Last Stand - "Protecting the Keys"

Board Meeting Notice

The Board of Directors of Last Stand will assemble next Monday, August 18 at 12:30pm for a regular Board Meeting.  Holding a board meeting at least a day ahead of the Key West City Commission meetings is standard practice. (In this case, the City Commission's meeting is a "special meeting" because they nomrally don't schedule one in mid-August, but had time-sensitive actions to consider.)

As at all meetings of the Board, any Last Stand member may attend.  Indeed they are ENCOURAGED to attend. The Board welcomes all input from members, and is always looking for members who are willing to assist with Board activities.  (It should be noted that there are currently openings on the Board, and the active membership is the first to be considered.)

Last Stand Members who may wish to attend the Board meeting can get more information about the location and agenda by calling 305-587-9616.

Last Stand (and Key West) loses a shining light

With greatest sympathy and regret, Last Stand would like to express our sorrow at the loss of long-time active member Sheila Rowan.  Sheila was always a staunch public activist, never hesitating to speak her mind to the powers that be, and always with the greater good of the community in mind.  Her wit and wisdom will be sorely missed throughout the Keys community.

As a remembrance, here's a reprint of Sheila's Key West Citizen "Volunteers of the Year" award for 2008:

Our most sincere condolences to Bill, and to Sheila and Bill's sons.

Sheila's life will be celebrated at the Key West Garden Club (at the West Martello Tower on Higgs Beach) this Saturday from 6pm to 9pm.

Friday, Aug 8 update: Past Editor of the Solares Hill newspaper -- and Last Stand member (and former director) -- Nancy Klingener wrote a fitting remembrance of Sheila for today's Solares Hill.  A copy of it is saved here for your convenience. (Also see the comments section of this post for responses from others who have known and loved Sheila.)

Sunday, August 10 update: Also don't miss the extended remembrance of Sheila written by Nancy's husband Mark Hedden, a columnist for the Key West Citizen.  The article is available on their website, here: click

Copies of that and other articles are also available on the Last Stand website:

• Island city will miss Mrs. Peacon Lane
• Sheila Rowan’s Legacy
• Cursing a good life: Remembering a close friend

Last Stand board member investigates Keys recycling

Last Stand board member Jody Smith Williams has recentlly trekked to Fort Lauderdale to see for herself what happens to our recyclables when they get up to the mainland.  She and fellow Keys GLEE ("Green Living & Energy Education") member Erika Biddle visited the Recycle America recycling plant there.  (That's Jody on the left, Erika to her right.)

Their visit was included in an infomative article by Karen Quist (who also snapped this pic) in this week's Keys Sunday (a KeyNoter publication). That photo was on the front page, the article is on page 3 (and continues on page 12).

Congratulations to a Last Stand member

Last Stand would like to congratulate a Big Pine Key member Kathy Wheeler on being selected as today's "Citizen of the Day" in the Key West Citizen....