FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December
20, 2002
Florida's
Award-Winning State Parks Gain New Expertise
-- Four
elected to Friends of Florida State Parks Board --
TALLAHASSEE
-- Florida’s
award-winning state parks got another boost this month
with the announcement of four newly-elected officers and
board members to the Friends of Florida State Parks (FFSP),
Inc., the statewide Citizen Support Organization (CSO) of
the Florida Park Service.
“We are thrilled to have
persons of this caliber take time from their busy
schedules to help us carry out our valuable mission,”
said Florida State Park Director Wendy Spencer. "
Under the board’s leadership, Florida’s parks will
continue to have one of the most successful citizen
support organizations in the nation.”
George A. Crady
of Yulee was elected FFSP President. Crady, a former
Florida State Representative, was elected to the Florida
House of Representatives in 1977, served 23 consecutive
years, then became Dean of the House. He also served as
Rules Chairman, House Parliamentarian and Chairman of the
Duval delegation. Crady said, “ I am thrilled to have
been chosen as president. It is hard to improve on
perfection, which describes this organization better than
anything. I hope to continue that tradition. My biggest
job is to maintain the quality of parks and ensure
everyone has a chance to enjoy Florida’s natural
resources.”
Tallahassee bank executive
Tom
Pennekamp was named president-elect of FFSP. He is
senior vice president of SunTrust Banks, and manages the
bank’s Florida Government Relations Department.
Pennekamp’s family has a long history of support for
Florida’s state parks. “I am proud to continue the
tradition of the Pennekamp family in the Florida Park
Service,” Pennekamp said. “I am extremely honored that
my fellow board members chose me as President-elect, and I
hope to continue increasing support for the organization
and recognizing the
volunteers who are so important to the success of our
state park system.”
Outgoing State
Representative Allen Trovillion of Winter Park, who
served as chair of the House Tourism Committee, was
elected to the FFSP Board of Directors. First elected to
the House of Representatives in 1994, he is a general
contractor in Winter Park and a fifth generation native of
Florida. “I have been very impressed with this
organization,” Trovillion said. “It is very obvious
that Florida’s state parks are number one because of all
the terrific things they achieve. I am very pleased to
serve with volunteers that do such a wonderful job. We
need to continue to build on that success.”
Northwest Florida civic
leader Vergie W. Thompson, of Freeport, was elected
to the FFSP Board. She is president of the Friends of Eden
Gardens State Park citizen support organization and a
leader in civic and cultural organizations. “I consider
my appointment a great honor,” Thompson said. “The
Florida State Park system is one of the most precious
things we own in Florida. If we do not preserve our parks,
we cannot fully preserve our history or cultural heritage.
The best thing we can do is make Floridians and visitors
aware of what a wonderful, inexpensive resource they are.”
In 1993, the FFSP was
formed as a non-profit corporation to help promote state
park programs, legislative priorities, and park
improvements throughout the state. Additionally, Florida’s
state parks benefit from 78 individual CSOs, commonly
referred to as “friends” of a specific state park.
About 6,000 members comprise the dedicated volunteer
groups who assist the Department of Environmental
Protection’s Division of Recreation and Parks with
exotic plant removal, maintenance, educational programs,
wildlife care, and fundraising.
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Press Office
