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INDEX
FRIENDS OF BIG CYPRESS, INC.
Mission Statement
Friends of Big Cypress is a 501-C3 not-for-profit, citizen-supported organization dedicated to enhancing educational, interpretive, and research opportunities at Big Cypress National Preserve. Our mission also includes working to protect the ecological integrity of the Big Cypress watershed in addition to its natural, scenic, and recreational values.
mail@friendsofbigcypress.org www.friendsofbigcypress.org
http://friendsofbigcypress.org/membership.htm
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September 2-4 Labor Day
2006 Annual Swamp Walk Adventure at Big Cypress Gallery for the Benefit of
Friends of Big Cypress, Friends of Fakahatchee and Florida Trail Association
for reservations for the swamp walk click here
http://clydebutcher.com/ |
Each year the Big Cypress Gallery, and hosts Niki and Clyde Butcher, hold a Labor Day Muck-About* Gathering at their Loose Screw Sanctuary on the Tamami Trail (US 41) to benefit the Friends of Big Cypress, Friends of Fakahatchee State Preserve, and Florida Trail Association. This year the gathering will take place on Sept 2-4 and, as always, included plenty of food and entertainment, and the hallmark swamp muck-abouts led by several local naturalists. The hundreds of visitors who attended the gathering were graced with beautiful weather and, due to the early wet season, an exceptionally green and lush environment for mucking-about.
*Muck-About: (verb) to walk in a swamp; to travel by foot, for pleasure or exercise, in a low-land region saturated with water; to get muddy in a watery location fraught with difficulties and imponderables; to rejoice in the beauty of nature. |
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Above: Photographer, Naturalist and Friends of Big Cypress Board Member, Jeff Ripple, leads a group of intrepid swamp walkers into the Big Cypress. |
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For many, this was their first time out in the Big Cypress National Preserve, and they were amazed by the primal beauty that they encountered. They fell in love with the swamp because now they had an appreciation for its complexity and beauty on a more personal and intimate level. For swamp walk alumni, this was the annual Big Cypress event that they look forward to. Everyone spoke of a heightened level of joy and sense of peace from the shared experience of nature.
Some candid photos from this year's Gathering are provided below. Further information on the event and an online 2005 Swamp Walk Slide Show and Photo Album are available at the following link: www.clydebutcher.com/2005_swamp_slides.htm.
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| Among this year's swamp walk leaders were John Elting, President of Friends of Fakahatchee (above left), and Skip Mace (below right). Valerie Wisecracker, one of the folk singers who entertains at the event, is joined by friends on a swamp walk (below left). |
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Above left: Cindy Hackney, local song-writer and folk musician, performs for an appreciative audience.
Above right: Children of the volunteers joined together to bake cookies and cup cakes to raise money to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Over $200 were donated to the Red Cross.
Left: Cellist Kayla Obendorf, Clyde and Niki's granddaughter, hamonizes with nature.
Below left: Artist Rob Smith does a caricature of Niki Butcher and Miladie Thompson.
Below right: Clyde Butcher autographs a poster.
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| Above: Caricaturist Rob Smith and his wife, Sandy, renewed their wedding vows at this year's gathering, with Mike Owen, Fakahatchee State Preserve Biologist, presiding. Rob and Sandy met at a previous Labor Day walk, fell in love, got married and returned to restate their vows in the Big Cypress. |
Returning to nature, some folks abandoned their shoes after venturing into the swamp. Others, like Terry Walker (right) literally lost their soles to the Big Cypress.
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| Volunteers from the Florida Trail Association, Friends of Fakahatchee State Preserve and Friends of Big Cypress were on hand throughout the weekend to provide visitors to their booths with general organization information as well as membership materials. Among those representing the Friends of Big Cypress (above right) were Bill & Shelia Horton, Niki Butcher, Dick Townsend and Friend's President, Clyde Butcher. |
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SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Dick Townsend, Brian & Laura Call, and Bill & Shelia Horton
for manning the Friends' booth
Juan Kelly and Dick Townsend for their help with the swamp walks
Gary Iverson, Niki Butcher and Jackie Obendorf for photographing the event
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Artist in Residence Program
Molly Doctrow
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| Molly Doctrow, 2005 Big Cypress Artist in Residence, completed her residency earlier this year. Molly spent weekends sketching in the swamps, prairies, rivers and sloughs of the Preserve, creating art that captured "the exuberant, wild beauty of the Florida landscape." During her tenure, Molly participated in lectures and demonstrations to the public on the art and technique of woodblock printmaking. Molly is currently Artist-in-Residence and Curator of the Museum of Florida Art and Culture at South Florida Community College. |
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2005 - 2006 Officers, Directors and Advisors
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Officers:
President: Clyde Butcher
Vice President: Fred Thomas
Secretary: Jennifer Hecker
Treasurer: William Horton |
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Board of Directors:
Joe Browder
Clyde Butcher
Allyn Golub
Jennifer Hecker
William Horton
Juan Kelly
Jeff Ripple
Fred Thomas, Jr.
Dick Townsend
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Advisors:
Niki Butcher
Lulie Eide
Julie Leufvenius
Brian & Laura Call
Mike McGuire
Maureen Sullivan-Hartung
Linda Tanner
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Newsletter created by Allyn Golub & Niki Butcher
Additional Photos by Jackie Obendorf, Natalie Siemen, Niki Butcher
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