RiverKeeper's Oyster Roast!

[stephendare]

I just got a great email from my friend Lori Shad, who is one of the co chairs for this year's RiverKeeper's Oyster Roast.



This year's  Oyster Roast features food by Pastiche and Fisherman's Dock Seafood, three bands, an amazing auction featuring works by Jim Draper, Henry von Genk III, Mark George, Gary Mack, Peter Pettegrew, John Votel, and Allison Watson and many others,  as well as getaways to Elizabeth Point Lodge and Greyfield Inn, a Private Dinner Party in your home cooked by the chefs of Orsay, Tequila Tasting and Dinner at Yucatan Taco Stand, bicycle tours, a kayak and so many more fantastic items.  We are also thrilled to announce a reduced ticket price for Young Professionals (under 35) for the first time this year!
 
We hope your readers will come to have a great time and help protect our river! Event details, contact information for Jimmy Orth, our Executive Director, and a flyer for the event are included below.
 
Thanks,
Lori Shad and Jennie Busey, Co-Chairs
 
November 20th  7:00PM
Garden Club of Jacksonville
www.stjohnsriverkeeper.org/tickets
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
One of the best parties of the year!

[stephendare]

http://www.stjohnsriverkeeper.org/ourWork.asp

great site and organization!

[north miami]

The fact that there has been such a furious focus on central florida's overgrowth during recent 'water wars' yet little profile-or awareness let alone effective engagement- of key Northeast Florida sprawl inducing events of the past ten or twelve years is certainly yet another tribute...to something.

[riverkeepered]

SD, thanks for the plug for the Oyster Roast.  This is Riverkeeper's most important fundraising event of the year, providing a significant portion of the annual budget. It also happens to be one of the best parties of year, as well!

I also want to address the other post regarding the water wars issue. While much of the focus of the water wars debate has been on Central Florida's failure to address the root causes of its water supply problem, Riverkeeper has never let N. FL off the hook.  We are ALL complicit and must get a handle on how we use and waste water.   We are all guilty of poor planning, unsustainable growth, wasteful water use practices, and an insufficient commitment to water conservation and efficiency.  In fact, the next water management district Water Supply Plan that will be completed in 2010 will probably indicate that N. Florida is facing a water deficit of over 150 million gallons of water a day by 2030.  This is a statewide issue that will have a profound impact on all of our water resources - springs, rivers, aquifer - if we don't get a handle on our water use problem.

Enough said in this thread about issues.  Now it is time to celebrate the river by getting your tixs to the Roast!

www.stjohnsriverkeeper.org/tickets

[mtraininjax]

300 wines available for 30 bucks, or oysters available at the rediculous price of 125 bucks per person.......hmmmmmm......tough choice. Riverkeeper - Drop the prices and more people will attend.

[stjr]

300 wines available for 30 bucks, or oysters available at the rediculous price of 125 bucks per person.......hmmmmmm......tough choice. Riverkeeper - Drop the prices and more people will attend.

Mtrain, fund raisers are designed to RAISE MONEY for the organization, not out-duel the restaurant down the street.  It's accepted by attendees that built in to the "price" is a goodly donation to the sponsoring non-profit.  By the way, this is quality dinner and three bands.  I doubt you could get that value for $30.  Most events like this are to give people an "excuse" to write a check they would otherwise never get around to, to generate some "buzz" (see this thread!), and to allow its supporters to bond with the organization and its cause (there is typically a PR piece during the event), and other supporters.

Why don't you just send them a donation for any amount you wish if you aren't comfortable with the full fundraiser amount.  Non-profits will appreciate that just as much.  Every bit helps, especially nowadays.

[north miami]

The fact that there has been such a furious focus on central Florida's overgrowth during recent 'water wars' yet little profile-or awareness let alone effective engagement- of key Northeast Florida sprawl inducing events of the past ten or twelve years is certainly yet another tribute...to something.

..........no,not "enough said in this thread"

It's all about 'predictive capability'/

Fact is, a lot of 'water went under the bridge' so to speak by the time,and during the time area environmental organizations such as the RK and Northeast Florida Wildlife Federation office were finally put in place.And there is always the fact that our politics keep getting in the way of effective conservation policy.When I made presentation on Brannon/Chaffee/Beltway to the then new RK Board many years ago I saw clueless faces and concern over 'extremism'.

Our first RK Mike Hollingsworth was effective in many ways,including a virtual act of Bravery when,during a city 'River Summit', on his own behalf,as expert, he entered an after hours Freedom Commerce meeting sponsored by the developers and powerful friends from the Governor's office. His insights helped instill an awareness of the issues which helped propel the Florida Wildlife Federation's continued 'heavy lifting' with Freedom Commerce.

In this day of celebration of the River and the RiverKeeper organization let's also thank Gainesville's David White for his early organizational RK efforts.

It's all a learning experience,seemingly one 'sacred catastrophe' after another.Thank God for the RiverKeeper and the true progress made.
Keep it in the channel RK!

Onward-
North Miami