Mark your calendars: 2012 meeting which will be held in conjunction with Class VIII’s graduation, August 9-12, 2012.

Quick Links

• About the Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes
• Register online for a Ritz Carlton room
• Registration brochure for Annual Meeting
• Registration form for Annual Meeting

Highwayman Painting

Al Black, 63, is one of the original Highwaymen painters and a pillar of modern Fort Pierce.

The Mississippi-born Black started off as a salesman, hawking Highwaymen paintings from Key West to Maine. A lucrative foray into painting followed, but by the mid-1980s, business dried up. Black hit rock-bottom in 1997, when he was imprisoned for fraud and drug possession and sentenced to 12 years in prison. The man who once lived the high life was now inmate number 793362. But painting brought him back from the brink.

In 1998, a prison nurse read an Orlando Sentinel article about Floridian artists that mentioned Black, and she brought it to prison authorities. Eventually, Black was asked to paint murals throughout his prison, earning him respect and admiration.

"I turned the prison system into a museum," Black said. "I did paintings for the warden's office, medical, visitation."

He painted everything he could until he left the Tomoka Correctional Institution in Daytona Beach on Dec. 19, 2006, as a free man. Then he returned to Fort Pierce, where he has shared his talent for the betterment of others.Value $ priceless

Florida Cowboy I   Valued at $1200	Myakka Dawn Valued at $550
Seminole Cowpens Valued at $550	Adam’s Ranch Ariel I Valued at $1200
Marlboro Cowboy Valued at $925	Treetops, Hendrie Ranch Valued at $400

Carlton Ward, Jr. is an environmental photojournalist from Clearwater, Florida, with graduate training in ecology and anthropology.  Through his photographs, he aims to promote conservation of natural environments and cultural legacies. At home and abroad Carlton seeks stories where he can use photographs to make a difference.  Carlton’s passion for nature was born from the Florida landscape, where eight generations of family history have anchored his perspective. He sees cultural heritage and the natural environment as two of society’s greatest yet most threatened resources.  He regularly produces stories for newspapers and magazines including recent features in Smithsonian, National Wildlife, Africa Geographic and Outdoor Photographer.

Donated by Carlton Ward   

 

Florida Cowboys, by Carlton Ward Jr.
Autographed copy

Visit a Florida where sunburn is the result of honest, hard work--not an afternoon at the beach.
Drive a few miles beyond Disney World, past the gaudy souvenir shops, all-you-can-eat buffets, and chain hotels, and you'll find the largest producing cattle ranch in the world. Indeed, nearly one-fifth of the state is devoted to the cattle industry, and these working ranches play a vital role in Florida's economic health.

Yet even as encroaching urban sprawl threatens their way of life, photographer Carlton Ward has been documenting the often unseen world of Florida cowboys. Every day before dawn, they saddle their horses, coil their lariats and whips, and ride out to work the herds. Over 15,000 ranches raise nearly two million head of cattle--the living legacies of the longest history of ranching in North America.

Florida cowboys share their land with bears, panthers, and other endangered species, along with irreplaceable wetlands that help sustain the state's strained water resources. Complemented by twenty historical, cultural, and environmental essays from Dana Ste Claire, Joe Akerman, Auduon of Florida, and the Seminole Tribe, among others, Ward's stunning photographs capture the grit and raw beauty of inland Florida, its enduring cowboys, and the land they protect. Valued at $45

Donated by Sylvia Gordon & Nancy Chappell, Landscapes by Sylvia Gordon

BBQ Picnic Basket & Cowboy’s Restaurant gift certificate

Two hours of leadership training for your business, trade organization, club or group. World- reknowned speaker Dr. Hannah Carter of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute will provide a program based on your needs.  Topics include: Groups & Teams working together in Harmony, Improving Communication, Conflict Resolution, Organizational Leadership, Understanding Personalities, Dealing with Difficult People… to name a few.Valued at $500

Two hours of sporting clays instruction for two people with certified instructor Ray Royce at either Quail Creek Plantation or Square One Sporting Clays facility. Valued at $250

Ag prints. Limited edition commemorative prints by Lynda Chandler.

Citrus set (orange, tangerine, grapefruit). Total value of $60                

Individual prints, each valued at $20: Sugar Cane, Sweet Corn and Strawberry

Round of Golf for 4 at Mayacoo (includes golf cart)

Located in western Palm Beach County.Opened in 1972, this private club features an 18-hole course at the Mayacoo Lakes Country Club facility in West Palm Beach and features 6,699 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71 . Designed by Jack Nicklaus, ASGCA/Desmond Muirhead, ASGCA. Valued at $150

Gift certificate from Chili's. Who doesn’t love Chili’s Restaurant?Kick back and be yourself at Chili's Grill & Bar. Our bold flavors and signature drinks will satisfy any appetite. So come on in and spice up everyday life with us! Valued at $25

Go Gators!

