I had the extreme pleasure of being the guest speaker at
the Nature Coast CISMA on Wednesday, March 18, 2015at the Cedar Hammock Lodge, in
Webster FL. I learned of the groups activities while reading about the group in February during “Invasive Species
Awareness Week”, in Florida. I was so impressed with the idea and thought it would be a great idea for Michigan to adopt. So interested in learning how and why they
started the Awareness week, I contacted several of the events chairperson, either
through email or phone. Keith Morin, Park Biologist, Crystal River Preserve St.Park and I connected and shared our ideas, frustrations and sheer passion for
preserving the areas we both love. Because of the conversation, Keith invited me to be the guess speaker
at the March Nature Coast
CISMA meeting. I was honored, and the rest is history.
CISMA meeting. I was honored, and the rest is history.
Driving from
manicured and trimmed settings of The Villages Florida, I was reminded of the
natural beauty of Florida. Only an hour away from where I am in The Villages,
and I was able to see open expansive farms, cattle ranches and even areas with
inland lakes and open water.
I was the first to arrive. I did not attend the morning workday session. Many of
the members were working, that morning, within the area on prescribed burns,
and/or hand- pulling or spraying for Caesar’s weed,Wandering Jew, the houseplant gone wild in Florida and spraying Sword Fern and sour orange trees.
While waiting for all to arrive, I was able to view the beauty of the old Oak
trees all dripping in Spanish Moss and feel the coolness they offered to the
heat of the 89 degree day. I saw butterflies, heard the birds and actually felt
a little intimidated. This is not the Florida I am comfortable with, I see palm
trees, manicured lawns and roadways, I hear the constant drum of traffic
noises. It was peaceful, cooling, and inspiring to see insects, hear numerous
birds and experience the coolness offered by the canopy of trees.
I am glad that I did not
venture out to take pictures while waiting for the group to arrive. I learned
that I was not properly dressed for even walking around the Lodge. I wore
sandals, something so appropriate for my lifestyle in The Villages, was not
appropriate out here. It was pointed out to me, along the cement walkway to the
Lodge, beautifully camouflaged among the fallen oak leaf litter, there it was.
. .a juvenile Ggymy Rattlesnake !!!! And
yes they can impact a venomous bite, tiny yet fully equipped with fangs and
venom.
Walking into the lodge, I was introduced to the members of
the Nature Coast CISMA. While listening to their committee reports, recaps of
the last meeting, and the nominating and voting in a new Steering Committee
Chair, Operations Committee Chair, I felt right at home. I was thousands of
miles from my home in Michigan, yet felt very comfortable with this group of
concerned and passionate people here to ensure that the native Florida they
know and love will be in existence for future generations.
I also learned, they experience the same trials in
running a CISMA, of getting persons to volunteer, keeping them active within the group, m$ney, m$ney and
m$ney is always an issue for a volunteer group. Keeping the events staffed with
volunteers, supplying the educational materials/handouts to the ever increasing interested
persons, and of course feeding the masses when they come to a workday project:
different place, same issues.
I explained our challenges, our struggles and successes with OPIS and
the now newly formed Oakland County CISMA. They appreciated that we too are as
concerned with the environment and engaging people to maintain the integrity of
Michigan’s native beauty.
I will be keeping in contact with this group. We shared
numbers, emails, website addresses. I drove away with a sense that it is
comforting to know there are individuals that have the same concerns and
passions for Florida as I do for Michigan:
protecting the precious resources
of land, water and wildlife.
