The following is a sample of a proposed message to be sent to the governor and other officials in support if the plan to purchase U.S. Sugar property to provide a south outlet from Lake Okeechobee and thereby relieve our St. Lucie estuary of damaging discharges in wet years.

Member orgainizations and other concerned citizens are urged to include these thoughts, customizing the wording as desired. Your communications may well make the difference. Act as soon as possible. Here's the "template" letter:

Dear Governor Crist,

The (your organization) fully supports the purchase of U.S. Sugar lands by the State of Florida for the purpose of restoring the Florida Everglades by creating a flowway.

This rare opportunity to purchase the lands that have blocked the River of Grass and caused so much devastation to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries must be followed through to fruition.

Now, at last, there exists our best chance to really stop the ruination of our treasured 'Glades and east/west estuaries. There is no other viable alternative. Leading environmentalists have dreamed for many years of taking back these lands. Now, suddenly, it can be done.

A flowway will offer huge benefits for the environment and is vital for our economic sustainability. Restoring the health of our treasured Everglades for future generations will be something for us all to be proud of.

Thank you for your foresight and continued work on this historic acquisition.

Sincerely,
(your name and organization)

The new DVD, "Saving the St. Lucie Estuary" is getting rave reviews from insiders and a copy is available for your group and others. There's no specific charge, though the Rivers Coalition appreciates donations to facilitate widespread distribution of the 8-minute video.

The video is considered a powerful presentation of the causes of the St. Lucie estuary's degradation during wet times, when hundreds of billions of gallons of polluted water are shunted to the coasts from Lake Okeechobee.

A common reaction to the DVD: "Wow, this needs to be seen by everyone."

Disks are available at Rivers Coalition meetings and through the RiversCoalition.org website.

Thursday August 28, 2008
11AM
Realtor Association of Martin County
43 SW Monterey Road, Stuart
Corner of Monterey Road and Kanner Highway

Business Matters
Chairman's Comments - Leon Abood
Guest Speakers - Patrick Rooney, Governing Board Member, SFWMD
Karen Smith, Director of the Martin/St. Lucie Service Center, SFWMD
Boyd Gunsulas, Environmental Scientist, SFWMD
Land Acquisition - Leon Abood
Legal Update - Karl Wickstrom
Special Events - Jessica Briske
Fundraising - Karl Wickstrom 
WRAC - Ted Guy/Ed Fielding

Coalition Committee Reports
Water Quality - Mark Perry
Local Issues - Mark Perry/Ed Fielding
State/Federal Issues - Kevin Henderson/Paul Gray
IRL/CERP - Kevin Henderson/Paul Gray
Martin County Updates - Paul Millar

PLENTY OF FREE PARKING! DONUTS AND COFFEE!

Don't forget to donate today and get your name on the honor roll.

Go to www.RiversCoalition.org to donate.

The Rivers Coalition is a non profit 501c3 organization.