 It’s hot; kids are heading back to school, and it has been an eventful summer. This year we were invited down to Ft Pierce to take part in the Manatee Observation Center’s summer camp. MOC has a neat facility, and the camp was a blast. I conducted the first two camps and some friends from Florida Sportsman helped out with the last one. I warned them that they would have a hard time unhooking fish and re-baiting hooks fast enough. A morning filled with conservation and angling education followed by a few hours of fishing in the afternoon was the perfect to send these kids home educated, tired and with free rods thanks to Fish Florida. The Fishing Center of St Lucie was kind enough to donate the bait for these camps, and we all appreciate that.
During the second camp, a little girl named Faith mentioned I promised her I’d help her catch her first fish. I did make that promise early in the day, and when she reminded me, I noticed we were running VERY short on bait. The surrounding area was somewhat fished out, so I took Faith’s rod and cast her bait a bit further to the base of a channel marker and BOOM!!! She was hooked up with her first fish and a smile from ear-to-ear. These moments will never get old because they remind me of when I was a young boy catching fish and having the time of my life. Along with other programs, summer was also home to two Advanced Teen Anglers Camps. These camps are fun for both volunteers and campers. Held at the Marine Resources Councils, Ted Morehouse Lagoon House, young anglers learn to think like a fish in order to catch more fish while maintaining a foundation in conservation. This year, ATAC was sponsored by Long Doggers, Da Kine Diego’s, Harry Goode’s Outdoor Shop, Hoo-Rag, BD Outdoors, Sportfishing Magazine, Aqua Bond, Pro-Cure, Mr. Wiffelure, Surfrider Foundation and Fish Florida. Thanks to all of those who volunteered, attended and supported our third year of Advanced Teen Anglers Camp.
Enjoy!!!
Mike Conneen
Executive Director
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“Love Our Lagoon” campaign signs are printed and now ready for adoption, thanks to the City of Satellite Beach’s Sustainability Board and artist, Damien Share. To learn how to get one of these FREE signs, follow us on Facebook. For information on sponsorships or artwork, email Mike at mike@anglersforconservation.org.
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Florida, the “Sunshine State”, has the potential to be among the top three states nationally for solar energy. However, just 1/10th of 1% of its electricity is generated from solar energy, and it ranks below states like Massachusetts and New Jersey. One of the state’s largest utilities, Florida Power & Light, has recently noted that only about 3,000 of its 4.8 million customers have solar on their roofs.
At the same time, Florida is a state where the citizens, by their votes, control what is in its Constitution. Amendments may be proposed by the state Legislature or by citizen initiative, but they must, in every case, be adopted by 60% of the voters.
Three proposed solar Amendments to Florida’s Constitution now exist – one (Amendment 4) is to be voted on in the state’s August 30, 2016 primary election, and a second (Amendment 1) to be voted on in the November 8, 2016 general election. Proposed Amendments are numbered in the chronological order they qualify to be voted upon.
The third one has been promoted by a group named “Floridians for Solar Choice” (Solar Choice). It has no number because it has not qualified for a ballot position. The Solar Choice Amendment might possibly be voted on in the November 2018 general election.
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AFC’s Annual Protect Our Waters Fundraising Awards Party is set for Sunday, November 13th at Front Street Park’s Civic Center in Melbourne. We are very excited to hold this year’s event alongside the beautiful Indian River Lagoon. Stay tuned for more details…
If you are interested in joining the party committee, sponsoring the event, or donating to the silent auction, please contact Heather Sears, Development Director at 321-474-8202 or Heather@AnglersForConservation.org.
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Smile
Anglers for Conservation is now on Amazon Smile. In case you don’t know what Amazon Smile is, it is a place where you can buy all the great stuff from Amazon you normally do only they will now donate a portion of your sale to Anglers for Conservation!
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Go the TD Bank Way Another way you can support AFC is by opening a TD Bank account. Or, if you already have one, mention that you would like to support Anglers for Conservation through TD Banks Affinity program. TD Bank will then make an annual contribution to AFC! Talk about a win/win!
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