Keep reading for the latest news and announcements from the Gopher Tortoise Council, including:
- Information on the 46th Annual Gopher Tortoise Council Meeting in November
- Call for nominations for 2024 GTC Service Awards
- GTC Membership information
- Solar energy and wildlife training in the southeast
Save the Date for the 46th Annual Gopher Tortoise Council Meeting
Save the date! Announcing the 46th Annual Gopher Tortoise Council Meeting November 15-17 at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL. More details to follow, we look forward to seeing you there!
Call for Nominations for the 2024 Gopher Tortoise Council Service Awards
Every year, the GTC board recognizes significant contributions of those within the Council and larger community for contributions to our mission of education and conservation of gopher tortoises and their upland habitat through various awards (described below), which are presented at our annual meeting.
Please send nominations for awards to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by October 1, 2024. Nominations should include information either in a letter or email explaining why you think an individual or organization is deserving of a particular award. Thank you for your help!
Distinguished Service Award - presented to those who have consistently offered years of service to the Council.
Lifetime Service Award - presented to individuals whose have devoted a career to service of the Council.
Special Project(s) Award - presented to individuals who have taken the lead or played a major role in special GTC projects.
Conservation Education Award - given to individuals who have contributed to significant education and outreach activities relevant to conservation of tortoises and upland habitats. Candidates may be outside the realm of GTC. Includes a $250 cash award
Auffenberg and Franz Conservation Award – presented to individuals with life time accomplishments and organizations with long-term efforts in conserving gopher tortoises and upland ecosystems. We should think broadly in choosing recipients for this award. The first recipients for this award were Walter Auffenberg and Dick Franz, presented at the 2003 Annual meeting (our 25th meeting).
Support GTC by Becoming a Member or Renewing Your Annual Membership
With Gopher Tortoise Day behind us, celebrate gopher tortoises all year long and consider joining the Gopher Tortoise Council by purchasing a membership or renewing your annual membership. Membership revenue helps to fund gopher tortoise conservation programs and provide grants for graduate student research and educational programs across the southeast.
Benefits include a subscription to the Gopher Tortoise Council's newsletter, "The Tortoise Burrow."
The Gopher Tortoise Inc is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and tax-exempt organization (ID #59-2010727) and all contributions are tax deductible.
Membership Options:
$15 Student Membership
$25 Regular Membership
$40 Contributor Membership
$50 Society/Corporate Membership
$75 Sustaining Membership
$300 Lifetime Membership
Please visit our website (https://gophertortoisecouncil.org/support) for more information.
Of interest to GTC members, the Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (REWI) will be hosting a workshop on utility-scale solar development and wildlife/natural resources in the southeast from June 12-13 in Atlanta, GA (this is a hybrid workshop with options for virtual attendance). Register here.