ECA Member Connie Kindsvater wrote this article and Florida Weekly published it. Thank you Connie!

The Estuary Conservation Association proudly announces the welcome addition of Alan Ritchie to the Board of Directors. Alan is a former Vice President of General Mills, Inc. in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is a Director Emeritus of the 170,000 member Experimental Aircraft Association. Alan enjoys boating and fishing, and is a licensed pilot.

He is a past chairman and currently a member of the Pelican Isle Yacht Club’s Marina Committee, and has agreed to serve as chairman of ECA’s Boating and Navigation Committee. Alan has been married to his wife Jane for 46 years, and has two children and three grandchildren.

ECA Welcomes Mac Hatcher to Board James “Mac” Hatcher

The Estuary Conservation Association has announced the selection of James “Mac” Hatcher to the Board of Directors. Mac received his academic training in Fisheries Science at California State University in 1973. He recently retired from Collier County where he worked with the Environmental Services section most recently on the Watershed Management Plan. He worked 27 years for the county on environmental issues (water quality, rural development standards) and 11 years for Deltona in their water quality lab on Marco Island. His interests include kayaking and fishing inshore waters, and gardening. Mac is looking forward to working on environmental projects in the Cocohatchee estuary with his colleagues in ECA.

 An Evening with Clyde Butcher

Internationally known nature photographer Clyde Butcher shared photos, videos and stories from his adventures while photographing landscapes in Southwest Florida.

The event, held January 29^th at Aqua at Pelican Isle, was hosted by the Estuary Conservation Association, in partnership with the LaPlaya Beach and Golf Resort and Aqua at Pelican Isle. The evening began with a reception for over 60 invited guests, including Collier County Commissioner Georgia Hiller, and concluded with a presentation by featured speaker Clyde Butcher.

Clyde Butcher is an internationally recognized nature photographer whose stunning black and white landscapes, many taken right here in Southwest Florida, hang in galleries around the world. Mr. Butcher’s presentation ran for an hour and included pictures, videos, and stories of his many adventures during his years as a nature photographer.