Volusia Water Alliance Virtual Symposium Series

P R E S E N T S

What You Really Want to Know About
the ‘Right to Clean Water’ Movement.

Speakers:

Chuck O’Neal

Chairman of the Right to Clean Water Political Committee whose charter amendment passed in Orange County with a bi-partisan popular vote of over 89%.

Chuck has a lifelong attachment to Florida’s natural resources and beauty. His participation in the League of Women Voters has given him an opportunity to put that interest to good use.  He served as Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee and as First Vice President of the League of Women Voters of Florida.

In addition to leading the League’s participation in Florida’s Water and Land Legacy constitutional amendment (Amendment 1) campaign, Chuck has fought to protect Florida’s springs and aquifers from all sources of pollution.

Chuck has been the recipient of many awards and accolades as well as a prominent leader in our State’s environmental causes.

In May of 2020, Chuck became the Chairman of the Right to Clean Water Political Committee which campaigned for passage of the charter amendment among Orange County’s population of 1.4 million citizens.   On November 3rd, 2020, the Right to Clean Water charter amendment passed with over 89% of the popular vote.  This made Orange County, Florida, the largest municipality in the United States to pass a Rights of Nature initiative. It also demonstrated that in a time of increased antipathy between the political parties, there is one thing upon which we can agree – our waterways need the highest level of protection: a rights-based form of protection.

Chuck will share his journey and knowledge of the international, national, state, county and city wide Rights of Nature/Right to Clean Water Movement with us this evening.

Clay Henderson

Sponsored or co-authored most of the natural resource protection provisions in the Florida Constitution, including Amendment  1– the largest voter-approved conservation funding initiative in our nation’s history

Clay fell in love with the St. Johns River and Florida’s springs as a freshman at Stetson in the 1970s, and over a long career as an environmental lawyer has been a zealous defender of Florida’s special places. Clay sponsored or co-authored most of the natural resource protection provisions in the Florida Constitution, including Amendment  1– the largest voter-approved conservation funding initiative in our nation’s history – and the creation of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. He led the development of nationally recognized land conservation programs, including Volusia Forever (1986 and 2000), Florida Communities Trust (1990), Preservation 2000 (1991) and Florida Forever (1999), and has negotiated more than 300,000 acres of lands now part of national and state parks, forests, and wildlife refuges. He is also a former Chair of the Volusia County Council, and a past President of Florida Audubon Society and Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. He has received numerous awards recognizing his commitment to public service and the environment.

Kelli McGee

Worked in support of the rights of nature with the Center for Earth Jurisprudence and previously served Volusia County as Director of Growth and Resource Management, Director of Planning and Development Services and Natural Resources Director.

Kelli is Executive Director of the Riverside Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that promotes living shoreline restoration and other nature-based solutions to improve water quality and aquatic habitat. Ms. McGee has written and implemented federal and local laws, drafted congressional testimony, and testified in multiple judicial hearings as a natural resources expert.

Prior to moving to Volusia County in 2002, Kelli served as California Director of Oceana, Coastal Program Council with American Oceans Campaign in Washington, D.C., and Research Associate with the Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys.

Kelli is a member of the United States Supreme Court Bar, Florida Bar, District of Columbia Bar and the Indian River Lagoon Council Management Board.  She holds a Juris Doctor degree from the George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, where she double majored in Biology and Psychology.

James Durocher

FRONN East-Central Regional Director for the Counties of Volusia, Brevard, Orange, Seminole, Indian River, Lake, and Marion and Florida Coastal Master Naturalist.

Jim comes from both a Property Management and Eco-Tourism business background. He later combined his love for Nature with educating appreciation for Florida’s natural environment. One of his proudest accomplishments was helping with the purchase, management, and preservation of the Thousand Islands Sanctuary in Cocoa Beach. With 55 years of paddling experience he tries to inspire people living or visiting this Water State to see the spiritual side of Nature which is a part of each of us.
Always caring about animals and the environment, years ago the concept of a sustainable system for our planet and ourselves materialized from teachings of scholars and indigenous peoples. The Rights Of Nature is part of a natural universal progression from Rights to all people regardless of race,color,creed,gender,or religion and now to ecosystems.

Streamed LIVE – Tuesday, February 2, 2021
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

You can view the Volusia Water Alliance’s February 2nd “Right to Clean Water” Webinar on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/UPQd40qBbVU

Be sure to like this video and subscribe to the Channel for more water related stories.

This program was funded with the help of the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida via proceeds from the ‘Protect Florida Springs’ license plate.

PREVIOUS SEMINARS IN THE SERIES

Volusia Water Alliance
Virtual Symposium Series

P R E S E N T S

Restoring Balance: Reflections on Florida’s Water:
Past, Present, and Future

Presented by Rick Kilby and Moderated by Jason Evans

Rick Kilby is the author of the award-winning, Finding the Fountain of Youth, and recently released Florida’s Healing Waters.
Professor Jason Evans is the Executive Director of Stetson University’s Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience.

To View the recording of this webinar, click on this link;

Restoring Balance: