Do you ever feel like, I just want to “do something” to make a difference?
A lot has happened in January. There will probably be a lot happening in February. Some of it is out of our individual control but do what you can and take pleasure knowing that you are making a difference.
I pick up trash in the Loxahatchee River, which could be a full-time job, but I also try to help the Loxahatchee Group as the Executive Committee Chair.
I have been listing Volunteer opportunities for the past couple of months here in the Chair Chat - with success. We now have two new volunteers working on Turtle Tracks and we thank them for their efforts!
This month, I am asking for help with Fund Raising.
We all know it takes money to be effective in today’s society. We need money for the fun things, like our various scholarship programs, conservation initiatives and outreach, as well as funds for boring stuff like bank fees and Zoom subscriptions.
In the past, we put most of our fundraising eggs in one basket, our November Gala, (previously known as Thanks and Giving). After many years our chair for this event, Glenn Laufer, is stepping down. He has agreed to continue working on fundraising campaigns but not as the leader. We thank Glenn for his service in the past!
This opens up an opportunity for someone to step up, possibly with new ideas. We are open to suggestions.
The point is: IF you have experience or ideas WITH the ability to follow through, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
PS: Our February 5th General Meeting is coming up fast, so check out the details below. Don’t wait! Sign up today!
IN CASE YOU MISSED OUR JANUARY 21 MEETING, HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS...
At the January 21 meeting, from left, Chris Lockhart (NPS), Richard Moyroud (NPS), Richard Stowe (Sierra Club), Jimmy Lange (guest speaker), Mindi Ogden (NPS president), CJ McCartney (NPS), and Scott Zucker (Audubon Everglades president)
Great Turnout at Joint Meeting of the
Loxahatchee Group, Audubon Everglades
and the Palm Beach County Chapter of the Native Plant Society
It was a full house on January 21 as the Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group, the Palm Beach County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, and Audubon Everglades presented Research Botanist Jimmy Lange, who explained the threat to Florida’s diverse native plant life..
Mindi Ogden, the Native Plant Society chapter’s Native Plant Society president, presented upcoming group highlights, including the Native Plant Expo February 22. (You can help us with the Loxahatchee Group’s display table at this event.) Sign up to volunteer with Glenn Laufer glaufer7@gmail.com. Our own chair, Linda Smithe, shared current Loxahatchee Group Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group initiatives and opportunities. And Scott Zucker, long-time president of Audubon Everglades Audubon Everglades, amazed us all with the fact that they have had 50 outings since September.
Richard Stowe, Loxahatchee Group energy chair, introduced the evening’s speaker, Jimmy Lange, research botanist.
Florida is part of a Global Biodiversity Hotspot in the Caribbean, Lange explained, but the unique diversity of flora in Florida is in grave danger of disappearing.
Using maps, he showed how 97% of Broward County's floral diversity exists only on the coastal upland ridge, the very area (as in Miami-Dade) that is now overwhelmingly urbanized. The maps dramatically revealed how a vast majority of this diverse plant habitat has been lost. The few limited habitat fragments that survive are woefully small and lack the ecological integrity that once existed. Plants that exist on the edges of these habitat pockets are increasingly subjected to threats from a variety of elements, but invasives, such as oyster plant, pothos, and the like are a major villain.
Florida regulates the sale and distribution of noxious invasives, but, that list is woefully short. That’s where we can help. You may have noticed that many stores still sell plants that are known to be destructive to native habitat. That’s because out of the 83 plants listed by the non-profit Florida Invasives Species Council (FISC) as Category I, only 33 have made the noxious plant list.
Lange wants a policy change so that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services would have to automatically consider FISC Cat 1 Invasives as noxious weeds, thus banning their sale and distribution. He is asking our groups for help in accumulating data to help effect this change.
A big takeaway from this meeting? Our area is most fortunate to have THREE dynamic, pro-active, like-minded organizations that continue to make a difference in our region’s quality of life.
For more information about FISC criteria click here FISC criteria . If you have any ideas, or wish further information about submitting plant documentation for consideration as a noxious weed, contact Jimmy at Jimmy Lange.
