ANNUAL MEETING
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Eaton Conservation Hall
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida held our Annual Membership Meeting on January 15, 2025. Members, donors, board members, and more gathered at the Conservancy's Nature Center as we highlighted key steps forward in conservation for Southwest Florida and explored the opportunities in the coming year.
The following candidates were elected to a four-year term on the Board of Directors: William "Bill" Byrnes
The following candidates were elected to an additional four-year term on the Board of Directors: Nancy Anthony, Leslie Frécon, John Walter, Thomas "Tom" Watkins
Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s announcement of John & Carol Walter Nature Experience
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida recently announced a transformational commitment of $25 million to establish the John & Carol Walter Nature Experience, which will dramatically expand the way the Conservancy engages with residents and guests for generations to come.
Held Jan. 15 during the Conservancy’s Annual Member Meeting in Naples, the formal announcement attracted nearly 130 Conservancy board members, donors, elected officials and local dignitaries. After Conservancy President and CEO Rob Moher announced the grant, John Walter – on behalf of the John & Carol Walter Family Foundation – used the opportunity to encourage others to support the Conservancy’s mission of protecting the region’s water, land, wildlife and future. Later, guests enjoyed a sunset cocktail reception on the nature boardwalk that featured appetizers, drinks and a celebratory champagne toast.
The John & Carol Walter Nature Experience, expected to open in the first half of 2028, will inspire and invite the community to protect our shared natural environment that preserves our unique way of life enjoyed today, and into the future. The transformation will include interactive and dynamic learning programs, immersive natural settings, conservation and stewardship education, family-friendly features, cultural and community engagement, and best-in-class sustainability practices with a new welcome center and two-story parking garage with solar panel array.
