Welcome Aboard to the New Executive Director

Join us in welcoming Robert Connors as the new Executive Director of CTF!

On December 1, the Conservation Trust for Florida, Inc. welcomed Robert as the new Executive Director. Robert will work with the Board of Directors, the Advisory Board, and staff to support CTF's mission to protect agricultural properties and wildlife corridors in Florida as part of CTF's Farmlands and Greenways Programs.

Robert is a former Polk County Commissioner (1990 to 1994) who was responsible for initiating and chairing a $50 million Environmental Lands Program that has acquired more than 12,000 acres of diverse conservation lands including the Circle B Bar Reserve south of Lakeland. He was the previous executive director of the Green Horizon Land Trust and he was a 1994 nominee for U.S. Congress. He also served on the board of the Central Florida Regional Planning Council.

Robert's diverse experience includes owning a successful web design company, and he and his wife Susan owned the much loved restaurant La Bella Torre in Lake Wales. Robert is a former news journalist for the Haines City Herald and the Lake Wales Daily Highlander, and he was an editorial writer for SunCoast newspapers. He is also a licensed realtor and insurance professional, and has served on the boards of several not-for-profit organizations.

Tanzler to direct St. Johns water district

Hans Tanzler III, who is a former Board Member of the Conservation Trust for Florida, Inc., was appointed on October 11, 2011 be the new Executive Director of the St. Johns River Water Management District.

Tanzler has been active for more than 20 years with volunteer and community activities, serving on the boards of the University of Florida Foundation and The Conservation Trust of Florida, and having previously served as chairman of the Jacksonville Zoological Society and commissioner for the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission.

Tanzler has been a member of the Florida Bar for more than 30 years. Former Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Tanzler in April 2008 to the District’s Governing Board, which he served on until becoming director of the Office of General Counsel in July 2011. While on the Board, Tanzler served as vice chairman and treasurer.

CTF presents at Envision Alachua

Busy Shires Byerly made a presentation on the tax benefits of conservation easements and the importance of estate planning for farmers and ranchers at the “Envision Alachua” workshop hosted by Plum Creek timber company.

Click on “Part 5” at http://www.envisionalachua.com/Content/10018/preview.html

The presentation from Alan Front makes a strong case about the importance of protecting large natural areas and the important ecosystem services that they provide.

Farewell Dr. Popenoe

Dr. Hugh Popenoe died on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at the age of 82. Although saddened, CTF is thankful for all he shared with us as a member of the CTF’s Board of Directors and most recently as a member of the Advisory Board. We are encouraged by his vision and passion for life and appreciate all he taught us about agriculture and the environment.

An excerpt from his obituary: He and his sister, Dr. Marion Popenoe de Hatch, donated their colonial home in Antigua, Guatemala, built in 1636, to the Universidad Francisco Marroquin to preserve the colonial heritage of Latin America. Continuing his interest in preservation, Hugh was a supporter of the Legacy Institute for Nature and Culture and the Conservation Trust of Florida. This past year was spent in preserving an 1873 board and batten school house on his property in Levy county.

A memorial service was held Friday, September 30, 2011. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to your favorite charity.

Gainesville Sun Article: http://www.gainesville.com/article/20110922/articles/110929830
Obituary: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/gainesville/obituary.aspx?n=hugh-popenoe&pid=153834133

Clock is Ticking to Protect Horse Country

This summer Kristianna Lindgren, Land Conservation Director for Conservation Trust for Florida, Inc wrote some important letters to editors as part of the outreach for the Protecting Horse Country project. Her letters appeared in both the Blood Horse and Chronicle of the Horse publications.

Both letters stress the impact of land loss on equestrians and remind readers that the enhanced tax incentives for placing a conservation easement on one's land will expire at the end of this year. See what she wrote – Share the Land - Blood Horse, August 6, 2011 – Preserve a Way of Life, Chronicle of the Horse, July, 2011

A Great Time was Had by All!

On November 6 the CTF Fall Round UP! had horse and carriage demonstrations, kid friendly activities, hayrides with a horse and carriage. Painters from "6 Artists, 6 Prairies" created art live at this event. We'll be sharing more photos of all the fun in the days to come.

For now, a quick Thank You! We couldn't have done it without our sponsors and volunteers.

A Great Time was Had By All!

Each year the CTF Fall Round UP! helps celebrate a year of land conservation and working with family farmers to protect farms for the future.

Our sponsors and volunteers were central to making this year's Round UP! a great success. Please help us thank our sponsors by considering them when you need the services provided.  

Meet our Sponsors

 

 

We thank these generous Sponsors: James Black & Creek Ranch, LLC., Central Florida Office Plus, Chestnut Funeral Home, F&W Forestry Services, John & Patricia Goelz, Goodwin Lumber Company, Haskins Ceramic Art, Carol L. Lippincott, Jeffrey & Erna Rubin, Hoch and Celeste Shitama, Dr. Raymond T. Webber & Cedar Lakes Ranch, Kathleen S. Williams, and Xerographics.

Thank you to the CTF Development and Outreach Committee: David Carr, Lisa M. Gearen, David Pais, Jennifer B. Springfield, Celeste Shitama, and Kathleen S. Williams.

Thank you Volunteers: Christie Allen, Janis Brown-Stallings, Molly Davis, Gary Denton, Lorelei Esser, Hershel Flechas, Libby Flechas, Robin Frey, Brock Frey, Scott Frey, Trey Greer, Christine Housel, Virgil Mathis, Allen Milligan, Amy Morie, Krista Muller, Fatima Pindiga, Jana Rosenbloom, Mike Stallings, Jesse Teasley, Julie Thaler, Loreley Vander Laan, Vicki Vander Laan, and Edith Williams.

 

Six  professional landscape painters have joined together to create the “6 Artists 6 Prairies” project. Over the next year and a half the artists will be painting at six prairies in north central Florida – capturing the beauty and mystery of these ever changing landscapes.

The project will bring awareness about the importance of prairies and efforts by six organizations that are working to protect prairie.

Proceeds from the sales of paintings will benefit CTF. Read more about this project...

A new article published by the Lincoln Institute on the importance of wildlife corridors.

“Scaling Up Conservation for Large Landscapes” by Jamie Williams

With many funders and public partners seeking to focus on collaborative, landscape-scale conservation efforts, the land trust community has an excellent opportunity to leverage its good work by engaging in more partnerships.

( read more... )