Review from the Chairwoman
To all our devoted members and friends of the Society:
On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, and the newly formed Board
of Governors, thank you for your support. We hope this newsletter will
make you proud to be a part of our Society. We have had an extraordinary
year and we are not done yet! We have made history with the land
purchase and raised the bar for the quality of life in Key West. We have
made major gains in the protection of the environment and we have
educated and excited thousands of people of all ages about our unique
and special ecosystem.
•In January 2005, both the City and County Commissions made their final
votes to go forward with the land purchase.
•In April 2005, we formed the Board of Governors, a group of financially
blessed people who have been supporting the Society for years. They came
together in Key West to approve and support a business plan that will
make the Society and the Garden self-sustaining in five years. Many made
pledges and committed to help raise funds. They will meet twice a year
and work with the Chairman, Richard Keefe and myself to implement the
plan. We are looking to double the size of this Board in 2006.
• On July 26, 2005, the 5.5 acres of adjacent land, formerly the County
administration site, was officially purchased by the City for the Key
West Tropical Forest and Garden. This purchase now links an additional 2
acres of waterfront land already part of the Garden property. The plan
and vision can now begin. • During the months of May through September,
we executed several grants. A major grant from the Eckerd Family
Foundation to utilize the garden for “at risk” students of Monroe County
in science education has been completed. It entailed the planning and
development of 30 lessons plans for K-5th grade to meet State and
National standards in Science. Through the efforts of master degree
graduate students from the Nicholas School of Earth and Sciences at Duke
University, an oversight committee and staff from the Monroe County
school system, we are poised to request funding for beginning this
program in fall 2006. We also executed a grant for an orchid exhibit on
the waterfall wall from Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust and an
assessment grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences.
• On October 1, we will have a total of four self guided tours, thanks
to the support of the Edith Munson Foundation and a lot of hard work by
Joanne Meyers,. Please be sure and take the new Courtyard Tour. Over 20
threatened or endangered plants fill this great educational trail. By
year’s end, we will be adding a 5th tour through the butterfly habitat,
which is home to many rare butterfly attracting specimens. Also be sure
to visit our visitor center. A new reception counter was donated by Rick
and Susan DeKayser. We also now have 2 children’s education films thanks
to Duke University and the Eckerd Family Foundation.
• November will mark the beginning of our next major project: a new
wetland habitat, 1.5 acres of new tropical forest and and a boardwalk
system around the existing Desbiens Pond. Native orchids and epiphytes
in the trees will be planned and construction drawings will be done in
this phase. Infrastructure and some plantings will commence during late
2006. Look for a new entry and signage on College Road. Funding is
nearly completed for phase one of this three phase project. Donations
are welcomed! Please make sure you read our FUNDING NEWS article.
A big round of applause to Richard Keefe and all the board members who
worked on the grants. This effort has been ongoing since January. Please
keep in mind that many of these grants are project specific and need
matching funds. I have listened to comments in the community that the
Society is “swimming in money.” That is far from the truth! We are
making many big projects happen in our infancy. Many of these expenses
are not reimbursed until work is completed. It is critical to continue
to have working capital in order to attain these awards. Those funding
general operating support are critical to our ability to be successful.
And while our volunteers play a critical role for in-kind matches,
certain staffing is necessary to complete reports, record accounting and
making sure deadlines are met. Funding organizations require audits and
tedious financial reports. While the word “non-profit” has the
connotation of “good will,” major donors look upon us just like any
responsible business to spend their money wisely and in a timely manner
and make progress. Your financial support through membership and
fundraisers are vital to matching these grants and improving our
tropical forest and botanical garden. We hope you are pleased with our
progress and are proud to be a part of the team!
- Carolann Sharkey