Save the Manatee Club's table at the Crystal River Manatee Festival. (Photo courtesy of Omar Bourassa)

By Helen Spivey
Co-Chair,
SMC Board of Directors

I have never see such a perfect two days for Crystal River's Manatee Festival. It was the opposite of last year's freezing cold and wind that destroyed our canopy. But Matt Clemons, across the street at Aardvark's Florida Kayak Company, put the canopy back together for one more weekend of lovely shade (then it fell apart on dismantling!).

So many people came to Save the Manatee Club's booth: children virtually dragging their parents to see about manatees and demanding they adopt a manatee for them or their cousin Lou or Grandma. I have never seen the likes before. It felt so good to see such a response from folks who really cared about manatees and the children too. It was wonderful.

Helen Spivey (left) and SMC Volunteer Mary Bourassa. (Photo courtesy of Omar Bourassa)

SMC Volunteers Malon Cross and Samantha Bacon. (Photo courtesy of Helen Spivey)

We had people standing in line a few times to sign their e-mails up for our E-mail Action Alert Team. They really cared and were concerned for this gentle marine mammal. At one point, I was almost brought to tears listening to the youngsters explaining the manatee injuries they were looking at to their folks, right down to the monofilament line entanglement. The visitors willingly took the brochures we gave them about good behavior around manatees and the danger of fishing lines. Several young children spoke right up and said, "My granddad would pitch a fit if he saw anyone doing that with their fishing line."

We had many dedicated Save the Manatee Club volunteers manning the booth for four and five hour shifts and I think they got as much out of it as the manatees benefited. We had one delightful volunteer, Susan Aungst, who was asked what else someone could get for a dollar besides a bumper sticker . She thought for a moment then said, "I will sing Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville song --- the whole thing." The visitor quickly gathered up his friends and came back and stood in front of Susan and said, "Go ahead and sing it," to which she quickly replied, holding out her hand, "Where's the money?" He fished it out of his pocket and handed it to her, and she sang, "Me ... Me... Me.." and then belted out a beautiful rendition of the entire Buffett "Margaritaville" song. The crowd was enthralled and everyone clapped when she finished. If I'd had a hat to pass around I am certain we'd have made a lot more than the buck she sang for. I will have to bring one next year.

The "Miracle Manatee Oil Blob." (Photo courtesy of Omar Bourassa)

Coincidentally, a car had dropped a small puddle of oil on the pavement in front of our booth in the exact shape of a manatee. We noticed it as we were setting up. We had a great time pointing it out to folks and telling them we were going to cut it out of the pavement and auction it on eBay.

All of the volunteers did such fine work, and I want to mention Bobby Gynan, who came down Friday night after finishing her day at work and helped set up but then got sick with a stomach virus. She is always such a help, and I felt sorry she couldn't be there for the festival. I'm sure she's fine now and hopefully the rest of us all made it through in good health with sore feet our only problem. We were graced by the now named "Miracle Manatee Oil Blob" and a great rendition of "Margaritaville" and the most beautiful weather you ever saw.

"Hope" the giant inflatable manatee was a popular feature at the Crystal River Manatee Festival . (Photo courtesy of Helen Spivey)

Volunteer for Manatees!

See a calendar of upcoming events, and sign up online to volunteer for Save the Manatee Club at www.savethemanatee.org/vol.htm.