Last weekend, island community members and guests were invited a spectacular inaugural event for the newly formed Dewees Island Conservancy.  The event was a sunset cocktail party at the Moser’s home on Saturday, June 18th.

Huge Kudos to Ginny and Art!  The smoky haze lent an air of mystery, the wineglasses sparkled in the evening air, and the hosts put on an amazing spread:

gazpacho…pickled shrimp in pineapple boats…Moroccan chicken skewers…marinated smoked salmon…savory cheesecake…piquillo crab dip…array of cheeses, crackers, fruits, dips, spreads and crudites, feta stuffed cherry tomatoes, sweet grilled pineapple, grapes & plums with honey yogurt sauce, lemon bars,ChocoVine, cocktails, wine, and a peaceful inlet sunset view.

Conservancy Board Chair Diane Kliros recognized Craig Watson from US Fish and Wildlife, and Joy Brown from the Nature Conservancy, both of whom are valuable and instrumental partners in the formation of the conservancy and issues of wetlands and habitat reconstruction.  A couple from the community donated $10,000 and issued a challenge to the community– if 5 more people each donate $10,000 or more before the end of 2011, the donor will add an additional $10,000.  The event raised somewhere around $40,000 so far.

Send your tax-deductible donations to Jim Anderson, Treasurer, Dewees Island Conservancy, Box 33, 295 Dewees Inlet, Dewees Island, SC 29451.  You can also use on-island mail.

The mission of the Conservancy is:

To further and protect the purposes and intent of the conservation easement held by the State of South Carolina over the land and inland waters comprising Dewees Island, prohibiting or limiting activities detrimental to drainage, flood control, water conservation, erosion control or soil conservation, or fish and wildlife habitat preservation and along with any other acts or uses which are incompatible with the preservation and maintenance or the island in its natural state, and to support public interest in protection of the areas encompassed by that conservation easement (the “conservation area”) and the waters surrounding those areas.  This includes conserving the natural resources of the conservation area, including the marshes and all areas lying between Dewees Inlet, the Atlantic Ocean, Capers Inlet and Bullyard Sound, including all of the property and marshes, as well as the creeks, streams, and bars lying within such area and bounded as aforesaid, seeking within the such area to conserve the land, water, beaches, marshland, woodland and open spaces, and the native plant and animal life therein; to protect the air and waters surrounding the area against pollution; and to maintain and preserve the unique scenic vistas of this region.

www.deweesislandconservancy.org