Longboat Key Turtle Watch Spring Meeting April 22, 2007

Cindy Hayworth, corporate secretary

 

Member-at-Large, Connie Schindewolf, called the Spring Meeting of the Longboat Key Turtle Watch, Inc. to order at 11:00am at The Shore.    Present:  Sally Boynton, Mimi Siekman,  Emmy Lou Gilbert, Freda Perrotta, Connie Schindewolf, Nathalie Treonis, Cindy Hayworth, Lucinda Hathaway, Judy Williams, Greg Fiore, Donna Heffner, Tim Thurman and Alison Albee, Cyndi Seamon, Penelope Kingman, Paula Clark, Jen Beggs, Rolla Shue, Mark Benjamin, Penny Rosenthal, Jinny Johnson, Mary Jean Wenzel and Robin Cooper.

 

Connie announced the resignation of Sally Boyton as President and Mimi Siekman as Vice President.  The group thanks them for their leadership over the last years while the organization transitioned.

 

Connie presented the Board’s nominees:

 

            Member-at-Large:  Rosemary Treonis   

            Co-recording Secretary:  Alison Albee

            Vice President:  Cyndi Seamon

            President: Tim Thurman

 

Rolla moved we accept the slate of officers.  Emmy Lou seconded the motion and a vote of the group approved the slate unanimously.

 

As new President, Vice President and Co-recording Secretary, Tim, Cyndi, and Alison moved to the board positions.  Tim took the gavel to lead the remainder of the meeting.

 

Minutes of the November 12, 2006 meeting were read and Donna moved to accept them.  Rolla seconded and all approved.

 

Treasurer’s report

Freda reported the Board’s approval of sending 2 children to Mote camp.  The Board has also approved the donation of novels about a turtle watch group to the Longboat Library Inc.  She will arrange for publicity about the donation next week.   Freda has already sold $2200 worth of T-shirts and the season doesn’t even start till May 1.

 

Housekeeping

Freda asked that everyone sign in and pay dues so that you can be a voting member of LBKTW.

Also T-shirts are available in other styles and colors; see Rolla for your special orders.

The First Nest of the Season Lottery was conducted.

 

Greg gave an overview of the website he created for the group.  He asked that anyone with ideas for the site please contact him and told about some links and additions he will be making.  He particularly wants to offer lighting suggestions to the public and will use a power point presentation shown at Mote’s lighting workshop on April 21.  He explained that for security purposes the members email addresses were protected from the public on the site.  Paula has used our web address instead of phone numbers on some collateral material.  The group very much appreciates the great work Greg has done on our very useful site.     

 

Tim announced that Cindy Hayworth volunteered to captain Zones A&B, concluding the Housekeeping portion of the meeting.

 

Mote Sea Turtle Review

Jen Beggs and Paula Clark explained the correct use of data forms for this year.  Paula said that calls regarding daily beach activity should go to Jen.  Calls regarding our permit should go to Paula.  Participation in the training offered by Fish and Wildlife will be required for future permitting of individuals.  Anyone who wants to be on the permit must have this training in the future.  Nathalie reminded Paula that FWC recommends you attend one of the courses every three years.

 

Jen Beggs said we are not to rub out any tracks if they are other than loggerhead.  We should take photos and call Mote if we suspect a nest is anything other than loggerhead.  Captains are to call in your daily activity as early as possible to Mote.  Daily activity is to be called into Mote and then emailed to Nathalie.  Daily phone calls to Mote should include reports of all activities, such as drops, hatch, excavation, disorientation, or predation and the ever popular “no activity”.

 

Grant Report

Tim gave a report in Judy’s absence on the informational signs the committee has designed for Broadway beach access.  The design was passed around the room.  It calls for about 8 signs depicting beach plants, shore birds, shells and sea turtles.  The cost of the project is about $1500 of the total $2200 grant available.

 

New table-top tents have been designed with artwork by Virginia Sanders.  Sally said the new material is in several languages and includes furniture and lights.  A price is being sought for a quantity of 5000 pieces.  We expect these to be ready before June 1.

 

Sally reported that the Ordinance committee has nearly completed the work on a furniture ordinance with the help of Rolla and Alison.  It will be ready for presentation to the town soon.  The Ordinance committee will need support at Town meetings.  Please be ready to help out by attending these important meetings. 

 

Poster

Mimi presented the poster created by Ken Snyder of the Art Center.  She asked us to thank Terry’s framing for his work, when we see him.  Virginia Sanders will help with publicity next week by taking a picture for the paper with the artist.  Mimi then raffled the framed copy of the poster.  Cindy Hayworth was the lucky winner.

 

 

Outreach Committee

Mark Benjamin will call a meeting of his committee next week.

 

 

 

New Committees

Tim requested volunteers to form a Membership Committee.  No one immediately volunteered.

 

Next Tim asked for a group to review the By Laws.  Rolla will take the lead and Nathalie will join her on the committee.  Please contact Rolla to help on that project.

 

New Business

Tim discussed the process of how our goals get accomplished.  He will be asking committees for progress reports.

 

Cyndi Seamon proposed a beach lighting committee including night beach patrol and tag-alongs with Tony Sapupo.  See Cyndi if you can be of help on this committee.

 

Sally has been in touch with the Observer Staff and they are interested in doing Turtle Box, a report of weekly stats on the turtle season.  Sally has worked with them in the past and will provide the data to the Observer.

 

Sally has coordinated with the town for a joint contribution of a satellite tag for one turtle this season.  The cost is approximately $3000 and the town will contribute 50 percent.  Much discussion followed.  Lucinda moved LBKTW fund $1500 in cooperation with the town for 50% of the cost of the transmitter.  Emmy Lou seconded and a vote passed unanimously.  The board will study the treasurer's report to determine when these funds could be made available.  Tim will consider moving the June 4th board meeting to an earlier date to consider these funds.

 

Sally is working with Mote on an ad to inform the public of Turtle season and lighting and furniture hazards.  Sally wants to work with Mote to include names of properties that have been cooperative to create positive re-enforcement.  Funds for this project will be sought from donors.  Tony Supuppo offered last year and he will be asked to do it this year.  The cost of the ad would be about $1100 for a not for profit full-page ad, half page about $700 and so on. 

 

Nathalie departed at 12:44

 

A trip to Archie Carr will be planned in hopes of seeing leatherback sea turtles.  Email Sally if you want to go.

 

Lucinda Hathaway asked for permission to make a gift of children’s books in the name of LBKTW to the children selected to receive scholarships to attend Mote Camp.  All approved and thanked Lucinda for her generosity.

 

Tim congratulated Penelope Kingman for her generous donation of a satellite transmitter for King, a recently released male sea turtle.  It is particularly important that a male be observed since it is a rare opportunity.  Penny told us of her special bond with King while he recovered from a serious illness in the Mote sea turtle hospital.  Thanks Penny we are proud of you.

 

Tim adjourned the meeting at 1:15 pm