Chapter gave former Governor Bush a Green Elephant Award
Two leaders of the Florida chapter—President Sean Parks and Vice President Doug Taylor—presented former Governor Jeb Bush with a Green Elephant award and a gift membership for his efforts to restore the Everglades and secure funding for land acquisitions. Read the press release.
Chapter President met with Congresswoman Brown-Waite
Chapter President Sean Parks met April 10, 2007 with Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite, who represents the 5th District, at the Legends Golf Club in Clermont. New REP member Scott Blankenship also participated in the meeting.
Chapter recognized Commissioner Thaxton
Sarasota County Commissioner (and REP member) Jon Thaxton received the chapter's Green Elephant Award for his conservation achievements from Florida Chapter President Sean Parks. Dr. Jim Whitman, a member of the Florida Chapter Executive Committee, introduced Parks and Thaxton to the audience at the Sarasota County Republican Party's Lincoln Day Dinner, April 23.
Dr. Jim Whitman, Sean Parks, and award recipient
Sarasota County Commissioner Jon Thaxton
Chapter President met with Rev. Joel Hunter
The Rev. Dr. Joel Hunter of the Northland Church met Florida Chapter President Sean Parks for lunch. Dr. Hunter later spoke at REP's national conference in San Antonio, Texas, on Oct. 5, 2007, where he donated a case of his book Right Bird, Wrong Wing for sale at the event.
Chapter Leader Attends GOP Meeting
Treasurer Melissa Iglesias appeared at a gathering of GOP activists and elected officials. See news story quoting Melissa.
2006
Chapter President met with gubernatorial candidates
Chapter President Sean Parks and his wife Ivy talked about environmental issues with Republican gubernatorial candidates Charlie Crist (below left) and Tom Gallagher (below right) at a Lake County event on March 11, 2006.
Chapter Gave Another Green Elephant Award
The chapter gave its latest Green Elephant award to Clermont City Council member Elaine Renick.
Chapter President Sean Parks and
Councilwoman Elaine Renick
ExCom member published op-ed in the Daytona Beach News-Journal
Dr. Frank Muller-Karger, a member of the Florida Chapter's Executive Committee who also served on the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, published Top goal: Protect ocean ecosystem. Muller-Karger's credentials are impeccable. He is a professor of Biological Oceanography in the College of Marine Science at the University of South Florida, where he also is the director of the Institute for Marine Remote Sensing (IMaRS). His primary interests are science education and oceanographic research of coastal zones and continental margins.
Florida chapter leader and national president appeared together on Melbourne talk radio
ExCom V.P. Doug Taylor and national President Martha Marks were featured together on an hour-long "drive time" talk radio program. It was the first time they had met, and they found they made a very good debating team.
Martha Marks and Doug Taylor inside
the Melbourne radio station
Remembrance for Betty Talburt
The Florida Chapter Executive Committee mourns the loss of Betty Talburt, a Charlotte County conservation activist and secretary of the chapter ex com, who passed away on May 23, 2006.
Betty Talburt, secretary of REP's Florida chapter and Charlotte County conservation activist, was honored at "Betty Talburt Day," proclaimed for May 9, 2006, by the Charlotte County Board of Commissioners. Betty was honored for her work on behalf of the Peace River Estuary, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program, Keep Charlotte Beautiful, and other local conservation causes.
Betty Talburt
Betty received REP's Volunteer of the Year Award in 2006.
2005
Annual meeting a success
Shown at the meeting are Frank Peterson, Mary Henderson,
Dr. Jim Whitman, Jerry Manning, Dr. Frank Muller-Karger,
Curtis Kaslewicz, Fred Wettering, Joan DeGuire, Fred Hegemeister,
Margy Bielling, Jerry Full, Debbie Founce, Doug Taylor, and
Chapter President Sean Parks.Frank Muller-Karger, Ph.D.
