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FORCE
FRIENDS OF THE RIVERS COALITION E-NEWSLETTER
November/December 2014
 
The Rivers Coalition would like to thank all of our member organizations and volunteers for their support and tireless efforts throughout the year! We have made significant progress in our efforts to end the discharges from Lake Okeechobee permanently. As an organization we are extremely pleased with the passage of Amendment 1 and what it could mean for us.
 
We hosted excellent programs this year and participated in numerous public speaking engagements to various organizations. We want to thank our guest speakers for their time and excellent programs:
 
Dr. Gary Goforth - Nathaniel Reed - Lt. Col. Thomas Greco, ACOE - Congressman Patrick Murphy Senator Joe Negron - Mark Perry - Karl Wickstrom - Joe Browder - Dr. Tabitha Cale - Dr. Paul Gray
 
The Rivers Coalition was the beneficiary organization at several high profile events this year and we want to thank our amazing volunteers who helped make those a success:
 
Colleen Dennard - Joanne & Joe Swann - Gayle Ryan - Rachel Ram - Stephanie Cameron - Toby & Maggie Overdorf - Laurie Overton - Michelle McSweeney - Kathryn Thomas - Val Wright
John O'Brien - Jane Conner - Clint Starling - Betsy & Jeff Carr - David Carlson - Tiffany Finley
Nancy Scott - Nancy Giannetti - Paul Bender - Anna & George Bergalis - Mary Dawson
Jill Pinkham - Julie Williams - Cathy Gibson - Constance Gilmore - Norm Scheffner 
Robert Ryba - Nancy Weiss 
 
 
The amount of public support continues to buoy us. Our community knows the significance of the problem and clearly knows the right path to stop the discharges from Lake Okeechobee permanently. That path is south. Keep informed, stay engaged and know that the Rivers Coalition will continue to lead the charge.
 
Happy Holidays and we'll see you at our next meeting in January 2015! 
 
2015 Meeting Schedule
 
The 2015 meetings will be held at
City Hall – Commissions Chamber
121 SW Flagler Ave Stuart, FL 34994
 
January 29 – Thurs 11:00am – 12:30pm
 
February 26 – Thursday 11:00am – 12:30pm
 
March 25 – Weds 6:00pm – 7:30pm
 
April 30 - Thurs 11:00am – 12:30pm
 
May 28 - Thurs 11:00am – 12:30pm
 
June 24 - Weds 6:00pm – 7:30pm
 
July 30 - Thurs 11:00am – 12:30pm
 
August 27 - Thurs 11:00am – 12:30pm
 
September 23 - Weds 6:00pm – 7:30pm
 
October 29 - Thurs 11:00am – 12:30pm
 
* Please note that evening meetings are held on Wednesdays instead of the usual Thursdays
 Martin County River Kidz
 
The River Kidz Second Edition Workbook Party was a success with over 250 attending including 
elected officials from City of Stuart, Tom Campenni, and Eula Clark; as well as Florida Senator Joe Negron. Artist Julia Kelly, Justin Riney and Mike Hoffman also participated. 
 
$2500 was raised. The Kidz need just another $2500 to meet their goal and 
print the workbooks. The workbooks were written by Jensen Beach HS students in Crystal Lucas’ 2013 class, and put together with the River Momz and Kidz and donated time from Southeastern Printing’s Bluewater Editions. Marty the Manatee is the mascot of the book, after Marty Baum, Indian Riverkeeper! 
In early 2015, the workbooks will be distributed to every second grade class, public and private in Martin County. Thank you to all who attended and donated. River Kidz appreciates you! 
 
Donation checks can be made out to the Rivers Coalition Defense Fund, Memo line: RIVER KIDZ. Mail to: Rivers Coalition Defense Fund
PO Box 262, Stuart, FL 34995 Attention: River Momz. 
 
 
 
 
 
10 Things Every River Kid Should Know!
 
How to Become a RiverKidz Member!
 
Follow RiverKidz on Facebook! 
 
Check out what we are up to!
St. Lucie County River Kidz
 
The last month has been an exciting one! A few months back some of the River Kidz in St. Lucie County wrote letters and drew pictures of what the lagoon looks like or will look like and mailed them to the President. We’re excited to share that just a few weeks ago, the kids received a special thank you from President Obama.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On Saturday the 22nd some of the River Kidz from SLC helped bag and deploy oysters into the Lagoon near the Ft. Pierce inlet in a ongoing process to regain what has been lost. Through the pouring rain and wind, we were able to place close to 400 bags into the lagoon in hopes of offering a new habitat!
 
 
The River Warriors, the St Lucie River Kidz, some Rivers Coalition members, and just plain "river supporters," walked in the 2014 Stuart Christmas Parade on a remarkable float featuring 3 Solidarity-fish Christmas trees! 
The trees are now on display around town as well as Stuart City Hall. Artist Janeen Mason’s "Solidarity Fish” also made it to Washington DC for the National Christmas tree lighting. 
"Save Our River" is everywhere! We are making progress! Thank you everyone! 
 
 
Port Salerno Pirate & Mermaid Party
We would like to thank the sponsors of the Port Salerno Pirate & Mermaid Party for hosting an awesome event and presenting a donation of $2,400 to the Rivers Coalition!!
 
Craig Danzig - Blue Marlin Motors 
Paul Gonnella & Michael Politano - Manatee Island Bar & Grill
Rachelle Risley & Kenny Gibbs - The Twisted Tuna
Michael Ferguson & Coreen Fitzmorris-Ulibarri - Edgewater Realty
 
4RShores & Felix A Williams Elementary
 
4RShores and the students and staff of Felix A Williams Elementary teamed up to design a t-shirt to help support our river and our school.  The proceeds went to both F.A.W.E. and the Rivers Coalition. Howard Marder, Principal of Felix, counts these shirts as 'approved' Spirit Day Shirts at school and are worn on Fridays to show support for our river, as well as our school. There are still some available for purchase ($11) in the F.A.W.E. office if anyone is interested.  
A $70 donation was made on behalf of 4RShores and the Felix A Williams Elementary School to the Rivers Coalition from the t-shirts. Thank you!
 
 
 
 
2014 Lost River Fishing Tournament
 
The Rivers Coalition would like to thank the Lost River HOA for hosting another fishing tournament this year of which we were the beneficiaries! Bill Natalie presented a check for $1,500 on behalf of the Lost River HOA to Chairman Leon Abood at our October meeting.
 
 
Our Indian River Lagoon Book
 
Speakers Bureau
 
We participated in numerous public speaking engagements to various organizations this year. We want to thank our hosts for their time and continued interest in our river!
 
Pierpoint Condo HOA - Kiwanis Club - Ft. Pierce Yacht Club - Ft. Pierce Rotary Club
Manatee Center - Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie Co. - Garden Club of Stuart
 
 
If your organization is interested in having a speaker come to your meeting or event, you can request via email info@riverscoalition.org or by phone 772-225-6849 
Rivers Coalition is an Eco-Voice Sponsor!
How to Become a Member?
 
Membership is free! If you are interested in helping save the environment of SW Florida, you may join Eco-Voice by going to www.eco-voice.org and selecting subscribe.
 
Pass This Newsletter On!
 
Use the buttons at the bottom of the newsletter to pass this on to a friend, to subscribe or unsubscribe.
 
Thank you for all your support.
 
Editors: Jessica Waugaman & Olivia Sala
 
PO Box 2627
Stuart, Fl 34995
 
772-225-6849
www.RiversCoalition.org
 
 
Rivers Coalition • PO Box 2627 • Stuart, FL 34995
http://riverscoalition.org
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