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The Internet Edition- Vol. 1 Issue 21
 

FWC Holds Online Virtual Workshop
This is a brand new way to host an FWC workshop.

 

Register to participate in the live, online workshop for Florida’s Wildlife Legacy Initiative on June 9 at 7 p.m. Eastern Time~

The people of Florida have an unprecedented opportunity to shape the future of our state’s fish and wildlife conservation programs by helping create Florida’s Wildlife Legacy Initiative. Now, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering an unprecedented forum for public participation.

On June 9, at 7 p.m. EDT, the FWC will host a live online virtual workshop where FWC staff will present an overview of Florida’s Wildlife Legacy Initiative and ask for feedback. This is the first time the FWC has conducted a public workshop through the Internet.

Instead of having to travel to a traditional public meeting, workshop attendees will be able to “attend” from the comfort of home, office or any place with computer and Internet connection. Participants will see and hear a presentation and interact with FWC staff through chat, questions and answers and instant polling. They will also be able to comment and make suggestions. The presentation will run approximately 30 minutes.

“The meeting will be conducted like a public workshop, except that people can participate from virtually anywhere,” said Thomas Eason, who is leading Florida’s Wildlife Legacy Initiative for the FWC. Eason will conduct, or emcee, the live workshop.

Everyone interested in “attending” the workshop, must pre-register online before June 9. To get signed up, go to MyFWC.com/wildlifelegacy and follow the instructions to register. Registrants will receive e-mail reminders.

 

 

is making the presentation available at six locations around the state. Concerned citizens can view the computerized workshop and meet with FWC biologists in Lakeland, Lake City, Ocala, Panama City, Tallahassee and West Palm Beach. (Addresses for the viewing locations: http://myfwc.com/wildlifelegacy/PDF
/Directions.pdf)

Florida’s Wildlife Legacy Initiative is a farsighted approach to link action plans to a distinct funding program. Its aim is to avert future declines of native wildlife, with a goal of keeping common species common. Public participation is a crucial element in developing this plan.

“The success of Florida’s Wildlife Legacy depends on partnerships throughout — from creating, to securing funding, to implementing the conservation strategy. I hope everyone who cares about the future of Florida’s fish and wildlife will get involved and help create a blueprint for managing our resources,” Eason said.

Congress has challenged each U. S. state and territory to develop a comprehensive wildlife conservation strategy and to work together to create a nationwide approach to wildlife conservation. Florida’s Comprehensive Wildlife Strategy is one of 56 being developed by every U. S. state and territory. As a strong incentive to get states to develop a plan, Congress made it a requirement for participating in the federal State Wildlife Grants program. Florida’s Wildlife Legacy Initiative could lead to millions of dollars of federal funding for our state’s wildlife and habitats.

The FWC is leading the process to create Florida’s Wildlife Legacy Initiative. But this is not a plan for the FWC. It is a plan for the future of our state’s native wildlife.

“I encourage Floridians to get involved and have their say,” Eason said. “This is a chance for everyone who is interested in the future of Florida’s wildlife to participate and help craft the plan.

A recorded copy of the virtual workshop will be available at MyFWC.com/wildlifelegacy after the live workshop ends. People can provide comments by clicking on the comment link on that site, or by writing to Thomas Eason at the FWC at 620 S. Meridian St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600. The deadline for submitting comments is June 18.

In addition to the live online workshop, the FWC is hosting a special workshop with scientific experts on June 17 at 8 a.m. On June 18, the public and FWC stakeholders are invited to an open house throughout the day to meet with FWC staff and comment on the strategy. Both meetings will be held at Holiday Inn Express, at 8310 Galbraith Rd. (I-75 Exit 270) in Tampa.

 

 

Hoot Lives Up to Its Name And There are Parallels 

by Jim Tucker

I'm probably the only person over 64 on Gasparilla Island to have read "Hoot." It is, after all, a book designed for young adults and in today's parlance that is anyone between twelve and fifteen.

Tuesday evening I settled in about 6 and at twelve thirty I closed the cover and toddled off to bed.

As I read I looked for the trademark zany characters author Carl Hiaasen creates as he puts real issues into comic settings.

In his more adult fiction there is a recurring ex-governor who lives in the bush and lives off the land. He had simply grown tired of dealing with toadies, lawyers and corporate greed in Tallahassee and walked off into the wilderness. There he lives today generally conducting his affairs in a way that makes the "swamp-ape" of the glades seem devoted to protocol.

The displaced Roy Eberhardt of Hoot doesn't learn to love Florida's wilder side until he meets "Mullet Fingers." This runaway boy is a kinder, gentler version of the missing governor of Hiaasen's "Stormy Weather" and "Double Whammy."

 

  He takes similar pleasures from using nature to confound the machinations of man but without the former pol's sometimes lethal intent.

Carl Hiaasen's characterizations of principals leaves no doubt who is good or not-so-good. The fat bully has disgusting smoker's breath although he isn't old enough to drive and, of certainty, is none too bright. Roy is brave, forthright and possesses a healthy curiosity that leads him to be in position to save his new friend, the wild runaway boy called Mullet Fingers, more than once. 

"Mullet Fingers" has a gift honed by long exposure to Florida's natural world. He can catch mullet bare-handed, handle gators and venomous snakes and generally be a severe nuisance without actually destroying, or even damaging, property. All in the good cause of protecting a threatened species from indifferent corporate America.

The theme is not new for Hiaasen. He has published two collections of his newspaper columns the latest is "Paradise Screwed." They record a continuous struggle from the 80s to protect and preserve what it is about Florida that actually brings people here. And it wasn't always that huge rodent with his thrill rides and Fiberglass Americana.

Reading the book and knowing that it will be partially filmed here adds an element I didn't expect. You'll ask yourself "where would I shoot this?," and "who would be a good (name a char-

Continued On Page 6 
Page 5 The Boca Banner 6/03/05

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