Category: Coming Events

November 2019 program

Dr. Tim Collins is a Professor and the Graduate Program Director in the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida International University. Dr. Collins received his B.S. degree from the University of Maryland, and his Ph.D. from Yale University. Dr. Collins is an evolutionary biologist working primarily on molluscs, and is particularly interested in applying his skills to solve practical problems.

I met Dr. Collins at the screening of the Changing Seas episode “Cryptic Critters” from Season 10,  with Dr. Rüdiger Bieler and his wife Dr. Petra Sierwald. Tim ran the DNA work on the new wormsnail from the Florida Keys, which turned out to be the new species, Thylacodes vandyensis Bieler, Rawlings & Collins, 2017.

Dr. Collins is presently working on the invasive species of flatworm, Platydemus manokwari De Beauchamp, 1963, and tonight he will tell us about his studies with this flatworm and why it is dangerous to our local species.

The non-native terrestrial New Guinea Flatworm (NGF, Platydemus manokwari) was discovered in Florida in 2015. In other parts of the world where it has been introduced, it has been considered the cause of extinction and/or dramatic decline of native species, particularly land snails, and for this reason is considered one of the World’s 100 worst invasive species. We have observed large-scale predation events on native Florida tree snails by Platydemus sp. for example, on our iconic native tree snails, Liguus and Orthalicus in the Castellow Hammock Preserve (see photos). In my talk I will discuss the possible effects of NGF on both native and non-native snails in Florida, as well as possible ways to limit the spread and effects of this new invasive species.

Please come and welcome Dr. Tim Collins to his first program for our club. Don’t forget to bring a snack if you have not done so this year.


SANIBEL FIELD TRIP

It is time for our annual trip to the Sanibel Shell Show! The date we plan on going is Saturday, March 3rd. More details will be available in the upcoming February issue of the “Busycon”. But what I need from you right now is to have you give me a “yea” or “nay” as to the club renting a full size bus. We need about 50 to keep the cost at about $25 per person. The trip is a one day event where we will take in the show, have a great lunch at the Island Cow and either stop at a shell shop or a location off island to do some shelling. With the large bus that will be the option for collecting as all shelling locations on Sanibel cannot accommodate large vehicles. However, I am planning the trip to Marco Island in early May where we will be taken to either Tice Island or Keewayden / North End of Tiger Tail Beach All these locations are only accessible by charter boat. That way we can all get our shelling “fix” then!

SHELL CLUB PICNIC

The club has scheduled the picnic for Sunday, April 19th at the Jetty Pavilion in John U. Lloyd State Park in Dania Beach. The club will be supplying the meats, beverages, condiments and paper goods, and the only thing the members are asked to do is bring a favorite covered dish (something “picnic” oriented). The only cost o the members will be the $6 entrance fee to the park.

It is suggested that you arrive early to ensure a parking spot as the Jetty Pavilion has a smaller lot than the others, and it is also advisable to car-pool. We will start the grill at 11:30 so you can plan accordingly. I know the majority of us know where the park is but is you have any questions as how to get there feel to contact Richard Sedlak at 954-296-5633 / sedlaki1@comcast.net. Last call!!

LUNCH AND MOVIE OUTING

 

It is the summer doldrums so we will do a pick-me-up-from-the-heat by having a “Lunch and a Movie” outing on Saturday, August 16th. We will have lunch at the Tarpon Bend restaurant either before or after the movie (y’alls choice) which is a special showing of “Journey to the South Pacific” at the Museum of Discovery and Science in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

The cost for lunch will be determined by whatever you order and the movie charge is $14.00 per person (including senior). Call Richard at 954-296-5633 or email him at sedlaki1@comcast.net for more information

 

FLORIDA UNITED MALACOLGISTS TO MEET APRIL 12, 2014

Florida United Malacologists (FUM) 2014 – First Announcement

The fifth meeting of Florida United Malacologists (FUM) will take place on
Saturday, April 12, 2014, at The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum (BMSM) on
Sanibel Island, Florida. The one-day gathering is designed to enhance
communication among professional, collectors, citizen scientists, and
student malacologists, with topics including, but not limited to, biology,
ecology, paleontology, archaeology, and conservation. FUM follows the
pattern established by similar informal gatherings such as BAM (Bay Area
Malacologists), SCUM (Southern California United Malacologists), MAM
(Mid-Atlantic Malacologists), and OVUM (Ohio (River) Valley United
Malacologists).