Dr. Frank Muller-Karger, a former member of the Florida Chapter's Executive Committee who also served on the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, has published frequently in ocean issues. His op-ed, "Top goal: Protect ocean ecosystem" was published in the Daytona Beach News-Journal. Dr. Muller-Karger's credentials are impeccable. He is a professor of Biological Oceanography in the College of Marine Science at the University of South Florida, where he also is the director of the Institute for Marine Remote Sensing (IMaRS). His primary interests are science education and oceanographic research of coastal zones and continental margins.
Here's another example of Muller-Karger's efforts on behalf of the chapter:
A Letter to Florida's two United States Senators
June 13, 2005
The Honorable Senator Bill Nelson
The Honorable Senator Mel Martinez
Dear Senators Nelson and Martinez:
I am writing to express my concern regarding the active efforts to expand offshore oil and gas drilling into the eastern Gulf of Mexico. These efforts include attempts to weaken basic and very significant historical rights of states to manage the health of coastal waters to protect our own health.
As most Floridians, I am opposed to weakening the power of the states just because it may be convenient to business. This trend is especially of concern because it is happening at the same time that the Federal government is considering additional ways to offload responsibilities (rightly located at the Federal level) onto the sates.
I am particularly opposed to efforts to weaken the "consistency" clauses in the Coastal Zone Management Act, such as that led by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-Louisiana). Senator Landrieu has proposed legislation that would allow states to opt out of drilling moratoria, redirect a greater share of offshore oil royalties to states, and provide for drawing state boundaries farther offshore. This strategy would impact Florida in a variety of ways. Not only would Louisiana expect to derive benefit from additional offshore oil and gas activity, but it would do so in waters over which Florida now has a right to project its concerns. Indeed, the House version of the energy bill would make it more difficult for states to appeal federal drilling permits.
I would like to encourage you to reduce our exposure to high oil prices and supply disruptions by finding ways to reduce demand through improved fuel efficiency. Efficiency is the U.S. weapon that OPEC fears most. If Congress feels that it has to provide tax incentives, I suggest that we focus them in this area. I am against further tax breaks given to oil and gas companies to help them extract in more difficult regions such as deep waters. Congress should tax fuels as required to cover all external costs associated with extraction and combustion of fossil fuels.
Further, Congress should use these taxes and royalties to establish an Ocean Policy Trust Fund, as recommended by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, and dedicate the fund as outlined by that commission. I am appalled that none of the royalties, taxes and lease proceeds obtained by industry are reinvested in better science and management of our troubled coastal waters.
Given all the issues we have domestically and internationally today, I am not certain what our Congress is doing. It seems that Congress increasingly represents a minority of interests (extremist, self-righteous, religious, industrial) and not the people's interests. You can help redefine this situation by focusing on a vision in which we lead in environmental protection to protect our health and prosperity.
I commend you for all your efforts and leadership to protect the Gulf of Mexico and resources in coastal waters of all states.
Sincerely,
Frank Muller-Karger, Ph.D.
Florida Chapter of Republicans for Environmental Protection
2004
National President Martha Marks was the guest speaker at the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club in Tampa. The Club's slogan is "Carving up a politician for lunch"— they invite distinguished speakers to deliver a 20 minute presentation. TBC members then compete for the day's coveted "Fang and Claw" award by asking questions that "slash through pretension and prevarication." Martha decided that there was no reason why she could not also have some fun with the concept... which led to her witty "Fang and Claw" speech.
Other REP members at the lunch that day were Chapter President Joan Deguire, Carmen Blakely, and Fred Hegemeister.
2002
The photo below was taken at the Chapter's Annual Meeting
Fred Wettering tables for
REP at Bear Fest.
2001
The Florida REP group became an official chapter in 2001. Below is a photo of the group that gathered that day in Stuart with national President Martha Marks (front row, in blue) and the first chapter president, John Whitescarver (front row right, in REP t-shirt).
REP President Martha Marks published two op-eds:
REP member Jim Scarantino published two op-eds:
