[Applause] good morning in the late 1950s a young
good morning in the late 1950s a young
good morning in the late 1950s a young Charles Frasier had a vision for the
Charles Frasier had a vision for the
Charles Frasier had a vision for the property his family owned on Hilton Head
property his family owned on Hilton Head
property his family owned on Hilton Head Island during the next decade Frazier’s
Island during the next decade Frazier’s
Island during the next decade Frazier’s passion and power as a storyteller
passion and power as a storyteller
passion and power as a storyteller helped transform that vision into
helped transform that vision into
helped transform that vision into reality in the process Frazier also
reality in the process Frazier also
reality in the process Frazier also helped create a culture for Hilton Head
helped create a culture for Hilton Head
helped create a culture for Hilton Head when we look at Harbour Town lighthouse
when we look at Harbour Town lighthouse
when we look at Harbour Town lighthouse Sea Pines Nature Preserve or the network
Sea Pines Nature Preserve or the network
Sea Pines Nature Preserve or the network a bicycle paths across the island all of
a bicycle paths across the island all of
a bicycle paths across the island all of these are legacy parts for Frazier to
these are legacy parts for Frazier to
these are legacy parts for Frazier to understand how Frazier has such an
understand how Frazier has such an
understand how Frazier has such an impact I introduced you what I call the
impact I introduced you what I call the
impact I introduced you what I call the community culture paradigm Frazier
community culture paradigm Frazier
community culture paradigm Frazier understood that vision and culture
understood that vision and culture
understood that vision and culture interacted in a positive feedback loop
interacted in a positive feedback loop
interacted in a positive feedback loop and that it was the storytellers telling
and that it was the storytellers telling
and that it was the storytellers telling the right stories that added energy and
the right stories that added energy and
the right stories that added energy and power to this positive feedback loop
power to this positive feedback loop
power to this positive feedback loop while many of Frazier’s legacy items on
while many of Frazier’s legacy items on
while many of Frazier’s legacy items on the island such as the bike path still
the island such as the bike path still
the island such as the bike path still exists there were some parts of his
exists there were some parts of his
exists there were some parts of his original vision that did not work some
original vision that did not work some
original vision that did not work some of these were due to unintended
of these were due to unintended
of these were due to unintended consequences but some were lessons
consequences but some were lessons
consequences but some were lessons learned about how local governments
learned about how local governments
learned about how local governments operate our question today is can
operate our question today is can
operate our question today is can lessons from Charles Frazier’s legacy
lessons from Charles Frazier’s legacy
lessons from Charles Frazier’s legacy help Hilton Head plan for its future
Frazier’s legacy extends well beyond the
Frazier’s legacy extends well beyond the boundaries of Hilton Head because in the
boundaries of Hilton Head because in the
boundaries of Hilton Head because in the process of developing sea ponds he was
process of developing sea ponds he was
process of developing sea ponds he was also training the next generation of
also training the next generation of
also training the next generation of community developers who repeated
community developers who repeated
community developers who repeated Frazier’s stories and in the process
Frazier’s stories and in the process
Frazier’s stories and in the process reaffirmed his vision taking the lessons
reaffirmed his vision taking the lessons
reaffirmed his vision taking the lessons learned from Frazier two of his
learned from Frazier two of his
learned from Frazier two of his protegees Jim Chaffin and Jim light
protegees Jim Chaffin and Jim light
protegees Jim Chaffin and Jim light developed a master plan for Spring
developed a master plan for Spring
developed a master plan for Spring Island which is located between Bluffton
Island which is located between Bluffton
Island which is located between Bluffton and Buford they appreciated how
and Buford they appreciated how
and Buford they appreciated how special this place was and so their goal
special this place was and so their goal
special this place was and so their goal was to create a place where people could
was to create a place where people could
was to create a place where people could live and the special features that made
live and the special features that made
live and the special features that made spring on special be preserved their
spring on special be preserved their
spring on special be preserved their idea was to have a community within a
idea was to have a community within a
idea was to have a community within a nature park thereby protecting the
nature park thereby protecting the
nature park thereby protecting the cultural and natural beauty of the place
cultural and natural beauty of the place
cultural and natural beauty of the place this would include nature would dominate
this would include nature would dominate
