It s Ducky Time! Newsletter #67 February Great Calusa Duck Race by Ron Wesorick

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1 The 34th Annual Meeting was held on January 31st 2010 at Fritts Park. About 100 members attended and voted unanimously for the 2010 Board of Directors. A fried chicken lunch set up by our own Rubye Woodhead was enjoyed by all. Great Calusa Duck Race Saturday March 6th 2010 Woody s Waterside Saint James City Newsletter #67 February 2010 Founded Great Calusa Duck Race by Ron Wesorick It s Ducky Time! T he ducks are treading water getting ready for the Great Calusa Rubber Duck Race on Saturday March 6, in Monroe Canal behind Woody s Waterside Pub in Saint James City. Festivities will start at noon with music by Island Frank Tuma. All afternoon there will games, raffles and auctions. Around 4:00 pm, 3000 numbered rubber ducks will race down the canal to the finish line. The first duck to cross the finish line will win the Grand Prize of a full- day offshore guided fishing trip for 4 people (value $1000). The next 39 ducks to cross the finish line will win an assortment of great prizes of art work, gift certificates, and other interesting items each valued at over $100. carvings, paintings, fused glasswork, a beer tap and much more. Bring your cash, checkbook, or credit card. Duck tickets are $5 each and we expect a sellout. Don t wait for race day, get your tickets now. Tickets are on sale at Woody s, from Phil & Ginny Schaller, and at various other locations around the island watch for the Calusa Land Trust Duck sales people. All proceeds from the race will go to the Calusa Land Trust to continue their programs to purchase and maintain environmentally sensitive land here on Pine Island. For tickets, call Phil or Ginny Schaller at For information, call Pink Wesorick at There will be both silent and live auctions conducted throughout the afternoon. Some of the items to be auctioned are: a golf cart, wood

2 Fund Raising by Ron Wesorick th Annual Rubber Duck Race Plunk-a-Plank A s we proceed with improving the Norm Gowan Trailhead Vista and St. Jude trail, there are now more opportunities to install planks along the trail. For a $50 donation, we will carve your requested name on a plank which will be permanently installed along the trail. The PLANK application is included on 7 of this newsletter. We now have a complete database of PLANK names and their locations along the trail. If you need a PLANK location give me a call. Soon you will be able to go to the Calusa Land Trust website and view the complete list. Hopefully everyone can make a trip out to the trail for an enjoyable walk and view their PLANK. Membership by Phil Rosenberg Treasures of the Trails by Judy Ott Flatwoods Pawpaw in Pine Flatwoods Preserve F latwoods or Nettled Pawpaw (Asimina reticulata) is native to Florida's seasonally wet pine flatwoods. It is related to several other species of Pawpaw found in northern Florida and southern Georgia, all of which are part of the Custard Apple family. Flatwoods Pawpaw is a perennial, medium size shrub about 5 feet tall with elongated oval leaves. The nodding white flowers bloom in spring and are about 3 inches across, with 3 petals. The flowers have a delicate, honey-like fragrance and are attractive to bees, insects and butterflies, especially Zebra Swallowtails. Keep an eye out for Flatwoods Pawpaw as you search for treasures along the Calusa Land Trust preserve trails. Newsletter Available I f you prefer to receive the Newsletter by just send an to info@calusalandtrust.org and include the address you want us to use. Please include your name and mailing address or your member number located on the address label of this newsletter. We currently have 990 members receiving this newsletter and some have a PINK address label. The pink label means it has been more than a year since you have made a contribution to the Land Trust. Take a look at the inside back cover and there you will find a renewal form and there is a return envelope tucked in the newsletter also. 2

3 Ranger's Report by Ed Chapin - Beeper Work Party Schedule 2010 On the Back Page Everyone Welcome W e call them work parties because they are fun. For more information beep Ed at Also you can Ed at ecalusaed@calusalandtrust.org and ask to be put on his notification list. President s Message Brian Cotterill T he year we knew as 2009 has ended. It has been a tough year for many and the Calusa Land Trust was not immune from the troubles of a downturned economy, though we look forward to the challenges of Acquisitions have slowed in spite of falling land prices, while the maintenance cost of our existing preserves remains constant or even increases. A new challenge for us is the invasive tree, the Earleaf Acacia. (See flyer on page 4) In a meeting at the Pine Island Library of concerned Pine Island citizens with Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) faculty members Roy Beckford of Terry Park and Ken Langeland of Gainesville, information was shared on one of the newest members of our invasive plant list, the Earleaf Acacia (aka: Acacia auriculiformis). This weedy species has been slowly taking over many acres on Pine Island. A good example is at Pine Island Center along Stringfellow Road between Avenues C and D. The tree is drought resistant, able to withstand seasonal flooding and its seed germination rates are actually enhanced when placed amongst warm ashes. ( plants.ifas.ufl.edu/misc/pdfs/acaaur.pdf) Spikes of showy yellow flowers occur year round except during the winter and the resulting seeds are produced in large numbers and spread by birds. As the trees become established in an area, they often overshadow and displace native plants and the animals that use them for food and habitat. What we end up with is yet another monoculture of non-native plants that supports little in the way of wildlife. It s the threats to our environment by newcomers like Earleaf Acacia that make our role as land stewards even more important. Through our actions taken on our preserves, we can take on an educational role and increase the awareness of all Pine Island land owners to this fast growing invasive. This is just one example of Land Trust activities that occur throughout the year. Fundraising with the Rubber Duck Race, the Poker Run, the rummage sale, the Peter Ordway Water Adventure Tours and clothing sales all help to raise money, find new members and increase awareness of what we do on Pine Island. As always, these actions were achieved by volunteers all working on their own time. A big thanks to everyone for all they have done to further the mission of the Calusa Land Trust. The Wish List by Judy Ott CLT is looking for a shed that we can use at Fritts Park to store rummage sale items and rubber ducks year round. If you have a shed you'd like to donate, please contact us via at info@calusalandtrust.org or call Judy at

