November 21, 2019
In This Issue
Upon the recommendation of the Lee County Tourist Development Council (TDC), the Southwest Florida Community Foundation awarded the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society a $17,000 Lee County Art & Attractions Grant to help promote happenings at the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge in the coming year. A big thanks to our partners at the TDC.
Photo above:  Brian Ososky and Pam Cronin, representing the Lee County Tourist Development Council, present DDWS Associate Executive Director Lynnae Messina (center) with the grant.
Wulfert Bayous Habitat Restoration Grant Announced

The grant will establish roosting and nesting habitat for colonial wading birds in the Wulfert Bayous wetland.
The National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced last week its award of $5,309,000 to J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge to further the Refuge's plans for restoring the newly acquired, 68-acre Wulfert Bayous, which lies adjacent to it. The "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society partnered on the application for a Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund grant, aimed at restoring bird populations affected by the catastrophic BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in 2010. The acquisition process for Wulfert Bayous, completed earlier this year, entailed $3 million in private funds raised by READ MORE
"Ding" Darling Friday Lecture Series Calendar

On January 17, the lecture series kicks off with popular author and illustrator Julie Zickefoose talking about her latest book.
The 16th annual "Ding" Darling Friday Lecture Series , which runs January 17 through April 3, 2020, will feature a line-up of authors and experts in the world of birds, nature photography, and conservation. From woodpeckers and panthers to rain and hurricanes, the season promises to be one of the Refuge's best.
 
This year's series is part of the Refuge's 75th anniversary celebration.

HighTower/Thomas & Swartz Wealth Management  and Sanibel Carts  co-sponsor the free 12-lecture series with support from DDWS. 

One highlight of the season brings world-renowned nature photographer Clyde Butcher, whose READ MORE
 
Click HERE  for a lecture series flyer.
Thank you to our 2020 Lecture Series Co-Sponsors
     
For the Wee Ones on Your List

Cute and cuddly is the name of the game this week. Christmas is just around the corner and  ShopDingDarling.com has great gifts for the little ones in your life.  Doodlepants are super soft and stretchy kids cotton leggings with adorable and fun designs like sea turtles, manatees, and flamingos. Their three sizes cover from 3 to 24 months. Small: 3-12 months, Medium: 12-18 months, Large: 18-24 months. Many of the stuffed animal friends on our site are made with recycled plastic water bottles, making them both a cuddly and eco-conscious gift.
 
Shop to support the Refuge at store's two upcoming events. During regular store hours on Sunday, December 1, The Refuge Nature Store is participating in Museum Store Sunday, a nationwide event. Come in for holiday cheer and special offers. Tuesday, December 3, our annual Holiday Shopping Night runs after hours from 5 to 7 p.m. Click HERE to read more.
 
Shop then or stop in anytime to pick up your kids' and other gifts. Or visit  ShopDingDarling.com to order online. You can also contact Nature Store Manager  Ann-Marie Wildman at 239-472-1100 ext. 241 for information on mail-ordering store products.
Marilyn Kloosterman "8545" 
Challenge Grant

Brinkley Kloosterman
Marilyn Kloosterman with author Douglas Brinkley when he was speaking at the Refuge a number of years ago.
A n anonymous donor has issued a challenge grant in the name of the late Marilyn Kloosterman, a longtime volunteer and member of the Board of Directors. The grant will match dollar for dollar any donation made in memory of Marilyn up to the amount of hours she donated to the Refuge in her 34 years of service, which amounts to $8,545. 