this would include nature would dominate even the net the home sites on the
even the net the home sites on the
even the net the home sites on the island remembering back to a lesson
island remembering back to a lesson
island remembering back to a lesson where Frazier found out that some of the
where Frazier found out that some of the
where Frazier found out that some of the areas that he had set aside for nature
areas that he had set aside for nature
areas that he had set aside for nature preserves and sea ponds were later
preserves and sea ponds were later
preserves and sea ponds were later developed by the Community Association
developed by the Community Association
developed by the Community Association Betsy Chaffin Jim Chaffins wife who had
Betsy Chaffin Jim Chaffins wife who had
Betsy Chaffin Jim Chaffins wife who had had over a decade of experience with
had over a decade of experience with
had over a decade of experience with community associate nonprofits
community associate nonprofits
community associate nonprofits recommended that on spring island a
recommended that on spring island a
recommended that on spring island a nonprofit should own the nature
nonprofit should own the nature
nonprofit should own the nature preserves and that nonprofit should have
preserves and that nonprofit should have
preserves and that nonprofit should have its own source of funding that nonprofit
its own source of funding that nonprofit
its own source of funding that nonprofit became the spring island trust in 1998 I
became the spring island trust in 1998 I
became the spring island trust in 1998 I was hired to become the executive
was hired to become the executive
was hired to become the executive director of the spring island trust and
director of the spring island trust and
director of the spring island trust and one of the first things that happened
one of the first things that happened
one of the first things that happened was that I learned Frazier’s stories
was that I learned Frazier’s stories
was that I learned Frazier’s stories from the Chaffins and it was Frazier’s
from the Chaffins and it was Frazier’s
from the Chaffins and it was Frazier’s vision that helped shaped how I worked
vision that helped shaped how I worked
vision that helped shaped how I worked with the trust the spring island trust
with the trust the spring island trust
with the trust the spring island trust has its own governing board that works
has its own governing board that works
has its own governing board that works in partnership with the spring on
in partnership with the spring on
in partnership with the spring on property owners association but it’s not
property owners association but it’s not
property owners association but it’s not under it the two major purposes of the
under it the two major purposes of the
under it the two major purposes of the trust on spring island are to wisely
trust on spring island are to wisely
trust on spring island are to wisely manage the natural resources and also to
manage the natural resources and also to
manage the natural resources and also to educate both the people who live there
educate both the people who live there
educate both the people who live there and work there for example this includes
and work there for example this includes
and work there for example this includes educating the landscapers who work for
educating the landscapers who work for
educating the landscapers who work for the homeowners as well as the homeowners
the homeowners as well as the homeowners
the homeowners as well as the homeowners themselves the staff of the trust are
themselves the staff of the trust are
themselves the staff of the trust are the storytellers to introduce the new
the storytellers to introduce the new
the storytellers to introduce the new residents to the culture of spring on
residents to the culture of spring on
residents to the culture of spring on through the stories they tell them the
through the stories they tell them the
through the stories they tell them the leadership on spring island the boards
leadership on spring island the boards
leadership on spring island the boards of the POA and the trust
of the POA and the trust
of the POA and the trust institutionalized the spring island
institutionalized the spring island
institutionalized the spring island vision for Future Leaders by developing
vision for Future Leaders by developing
vision for Future Leaders by developing and putting on the website both a spring
and putting on the website both a spring
and putting on the website both a spring a landfill
a landfill
a landfill and a list of core values so when it
and a list of core values so when it
and a list of core values so when it came to spring island with the community
came to spring island with the community
came to spring island with the community culture peal of paradigm what we have is
culture peal of paradigm what we have is
culture peal of paradigm what we have is both the leadership of the PIO and the
both the leadership of the PIO and the
both the leadership of the PIO and the trust maintaining this positive feedback
trust maintaining this positive feedback
trust maintaining this positive feedback loop of the vision and the culture
loop of the vision and the culture
loop of the vision and the culture whereas the trust staff are the
whereas the trust staff are the
whereas the trust staff are the storytellers that continue to tell the
storytellers that continue to tell the
storytellers that continue to tell the stories which also reinforce that