Joint General Meeting
Wednesday, February 5, 6:30 pm
Loxahatchee Group
Martin County Chapter, Florida Native Plant Society
JOIN US AT CHASTAIN CAMPUS
OF INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE
2400 SE SALERNO ROAD
STUART, FL 34997
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL HELPS BEAT INVASIVE PLANTS
F. ALLEN DRAY, JR,
DIRECTOR OF USDA INVASIVE PLANT RESEARCH LABORATORY & USDA SUPERVISORY ECOLOGIST
Allen Dray, who earned a Ph.D. in Biology from Florida International University in 2003, will discuss his research for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Mass Rearing facilities at the Agricultural Research Service Invasive Plant Research Lab which is located in Fort Lauderdale.
This includes the use of Australian weevil to biologically control the invasive Melaleuca, a beetle to control the air potato and biological control of the Australian Pine.
Outing participants paddling through the mangroves at West Lake Park in Hollywood January 19. (Photo by Ron Haines)
Sunday Feb. 9, 10 a.m. Paddle Winding Waters Natural Area
Leisurely two-hour paddle at Winding Waters Natural Area in West Palm Beach. Suitable for beginners and for paddle boarders. For information and registration go to: Paddle Winding Waters Natural Area Trip Leader: Ron Haines ronaldhaines@bellsouth.net
Thursday Feb. 20, 10 a.m. Paddle John Prince Park in Lake Worth
This is a leisurely two-hour paddle in the backwaters of an urban park in central Palm Beach County. Please arrive in time for launch at 10 am. Use the Congress Avenue entrance to John Prince Park, 4759 South Congress Ave., Lake Worth. For information and registration go to: Paddle at John Prince Park. Trip Leader: Ron Haines ronaldhaines@bellsouth.net
Sunday Feb. 23, 10 a.m., Paddle at Okeeheelee Park South in West Palm Beach
This is a leisurely, two-hour paddle on the water trail at Okeeheelee Park South. The park is at 7715 Forest Hill Blvd, West Palm Beach. Go south from Forest Hill, NOT NORTH. Allow yourself time to launch at 10 please. For information and registration go to: Paddle at Okeeheelee Park South
Trip Leader: Ron Haines ronaldhaines@bellsouth.net
Sunday Mar. 2, 10 a.m. Paddle South Fork of St. Lucie River
Leisurely three-hour paddle on the South Fork of the St. Lucie River in Stuart. No rentals available, suitable for paddleboards too. Rest stop halfway through. For information and registration go to: Paddle South Fork of St Lucie River
Trip Leader: Ron Haines ronaldhaines@bellsouth.net
Sunday Mar. 9, 10 a.m., Upper Loxahatchee River
Leisurely 3-4 hour paddle in the backwaters of Riverbend Park in Jupiter.
Rentals available. Two portages required. For information and registration go to: Upper Loxahatchee River paddle
Trip Leader: Ron Haines ronaldhaines@bellsouth.net
Saturday Mar. 22, 10 a.m. Paddle Winding Waters Natural Area
Leisurely two-hour paddle at Winding Waters Natural Area in West Palm Beach. Suitable for beginners and for paddle boarders. For information and registration go to: Paddle Winding Waters Natural Area
Trip Leader: Ron Haines ronaldhaines@bellsouth.net
Get in our picture Volunteers last month at the Preserve
Let’s give the gopher tortoise more room to graze!!
Join us Wednesday, February 12
9 am to Noon
for a Service Outing
at Galaxy Sand Pine Preserve in Boynton Beach
FEBRUARY 12, 9 am to Noon, SERVICE OUTING GALAXY SAND PINE PRESERVE BOYNTON BEACH. Leader is Lisa Hanley Lisa Hanley
The Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area has chosen the Galaxy Sand Pine Preserve as one of a few sites in Florida to benefit from a day of Weed Wrangling.
You are invited to join in!
This is the third time the Preserve has been chosen, and boy do these folks get a lot done! Most of the participants are desk jockeys from various entities such as South Florida Water Management District, Florida Wildlife Commission, Department of Environmental Protection etc. and they are thrilled to get out of the office and back to their roots.
