November Meeting Agenda

Resiliency is the Topic November’s
GPICA Meeting

Please Note: Our meeting date has changed to Nov. 12 because of the general election on Nov. 5
Pine Island made it through three hurricances in three years. While we were fortunate that Helene and Milton were not as bad as Ian, we know many islanders sustained a lot of damage in this year’s storms. Today, as we recover, the Greater Pine Island Civic Association board believes our community should work to adapt so that we can better withstand severe assaults from Mother Nature.

  • Please join us for our next meeting, where we will host a community conversation about resiliency.
  • Our main speaker will be David Rathke, Executive Director of Resiliency Florida, a nonprofit organization made up of public and private partners focused on developing and promoting regional strategies and action plans for adaptation to extreme weather events and sea level rise. He is also Executive Director of the Florida Association of Mitigation Bankers (FAMB) and a water consultant and lobbyist for the City of Winter Haven. Rathke has had a productive career in the service of Florida’s citizens with a public sector background that includes Director of Administration for the Florida Department of Management Services, COO/Deputy Chief of Staff at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Chief of Staff at the Southwest Florida Water Management District. As a native Floridian, he appreciates our natural environment and has a passion for our issues and enjoys all the outdoor aspects of what makes Florida a special place.

We also want to hear your thoughts on:

  • How you could make your home/property more resilient to future storms;
  • What barriers are keeping you from taking action to make your home/property more resilient? (Is it financial resources? Time? Knowledge? Something else?)
  • What are your ideas about how the overall community could become more resilient? (More mangroves? Higher roadways? Something else?)

We’re asking all of our friends and neighbors to show up and share their thoughts — not just on rebuilding, but on how we can rebuild better and stronger!

  • What: GPICA Community Meeting on Hurricane Resiliency
  • When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12
  • Where: First Baptist Church of Pine Island, 5363 Ave. D, Bokeelia, 33922 (next to Pine Island Elementary)
  • Online: We will also livestream on Facebook, where you can also share your comments!
  • Who Should Attend: All full-and-part-time residents and business owners — you do not need to be a GPICA member to attend!

***Please Take Our Resiliency Survey Today***
How is recovery going for you? What are some of the barriers you’re facing? If your home or business was damaged during Hurricanes Helene or Milton, please share your details and thoughts on recovery and how our community can become more resilient to withstand future storms.
Please share/forward this email or share these links with your friends and neighbors and encourage them to share their thoughts and ideas, too. The more community input, the better!

November Stringfellow Road Clean-Up Canceled
The monthly GPICA-sponsored clean up of a two-mile stretch of Stringfellow Road between Raymary Street and the little bridge near Four Winds Marina is canceled for November, given the hurricane debris cleanup still under way by Lee County Waste Management.

Mark your calendar for our December Clean-Up:

  • What: Roadside cleanup
  • When: 9 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 4
  • Where: We meet at the Post Office on Barrancas, then fan out along the roadway.
  • Additional details: No need to RSVP. Just show up at the start. Please bring your own gloves and, if you have them, reflective vests (we have a limited number of vests we can provide). GPICA will provide trash bags. Please bring your own water in a reusable bottle!
  • Suggested Attire: Please be sure to wear a hat and sunscreen and closed-toed shoes or waterproof boots.

Comments are closed.