(Palm Beach County, FL – March 2, 2023) The Loxahatchee Group of the Sierra Club Florida Chapter is hosting a 2-part general meeting on Saturday morning, March 18, at the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Environmental Pavilion, 10216 Lee Road in Boynton Beach (33473). Doors open at 10 am with light refreshments, and the program will start at 11 am.
Public Discussion on Indian Trails Grove/Palm Beach County Agricultural Reserve and the SWAP Proposal by GL Homes
After a viewing of a video of the Agricultural Preserve from the Loxahatchee Group, there will be a discussion on how the SWAP proposal relates to local water issues. Attendees will hear from two distinguished speakers:
+ Chris McVoy, a soil and wetland scientist devoting his career to supporting Everglades restoration and a Lake Worth City Commissioner. He is a Hydrologist with an M.S. in Soil Science from the University of Florida, and a Ph.D. in Soil Physics from Cornell.
+ Drew Martin, Conservation Chair of the Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group who was elected countywide as a Supervisor of the Palm Beach County Soil and Water Conservation District (2008-2016) and has served on the Palm Beach County Solid Waste Advisory Board, Lake Worth Tree Board, and the Lake Worth Climate Change Task Force. In addition, he has served on the Palm Beach County Land Advisory Board and is Co-Chair of the Everglades Coalition, consisting of 60 environmental groups nationwide dedicated to restoring and preserving the Everglades.
Presentation of Florida Chapter Sierra Club Awards 2022
Loxahatchee Group recipients include:
Manatee Award – Rose Loeff
This award goes to a member who has done an outstanding job of service to the group. Rose Loeff has been a dependable volunteer for the Loxahatchee Group both behind the scenes and out in public. Behind the scenes, she has helped with putting out the newsletter, dealing with finances including treasurer and other fiduciary duties. Front and center, she has been a volunteer with our Inspiring Connections Outdoors children’s program and at tabling events.
Otter Award – Meryl Davids
This award goes to a member for outstanding service to the Sierra Club Outings Program. Meryl Davids stepped up to the plate several years back after the retirement of the previous leader of our longtime Inspiring Connections Outdoors (ICO) youth program which takes under-resourced youth from around Palm Beach County on nature outings. She and her large group of volunteers have many exciting upcoming adventures planned for the youth, including kayaking, hiking, snorkeling, swamp tromping and more. Learn more about ICO at https://www.sierraclub.org/florida/palm-beach-ico.
Indigo Award – Sandi Schwartz
This award is for a writer/journalist who contributed greatly through research and knowledge to uncover specific issues impacting the environment, environmental justice or environmental policy in Florida. Sandi Schwartz is the newsletter editor for the Loxahatchee Group of Sierra Club, and is also an award-winning author, freelance journalist, editor, and researcher with 20+ years of experience communicating science-based information to diverse audiences in the areas of sustainability, green living, home and garden, nature, and wellness.
Pine Tree Award – Linda Smithe
The Pine Tree Award is a special award for group leadership. It honors a group leader who has provided exceptional benefit in any of the areas of management, inspiration, and encouragement of volunteers, fundraising or membership. Linda Smithe stepped into a void in leadership to chair the Loxahatchee Group, thereby keeping the group going. She continued meetings through Zoom throughout the pandemic and assumed leadership in the group’s committees, as well as stepping up to be secretary.
Advance Registration Online is Requested:
About the Sierra Club Florida Chapter Loxahatchee Group:
One of 17 local Sierra Club groups in Florida, it serves members in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee counties in Southeast Florida. Our group offers members and prospective members opportunities to explore, enjoy, and protect the environment by volunteering, going on outings and becoming environmental activists.
Sierra Club mission statement is “to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth’s ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment, and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.”
The primary duty of the Sierra Club is to maintain the stability of the environment by combating all elements of destruction. This organization has been championing such issues through its advocates, community of volunteers, and other supporters. Sierra Club understands the essentiality of nature to the survival of humanity. It, therefore, commits all its resources to rally like-minded individuals to join its course and create a world where people can flourish and achieve their potential.
For more information, please visit: https://www.sierraclub.org/florida/loxahatchee