Kay Smith: Conservancy, Bonita Bay to promote conservation education

The partnership includes financial support to provide programs for employees and residents of The Bonita Bay Group's master-planned communities and also underwrites expanded public outreach of The Conservancy's "Wildlife Watch" program. Wildlife Watch was created by The Conservancy to educate area residents and visitors to do the right thing for wild animals and birds. It teaches people how to avoid injuring native animals and how to help injured wildlife, they said.

The expanded educational program includes The Conservancy's new Wildlife Wallet Card that provides a list of ways to avoid unintentional harm to wildlife and instructions to follow to aid an injured animal or bird.

The Bonita Bay Group and The Conservancy are working cooperatively to develop the Wildlife Watch program for residents within The Bonita Bay Group's communities, and employees will participate in workshops about preventing injury to wildlife. Residents also participate in a range of conservation-oriented programs and lectures presented by Conservancy naturalists that introduce residents to the area's natural resources and ways to protect wildlife. Further, residents will have the opportunity to participate in two-hour guided nature tours aboard The Conservancy's boat, The Good Fortune.

"A healthy environment is everybody's business," Conservancy President and CEO Kathy Prosser said. "Any extra efforts we can take to educate people promote the well-being of our communities and the responsible use of natural resources."

Dennis Gilkey, president and CEO of The Bonita Bay Group since the company was formed in the late 1970s, said, "Our corporate commitment to a sustainable Florida is the perfect complement to The Conservancy's work to protect and sustain Southwest Florida's natural assets that support native wildlife."

The Bonita Bay Group earned three top awards from the Council for Sustainable Florida for its work at The Estates at TwinEagles, The Brooks and Bonita Bay, the company's flagship community.

The Bonita Springs-Estero Florida Christian Women's Club invites all women to attend its "Holiday Sing-a-Long" luncheon to be held from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at Pelican Sound Golf Club (Corkscrew Road West at U.S. 41). The cost is $16.

Speaker will be Renee Mathis from Sarasota, said Ann H. Wood, vice chairwoman. An Indiana University Hoosier, Mathis is an antique collector, quilter and music business owner, who will tell the audience how she "Directed the Music of Life to the Wrong Tune."

For reservations call or e-mail Roxy at 948-1255, Ann at 947-7872 or Ellen at EAWE100@aol.com. Reservations and/or cancellations are essential by Thursday, Dec. 4, Wood added.