Two tickets (north end zone) to the Florida/Miami Ohio game at 12 noon on Saturday, September 4th.  See the first home game of the exciting 2010 season with new quarterback John Brantley.Valued at $100

Donated by Rick Roth and Mark Sodders 

Get ready for back-to-school with this great package!

Everything you need for your young student… including an apple for the teacher! Includes lunch box, notebook organizer, pencil case, scissors, glue, paper, ruler, calculator, locker caddies, duffle bag, stapler, hand sanitizer, erasers, markers, crayons, geometry set, USA maps, and a pencil sharpener all packed in a colorful plastic collapsible crate. Valued at $40

Good Morning Sunshine!

A wicker basket filled with gourmet coffees, stainless steel French coffee press, tea, cobbler mix, syrup, coffee cups, Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market marmalades and chocolate biscotti. Valued at $50

Gardening basket with items from your local Farmers Cooperative.  Includes seed mixture, Miracle Grow liquid feed, shovel, knee pads, apron, canning book, t-shirt all packed in a wicker laundry basket.Valued at $75

Man’s Best Friend Package

 
Wine and cheese basket

Includes three bottles of wine, cheese, crackers, cookies and candy in a beautiful wicker basket. Valued at $150

Donated by David and Katy Basore

Toys For Tots

Tower of toys for your child or grandchild includes puzzles, puzzles and more puzzles with books and cow cookie mix.  Sure to delight any youngster for their birthday or “just because”. Valued at $30

Bass Pro Gift Certificate  Gift Cards can be redeemed for online purchases, catalog orders, and purchases made at Bass Pro Shops retail stores. Valued at $100

Salad Celebration Everything you need for complete and delicious salads!  Salad bowl set includes large mixing bowl and 4 small serving bowls, a variety of Bedner’s Farms salad dressings, croutons, glass cruets and a hand towel.  Valued at $50

Viva Italiano! Everything you need for a delicious Italian meal!   Bottle of San Sebatian Vitner’s wine, pesto sauce, Bedner’s Farms pasta sauce, cheese, spaghetti, gourmet pasta, and colander.

Drive & Dine  Cadillac… the new standard of the world.  Travel mugs, coffee cup, cap. Drive right over to Norby’s restaurant, a quaint little restaurant in Lake Wales that serves the finest steaks and seafood cooked over an outdoor flaming grill. Norby's has been written up by Winter Haven News Chief, Orlando Magazine, and Restaurant Forum, who raved about the fine foods they prepare.Valued at $70.

Tailgating Time!

Two Gator blue tailgating chairs, Gator grill mat, and Gator party accessories. Valued at $150

Puppy Daze

Labrador Retriever Puppies, by Jim Killen
One of America's finest water-colorists, Jim Killen captures the spirit of wildlife and sporting dogs in his art, prints and posters with his unique sense of feeling and technique. Framed and matted, this is a limited edition, signed by the artist. VERY difficult to find this particular painting. Valued at $400
 

MEATingful Monday, Beef T-Shirt & Dunkin’ Donuts gift card

In response to Meatless Mondays, we present an alternative. Here's to a MEATingful Monday, ya'll!  Valued at $30
 

MEATingful Monday, Pork T-Shirt & Dunkin’ Donuts gift card

In response to Meatless Mondays, we present an alternative. Here's to a MEATingful Monday, ya'll! Valued at $35
 

Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market Gift Basket

Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market is the first farmer-owned and operated market of its kind in Palm Beach County and a one-of-a-kind shopping experience for South Florida residents and visitors. Part country store, part green market and a completely refreshing way to shop, the spacious, indoor, air-conditioned fresh market is bright, airy, cheerful and charming, with John Deere®-green pendant lamps hanging from 24-foot high ceilings, rustic barrels of pickles and aisles wide enough to navigate even on a crowded Saturday afternoon. Strawberry and tomato u-pick is open to the public as well and includes a free tractor ride out to the field. Valued at $40

Let’s Cheer the Orange & Blue  One quilted hand bag, UF Gators sign, team poster and gator statue. Valued at $80

CZ-455 American Rifle  The Rimfire rifles produced by Ceska Zbrojovka Uhersky Brod are among the most sought after firearms in the world.  They are manufactured from steel billets, not plastic or tubing, feature a trigger adjustable for weight and a hammer forged barrel for accuracy and long life. Valued at $400

