Suncoast Waterkeeper’s annual “Brunch for the Bay” banquet was held Sunday, Nov. 1, at the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort. This year’s theme was “The Future We Choose: Conservation in a Rapidly Changing Coast.”
A sellout crowd of 230 attendees enjoyed brunch before Fox 13 News reporter Kimberly Kuizon, who grew up on Anna Maria Island, opened the event as emcee. She welcomed guests, outlined the agenda and introduced guest speaker Carlton Ward Jr., a Florida conservation photographer, author, filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer.
Ward’s presentation was titled “From Forest to Seagrass: Protecting Land to Heal Our Coasts.” He has spent his career using photography and filmmaking to build support for protecting Florida’s wild places. He founded the Florida Wildlife Corridor project in 2010 and later created Wildpath, an organization that uses storytelling to inspire the protection of wildlife corridors.
“I am excited to share my view that protecting and restoring Florida’s last wild places is the most important thing we can do,” Ward said, “not just for wildlife like panthers, but for the health of our coasts.”
Suncoast Waterkeeper Executive Director Abbey Tyrna said Ward’s photography and stories “reminded us of what’s at stake in protecting Florida’s natural places, and that Florida’s future is not yet written.”
“One place to focus our attention is the headwaters of our drinking water reservoirs,” Tyrna said. “Together, we can keep those areas protected so that our water stays clean for us and future generations.”
The organization presented two annual awards: the Volunteers of the Year Award and the Water Warrior Award.
The volunteer award went to board member Alison Albee and her husband, Tim Thurman. When presenting it, Tyrna noted that Albee and a crew of mangrove rangers had been rescued during a mangrove monitoring project. She said Thurman regularly donates his time and boat, and he captains the group’s patrol boat to advance its mission.
I was honored to receive this year’s Water Warrior Award. I told those in attendance that I was inspired by everyone in the room, including the organization’s excellent staff and board.
Suncoast Waterkeeper encourages residents to join its mission and help protect the coast for future generations. Members receive a monthly newsletter that announces the group’s work and upcoming events.
To be part of “The Future We Choose,” vist the Suncoast Waterkeeper website. suncoastwaterkeeper.org.
