SCCF’s Annual Meeting highlights strategic future
More than 100 members attended the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s (SCCF) Annual Meeting on Dec. 3 at the outdoor pavilion at the Bailey Homestead Preserve on Sanibel.
“This year’s annual meeting was terrific. We had a good crowd, and people enjoyed being together,” outgoing Board of Trustees President Anne Nobles, who opened the meeting following a half hour of socializing, said.
SCCF Chief Executive Officer James Evans thanked her for her service over the past year.
“Anne’s passion for conservation is second to none, especially her love for mud turtles,” he said. “Thank you for your leadership and for steering our ship through some very challenging times.”
Three new trustees were voted in, including Calli Johnson duPont, Laura Gales and Dave Nichols.
“Our new trustees and officers will provide great leadership for SCCF as it implements its strategic plan,” Nobles said.
This year, the SCCF honored two artists as recipients of the “Ding” Darling Brush of Excellence Environmental Art Program: Cecilia Montalvo and Charlie McCullers. They donated 23 large prints to intern housing, of which three were unveiled at the meeting.
Andrea Koss, widow of Ding Darling’s grandson and standard bearer Kip Koss, doubled the size of her annual artist honorarium for the new “Ding” Darling Environmental Art Program prize recipients.
The annual event is known for bringing together the whole SCCF family, including scientists, educators and other team members who share updates on their day-to-day work with members, donors, volunteers and other community supporters in a casual setting before the formal meeting begins.
Evans cited his gratitude for the SCCF’s staff, board members volunteers and supporters.
“I am thankful to work in a community that puts conservation first,” he said, adding how that ongoing support has led to a science-to-solutions approach that began more than 50 years ago.
Evans also cited the completion of a five-year strategic plan this past year as a collaborative effort and major accomplishment for the board and staff.
“Our work is vital to the future of Southwest Florida,” he said. “Ongoing development pressure, water quality issues and impacts to wildlife habitat make our work more important than ever.”
Outgoing trustees thanked for their service included Laura DeBruce, Jill McCormack, Nobles and John Raho.
The new executive committee was also approved, with Nik Khakee as president, Scott Hendershot as vice president, John Morse as treasurer and Megan Doss as secretary.
Also acknowledged were new inductees to the Legacy Society and longtime volunteer Lisa Cochrane for her role as tennis tournament chair for many years.