Welcome
The Audubon Assembly is Florida's premiere conservation event and conference. This year's gathering will be held Oct 23-24, 2015 at the Orlando Sheraton North in Maitland and you are invited!
The theme for the Assembly is "Parks: The Heart of Natural Florida." If you have visited a park in Florida then you know first-hand their incredible value. State, county, and local conservation areas have a unique place in our network of public lands. From urban oases with playgrounds and ballparks to remote wilderness preserves that offer solitude and serenity, every park plays a role - for our birds, our citizens, and our economy.
We will focus this year's Assembly on celebrating and promoting discussion about how we can protect and enhance these “special places” for future generations. Our goal is for you to leave inspired to engage a broader more diverse audience to secure Florida's internationally-recognized system of public conservation lands.
The Audubon Assembly is a great chance for you to reconnect with natural Florida. Attend interesting workshops with leading guest speakers, join local Audubon chapter leaders for field trips to their special places, take part in Audubon Florida’s unique conservation agenda setting session...and much more!
The 2015 Audubon Assembly will be held on October 23-24. We hope to see you there. Please review the below event descriptions to learn more about what we have planned for this year.
Featured Events and Guest Speakers
Friday Awards Banquet
The Friday Awards Banquet is always the "can't miss" event of Assembly. Join other attendees, special guests, and public officials for our highly-anticipated conservation awards presentation and keynote speaker. We are delighted to announce that Rafael Galvez, celebrated artist, birding tour leader, and director of Florida Keys Hawkwatch, will be our keynote speaker at this year's banquet.
About our Keynote, Rafael Galvez, Artist and Director of Florida Keys Hawkwatch
Access to wilderness should be available to all, but as is the case with many first-generation immigrants and children from inner city communities, Rafael spent his childhood disenfranchised from nature. His exploration of urban ponds and canals during formative years in South Florida awakened an innate interest in birds. Rafael's presentation will enthrall and inspire Assembly attendees with stories from his unique career contributing to several initiatives designed to introduce children and others from underserved communities to nature.
Rafael Galvez is the current director of Florida Keys Hawkwatch – the southernmost migration project in the continental U.S, strategically positioned to count birds as they fly southward into the Caribbean. He travels widely as a guide for Victor Emanuel Nature Tours and the Leica Sport Optics team. You can see many of his field sketches and paintings by visiting his website: GalvezBirds.com. Rafael also serves on the board of Tropical Audubon Society.
Friday Welcome Lunch
Break bread with old friends and new as we ring the opening bell of the 2015 Audubon Assembly. Eric Draper, Audubon Florida Executive Director, will review the year in conservation and take a look at the challenges our community faces in the future.
Guest Speaker: We are still planning the Friday Welcome Lunch speaker. Stay tuned - it will be worth the wait!
Celebrating Chapters Breakfast
The annual celebration of Audubon Florida chapters has a new format this year. We will meet Saturday morning for some early bird networking around the issues that affect all chapters before we launch into our more traditional awards celebration recognizing outstanding chapters and individuals. Help us celebrate the heart and soul of the Audubon network and their success in engagement with both traditional and new partners.
Friday Workshops and Learning Sessions
A) Bringing it Home: Sea Level Rise and Coastal Bird Nesting Areas
How will sea level rise affect coastal bird nesting areas on your favorite beaches? Where will the birds nest and rest when beaches are flooded? In this session, presenters will utilize online, easy-to-use viewer tools to illustrate how coastal bird habitat will be reshaped by the ocean and how scientists look for upland areas that could become future shorebird habitat. If you love coastal birds or help as an Audubon bird steward, plan on attending this session to hear from experts working in the field about the greatest challenges facing our coastal birds and - most importantly - what you can do to help.
B) One Audubon: Identifying Barriers and Crafting Solutions to Diversity in Conservation
Florida is a big state and as diverse as it comes. Yet, the conservation movement still struggles with attracting diverse and nontraditional partners. The challenges that face South Florida are different than those experienced in the Panhandle. The Audubon Assembly is the one time of year where a large part of the Florida conservation community comes together. This year we’re using the power of One Audubon to identify barriers and craft creative solutions to break through. Join us for an interactive workshop on diversity and leave with a bag-full of innovative ideas to take back to your chapter and community. Together for more. Juntos por más. Ansanm pou plis.
C) Advocates Needed: Making the Case for Florida’s Conservation Lands to Public Officials
The Audubon family was instrumental in the passage of Amendment 1 last November. Now, conservation projects across Florida need advocates like never before. In this session, you will hear from leading land conservation professionals to learn how you can be a successful advocate on behalf of new conservation purchases and improved land management. This is your chance to learn how you can make a real difference for land conservation in your local community. Together we will make the promise of Amendment 1 a reality.
D) 2016 Conservation Priority Agenda Setting Session – Approving Audubon Florida’s State and Regional Priorities
Audubon Florida and the seven Regional Conservation Committees representing Florida’s 44 chapters present their 2016 Conservation Priorities for final adoption. Don’t miss the opportunity to weigh in on our conservation goals for the coming year. The final package will be presented for approval by the Audubon Florida Board of Directors after the close of Assembly.
There is no doubt that the Assembly Field Trips put birds (and fun!) in the Audubon Assembly! This year Orange Audubon Society, Seminole Audubon Society, and Kissimmee Valley Audubon Society are your host chapters and will provide local expertise and guidance to some of Central Florida’s most special places -- including a new trail on the North Shore of Lake Apopka. Most Assembly field trips leave from the hotel early in the morning on Friday, October 23. Please make your travel plans accordingly. There are space limitations on certain field trips, please email Jacqui Sulek to learn more and to reserve your space - [email protected].
Field Trips List:
- Apopka North Shore Restoration Area
- Wekiwa Springs State Park
- Lake Jesup Wilderness Area
- Mead Gardens
- Audubon Center for Birds of Prey
Click here to learn more about the individual field trips.
Cocktail Reception
Relax and mingle with other Assembly attendees, staff, and guest speakers before the big awards banquet on Friday evening. This is a great time to network and have some fun with other passionate Florida conservationists.
Conservation Leadership Initiative
Now in its fourth year, Audubon’s Conservation Leadership Initiative (CLI) is a co-mentoring opportunity for Audubon leaders and college students to network, share, and learn from each other. The CLI provides college-aged students scholarships to attend the Audubon Assembly. Through the CLI program, students immerse themselves with Audubon, attend leadership training, and gain an understanding of future opportunities in conservation careers. Held on the Friday of Audubon’s Assembly, students are paired with Audubon leaders for a day of walking workshops, leadership training and conservation programs to better develop the next generation of conservation leaders. Contact Audubon’s Katie Warner at [email protected] for more information on how you can participate.
Saturday Parks Summit
All Audubon Assembly registrations include attendance to this special event. Lunch will be provided. During ticket registration, you will be asked if you plan on staying for the Parks Summit. You can change your mind, but please let us know your schedule so we can plan accordingly and reduce food waste. Thank you.