Presentations are limited to 15 minutes plus 5 minutes for questions.
Presenters are required to submit a brief abstract limited to 150 words or
less. The gathering will be free to presenters and pre-registered
participants. We are making arrangements for a possible fossil field trip
on Sunday, April 13. Visits to the BMSM collection and library will be
limited to two days prior to the gathering, Thursday, April 10, and Friday,
April 11. Box lunches and dinner at a local restaurant (to be arranged) will
be available at cost to participants and presenters. An event reservation
form will be posted soon on the Museum web site (www.shellmuseum.org).
Seating is limited, so please return the reservation form prior to March 15,
2014.

Please send inquiries and reservations to BMSM Curator Dr. José H. Leal, at
jleal@shellmuseum.org. The deadline for submission of abstracts is March 31,
2014. The FUM program including abstracts and times of presentations will be
posted on the Museum web site, http://www.shellmuseum.org, shortly after the topic
submission deadline.

Kind regards to all,

José H. Leal, Ph.D., Curator & Director of Education
The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum
Editor, The Nautilus
jleal@shellmuseum.org
http://www.shellmuseum.org <http://www.shellmuseum.org/&gt;
3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road
Sanibel, FL 33957 USA
(239)395-2233
fax (239)395-6706

 

2013 SHELL SHOW INFORMATION

48th Annual BROWARD SHELL SHOW

January 19-20, 2013

Dr. Harry Lee and Valentino Leidi BSS 2010Hosted by the nonprofit Broward Shell Club, the Broward Shell Show offers an opportunity for shell-loving enthusiasts to enjoy an exciting weekend immersed in the wonderful world of shells.

 

Sonny:ClamThousands of beautiful and unusual shells from around the world will be on display and for sale. Weekend Attractions include: Competitive displays by dozens of collectors; Shell Artists showcasing their designs; International Shell Market featuring shells, shell craft, jewelry and educational shell books; a Shell ID Station where beginners or advanced shell collectors can bring their seashells for identification; Raffle items including a spectacular Sailor’s Valentine made by Brandy Llewelyn valued at $2,700, and Door Prizes.

This year, the Shell Show will add an exciting new feature. Five interesting, educational programs will be presented during the shell show. There will be a program on seashells and one program on shell craft each day. Additionally, for those of you who like to purchase on-line, there will be a program on buying shells on Ebay. Please visit our Facebook page  for additional information regarding the guest speakers,

Saturday, January 19:

12 pm – Shell Show Judge Dr. Harry Lee – Audubon’s Shells

2pm – Club member Tom Ball – Buying Shells on Ebay

4pm – Shell Show Judge Emily Savage – Basics of Arranging (Shell Craft)

Sunday, January 20:

12pm – Dr. Richard Kirk – Searching Around the World for the Most Beautiful Scallop

2pm – Jae Kellogg – The Art of Flower Making in Shell Craft

Take your picture with Sonny Ogden’s “Killer Clam”. We invite you to attend the 2013 South Florida shelling event of the year!

January 19-20, 2013

Emma Lou Olson Civic Center, 1801 NE 6 St, Pompano Beach, 33060. Hours: Saturday, 1/19/13 10am – 6pm, Sunday, 1/20/13 10am – 4pm Admission and parking are free.

For more information, call 305-467-4412 or write: nancygaldo@gmail.com

www.browardshellclub.org, www.facebook.com/groups/BrowardShellClub/

Best Sailor's ValentineScientific Shell Show Judge – Dr. Richard Kirk

Richard Y. Kirk graduated with a Ph.D. in Slavic Linguistics at the University of Pennsylvania and worked for the Department of Veteran Affairs until his retirement in 2007.

He has been active in both the Conchologists of America (COA) and the Academy of Natural Sciences / Philadelphia Shell Club, founding the annual Philadelphia Shell Show in 1983, as past club president, auctioneer, scientific judge and co-chairing the National COA Convention in Philadelphia.

Richard was named “Fellow” at the Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University, 2011 and is currently co-authoring a new encyclopedia of shells with Dr. Gary Rosenberg, Paul Callomon and Sue Hobbs.

