Make 2014 a BIG YEAR for Florida's land, water, and wildlife! Get inspired and get involved at the Audubon Assembly in Hutchinson Island, Florida. Audubon is proud to announce that Leslie Kemp Poole, author of Saving Florida: Women's Fight for the Environment in the 20th Century will be this year's keynote speaker.
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Audubon Florida's signature conservation event brings together representatives of Audubon’s 35,000 members and 44 chapters with conservation leaders, scientists, educators and policy makers. Through nature-inspired walking workshops, inspiring speakers and thought-provoking learning sessions, Audubon plans to join together people of all ages and backgrounds in our common interest of protecting Florida's remarkable natural resources.
Additional information on keynote speakers, special presentations, and more will be revealed in coming weeks. For the very latest, see the official Audubon Assembly website.
Friday
Evening Banquet
Saving Florida: Saving Florida: Our Legacy and Our Future
Join Rollins College professor Leslie Kemp Poole to explore Florida’s remarkable history of protecting the wildlife, landscapes and habitat that make our state like no other. In its early days, Audubon’s fight to conserve Florida was waged with leadership from women before women even had the right to vote. Today, Florida’s threats are no less dire and our need for inclusion is no less important—Dr. Poole will share lessons from our past to guide Audubon’s future, reclaiming Florida’s land and water conservation legacy and expanding our reach to enlist new constituencies for conservation.
Beforehand, enjoy our cash bar cocktail hour to meet with friends old and new and network with conservation leaders from around Florida.
This year's field trips will take you to some of the most beautiful places in South Florida: Savannah's Preserve, the Indian River Lagoon Observatory, and a boat trip on the Indian River Lagoon. Please note, some of this year's field trips have a seperate, associated cost. Please click here for more information.
This year's Audubon Assembly is focusing on the network of grassroots conservationists who are out in the field making a difference for Florida's environment. After our kick-off lunch on Friday, you will have the opportunity to participate in three different breakout sessions. Each session will run twice, so you will have an opportunity to experience two in its entirety. Audubon leaders are working hard to put together programs that will engage and inspire you. Each session will feature cutting-edge scientists, biologists, conservationists, and leaders from across Florida. Stay tuned for the latest information as it becomes available.
Learning Session A: Engaging the Next Generation of Conservationists to Protect Land and Water Resources
How can we engage the broadest constituency to not only get out to Vote Yes on #1 but to then actively engage in and steward the conservation outcomes we hope to achieve over the next 20 years? What do the polls reveal and how will we use this information to find common ground to inspire a new non-traditional audience? How do we get people to care? How do we get people to act? Drawing upon Water and Land Legacy campaign efforts, Citizen Science programs, political leadership, chapter projects and personal experiences we will distill components of success that can be applied to solve future challenges.
Learning Session B: Balancing the importance of protection, restoration or maintenance – you decide!
This exciting session will begin with a briefing by an all-star panel of resource protection experts on habitat acquisition, restoration and management—the cornerstones of Amendment 1 funding. Then, join in the discussion to prioritize these needs for conservation lands around the state to develop a slate of recommendations to be shared with decision makers once Amendment 1 passes in November!
Learning Session C: Getting to Yes with Amendment One
The Skills and Plan for Getting out the Vote. Audubon members took the lead on getting the Florida Water and Land Legacy Amendment on the November ballot. Now we need to educate voters in our communities and get them to “vote yes on Amendment 1”. Learn from experts about how to work with your chapter and local allies to communicate about land and water conservation and make sure Florida votes YES on 1!
Saturday
Enjoy morning field trips with staff and friends. Trips to include Possum Long and various spots on Hutchinson Island.
Learning Sessions:
Workshop: Communicating About Climate Change, Sea Level Rise and the Future of Birds
As climate change and sea level rise shift the distribution and abundance of the birds we hold dear, how do we better communicate with decision makers about the threats faced by birds and recommendations for their conservation? Join us for a briefing on Audubon’s Fall 2014 climate release, with groundbreaking predictions about the changes we will see in bird distribution in North America. Then learn how you can be a better communicator about these effects, sea level rise, and creating safe havens for habitat and wildlife in Florida.
And much, much more, including our annual Conservation Priorities session!
Chapters Luncheon and Chapter Awards
More information to come!
This year's Assembly will be held in Hutchinson Island, at the beautiful Marriott Beach Resort & Marina - only minutes from some very exciting options for our not-to-be-missed morning excursions! (more information will be available as we get closer to the event date).
Assembly officially begins Friday morning, October 17, and runs until 2 pm on Saturday, October 18.
YOU MUST BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM SEPERATELY: Click here to book your group rate online or call 1-800-775-5936 (mention you are with Florida Audubon) and book by September 26, 2014 to reserve your group rate room! Group rate is $119 a night.
Check this page often for the latest on what is sure to be the best Assembly yet!
Loxahatchee wetlands vista photograph by Kim Seng - thank you!
