***** Press Release *****

[Converted]

***** PRESS RELEASE *****
November 9, 2006. Key Largo, FL. The Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) today appointed David Lithgow to the Water Resources Advisory Commission (WRAC). Mr. Lithgow will serve out the remaining term of retiring commission member Rob Barton. Mr. Lithgow will represent recreational users of SFWMD properties and will chair the quarterly WRAC Recreational Issues Workshops. David is the Vice President of United Waterfowlers – Florida, Inc., a 501(c)(4) non-profit group that advocates for access and environmental issues relating to waterfowl habitat and hunting. David currently serves on the WRAC Lake Okeechobee Committee.

“I must commend commission member Rob Barton for his excellent leadership on the WRAC and Recreational Issues Workshops. Under his direction the SFWMD has adopted a wide ranging policy granting the public tremendous opportunities for recreational use and access to District properties. I am committed to work with District staff and stakeholders to continue to expand access and bring other user groups into that process. I encourage groups and individuals to contact me for discussions on how we can improve your recreational experience on public lands managed by the District”

Mr. Lithgow lives with his wife, Angie and 3 children in Port St. Lucie, Florida. He has worked for the past 15 years at Kuhns Engineering Corporation in Jupiter, Florida designing commercial, industrial and residential building projects. He is an avid outdoorsman and outspoken advocate for conservation and restoration of wetlands.
David may be contacted as follows:
dlithgow@bellsouth.net
561-818-7539

Your VOICE continues to grow!

[Randy Clark]

alright you are the man for the job!

[Keith Yates]

David couldn't think of a better man for the job. Congrats!

[ShotGunED]

Congrats David!!

[David B]

It amazes me at this age of my life that I would find myself looking at a role model . One who gives me direction, education and a desire to tackle the things that mean so much to me.
David Lithgow is that man.
He always has the answers or the directions that will lead you to them and does so with ease.
He has always shown, that if there is something you believe in, then go forward and work hard to achieve it.
I cannot think of another individual better qualified for his new position.
He crosses numerous boundries with a professionalism that would make one believe that he is highly educated beyond those that he is speaking with.
His desires to protect what we all love so dearly, is nothing shy of first rate.
I often wonder what his wifes thinks of the time that he spends working for UWF and the Florida Waterfowlers. That alone says something about his wonderful family and the relationship that they have.
I know that David will lead when a leader is needed and will play as a team member when the time comes for a team action.
Recreation members statewide will benefit from his new position.

Thank you so much for stepping beyond the plate and accepting your newest endeavour.

Congratulations my friend.

David B.

[duckmanJR]

Congrats David! That is quite a feather in your cap. I echo David B's feelings and know you are far too humble to toot your own horn but this appointment comes as no true surprise knowing how much time and effort you give to all of us waterfowlers...I always tell anyone that I meet that You and Newton work so hard that it embarasses me how easy my position in our organization is. It is a honor and a pleasure to work with men of your sincere dedication. You leave a high mark for any who come after you to measure themselves against.

Sincere Thanks..... Joe

[QuackR WhackR]

Congratulations Dave...

Dave

[Converted]

Thanks for the kind word guys. Don’t' be fooled, this appointment is because of you, all of you. UW-F has become a major player in Florida. We've done it with the mantra that you keep hearing from Newton. We are advocates, but we are never adversaries

This is a tremendous challenge. Jack Moller, Rob Barton, Barbara Jean Powell, Byron Maharey and others have worked tirelessly over the years on environmental and public access issues. With your help we can continue the important work that they have, and continue to do.

Just a few short years ago I was just like any other citizen that saw what was going on and complained about what was wrong and how it could be made better. The trouble was that I was either complaining to other guys standing around at the boat ramp or complaining to my wife. As much power as my wife has, she can not alter the regulation schedule on Lake Okeechobee. None of us could do anything about it. I discovered that you could go to public meetings and stand up and speak your mind and …. hold on to your hat…. the people at the meeting would listen. I had, and often still have the same aversion to public speaking that most all of us are born with. I clearly remember the first time I spoke at the WRAC, voice cracking, either too load or too soft on the microphone, avoiding eye contact, you know the drill. The point is it’s what you say, not necessarily how you say it and the more you say it, the better you will say it.

