About Paddle Florida:
PADDLE FLORIDA, INC. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and is organized and shall be operated exclusively for charitable or educational purposes.  More particularly, PADDLE FLORIDA, INC. is organized to promote and support paddling in Florida, as well as creating paddling events, promoting water conservation, wildlife preservation, and the restoration of springs and protection of waterways in Florida.  PADDLE FLORIDA, INC. will also seek to promote Florida as an international destination for nature-based tourism in general, and paddling in particular.

Through a partnership with Florida's Department of Environmental Protection, Paddle Florida stages events all across the Sunshine State, in each of Florida's five water management districts. Our schedule begins in October with the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. In 2012 we travel to the Florida Keys in January, the Peace River in February, the Ochlockonee River in March and the Wekiva/St.Johns rivers in April. Details for each trip are listed below.

Contacts:
Paddle Florida, Inc. a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation
P.O. Box 5953, Gainesville, FL 32627
1710 SW 35th Place, Unit C
Gainesville, FL 32608

Board of Directors
Nickie Kortus, president
Jill Lingard, vice-president
Laura Hallam, sec/treasurer
Lars Andersen, board member

Contact for general information:

Board of Directors Bios:
Nickie Kortus, President, is native Floridian who grew up in North Central Florida learning at an early age to appreciate its woods, critters and waterways. Quickly understanding that water was the key to survive and thrive in the Florida climate — "creeking," as she called it growing up, when the Santa Fe River was low to exploring bigger rivers, skiing or fishing on lakes or visiting as many beaches and state parks as possible, Nickie found the best living Florida has to offer was always around water. A Gator grad from the college of Journalism at the University of Florida, she spent most of her career at newspapers in Florida and most of that time at The Gainesville Sun, Gainesville, Fla. From the circulation and advertising side to the marketing and promotions department with a some stops in between, communications, events, community projects and promotion captured her heart. Throughout her career, Nickie served on community projects and boards while helping countless organizations utilize the newspaper as a marketing tool. Since leaving The Sun, Nickie has applied her talents at the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce and the American Cancer Society as well as volunteering for several of her children's activities and other community organizations. She's currently enjoying learning more about nature-based tourism and working with Paddle Florida to promote water conservation and protection and wildlife preservation while having fun being part of its great outdoor adventures. She's still a novice paddler and loving the experience. It's her belief that being on or in Florida's water is a gift that always presents magical moments.

Jill Lingard, Vice President is a 26-year resident of Gainesville, Florida, having followed the well worn path of "going away to college and never leaving." After earning a Bachelor's degree in English and a Master's in counselor education, she began a 20-year student services career with the University of Florida that has encompassed admissions, academic advising, and distance education. A spill over Big Shoals on the Suwannee River in the early 90s introduced her to the sport of kayaking, and she's enthusiastically paddled dozens of flat and white water rivers in the Southeast since. In 2007, Jill became an active volunteer and board member with the local non-profit Current Problems, which conducts clean-ups of North Central Florida's creeks, lakes, rivers, and watersheds. She has participated in Paddle Florida trips on the Suwannee, Peace, and St. Johns Rivers, as well as the Florida Keys, and looks forward to helping to enlarge the eco-tourism scope and impact of the organization.

Laura Hallam, Sec/Treasurer Laura has more than 25 years of experience working for non profit organizations in areas ranging from education and advocacy to marketing, management and event coordination. For 10 years she was the executive director of Florida Bicycle Association, a statewide membership-based education and advocacy organization. For 13 years she was employed by the Florida Governor's Council on Fitness and Sports to promote active lifestyles. She directed a wide range of activities including the Florida Senior Games State Championship and numerous Sunshine State Games events. She was fortunate to participate as a volunteer at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta and 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Laura's skills include organizational planning and budgeting, legislative and governmental relations, and enthusiasm in everything she does. She loves to paddle, bike and hike, as well as travel and read.

Lars Andersen, is a full-time nature guide, leading paddle tours on over 60 waterways throughout North Florida for Adventure Outpost in High Springs - www.adventureoutpost.net . He's a Florida Master Naturalist and author (Paynes Prairie: A History and Guide. Pineapple Press, Sarasota FL. 2001, 2004 & 2010; North Florida Adventure: A Journey Through History [audio tape], Grinnin' Lizard Productions, Dallas, Tx. 1988; Paddlers Guide to the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail, 2009).

Other Volunteers
jan@paddleflorida.org
sally@paddleflorida.org
walt@paddleflorida.org