand thanks The Studios of Key West for the lovely
venue for our meeting, Kelly Friend for providing the
audio-visual system, and to Richard Hatch of Blue Heaven and
Salute for the delicious eats. We especially thank the
Woodruff Charitable Foundation for helping make the event
possible. And our hearty thanks to our loyal members
and supporters for turning out for the 2009 Annual Meeting
and for their continued support of our programs and
activities. |
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