| We had our 2005 annual
membership meeting January 24, at the Tropic Cinema in Key West.
Preceding our business meeting was a very pleasant social hour in the
theater's beautiful lobby, with yummy munchies provided by Blue
Heaven. Approximately 75 members and guests were present.
Our business meeting included a summary of the past year's
programs, accomplishments and important issues, by President Amy
Lachat Lynch. Treasurer Bill Verge presented a year-end
financial report and 2005 estimated budget. We elected two
new Directors to the board, Annette Liggett, and Albert
Sullivan. |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Last Stand's annual awards ceremony was next.
John Jones, Key West's Assistant City Manager, was named
Outstanding Government Official of the Year. In photo at
left, Last Stand Director Sullins Stewart (speaking into mic)
recognizes Mr. Jones (left) for his accessibility and
responsiveness. Though we may not always agree with city
policies, Mr. Jones consistently gets back to us and other
citizens with answers to nuts&bolts questions. He's as
good as his word; if he says he'll do something, he does it. |
|
|
 |
| Our Outstanding
Citizen Activist award, presented by Last Stand Director George
Halloran (in brown in the photo at left), went to a group of
folks for their relentless efforts against the proposed totally-
out-of-scale-with-its-surroundings Watermark project. The
recipients (left to right): Bill and Sheila Rowan, Barbara
Bowers, George Halloran (presenter), and Shirley Freeman (at mic).
|
|
|
 |
| Outstanding Environmentalist of the Year was
awarded to Mary Alley-Draper, for her work to save the Bridle
Path area bordering Key West's Salt Ponds. All but one
land parcel along the Bridle Path is publicly owned, assuring
public access. Mary is a strong advocate of city
acquisition of the remaining parcel, to keep the Bridle Path and
the Salt Ponds intact. Environmentalism runs in the
family. Mary's husband Russ, park ranger for Key West, was
Last Stand's Unsung Hero at the recent Community Foundation of
the Florida Keys awards gathering. Last Stand Director
Joan Borel made the presentation (Mary at left, Joan on right). |
|
 |
| The Legal Protector of the Keys award went
to Richard Grosso, of the Environmental and Land Use Law Center
at Nova Southeast University. Richard has represented us
in successful cases before, and he's presently our attorney in
our legal challenge to the county/state rule change to allow
increased growth in the Keys. Richard was unable to
attend. The photo shows Mick Putney, Last Stand Director,
presenting Richard the award in absentia. |
|
| Last but not least... our President, Amy
Lachat Lynch, was presented a lovely orchid, as a very small
token of our very huge gratitude for her capable leadership for
three years as President. Before serving as Prez, she was
VP for a number of years. Last Stand has come a long way
over the years, thanks in large part to Amy. We're
allowing Amy to retire from office, but she'll continue as a
very valued Director... and possibly Keys In The Balance
moderator-for-life. Amy, nobody can do it like you do it! |
|
 |
| Following the Annual Meeting, we treated Last
Stand members to a viewing of Sunshine State, a wonderful
2002 film by John Sayles, about the clash between greedy developers
and the cultures and nature that they destroy when allowed to run
rampant. Filmed in Florida, about Florida, it still rings true
in some ways for the Keys. Highly recommended. |
|
Last Stand kindly thanks Michael Shields and
the Key West
Film Society for hosting our meeting. They have done a
magnificent job with Tropic Cinema, and are a tremendous asset to
the community. We also thank Richard and Suanne of Blue
Heaven, for the scrumptious finger-food. Eat at
Blue Heaven. |
|
