FLA SPRING MEETING

St. Marks Lighthouse

June 8 & 9, 2018

Registration Deadline - June 1, 2018

Click Here for On-Line Registration

 Click Here to Download Registration Form

St. Marks is the second oldest Lighthouse in Florida, having been built in 1842. During the Civil War the lighthouse sustained damage, and after the war it was rebuilt and raised to its present height of 73 feet with a focal plane of 82 feet above sea level. A fourth order Fresnel lens was also installed at this time. Due to renovations, the lens was removed in November 2014, restored by Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, and returned in March 2015. It is now on display in the St Marks Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center.

In 2000, the Coast Guard spent $150,000 to repair and stabilize the lighthouse. In 2006 Congress passed an act to transfer the lighthouse and surrounding eight acres from the Coast Guard to the Fish and Wildlife Service. However, the transfer was delayed until October 10, 2013 as lead contaminated soil around the lighthouse had to first be removed. Phase I of the restoration, restoring, waterproofing, and painting the lantern room, was completed in 2016. Phase II, focusing on the keeper’s dwelling and tower, will be completed prior to our meeting. No one has been able to climb the tower since before April 2010 due to unsafe wooden steps, which have now been replaced, SO NOW  WE CAN CLIMB THE TOWER!!

Activities will start on Friday June 8, 2018 and will be at the Magnuson Hotel Crawfordville Map. At 2:00 PM we will conduct training for Lighthouse representatives on developing and running Lighthouse Education programs for school children. Committee meetings will be held at 4:00 PM, followed by the FLA Board meeting at 5:00 PM. At the completion of the Board meeting we will have our Friday night Social with heavy Hors d’oeuvres and drinks.

Saturday we will have our membership meeting at the Wakulla County Community Center Map starting at 9:00 PM. Our guest speaker will be Carol Rippee, the general contractor for the Phase II Construction. Lunch will be served around 12:00 and will consist of Fried Bone in Chicken, Fried Shrimp, Boiled shell on Shrimp, Mashed Potatoes w/ Gravy, Green Beans, Cheese Grits, Cole Slaw, Tea and water. After Lunch we will visit and climb the St Marks Lighthouse Map.

Cost for this event will be $55.00 for members and $85.00 for non-members, which includes a 1 year membership. Since FLA must take out insurance for this event ALL ATTENDEES MUST BE MEMBERS OF FLA. The fee includes all of the meetings, the Friday night Social, Lunch on Saturday plus a donation to the Friends of the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge. Also, the refuge entrance fee is being waived for FLA members, which helps keep your cost down.

 

HOTELS

Magnuson Hotel Crawfordville Magnuson Hotel

3896 Coastal Highway Map

Crawfordville, FL 32327

Rate: $80.00 plus tax = $88.00 (ask for FLA rate)

Phone 850 926-4455

Cut-off Date: June 3, 2018

 

Best Western Wakulla Inn & Suites Best Western

3292 Coastal Highway Map

Crawfordville, FL 32327

Rate: $85 plus tax (ask for FLA rate)

Phone: 850 926-3737

Cut-off date: May 21, 2018.

 

Wildwood Golf and RV Resort Wildwood Golf & RV Resort

3874 Coastal Highway ( behind the Magnuson hotel, can walk) Map

Crawfordville, FL 32327

Rate: $30 per night (ask for FLA rate)

Phone: 850 926-4653