We all spend time out in the environment. We see first hand the results of the decisions of the bureaucracy. When you stand up and say “you guys need to do this or that or stop doing this or that” you will get one of only a few responses. Sometimes you will learn something that you did not know and after learning you will come to agree with the action despite the negative impression that you previously had. Other times you will hear an explanation that you still completely disagree with and on that item you will have to continue the fight to open the eyes of those on the other side. There are still other times when you will hear, “yea, you know we’ve been thinking of that” or “wow, we never thought about it that way” and lo and behold they will enact the position that you are pushing for.

You wonder how much power you have? Two or three years ago the Corp was looking for public input on the Lake Okeechobee regulation schedule. Out of the thousands of people that complain about lake levels, only 11 public comments were received. (2 were from UW-F members!) In another example, I saw a water control structure wide open when I thought (and the ducks needed) more water to be retained behind it. I made a few calls and the structure was reset within a day. It wasn’t reset because I have some special power. It was reset because I saw a situation and I picked up the phone and found out who the correct contact person was and then called him and explained the issues. That case resulted in answer #3 from above. “Yea, we’ve been thinking about that” Presto Chango, thousands of acres of marsh are now holding water. You won’t always get those results but I can guarantee you that you will get nothing if you don’t get in the game.

In closing, I have to thank our leader. I have learned so much from Newton. His life experience and thinking process is perfect for our cause. He knows how to work the agencies for maximum benefit. Again, we won’t always be successful but we will never win a fight that we don’t take up. We have built a tremendous support structure for the causes in your “neck of the woods”.

Is there something in your area that needs work? Do some agencies need a good talkin’ to? If not YOU, who? If not NOW, when? Get in the game! :help:

[ironeyes]

Congratulations David!

[fpspecialk]

:wav: :wav: :wav: :wav:

Yaaayy David!

[CUNCRT]

Congrats David!


Now what about STA 8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,23...etc.. .etc...etc...:icon_smil

[Kevin Hall]

Congrats David! :hello2:

[Max 4-D]

Congratulations Dave! Keep up the good work.

[binellishtr]

congrad's.......maybe some real good could come from your presence on the board.

[Wilbur]

Congrats David! A job I'm sure you will do well. I've got to start posting before David B... When he's posted there aint nothin left to say! We are lucky to have people like ya'll to lead the way!

[Converted]

I would like to thank all of you guys for the encourging words to my husband.
I'm his wife Angie and am proud of him also. David has always been the quiet type... until he joined United Waterfowlers. I always say don't you have anything to say and he says if I don't have something worth saying I don't say anything at all. Well you guys are lucky from what I hear he has a lot to say. It can be trying at times but we have been married almost 23 years and this doesn't even touch what we have been through. I stand behind him 100%He has the drive for a better future. Love Angie:love4:

[swilli1054]

Congratulations!! Very deserving!

[Wilbur]

David, it looks like you have done well in the wife department! That kind of support is a special thing. As far as wives go you are almost as lucky as I am! Congrats again.

[novaalex]

David it is beautiful to see your wife on here thanking us when it is we who should be thanking her. Mrs. Lithgow thank you for letting us borrow your husband because every time he shows up good things happen for Florida waterfowlers. I look forward to lending a hand whenever it is necessary. Please dont hesitate to call!

[Steve W]

Congrats David, for you appointment, but also for having a wife that understands how important it is to be involved in causes you believe in.

[BlindHog]

David, you make us all proud.

[D Duck]

David - this could not have happened to a finer, more qualified individual. Thanks for all you do!:occasion1