stories which also reinforce that
stories which also reinforce that culture the early leaders of the spring
culture the early leaders of the spring
culture the early leaders of the spring island community however also recognized
island community however also recognized
island community however also recognized that to maintain the special sense of
that to maintain the special sense of
that to maintain the special sense of place from Spring Island they had to
place from Spring Island they had to
place from Spring Island they had to protect the salt marshes and tidal
protect the salt marshes and tidal
protect the salt marshes and tidal rivers that surrounded the island with
rivers that surrounded the island with
rivers that surrounded the island with that in mind the spring island trust
that in mind the spring island trust
that in mind the spring island trust through its sister organization the
through its sister organization the
through its sister organization the Lowcountry institute partnered with
Lowcountry institute partnered with
Lowcountry institute partnered with Clemson extension to create the Master
Clemson extension to create the Master
Clemson extension to create the Master Naturalist program the first one for the
Naturalist program the first one for the
Naturalist program the first one for the state in this program residents from
state in this program residents from
state in this program residents from throughout the low country come to learn
throughout the low country come to learn
throughout the low country come to learn the important nature stories and in the
the important nature stories and in the
the important nature stories and in the process they turn around and tell these
process they turn around and tell these
process they turn around and tell these stories to others in addition Tony mills
stories to others in addition Tony mills
stories to others in addition Tony mills our education director partnered with
our education director partnered with
our education director partnered with Rob Lewis at the Buford County TV
Rob Lewis at the Buford County TV
Rob Lewis at the Buford County TV channel to produce coastal Kingdom
channel to produce coastal Kingdom
channel to produce coastal Kingdom listen as Tony tells one of the most
listen as Tony tells one of the most
listen as Tony tells one of the most important nature stories about our area
important nature stories about our area
important nature stories about our area port roll sound is a marriage of ocean
port roll sound is a marriage of ocean
port roll sound is a marriage of ocean and land a relationship created by a
and land a relationship created by a
and land a relationship created by a combination of rising sea level
combination of rising sea level
combination of rising sea level extremely high tides a big deal
this ecosystem was created when rising
this ecosystem was created when rising sea levels submerged valleys along the
sea levels submerged valleys along the
sea levels submerged valleys along the coast the result is port roll sound a
coast the result is port roll sound a
coast the result is port roll sound a marine habitat that extends inland for
marine habitat that extends inland for
marine habitat that extends inland for over 20 miles
since our tides average eight and a half
since our tides average eight and a half feet and we get minimal freshwater
feet and we get minimal freshwater
feet and we get minimal freshwater inflow our salinity is influenced by
inflow our salinity is influenced by
inflow our salinity is influenced by tidal waters from the ocean not fresh
tidal waters from the ocean not fresh
tidal waters from the ocean not fresh water from the uplands massive oyster
water from the uplands massive oyster
water from the uplands massive oyster rakes colonize our flats these shellfish
rakes colonize our flats these shellfish
rakes colonize our flats these shellfish reefs filter our waters and provide a
reefs filter our waters and provide a
reefs filter our waters and provide a safe place for marine creatures to feed
safe place for marine creatures to feed
safe place for marine creatures to feed and hide Spartina grass is the basis of
and hide Spartina grass is the basis of
and hide Spartina grass is the basis of our marine food web is the grass decays
our marine food web is the grass decays
our marine food web is the grass decays the waters become turbid with detritus
the waters become turbid with detritus
the waters become turbid with detritus giving the smallest marine organisms a
giving the smallest marine organisms a
giving the smallest marine organisms a rich source of nutrients these plankton
rich source of nutrients these plankton
rich source of nutrients these plankton provide plenty of food for crabs shrimp
provide plenty of food for crabs shrimp
provide plenty of food for crabs shrimp and a high diversity of fish species so
and a high diversity of fish species so
and a high diversity of fish species so the goal of these two programs is to
the goal of these two programs is to
the goal of these two programs is to create a large army of storytellers to
create a large army of storytellers to
create a large army of storytellers to help promote the culture of protection
help promote the culture of protection
help promote the culture of protection of the environment with all the people
of the environment with all the people
of the environment with all the people that they encounter so how does this
that they encounter so how does this