On the same day, Galaxy first graders will be given a guided tour of the Nature Trail through the Preserve.
Restoring the Preserve is an ongoing Sierra Club project (since 2013!) and members are invited to participate in this event, either to accompany the children on their walk or to join in clearing invasives.
PICTURE YOURSELF HERE: The Sierra Club Loxahatchee table at the recent Lagoon Fest in West Palm Beach.
Please come out and help
The Sierra Club at Table Events
February 8,2025
The Arthur R Marshal Loxahatchee Refuge
10216 Lee Road Boynton Beach, FL 33474
10:00am – 4:00pm
Please contact Glenn Laufer to volunteer
561-254-2286 or email Glenn Laufer
February 22, 2025
Native Plant Society Plant Expo
Palm Beach State College Palm Beach Gardens Campus
3160 PGA Blvd Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
9:00am – 5:00pm
Please contact Glenn Laufer to volunteer
561-254-2286 or email Glenn Laufer
March 8, 2025
NATUREFEST John D MacCarther State Park
Nature Center, 10900 Jack Nicklaus Dr, North Palm Beach, FL 33408
9:00am – 4:00pm
Please contact Glenn Laufer to volunteer
561-254-2286 or email Glenn Laufer
One Person’s Trash
is Another Person’s Treasure
Resource Depot Exhibition
open until Feb. 22
Resource Depot is a creative reuse center dedicated to promoting environmental sustainability and creativity through reuse and education programs. The nonprofit organization redistributes discarded items to teachers, artists, families, and other nonprofits; hosts workshops and community events; and collaborates with educators to integrate environmental awareness into programs.
Eighteen artists from across Palm Beach County incorporated reused materials to create the works on display. Resource Depot is at 2508 Florida Avenue, West Palm Beach.
Each year, this annual show features a diverse mix of local artists and artwork. Featured artists for 2025 include: Lori Arbel, Sonya Sanchez Arias, Alyssa Book, Rita Boutros, Jerilyn Brown, Pia Dugger, Lori Dunsmore, Rod Faulds, Judy Flescher, Johanna Fox, Christine Lisi, Jennifer O’Brien, Ellen Sall, Mike Silverman, Pamela Tatti, Shannon Walker, Tina Wright, and Zhongguo Zheng-Abu.
What a great way to honor Rabbi Silver for all of the wonderful environmental work he did with the Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group. Break bread with a wonderfully supportive congregation.
Tune in to this Sierra Club Broward Group meeting and learn about an issue that is hitting us here in Palm Beach County as well, where county officials are planning a 1.5 Billion dollar Incinerator that will create toxic ash and air pollution. And we thought Burning Sugar Cane was bad. This is worse!
WHEN: Thursday, February 6, 2025, from 7pm-8:30pm.
WHERE: From the comfort of your couch. This is a virtual meeting.
WHAT: Burn, Baby, Burn? Why Incineration ("Waste-to-Energy") is the Wrong Solution for Broward County.
SPEAKER: Mike Ewall, Founder & Executive Director of Energy Justice Network, a national U.S. non-profit supporting communities to transition from polluting energy and waste facilities to clean energy and zero waste systems. His work has led to the defeat of dozens of waste incinerators and other proposed dirty energy and waste facilities around the nation, including power plants, a multi-state nuclear waste dump, a coal-to-oil refinery, and a liquefied natural gas import terminal.
Registration is Required. Register
SPEAKING OF BURNING
The Broward Group has teamed up with with Climate Reality, the League of Women Voters, and the Broward Public Library to present an environmental film about sugarcane burning, Bittersweet Muck, on Saturday, February 15, 2025, from 3:00 to 5:30. Registration is required. Bittersweet Muck
AN EMAIL TIP!
Getting too many Sierra Club emails? Don’t hit unsubscribe!
Use the Manage Preferences option at the bottom of this or any other Sierra Club email to choose what you want and what you don’t want.
Please keep on subscribing to My Chapter, the first option, so you continue to receive Turtle Tracks, our local newsletter.
The rest of the email options? Decide for yourself.
If you have any questions, contact Ron Haines at ronaldhaines@bellsouth.net.
