AGENDA
For the February 8, 2025 Springs Summit​
8:30 - 9:15​
Check in, pick up shirt orders
from 5801 Print
Coffee service provided by
Friends of the Wekiva River
​
Enjoy a free breakfast of pastries and fruit-and-cheese cups
9:15 - 10:00
Great Hall
Welcome &
Keynote
Welcome messages from our host and parter Stetson Law,
and from Pat Rose, director of title sponsor Save the Manatee Club
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Kickoff Keynote by Jake Varn​
​Jake Varn was the Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation under Gov. Bob Graham. He worked with the Southwest Florida Water Management District in several capacities and participated in the drafting of the Model Water Code, which is the basis for the Florida Water Resources Act of 1972. He was named “2019 Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America for his work in Water Law in Tallahassee.
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Benjamin Barros,
Dean of Stetson Law​
Pat Rose
Director, Save the
Manatee Club
Jake Varn
Former Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation
10:00 - 11:00
Great Hall
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Springs Perspectives:
the science, policy and political forces that have shaped springs protection and restoration
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A wide-ranging and frank discussion about how Florida's springs ended up in their current condition, with legends and founders of the springs conservation movement.
What was done right and wrong in the past? How have recent changes to laws, rules, and agency implementation impacted springs for better or worse? What needs to change in the future to stop the continued decline of our springs? This look back from long-standing experts will give us all firm footing in how we got here, to better discuss where we're going.
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Moderated by Dr. Chris Meindl
​
Dr. Chris Meindl, USF
author of "Florida Springs: From Geography to Politics and Restoration"
Doug MacLaughlin
Attorney,
Florida Springs Council
Dr. Bob Knight
Founder, Florida
Springs Institute
Pat Harden
Founding member, Friends of Wekiva. Former chair SJRWD
Pat Rose
Director,
Save the Manatee Club
11:10 - 12:10
Breakout sessions:
Live Podcast or
Deep policy dive
​​​
Mann Lounge
The "Madcaps Spectacular"
live podcast recording
This session will be a live podcast recording featuring two great podcast hosts from two of our favorite Florida podcasts!
​
Ryan co-hosts the Florida Madcaps, a podcast that focuses on exploring the best of Florida, responsibly. Cathy co-hosts Florida Spectacular, exploring a side of Florida you never knew existed. The live podcast will start with a conversation with Max Chesnes, environmental reporter with the Tampa Bay Times. Then we'll have an in depth discussion about responsible recreation in Florida's springs and rivers with Save the Manatee Club biologist Tiare Fridrich.
Ryan Worthington
co-host of the Florida Madcaps Podcast and
fl_excursionist on IG
Cathy Salustri
co-host of the Florida Spectacular Podcast
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Max Chesnes
Environmental Reporter
Tampa Bay Times
Tiare "TJ" Fridrich
Save the Manatee Club
Federico Acevedo
FL Wildlife Federation
Great Hall
Deep Dive into '25
This session is not for the casual learner. Seasoned advocates and policy experts will give a detailed preview of key rulemaking and legislation related to Florida’s springs, including Basin Management Action Plans, Minimum Flows & Levels, protection of State Parks and Conservation Lands, and Ocklawaha Restoration.
Casey Fitzgerald
Great Florida Riverways Trust
Ryan Smart
Florida Springs Council
Bob Palmer
Florida Springs Council
Stacie Greco
Alachua County Environmental Protection Department
12:10 - 1:00
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LUNCH
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Vegetarian boxed lunches for those who reserved them - vegetarian rice and roasted vegetable wraps, chips, fruit, cookies.
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Iced tea and citrus water for all.
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Lunches will be served in the foyer between the Mann Lounge and the Great Hall.
There is no designated lunch area - you are encouraged to find any spot in the two main rooms or outside in the courtyard to enjoy lunch.
1:00 - 2:00
Great Hall
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Advocacy:
behind the curtain of Florida’s legislative process
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An insider's look at how Floridians can most effectively lobby our state legislature, featuring Senate staffer Dustin Paulson and lobbyist Travis Moore. Learn how to influence the legislative process straight from FSC's director and two of our most respected colleagues in Tallahassee.
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Moderated by Ryan Smart, Florida Springs Council
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Travis Moore
Lobbyist, Moore Relations, Inc.
Ryan Smart
Florida Springs Council
Dustin Paulson
Legislative Analyst at the Florida Senate
2:10 - 3:50
Breakout sessions:
"Building a Movement" communications discussion or "Springs Counsel" legal discussion
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Mann Lounge
Building a Movement:
Harnessing political pressure and public engagement with good communication strategy
Angela Bradbery and Sam Snyder study and work in the field of Public Interest Communications, an emerging field that uses strategic communications grounded in research and science to achieve sustained and positive change.
​
In this session Angela and Sam will be joined by Florida Springs Council's communications team to discuss how the springs conservation movement can use proven concepts to create communication strategies that move people from awareness to action and create the changes we need to protect Florida's springs.
Brenda Wells,
Engagement Director,
Florida Springs Council
Chloe Dougherty
Communications Director,
Florida Springs Council
Sam Snyder
True Blue Strategies,
University of Florida instructor,
Public Interest Communications
Angela Bradbery
University of Florida Frank Karel Endowed Chair in Public Interest Communications
Great Hall
Springs Counsel:
Options, opportunities and legal strategies for protecting springs in the courtroom
Our panel will highlight recent and ongoing outstanding public interest legal advocacy around Florida’s springs and waters. This Session will include both state and federal legal matters touching on water quality, springs flow, best management practices, state assumption of federal permitting, and phosphate mining. Presentations will be followed by expert panels including some of the brightest minds in Florida’s legal community. ​
State legal presentations by: James Adams, Stetson Law; Perry Kaplan , UF Law; John Thomas, FSC attorney. Followed by a panel featuring Doug MacLaughlin, John Thomas, and Jaclyn Lopez
Federal legal presentations by: Audrey Timmins, Stetson Law; Elise Bennett, Center for Biological Diversity; Rachael Curran, Stetson Law
Panel featuring John Thomas, Rachael Curran, Elise Bennett, and Matt Farmer, moderated by Jaclyn Lopez
Jaclyn Lopez
Director, Jacobs Public Interest Law Clinic for Democracy and the Environment at Stetson University College of Law
Rachael Curran
Staff Attorney, Jacobs Public Interest Law Clinic for Democracy and the Environment at Stetson University College of Law
4:00 - 5:00
Great Hall
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Reflections:
Closing discussion
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After a full day of insights from our presenters and panelists, it’s time to hear from you.
The final session of the day invites participants to ask lingering questions, bring new ideas to the table, and share final thoughts through our online system for discussion.
5:00
Banyan Courtyard​
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BANYAN BASH
Awards and social hour
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This social hour in the courtyard ensures that we all have the opportunity to exchange ideas and contact information with other springs advocates and make those connections that lead to exciting new ventures.
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Awards will be given to some of the shining stars of springs conservation.
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​ First Magnitude Brewing
has donated beer, Athletic Brewing
Co has provided non-alchoholic
options, and light food will be
available.
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