Keep reading for the latest news and announcements from the Gopher Tortoise Council, including:
- Call for nominations for 2024 GTC Service Awards
- Become a GTC member!
- Reserve your Gopher Tortoise License Plate
- Upcoming meetings of interest to GTC members
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 November 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.
Reserve Your Gopher Tortoise License Plate Today!
Wildlands Conservation is still accepting orders for the specialty gopher tortoise license plate. In order to bring awareness to the plight of the gopher tortoise, we have created this specialty license plate and will use the generated funds for gopher tortoise habitat conservation, habitat management, education, and research. With your help, we can help protect gopher tortoises and their upland habitat! The gopher tortoise plate, with artwork by Matt Patterson, will be produced as soon as 3,000 vouchers have been purchased. Vouchers cost $33 each, of which $25 will directly go towards gopher tortoise conservation. If you hold a valid Florida Driver’s License or have a Florida-registered vehicle, you are eligible to purchase vouchers for your car, truck, trailer, and RV! Vouchers can be purchased at any time–you do not need to wait until your registration renewal date to order one. To reserve your plate and for more information, visit https://wildlandsconservation.org/gopher-tortoise-license-plate.
Upcoming Meeting Opportunities for GTC Members
Herpeton: South Florida Herpetological Conference
September 27-29th 2024
Hosted at The Florida SouthWestern State College Edison Campus (U-102)
Registration is open
https://www.fsw.edu/herpetonconference
31st Annual Meeting of The Wildlife Society
October 19-23, 2024
Baltimore, MD
Regular registration is open (closes October 4)
twsconference.org
AlaPARC Annual Meeting
October 4-6, 2024
Wehle Center
Midway, AL
http://www.alaparc.org/Meetings/Fall2024.html
SEPARC Annual Meeting
January 30- February 2, 2025
Black Mountain, NC
http://separc.org/2024-separc-annual-meeting-copy