Save Rodman Reservoir, Inc.
Legal Defense Fund
Dear Rodman Supporter:
It looked like 2003 would be the year that finally the Florida Legislature would give Rodman Reservoir some protection by naming it a State Reserve. One would think that we were well on our way to saving the reservoir from destruction, but it was not to be. Even though the Florida Senate passed the bill to name the reservoir the George Kirkpatrick State Reserve unanimously and the Florida House of representatives passed it 92 to 26 Governor Bush veto the bill. Even though, naming Rodman a state reserve would have been a step in the right direction, a big step, and we will keep on trying, it would not have been the end of the road.
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is still lurking about with their threat to destroy the reservoir to get back control of the small bit of their land that is covered by Rodman's water. We have published the events as they occurred in this struggle with the USFS in our newsletter The Rodman Review, so we are sure you are aware of the situation. If the USFS does decide to attempt to destroy Rodman we may find ourselves having to take them to court. This would cost a "bunch" of money.
In an attempt to be prepared for a court battle we have established "The Save Rodman Reservoir Legal Fund". Bill Torode and Ed Oehmig were elected from the Save Rodman Reservoir, Inc. (SRR) Executive Committee to serve with the elected SRR officers as a board of five governors for the fund. Money collected for the fund will be deposited in the Putnam State Bank and be kept separate from the operating funds of SRR. The only way any of the money will be spent is to pay any legal fees that are incurred in the battle to save Rodman Reservoir. If the fund is never needed (and we hope it will not be needed), the principal will be returned to the donors when the fund is abolished. Any interest earned, if not used in the administering of the fund, will go into the SRR general fund.
Many of you have asked us about a legal fund during the past months. It took us a while to get it established, but we wanted to get it right and we think we have. Now it is your turn to do your part by contributing to the fund and help us build it into a real threat to our adversaries. You don't have to give a lot, but give something. A whole lot of little bits can make a really big thing. Click here for the legal description of the fund with a place at the bottom of each copy for your personal information. Print two copies and fill out both copies, one for us and one for your records. Send our copy along with your check made out to SAVE RODMAN RESERVOIR LEGAL DEFENSE FUND to:
Bob Andry
SRR Legal Defense Fund
16891 NE 243 Place Road
Ft McCoy, Fl 32134
Phone: 352-546-5011