Richard tells his rather humorous story. “When I was 4 years old, I did something “good” and mom decided to reward me, so she took me to the basement and brought out a round red can with an Indian on it (baking soda?), opened it and it was full of beautiful shells, she said from India, she allowed me to pick just one as my reward. It took me about an hour to choose on shell, and that night I went downstairs and took the whole can!  With shells it was love at first sight!  I still have that first shell, it was a busycon contrarium and those shells in the can as it turned out were not from India but from Florida.  I have been collecting ever since, and now have a massive worldwide marine collection that will some day go to the Academy of Natural Sciences, because it includes many species that the Academy does not yet have.  My shells are being photographed for the new encyclopedia of shells.”

Scientific Shell Show Judge – Dr. Harry Lee

Harry G. Lee was born and raised in Short Hills New Jersey, where he began the pursuit of conchology at age six. Settling in Jacksonville FL in 1974, he practiced Internal medicine until his retirement in 2006.

Harry received his education at Williams College (biology honors) and medical training at Cornell University, Emory University, the National Institutes of Health, and the University of California San Francisco. He is the author of Marine Shells of Northeast Florida (2009) and over a dozen scientific papers and serves as a Field Associate of the Florida Museum of Natural History and Vice President of The Conchologists of America. He is a Trustee of the Museum of Science and History (Jacksonville) and previously served in that capacity for the Paleontological Research Institution (Cornell University) and the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum (Sanibel, FL). In addition, Harry is on the Editorial Board of The Nautilus and American Conchologist.

Harry maintains a general collection of shells but is particularly interested in American mollusks (land, freshwater, and marine) and the micromollusks of the western Atlantic. He has written over 100 popular articles related to malacology and shell collecting and judged about 65 shell shows.

Artistic Shell Show Judge – Sandy Moran

The very first Sailor’s Valentine Sandy Moran viewed changed her life and her interest grew as she learned more about the history of these objects that spoke so elegantly of a lonely sailor’s love. A person with a fine eye for artistic quality, and a love for all things connected with the sea, Sandy was inspired to realize her own vision of a unique Sailor’s Valentine. Her valentines include patterns and flowers of various unusual seashells. Many of the shells were discovered in old shell collections.

Having reached pre-eminence in her field, Sandy Moran has earned numerous first-place awards, beginning in the early nineties. Additionally, she was a featured artist on a PBS fundraiser show, featured in Martha Stewart magazine, Coastal Living magazine, La Vie Claire Magazine, Yankee Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, as well as in various Florida publications and national television.  Additionally, Sandy is Artistic Chairperson of the famed Sanibel Shell Show and a trustee of the Bailey-Mathews Shell Museum on Sanibel Island. Her work is displayed in galleries on Cape Cod, Nantucket and in Sanibel.

Artistic Shell Show Judge – Emily Savage

Emily Savage was born in Perth Amboy, N.J. and moved to Miami, Florida with her familyin 1944. She met her husband Herbert Savage in 1949 and they were married in Miami onOctober 21st, 1950. They have three children, Charlene Butler, Sharon Stewart and HerbertSavage, Jr. and six grandchildren.

Emily was active in PTA Organizations during the years her children were in school, becoming a Life Member. She was also active in the General Federation of Woman’s Clubs and served as the State Junior Director of Florida from 1962-64 when Florida was the Outstanding State in the Nation.  In 1963, she was chosen to represent Florida in the Mrs. America pageant.

She moved to Marco Island in 1978 with her family where her love of shells and her interest in them grew.  She joined the Marco Island Shell Club where she met several club members who were her mentors. She served as President and is an Honorary Member of the club.

She has won numerous ribbons in various Florida Shell Shows over the years, was awarded the Peggy Bennett Memorial Award for the Best Commercial Artistic Creation, and she has received the Best Commercial Artistic Creation Award three times at the Marco Island Shell Show.

Emily opened her shell shop, Shells by Emily, in 1985 and has been in the same location for the past 28 years. They carry a large inventory of local and imported shells, creating most of the items they sell using a various assortment of shapes and sizes of shells, providing a wide variety of shell creations including wedding favors, cake tops, bride bouquets, corsages, lamps, mirrors, containers, picture frames, and other specialty arrangements for any occasion. The friendships, camaraderie and creativity are the highlights of her day.