that they encounter so how does this apply to Hilton Head
apply to Hilton Head
apply to Hilton Head Hilton Head has what about its stories
Hilton Head has what about its stories
Hilton Head has what about its stories what about its storytellers
what about its storytellers
what about its storytellers like spring island to protect the marine
like spring island to protect the marine
like spring island to protect the marine environments around Hilton Head requires
environments around Hilton Head requires
environments around Hilton Head requires protecting all the land that’s within
protecting all the land that’s within
protecting all the land that’s within this yellow line what happens on the
this yellow line what happens on the
this yellow line what happens on the land impacts the port roll sound and the
land impacts the port roll sound and the
land impacts the port roll sound and the quality of the Port Royal sound
quality of the Port Royal sound
quality of the Port Royal sound determines the quality of life on Hilton
determines the quality of life on Hilton
determines the quality of life on Hilton Head
Head
Head for example let’s see what’s have been
for example let’s see what’s have been
for example let’s see what’s have been happening on the mainland here’s an area
happening on the mainland here’s an area
happening on the mainland here’s an area within the OTT area in 1994 follow what
within the OTT area in 1994 follow what
within the OTT area in 1994 follow what happens within these three circles here
happens within these three circles here
happens within these three circles here it is in 1999 here it is in 2006 storm
it is in 1999 here it is in 2006 storm
it is in 1999 here it is in 2006 storm water runs off pavement and roofs and so
water runs off pavement and roofs and so
water runs off pavement and roofs and so the more storm water coming off this
the more storm water coming off this
the more storm water coming off this environment runs into the nearby salt
environment runs into the nearby salt
environment runs into the nearby salt marshes this not only changes the water
marshes this not only changes the water
marshes this not only changes the water chemistry it can actually change the
chemistry it can actually change the
chemistry it can actually change the structure of the salt marsh itself by
structure of the salt marsh itself by
structure of the salt marsh itself by channelizing the tidal creeks crust
channelizing the tidal creeks crust
channelizing the tidal creeks crust are the key to the food web in the Port
are the key to the food web in the Port
are the key to the food web in the Port Royal sound because they represent the
Royal sound because they represent the
Royal sound because they represent the major food source for our populations of
major food source for our populations of
major food source for our populations of sports fish so through storm water what
sports fish so through storm water what
sports fish so through storm water what happens on the land affects our quality
happens on the land affects our quality
happens on the land affects our quality of life the Port Royal sound foundation
of life the Port Royal sound foundation
of life the Port Royal sound foundation was created to help be one of the
was created to help be one of the
was created to help be one of the storytellers to help everyone know this
storytellers to help everyone know this
storytellers to help everyone know this story there are many stories to be told
story there are many stories to be told
story there are many stories to be told about Hilton Head that are important to
about Hilton Head that are important to
about Hilton Head that are important to its culture coastal Discovery Museum st.
its culture coastal Discovery Museum st.
its culture coastal Discovery Museum st. Helena foundation the Mitchellville
Helena foundation the Mitchellville
Helena foundation the Mitchellville foundation project all of these are
foundation project all of these are
foundation project all of these are important so Hilton Head has many good
important so Hilton Head has many good
important so Hilton Head has many good stories important stories and
stories important stories and
stories important stories and storytellers that relate to the culture
storytellers that relate to the culture
storytellers that relate to the culture the challenge now is going forward as
the challenge now is going forward as
the challenge now is going forward as Hilton Head looks at revisiting its
Hilton Head looks at revisiting its
Hilton Head looks at revisiting its vision it’s important to recognize the
vision it’s important to recognize the
vision it’s important to recognize the close interconnection between vision and
close interconnection between vision and
close interconnection between vision and culture stories and storytellers because
culture stories and storytellers because
culture stories and storytellers because this gives the community resilience as
this gives the community resilience as
this gives the community resilience as we face a time of rapid impending growth
we face a time of rapid impending growth
we face a time of rapid impending growth or the next cataclysmic event that may
or the next cataclysmic event that may
or the next cataclysmic event that may occur with these we can survive all of
occur with these we can survive all of
occur with these we can survive all of these thank you
these thank you
these thank you [Applause]
”
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