A Portuguese Gourmet Experience  The flavor of Portugal first delights your senses with the aroma emanating from de traditional open kitchen surrounded by Old World Decor.  You sample our delicacies, pamper your senses, and when you feel compelled to stop, we tempt you with our extravagant desserts. We help you select your gourmet experience from our culinary repertoire and our extensive wine and Port list.  Gift certificate. Two Locations: Coral Way, Miami & Sunset, South Miami. Valued at $50

Michael's Genuine Food: Down-to-Earth Cooking for People Who Love to Eat

James Beard award–winning chef Michael Schwartz put Miami’s Design District on the culinary map when he opened his restaurant, Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink, in 2007. In a town where food and cocktails are as much a part of the pulse as tans and nightclubs, Michael’s Genuine strikes a very different note. Reviving the city’s dining scene from an overabundance of “Floribbean” cuisine, the restaurant quickly won national praise for its superlative yet unpretentious fare, with Frank Bruni of the New York Times naming it one of the country’s top ten best new restaurants. In his first cookbook, Michael Schwartz shares his approachable, sought-after recipes with home cooks everywhere. Valued at $50

Desk Lamp

Gift Certificate. We’re your independent, locally owned bookstore with three locations in South Florida – plus stores in Grand Cayman, Miami International Airport, Westhampton Beach, N.Y., -- and our newest edition at the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale. We’re a community of writers and readers, hosting 60 author events a month and featuring a carefully curated selection. Locations: Coral Gables, Miami Beach, Bal Harbor Shops, Westhampton Beach, Grand Cayman, Miami International Airport, Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art. Valued at $25

This Marine 150-Quart Cooler is a heavy-duty cooler that features a 5-day ice retention and an antimicrobial liner to keep your food sanitary. This cooler is perfect for cold storage during long camping trips. But the best thing about it is…. It comes filled with all the bottled water and sodas left-over from the Hospitality Room! Valued at $100

Lunch and Tour
Bok Tower Gardens has something for everyone!  Discover the history of Edward Bok and the building of his 205’ Singing Tower.  You can also explore landscaped gardens of Fredrick Law Olmsted, Jr., and one of Florida’s natural habitats on the Pine Ridge Trail. Tour the Pinewood Estate mansion and catch a glimpse of the luxurious lifestyle of the 1930s.  Includes lunch at the Sizzling Grill Steak & Seafood Restaurant in Lake Wales.

About the Ritz-Carleton

An unparalleled resort experience

The Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes in Orlando invites you to enjoy their exceptional standards and services. Inspired architecturally by the grand palazzos of Italy, the Ritz-Carlton promises the very best in personalized offerings and first-class recreational amenities. Whether it's to calm your craving to play golf, setting on a quest to find indulgences that sooth your senses, or providing a once-in-a-lifetime family-fun experience, a luxurious haven awaits your arrival. This exceptional Orlando vacation resort's amenities provide families with a stylish way to indulge in the playful offerings of this all-American city.


The Ritz Carlton is a resort not to be missed! Make your hotel registration and benefit from their special room rate for WLI alums: $139 per night! Two ways to book: online or call (800) 682-3665--be sure to tell them you're with WLI or Wedgworth Leadership Institute to get our special rate.
 

Other amenities
additional costs may be incurred

• A gorgeous pampering spa featuring a private lap pool, wellness center, spa caf‚, and boutique
• 18-hole Greg Norman-signature golf course featuring The Ritz-Carlton Golf Caddie Concierge program
• A total of 11 dining options
• Poolside cabanas with personal concierge service
• The Ritz Kids program offering a variety of supervised activities designed especially for children aged 5 to 12.
• Explore the resort's natural surroundings by taking advantage of morning rows and private guided eco-tours of Shingle Creek, the Headwaters to the Florida Everglades.  Grande Lakes is home of the Emotion Kayaks Flat-Water School.
• Fly Fishing experiences for beginner to advanced casters include private fly-fishing excursions, and the world's first G. Loomis Fly Fishing School.  Largemouth Bass fishing also available for both the fly and conventional angler.
• Experience a multi-level adventure course consisting of poles, cables, and platforms with 25 unique traversing and climbing elements.

Calling All Annual Meeting Sponsors!
We rely on sponsors each year to put together outstanding programs at our alumni meetings. If you, your company or one of your suppliers would be interested in a sponsorship this year, it would be greatly appreciated. All of the sponsors’ names will be displayed on the Sponsor Board at all events and acknowledged during the Annual Banquet. In addition, all of our sponsors will be recognized in the Annual Meeting literature, WLI website and the Alumni Association newsletter.

Sponsorships are available at the following levels:

• $2,000 Platinum
• $1,500 Gold
• $1,000 Silver
• $500 Bronze
• $250 Contributor