Last week, Choctawhatchee Audubon Society hosted a guest speaker from the Florida House of Representatives. The invited Representative was Matt Gaetz of Fort Walton Beach, who's appearance helped draw the largest crowd for a Choctawhatchee Audubon Society meeting since last August. In his remarks, Representative Gaetz mentioned that he had received an Audubon book when he was 10 and has always felt a connection with the organization.

Although numerous topics were discussed, the Northwest Florida Daily News reports:

“It’s likely possible we won’t agree on everything,” he told members of the Choctawhatchee Audubon Society at a meeting Thursday at Northwest Florida State College. “There will be some issues I’m sure we may disagree on.”

Despite that reality, it was a great opportunity for Audubon Chapter members to interact with part of their state legislative delegation.

Gaetz asked Audubon members to act as "canaries in a coal mine" - to act as monitors of the environment in time of renewed emphasis of job creation in the state. Hopefully, more interaction between the chapters and state legislators will be scheduled in the future for chapter meetings around the state.

Thanks to Choctawhatchee Audubon Society President Gary Parsons and Representative Matt Gaetz for making this discussion possible.