These gifts in her memory will go to establish a permanently endowed  Marilyn Kloosterman Education Fund to support the conservation education work at the Refuge and recognizing her volunteerism at "Ding".  To donate to the fund, please click  HERE  and note that the donation is in memory of Marilyn Kloosterman. Or call 239-472-1100 ext. 4.
Our First Furry Friend Event Sponsor

Boomer and "his people" Bob and Darlene Duvin
This week, DDWS welcomed Boomer Duvin as our first "furry friend" sponsor. Believing that animals should support animals, the adorable shih tzu poodle mix, is sponsoring our Go Wild for "Ding" - Lovin' Spoonbills and Project Refuge: A Couture Fashion Show Using Trash. Boomer is one smart dog. A graduate of Princeton with an honorary degree from Indiana University, he is fluent in English and Spanish and donates his time to work with autistic children.  Interested in becoming a sponsor for an event?  Call Dot Voorhees at 239.472.1100 ext. 239 or email.
Welcome New Resident Volunteers

Amanda Whitney and Norm Brodeur
  Each winter season, the Refuge welcomes resident volunteers to help out with staffing shortages in exchange for a spot to park their RV and hook up to utilities. This season we welcome two returning couples and four new couples. Here, we introduce Norm Brodeur and Amanda Whitney, who arrived November 1 to assist in the Maintenance Department for the month of November.
     Amanda, a licensed massage therapist, last worked at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort Spa. As a licensed realtor, Norm worked in the Naples area selling luxury RV sites.
     "This past summer we volunteered with the National Forest Service in the White Mountains of New Hampshire," said Amanda. "We worked at a very busy trailhead advising backpackers and day hikers. We enjoy hiking so it was a fun experience." 
      The couple vacationed on Sanibel Island a few years ago, and loved the ability to ride bicycles everywhere they needed to go and appreciated how much residents care for and take care of the island.
     'Ding' is a very special refuge," Amanda said. "I'm impressed with the interns and employees - they all care deeply for the environment and, particularly, for this Refuge."
Refuge Seeks Temp Maintenance Help
  The Refuge is advertising a temporary maintenance worker position for the upcoming busy season. The seasonal position will not exceed 1,039 hours of work at $16.58 to $19.33 per hour. Applications are due December 3, 2019. Click  here if you are interested or know anyone who might be able to help out this winter.
Clyde Butcher Photographic Exhibition & Silent Auction

Drop in anytime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to view the free exhibition.
  During the ongoing, free Refuge 75th Anniversary Clyde Butcher Photographic Exhibition  through February 5, 2020, in the "Ding" Darling Visitor & Education Center, guests can view Butcher's American Everglades Collection daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
Through December 20, DDWS will accept, by silent auction, bidding on a two-night stay at the charming Everglades Swamp Cottage  behind Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery  in Ochopee, Florida. Enjoy the Florida Everglades wilderness in the comfort of a two-bedroom, two-bath cottage surrounded by 13 acres of cypress swamp habitat. A signed welcome note from the photographer accompanies the purchase of this gift certificate. Bid on the prize at the exhibition site or by calling 239-472-1100 ext. 4.
Special Thanks
Thanks to Mark & Gretchen Banks for sponsoring the exhibition.
WoW Challenge Grant: Give Now to Double Your Impact
 
WoW will wow students and others with hands-on, experiential exhibits, along with microscopes to study along with the Florida Educational standards.
An artist's rendering of WoW's look by former intern, May Jernigan.  WoW will impact students of all grade levels.












DDWS has received an anonymous challenge grant to help raise support to bring the Refuge's Wildlife on Wheels (WoW) project to fabrication. The grant will match donations made by December 31, 2019, dollar for dollar up to $50,000. "If the challenge is met, and we raise the additional $100,000, we will have nearly reached our goal of $300k for making WoW a reality and bringing it into under-served communities READ MORE
Saturday, November 23: Free SUP Clinic at Tarpon Bay

As part of the Refuge 75th Anniversary Celebration , Tarpon Bay Explorers  will host free ongoing stand-up paddleboard (SUP) clinics on Saturday, November 23, from 9 a.m. to noon. No reservations are required for this activity, but participants must be age 13 or older.
Thanksgiving Hours
The Refuge Visitor & Education Center and all "Ding" offices will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, and may possibly close early the day prior (so call ahead). Wildlife Drive, Bailey Tract, and Indigo Trail will remain open. Tarpon Bay Explorers   (TBE) closes early Thanksgiving Day at 2 p.m. Click here  for TBE's Thanksgiving brochure. The Center, offices, and TBE resume normal hours on Friday. You will find "Ding" on the Wing in your inbox Thanksgiving morning to wish you a happy holiday.
December 2: Tarpon Tourney Registration Opens

