The weather is changing, and so is the guard! It’s been a genuine pleasure to serve the chapter as president since June 1, 2017, and I’m grateful for the support, encouragement, advice, and assistance from so many chapter members and the Board of Directors during the past two years. Without all of you, “steering the ship” would have been infinitely harder!

These two years allowed us to grow the chapter’s membership, add a new Board appointment, an intern, upgrade our website (thanks to our tireless and receptive webmaster), gain a permanent telephone number, add programs, and partner with our sister chapters in Indian River and Martin counties in a variety of ways.

We received two grants and will be partnering with St. Lucie County and Audubon Florida to maximize the conservation and preservation impact of those grants.

And, sadly, we lost our long-time Treasurer, Marc Rosenthal as well, with Ed Bowes (Citizen Science Chair) stepping in to assume those duties and more to carry the chapter through to May elections (for which we mightily thank him).

I’ll see you at chapter meetings and events, and wish you all a wonderful summer (don’t forget to check the website for upcoming summer programs, too!).

Best wishes and much success to President-elect Ellen Lynch!

— Eva Ries