JOIN US IN THE FLORIDA KEYS

FOR FLORIDA LIGHTHOUSE ASSOCIATION’S

FIFTH ANNUAL LIGHTHOUSE CONGRESS

And a trip to

DRY TORTUGAS / LOGGERHEAD

OCTOBER 9, 10 & 11, 2015

Click here to Register On-Line

Click Here to Download Registration Form

WE HAVE REACHED THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CAN GO FROM FORT JEFFERSON TO THE LOGGERHEAD LIGHTHOUSE. YOU CAN STILL REGISTER AND GO TO FORT JEFFERSON BUT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GO TO LOGGERHEAD LIGHTHOUSE!

The last time Florida Lighthouse Association had a meeting in the Florida Keys was April 2001 and a lot of us were not members of FLA at that time. This is going to be a very busy weekend since; in addition to the FLA Board and Membership meetings on Friday, we will be taking two boat trips to view Sombrero Key and American Shoal Lighthouses. In addition to these trips, the Florida Keys Reef Lights Foundation (FKRLF) has scheduled a separate trip to Fort Jefferson and Loggerhead Key on Sunday.

Click here to download Registration Form  Due to the nature of this particular event, things will be done somewhat askew.  The event will begin Friday morning with a boat trip to the tallest reef lighthouse, Sombrero Key, about seven miles offshore.  Completed in 1858, under the direction of George G. Meade, the skeletal tower is 156 high (seabed to top of lantern) with a focal plane of 146 feet. The original light was a first-order fixed Fresnel lens which is now on display at the Key West Lighthouse.   The boat trip will be from Captain Hook’s Marina at the Holiday Inn in Marathon Map starting at 8:00 AM with two or three trips, depending on the number of attendees.

 

Friday evening we will have our board meeting at 5 PM followed by the membership meeting at 6 PM in the Tarpon Creek Bar & Grill at the Holiday Inn in Marathon. Dinner will be buffet style consisting of Island Chicken, and Baked Coconut Mahi, and for those who want vegetarian, Pasta Prima Vera. FLA cannot supply wine for this event since it is being held in a restaurant, and they have a bar.

Saturday morning around 8:00 AM we will take another boat trip to the last iron screwpile lighthouse built on the Florida Reefs, American Shoal. First lit on July 15, 1880 this Lighthouse reduced the largest inter-lighthouse distance to thirty-six miles which could reasonably be covered by a first-order lens. The lighthouse is 124 feet high (seabed to top of lantern) with a focal plane of 109 feet. The boat trip out to American Shoal will be from Strike Zone, Strike Zone Map, 24 miles south of the Holiday Inn.

Additionally, on Saturday and Sunday FLA members will get free admission to the Key West Lighthouse, and be able to see Sombrero Key’s first-order Fresnel lens, which is displayed there.

The cost for this FLA event will be $100 for FLA members and $125 for non-FLA members. This includes the boat trips to Sombrero and American Shoals, the membership meeting and dinner, and Key West Lighthouse; the non-member fee includes a one year membership in FLA in addition to what members receive. The cost needs to be paid in full by September 15, 2015.

 

Following the FLA event, the Florida Keys Reef Lights Foundation (FKRLF) has schedule a trip to the Dry Tortugas National Park Dry Tortugas N P and a side trip, by the Park service (free of charge), for 100 people to Loggerhead Key with a high probability of climbing. Normally there is a limit of 20 people per day to go to Loggerhead Key. The last time this lighthouse was open for viewing was over 12 years ago. AS MANY PEOPLE THAT WANT TO CAN GO TO THE DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK BUT ONLY 100 PEOPLE CAN GO TO LOGGERHEAD!

This trip will be aboard the Yankee Freedom III Yankee Freedom Map out of Key West on Sunday October, 11, 2015, boarding at 7:30 AM and returning about 5:00 PM. The boat holds 175 people but they will NOT RESERVE seats, so we must purchase the tickets in advance (The boat company thinks we can get at least 100 tickets 3 months in advance of the date, BUT we are going for 4 months to be sure, so we are going for 1 June 2015). The cost for this trip is $200 per person and MUST be paid in full prior to 1 June 2015. The boat offers a discount for seniors, ($10), so we are asking everyone to provide their birth date, and a refund of $10 will be provided at the meeting to those who qualify, or the $10 can be used as a donation to the National Park Service to cover the trip to Loggerhead Key.

In addition, included in the boat fee is a $5 National Park Entrance fee; present your National Parks Pass or Golden Age Passport at the ticket booth upon checking in for a refund of the prepaid park fee.  There is a continental breakfast onboard the Yankee Freedom and lunch at Fort Jefferson, which is included in the boat fee.

• Knowing that some people will want to go to the Dry Tortugas but not to Loggerhead Key, there will be a box on the registration form to so indicate so we can purchase the correct number of tickets. Once we reach 100 people going to Loggerhead Key, a stand-by list will be generated in case of last minute cancellations to Loggerhead only. Since we MUST purchase the tickets in advance there will be NO refunds for cancellations. If when you register we have reached 100 people going to Loggerhead, you will be contracted to see if you want to go on the stand-by list or want your money back.  Once your ticket has been purchased, there will be no refund.

Registration for the Dry Tortugas trip will be open to FLA members immediately, and on April 15, 2015 for non-FLA members.

 

HOTELS

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Marathon Holiday Inn Map

13201 Overseas Highway; Marathon, Florida 33050

305 289-0222

Rate: $129 Ask for FLA rate.

Cut-off: 9 September, 2015

 

Questions?

Email Ron Ecker
Meetings@FloridaLighthouses.org