This year’s annual meeting of the Committee Of The Islands (COTI) will feature Carolyn Raffensperger, a noted environmentalist, as its keynote speaker. She will deliver a presentation titled, “Sanibel: A Legacy For Future Generations.”

The public is invited to the meeting, which will be held in the Fellowship Hall of the Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ at 9 a.m. on Friday, March 25.

Ms. Raffensperger, who was previously with the Sierra Club, is Executive Director of the Science and Environmental Health Network, a consortium of North American environmental organizations. As an environmental lawyer, she specializes in the fundamental changes in law and policy necessary for the protection and restoration of public health and the environment. She and the Network have been the leading proponent in the United States of the “Precautionary Principle” as a new basis for environmental and public health policy.

Sanibel is model for the nation (SUBHEAD)

Ms. Raffensperger brings a personal connection to her subject: Her father is an island resident and she herself spends considerable time here. She notes that Sanibel has been a model for the nation and a unique experiment in environmental protection for many decades.

In her address, she will seek to answer such questions as:

• What lessons can we learn from the past that will guide us in leaving a healthy and beautiful island to future generations?

• What vision of the future can be drawn from the wisdom of Sanibel’s history and emerging ideas in environmental policy?

Coffee and rolls will be served at 9 a.m., with the meeting beginning at 9:30 a.m. In addition to the keynote address, the meeting agenda will also include presentation of the Citizen of the Year and Past President awards. After these presentations, there will be a short break followed by a business meeting for members of Committee Of The Islands and election of new members to its Board of Directors.

The church is located at 2050 Periwinkle Way. Requests for further information can be directed to Committee Of The Islands at its e-mail address: coti@coti.org.