The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board members opened their meeting today with remembrances of Board member Ed Chance who died on Monday.
In his opening invocation, District General Counsel Bill Bilenky noted that Chance was "driven by a love for us and the people we serve" and that he is now "free of pain and singing gospels with the angels."
"Ed was a special friend to all of us," said Governing Board Chair Jerry Rice. "Our District, our state and particularly his area in Manatee County will sorely miss him."
Vice Chair Judy Whitehead read a poem by Mary E. Frye in 1932 in honor of Chance. The poem reads, in part, "I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there, I did not die."
Board Secretary Neil Combee remembered "a tenderhearted southern gentleman. Florida and the world is a better place because of Ed Chance and the things hes done for the folks in Manatee County, this District and this state."
Board Treasurer Jennifer Closshey said the tragic loss could serve as a reminder to tell people how much we appreciate them.
"Ed Chance was such a role model for me. I never had the opportunity, the timing was just never right, to thank him while he was here. I think thats a lesson for all of us. Sometimes we need to pass out roses when people are here."
Board member Tom Dabney, who also served as co-chair with Chance on the Manasota Basin Board, recalled Eds passion and commitment to service.
"He was a friend of agriculture. He was a friend of the people. And he was the peoples servant. It wasnt ego driven. It was service driven. And he always drove from the heart."
Governing Board members are volunteers appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. Chance was appointed to the Board in September 2000 and reappointed in 2001 and 2005. The Board unanimously elected him honorary chair in May 2004. His term expires March 1, 2009.
Chance was a member of the Southwest Florida Water Management Districts Governing Board Resource Management and Development Committee, and a member of the Outreach and Planning Committee. He was the co-chair ex officio of the Manasota Basin Board.
An 11-member Governing Board establishes policies for the entire 16-county District. The Governing Board represents a wide cross section of interests, including agricultural, recreational, business, industrial, urban, rural and the public. They serve four-year terms. Each member also serves as the ex officio chair of a Basin Board. The Governing Board also appoints the Districts Executive Director, who directs all District activities.