FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:

Daniel E. Parshley

Phone:  912-466-0934

E-mail: gec@darientel.net

Attachments: Photo of Bill Owens, President

Glynn Environmental Coalition

 GEC Announces New Officers and Board Members

The Glynn Environmental Coalition celebrated 15 years of service to Glynn County and elected a new Board and Officers at its annual membership meeting June 14th, 2005.  St. Simons Island resident and local musician Bill Owens was elected President for the 2005-06 year and former three-term President Frank Lea moved to the post of Vice President. Hoke Brannen remains as Treasurer and Stephen Ryner is the new Coalition Secretary. At-Large Board Members selected at the June meeting are Joel Myers, Paul Redding, Charles DesEnfants, Eileen Hutcheson, and Jody Pollard.  LuAnne Lea and Barbara Bowdry continue on the Board as treasurers for the Technical Assistance Grants which the Coalition manages.  Board members from member organizations of the Coalition are: Dave Kyler from the Center For a Sustainable Coast, Ann Marie Wilson from the Driftwood Educational Center, and Suzanne Kempke from McIntosh SEED.

The William T. Lipscomb Science Fair Award was established to honor the memory of the GEC's recently deceased Secretary.  The award will be presented to the local middle  or high school student whose science fair project best epitomizes concern and hope for a clean environment and healthy economy for coastal Georgia.  Professor Lipscomb taught at Coastal Georgia Community College until his retirement, and worked until his death to establish the award that now bears his name.

Service awards of appreciation were presented to Hoke and Pam Brannen, Barbara Bowdry, Clyde Williams and Robert Randall, and to incoming Board Member Joel Myers for outstanding performance in environmental justice organizing in his own Arco neighborhood.  Certificates of Appreciation went out to Darrell Gossett for 2 years of service on the Board, to Dave Kyler for 3 years of service as Vice President, and to Frank Lea, to honor his yeoman 3 years of dedication as President of the GEC.

In lieu of an acceptance speech as incoming President, Mr. Owens wielded a guitar at the podium to deliver a rendition of Tom Lehrer's "Pollution" with lyrics tailored to Brunswick and the Golden Isles: "...Pollution! Pollution! Hercules and Superfund mud/ Turn on your tap, and get hot-and-cold running crud!" is a representative lyric.  

GEC members present at the Annual Meeting enjoyed a wonderful fellowship meal and musical entertainment from Cricket Allen and Bo Foxx.

GEC Board and Membership meetings are held at 7 PM on the second Tuesday of every month, usually at the GEC headquarters, 4472-C New Jesup Highway (Highway 341), just north of the Community Road (303) intersection.  The upcoming Sept. 13 membership meeting, however, will be a pizza dinner at Fox's Pizza Den, 1435 Newcastle Street, at the corner of Newcastle and Gloucester in downtown Brunswick.  The meeting will begin at 7 PM.  The public is cheerfully invited.  For more information, please contact Project Manager Daniel Parshley at (912) 466-0934.

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