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5 Calusa Land Trust s GREAT CALUSA DUCK RACE Saturday, March 6 at Woody s Waterside St. James City Prizes To The 40 Fastest Ducks ADOPT YOUR DUCK NOW! TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE at or at Woody s Waterside $5 per duck Auctions Raffles Games Fun Have an item to donate for the auction? Call Pink at All Proceeds Benefit The Calusa Land Trust Festivities Start at 12 Noon Duck Race at 4:00pm 5

6 Calusal Land Tust and Nature Preserve of Pine Island, Inc Board of Directors Ackerman, Alison ( ) Anderson, Brenda J. ( ) Tours & Trails Chair Bruner, Harold ( ) Land Acquisition Chair Cell: Chapin, Ed ( ) Land Stewardship Chair Pager: Cotterill, Brian ( ) President Culver, Joan ( ) Annual Meeting Chair Cell: Hill, Robert ( ) Koutsoutis, Sonja J. Sonny ( ) Ott, Judy ( ) Rosenberg, Phil ( ) Membership Chair Cell: Simmons, Peter (( ) Spikowski, Bill (( ) Treasurer/Business Manager Wesorick, Ron ( ) Vice President/Fund Raising Chair Cell: Woodhead, Rubye (( ) Secretary/Historian Venesky, Donna ( ) Cell: Non-Board Chairs Andrews, Gloria Merchandise Chair Donley,Liz Grants Chair Wesorick, Pink Duck Race Chair

7 The Calusa Land Trust Mission Statement The purpose of the Calusa Land Trust is to protect the natural diversity and beauty of the Pine Island region by acquiring, managing and preserving in perpetuity environmentally sensitive or historically important land and to foster appreciation for and understanding of the environment and our past. The Land Trust is a broad coalition of individuals, families, and businesses who agree that the acquisition and protection of natural land is important if we are to retain the quality of life which makes the Pine Island region so attractive to people and to wildlife. The Land Trust is supported entirely by people who donate their time, talent, and financial support to protect irreplaceable natural resources. The Land Trust does not engage in political activity or lobbying and takes no position on zoning or regulatory matters. The Calusa Land Trust represents people's willingness to put their money and time where their hearts are to make a difference. $ 15 Individual Member $ 25 Family Member $ 50 Donor $100 Contributor $500 Patron $1000 Benefactor $ 50 Plunk a Plank (fill in lettering) CREDIT CARD #: Visa or MasterCard only EXPIRES: / Your Name: Sponsor: Address: City, State, Zip: Phone: Alt Phone Second Address: Second City, State, Zip: address A COPY OF THE CALUSA LAND TRUST S OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA S DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING (TOLL-FREE FROM WITHIN FLORIDA). OUR REGISTRA- TION NUMBER IS SC REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA. FULL FINANCIAL DETAILS, INCLUDING FEDERAL TAX RETURNS, CAN BE OBTAINED BY CONTACTING THE LAND TRUST S TREASURER AT DURING WORKING HOURS. THE CALUSA LAND TRUST NEVER EMPLOYS PROFESSIONAL FUNDRAISERS; 100% OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE RETAINED BY THE CALUSA LAND TRUST. 7 February 2010

8 Upcoming Work Parties 2010 Mark your Calendars Plan to Attend Saturday Mar 13 9 am 12 noon St. James Preserve exotics cleanup Saturday April 10 9 am 12 noon Kreie Preserve & Peter Ordway Tropical Hammock Saturday May 8 9 am 12 noon Baxley and Dobbs Preserves Saturday June 12 9 am 12 noon Smokehouse Bay, Bokeelia Saturday July 10 9 am 12 noon St. James Creek & Dobbs Preserves Saturday Sep 11 9 am 12 noon Long Cut, Coconut Island & York Preserves Saturday Oct 9 9 am 12 noon Pine Island Flatwoods Saturday Nov 13 9 am 12 noon Cayo Pelau Saturday Dec 11 9 am 12 noon Back Bay Preserve, St. James Creek Preserve For more information including where to meet contact Ranger Ed Chapin by calling his pager or check the Web Site Calusa Land Trust & Nature Preserve of Pine Island, Inc. P.O. Box 216 Bokeelia, Florida 33922