| Work Together To Create Lake Management At Its Finest |
| Save Our Source Of Florida Lakes |
| Save Our Source |
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When we started this organization in March of 2005, the idea of forming a
state wide coalition consisting of freshwater lake user organizations was
an aspiration only a few of the charter members had originally anticipated
therefore making a plan to lead in that direction -- few previously worked
within larger organizations at a state and/or multi-county level.
Not having a complete understanding of how each county's citizens were
handling "lake user" issues and "lake management" issues, we determined
to develop an organization model using our local county's main lake
attraction -- Highlands County's Lake Istokpoga.
After two years of anticipated growing pains our development progressed,
resulting in a small Florida non-profit corporation which worked
responsibly with Highlands County, State, and Federal government lake
management agencies, and other organizations with a similar purpose.
Our organization's governing body is small and efficient, working to act as
a liaison between the government and the people, in the matters of fresh
water lake habitat management in Highlands County.
The endeavor starts with the "end result" -- the lake and its users -- and
operates in reverse; in contradistinction to the government's policy
formation working from environmental conditions, ending with lake users.
In reality, lake management government is designed starting with federal
government setting state government policy parameters, which in turn
sets county government policy parameters, which many lake users don't
participate in (for various reasons) which is not the government's fault
For this reason, we as an organization believe the "lake users" of Florida
need to become more unified than they presently are today -- June 2008.
Many "lake user" organizations have already successfully formed,
benefiting their members and the citizens of Florida.
However, the "real question" which needs to be asked and answered is,
"Do Florida's lake users, have adequate representation as a whole, at the
state level which they paid to create?" -> continue ->
state wide coalition consisting of freshwater lake user organizations was
an aspiration only a few of the charter members had originally anticipated
therefore making a plan to lead in that direction -- few previously worked
within larger organizations at a state and/or multi-county level.
Not having a complete understanding of how each county's citizens were
handling "lake user" issues and "lake management" issues, we determined
to develop an organization model using our local county's main lake
attraction -- Highlands County's Lake Istokpoga.
After two years of anticipated growing pains our development progressed,
resulting in a small Florida non-profit corporation which worked
responsibly with Highlands County, State, and Federal government lake
management agencies, and other organizations with a similar purpose.
Our organization's governing body is small and efficient, working to act as
a liaison between the government and the people, in the matters of fresh
water lake habitat management in Highlands County.
The endeavor starts with the "end result" -- the lake and its users -- and
operates in reverse; in contradistinction to the government's policy
formation working from environmental conditions, ending with lake users.
In reality, lake management government is designed starting with federal
government setting state government policy parameters, which in turn
sets county government policy parameters, which many lake users don't
participate in (for various reasons) which is not the government's fault
For this reason, we as an organization believe the "lake users" of Florida
need to become more unified than they presently are today -- June 2008.
Many "lake user" organizations have already successfully formed,
benefiting their members and the citizens of Florida.
However, the "real question" which needs to be asked and answered is,
"Do Florida's lake users, have adequate representation as a whole, at the
state level which they paid to create?" -> continue ->
Governments
SOS Florida Lakes Inc believes they presently do not
have a voice which accurately represents their
individual issues and concerns.
The fault in the current governmental system lies not
with the government, but with the "lake users"
themselves. Lake users are not working together in a
unified proactive manner addressing similar lake
management challenges and successes, and
contrasting the differences associated with each
individual lake.
A management plan for one lake might prove to work on
many lakes throughout the state, however, many lakes
would be adversely affected if the same plan was
implemented. The diversity of Florida lakes and their
individual challenges requires private citizens to be
directly involved along side the government agency
representatives employed to responsibly handle the
needs of the lake and its users.
Government starts to fail their people when the
people fail to be involved as actively as when they
started to form their government.
The government exists and is active influencing
your lives, which you approved when you did or did
not engage in the policy formation which governs
your lakes and your fellow lake users. The
government needs and awaits your unified
involvement today.
Join Us Today, Let's Become Active In
The Process We Created
have a voice which accurately represents their
individual issues and concerns.
The fault in the current governmental system lies not
with the government, but with the "lake users"
themselves. Lake users are not working together in a
unified proactive manner addressing similar lake
management challenges and successes, and
contrasting the differences associated with each
individual lake.
A management plan for one lake might prove to work on
many lakes throughout the state, however, many lakes
would be adversely affected if the same plan was
implemented. The diversity of Florida lakes and their
individual challenges requires private citizens to be
directly involved along side the government agency
representatives employed to responsibly handle the
needs of the lake and its users.
Government starts to fail their people when the
people fail to be involved as actively as when they
started to form their government.
The government exists and is active influencing
your lives, which you approved when you did or did
not engage in the policy formation which governs
your lakes and your fellow lake users. The
government needs and awaits your unified
involvement today.
Join Us Today, Let's Become Active In
The Process We Created
| S.O.S. Florida Lakes Inc. |