HOLIDAY PARTY DETAILS

Our Holiday party will be held on 12/12/1/2 (Wednesday) this year which is our regular 2nd Wednesday meeting night. Appetizers will be at 6PM and dinner at 6:30. It is a pot luck style with the club supplying the meat, ham and turkey. We will have a signup sheet at the November meeting. If you will not be at the meeting please call Carolyn @ 954-545-3657 by November 24th. Some important facts to remember- If you are bringing an appetizer, you need to plan to be there BEFORE 6PM. If you are bringing a dish that requires serving utensils please include
them. If you are bringing a cake that requires cutting, please bring a cake knife. GIFT EXCHANGE GAME: The ever popular Richard will be our game host. Since we are a shell club, we kindly request you purchase a shell related item in the $15-$20 range although liquor and chocolates have been popular. This is always a fun event. If for some reason you do not wish to participate in one part, come for the other!

CORAL REEF IDENTIFICATION CLASSES

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection Coral Reef Conservation Program (FDEP CRCP) invites you to celebrate Earth Month 2012 by participating in one or more of four educational classes that will each be held twice during the month of April. Classes are FREE, and will be held at the Biscayne Bay Environmental Center (the FDEP CRCP office) located at 1277 NE 79th Street Causeway, Miami, FL 33138. Space is limited, so reserve your spot(s) early by RSVP’ing with your name and preferred class time(s) to Coral@dep.state.fl.us.

REEF Fish Identification:
6 – 9pm (Tuesday, April 3) or 1 – 4pm (Thursday, April 5)
DESCRIPTION: This is a beginner course that teaches the basics of “fish watching”, including how to identify 50 commonly sighted species in the tropical western Atlantic. All materials are provided. An evaluation will be conducted at the end of the training. Anyone scoring 80% or better and who goes on to complete two fish surveys can become an Experience Level 2 volunteer for the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF). The REEF Fish Survey Project is a volunteer fish monitoring program that enables volunteer SCUBA divers and snorkelers to collect and report information on marine fish populations. The data are collected using a fun and easy standardized method, the Roving Diver Technique (RDT), and are housed in a publicly accessible database on REEF’s website. Data collected by REEF volunteers are used for public education and by a variety of resource management agencies and researchers. For more information on REEF, go to: http://www.REEF.org.

Marine Invertebrate Identification:
6 – 9pm (Tuesday, April 10) or 1 – 4pm (Thursday, April 12)
DESCRIPTION: The most common sea sponges, octocorals (soft corals), crustaceans, echinoderms and mollusks that you are likely to encounter while diving or snorkeling on southeast Florida’s coral reefs will be introduced in this course. A knowledge review will be administered at the end of the class and all participants will receive a resource CD-ROM of images from the course for future reference.

PADI Project Aware:
6 – 9pm (Tuesday, April 17) or 1 – 4pm (Thursday, April 19)
DESCRIPTION:
This is a formal, but fun, introduction for divers and non-divers alike to the plight of the world’s aquatic ecosystems. It is offered to anyone who wants to learn more about, and take responsibility for, marine and freshwater environments. Although diving and snorkeling offer the best avenues to appreciate the aquatic world, you do not have to be a diver to participate in this Project Aware presentation – it’s open to everyone. The only requirement is an interest in learning more about the 70% of the earth covered in water. A knowledge review will be administered at the end of the class and all participants will receive a resource CD-ROM of images from the course for future reference. A PADI certification for the Project Aware Specialty course will also be available for a fee of $18.00 to cover the cost of the materials, but will not be necessary for participation in this seminar.

Stony Coral Identification:
6 – 9pm (Tuesday, April 24) or 1 – 4pm (Thursday, April 26)
DESCRIPTION: This course will introduce you to thirty species of stony corals found offshore Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties. A knowledge review will be administered at the end of the class and all participants will receive a resource CD-ROM of images from the course for future reference.

Coral+Reef+Identification+Classes+Earth+Month+2012

PANAMA CITY BEACH SHELL SHOW

The Gulf Coast Shell Club will be hosting the 15th Panama City Beach Shell Show – July 13 – 15, 2012. The show will be held at the Panama City Beach Senior Center – 423 Lyndall Lane in Panama City Beach.

Check the web page for a flyer with show information and an exhibitors entry form. Please share this with your viewers and/or post it on your web page.

The Gulf Coast Shell Club meets regularly on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 pm at the Lake Huntington Club House. Visitors are always welcome. For additional Information visit our web site at http://gulfcoastshellclub.weebly.com