In preparation for the December 2 opening of registration for the  "Ding" Darling & Doc Ford Tarpon Tournament, we unveil our new ninth annual logo. Thanks to our 75th anniversary Artist "in Residence" Ed Anderson for his stunning design.
 
A whopper thanks to next year's sponsors: 
Title Sponsor 
Starting Position Sponsor 
Raiser's Edge 
Champion Sponsors 
Presenting Sponsors
Captiva Diva,  Custom Tees Now, Organized Chaos
Platinum Sponsors 
Gold Sponsors 
Silver Sponsors 

Sponsors are still needed! Call Dot Voorhees at 239.472.1100 ext. 239 or Birgie Miller at 239.292.0566

Now, as the year winds down, is the time to start planning for charitable deductions on your 2019 income taxes. New tax laws make it even more lucrative to adults ages 70-1/2 and older to make contributions .

Your contributions to the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society support water quality studies, wildlife conservation, and the opportunity to educate future generations on the importance of preserving the planet. Learn more  about making a year-end gift to support the Refuge through DDWS. 
Tickets Available for DDWS-Hosted EVCO

After December 10,  registration rates  for the 35th annual Everglades Coalition Conference (EVCO)  increase from $100 a day/$150 for all three days to $109/$120. DDWS is host sponsor for the conference, titled America's Everglades: All Hands on Deck. It takes place January 9-11, 2020, at the South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island. The conference brings together community leaders, decision makers, agency representatives, political figures, and the general public to discuss and debate critical and timely issues related to Everglades restoration. It is the largest annual forum to advance Everglades conservation and restoration.

In addition to being the host sponsor,  DDWS will be moderating a breakout session at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 11, titled  "National Wildlife Refuges: 800,000 Acres in Support of Everglades Restoration." The session will focus on the importance of the Refuge System and conservation of its lands to Everglades restoration and all Floridians.
February 12, 2020: Go Wild for 'Ding' - Lovin' Spoonbills

This season, in honor of the Refuge's  75th anniversary   , Go Wild for "Ding"  celebrates our iconic Roseate Spoonbill. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 12. The eighth annual fundraiser will take place in The Community House on Sanibel Island. Tickets are on sale now .

"Roseate spoonbills are "Ding" Darling's most iconic bird, so we saw it fitting to make them the official totem for the Refuge's 75th anniversary celebration, which runs READ MORE
Thanks to our generous sponsors  who make this our biggest fundraiser of the year. To become a sponsor, contact Dot Voorhees at 239-472-1100 ext. 239.
       
'America's Best-Kept Secret'
In each issue of "Ding" on the Wing, we showcase one of the more than 560 refuges across the U.S.A.


Sandhill Cranes
Location: 4,049 acres; Lakeland, Georgia - part of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Totemic Fauna:  American Alligator, Sandhill Crane, Osprey
Visitor's Tips:  The refuge is open 24 hours a day with no entrance fee. The best way to experience its moss-draped cypress trees and water lilies is from the water.


Images courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Alligator


In each issue of "Ding" of the Wing, we share a quick tip on how you can turn your lifestyle greener. For more information on being environmentally aware, visit our   Go Green web page.

 
Holiday Parties
Planning a big gathering for Thanksgiving? Imagine creative ways to reduce single-use plastic. Consider, for instance, asking your guests to bring their own drink cups from home, rather than resorting to plastic ware. If you want to provide drinking straws, check out Hay Straws , made from natural wheat stems and 100% biodegradable. And inexpensive! Buy them at the Refuge Nature Store or ShopDingDarling.com for  $2.99 a 10 pack or $9.99 for 100.

Click HERE to see this week's wildlife sightings

Red-bellied Woodpecker by John Gamble


Red-bellied Woodpeckers are always an interesting find, especially since the red spot on their belly isn't usually visible to birders. Did you know this bird can stick its tongue out two inches past the end of its beak?


T o see more wildlife photos click on our social media links:
 
Like us on Facebook  View on Instagram  View our videos on YouTube  Follow us on Twitter
 
 
If you have taken any beautiful, interesting, or just plain goofy photos at the Refuge, send them to Development Officer  Sierra Hoisington , for a chance to be featured in upcoming newsletters.
Event Tickets on Sale
Buy them for holiday gifting. Buy them for yourself. 
Tickets are currently on sale for big events this coming season.
 
Click above to purchase tickets
February 12Go Wild for "Ding" - Lovin' Spoonbills fundraiser at 5:30 p.m., The Community House. Tickets $150, include silent and live auctions, dinner, and entertainment. Tickets are selling quickly for this one, so purchase yours today.

Thank you to our sponsors to date:  Call to the Wild:  Jim & Patty Sprankle.  Champion: Barbara & Todd Bluedorn Protector:  Hank & Linda Spire; Doug & Sherry Gentry; Mike & Terry Baldwin; Tiffany Kaliko & John Silvia; Ron E. & Josephine Smith; Sarah Ashton Broker Assoc.- ReMax of the IslandsDefender: Mitchell's Sandcastles; Sanibel Moorings; Gresham Family, William & Barbara Millar; RS Walsh Landscaping; Stewart & Sons Insurance; John and Kay Morse.


Click above to purchase tickets

March 10
, "Twist Tie Optional" Luncheon for 
 Project Refuge: A Couture Fashion Show Using Trash at 11 a.m., Sanctuary Clubhouse. Tickets $100, include lunch and fashion show.

Thank you to our sponsors to date:  Guardian: Lee County Solid WasteProtector:  Pfeifer Realty Group
Defender:  Jim & Patty Sprankle; Mitchell's Sandcastles; Doug & Sherry Gentry; Sanibel Moorings



Click above to purchase tickets


March 20, Michael Grunwald  The Swamp  lecture at 7 p.m., The Community House. Tickets $30, include book-signing.
 
March 20, Michael Grunwald  The Swamp  cocktail and nosh reception at 5:30 p.m., The Community House. Tickets $125, include author meet-and-greet, VIP lecture seating, and book-signing.

Thank you to our sponsors to date:  Defender:
Pfeifer Realty Group;  Mike & Terry Baldwin, Hank & Linda Spire; Gresham Family; ReMax of the Islands Media Sponsor:  WGCU

Click HERE for an entire calendar of season's events.  

Tickets to events make great gifts!











































 
Clyde Butcher 75th Anniversary Photographic Exhibition - November 13, 2019 - February 5, 2020 
 
 
Museum Shopping Sunday - December 1, 2019
 
 
75th Anniversary Proclamation Reading - December 3, 2019

 
DDWS Annual Meeting - December 4, 2019

World Environment Day/National Bird Day Celebration - January 3, 2020
 
 
75th Anniversary Film Series - January 8-April 1, 2020
 
75th Anniversary Lecture Series - January 17-April 3, 2020
 
 
National Wildlife Day Celebration - February 24, 2020

75th Anniversary Artist 'in Residence' Exhibition  - February 25-March 31, 2020


Global Recycling Day - March 18, 2020


Earth Day at the Refuge - April 22, 2020
 
Endangered Species Day at the Refuge - May 15, 2020
 
 
Official 75th Anniversary Celebration - December 1, 2020
These are just snapshots of some of the things taking place at your Wildlife Refuge.  Please check our website to learn more!

Sincerely,
Birgit Miller, Executive Director

"Ding" On The Wing composed by Chelle Koster Walton.  Designed by April Arthur & April Boehnen.

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