Protection and Preservation for our Precious Natural Resources
Michelle's Passion:
On October 27th, 2007, as the sun had set and no moon had risen, in the blackest of night a woman on patrol for poachers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission would lose her life protecting our Florida Everglades that she cherished so deeply.
These are the passions of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officer Michelle Ann Lawless.
Michelle had a passion for Natural Resource protection. She often spoke about how precious our environnment is and the importance of maintaining a delicate balance as humans who live in it.
When asked what else would you like to do as a career Michelle would respond by saying, "You know I really can't see myself doing anything else".
Michelle understood at a very young age the importance of maintaining a balance in one’s own life between the physical, mental, social, emotional and spiritual aspects of our being.
Michelle had a way of making people feel good about them selves by helping them to discover what made them happy. Our family said it best when they said, “Michelle always made everybody else feel special when in fact it was SHE who was the special one!”
Never stop learning she would say…pick up a new hobby, or study a new art, continue to challenge your mind, body, and soul…this is what will bring you inner peace.
Michelle lived her life by LIVING IN THE MOMENT. She never dwelled in the past or stretched too far into the future only focused on savoring every moment in her life as it happened.
And so the family will honor her many messages;
- Enjoy what you have while you have it
- Live in the moment
- And live life to the fullest
She would want you to know that we can all make a difference in the environment. That we all have choices we make on a daily basis as individuals that can combine to make a huge and lasting impact.
Whether it is participating in a community clean-up, re-cycling, becoming more energy efficient by experimenting with solar power at home, or using a wind turbine, growing your own organic garden, or buying produce locally grown, setting up a rain barrell to recycle water…all of these activities and so many more CAN have a lasting impact on our world’s natural resources.
As a last thought…
When nature presents you with an opportunity for you to make a difference think of Wildlife Officer Michelle Ann Lawless and her dreams for preserving and protecting our most valuable natural resources for those who follow.
Michelle gave the ultimate sacrifice in protecting our environment! And for this we will be forever grateful.
Pet Events
Walk for Wildlife and Family Festival
Saturday, April 19, 2008,
Quiet Waters Park
SPCA Wildlife Care Center's 2008 Walk for Wildlife and Family Festival featuring Animal Planet's Jeff Corwin. Registration for the walk is at 9:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 11 a.m. The family festival continues after the walk until 3 p.m. with games, demonstrations, food, leash-free doggy play area and activities. Proceeds benefit SPCA Wildlife Care Center. Download your donation form from the SPCA website.
Please come out and walk with Parks Animal Care Specialist Cherise Williams,in honor of Michelle Lawless Wildlife Warriors.
There will be many Broward County employees, their families and friends walking this year in honor of Florida Wildlife and Conservation Officer Michelle A. Lawle
ss. Michelle died in the line of duty this past October while protecting wildlife in the Florida Everglades. Michelle previously was a Park Ranger II at the West Lake Park/Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood before joining the FWC in 2003. Please join Michelle's Wildlife Warriors or be a sponsor by visiting: www.firstgiving.com/wildlifecarecenter
For those who prefer not to donate through the internet, please send your donation made out to the Wildlife Care Center to Cherise Williams, C/O Easterlin Park, 1000 N.W. 38th St, Oakland Park, FL 33309.
April 19th at Quiet Waters Park
Click on Walk for Wildlife logo-upper right hand corner
Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22 "The Parks and Recreation Division is dedicated to providing exceptional services and facilities essential to the quality of life in Broward County while preserving our natural areas." Knowing that we celebrate and honor our natural environment every day explains why there aren't a lot of activities planned just for April 22.
Broward County Mission Statement
While the world honors Mother Nature on April 22, our agency is proud to be stewards of the environment of Broward County. While some of the parks are more geared toward leisure activities, we have many sites dedicated to the preservation of the Earth within this South Florida County.
- Finances programs to preserve and restore the unique, diverse plants, animals, and natural communities of Florida.
- Builds effective partnerships with communities, businesses, organizations, and people throughout the State.
- Creates opportunities for residents and visitors to use, enjoy, and learn about the State’s fish and wildlife resources.
An Opportunity for Every Citizen
Through the Foundation, every resident or visitor--whether active, accomplished sportsman, dedicated or occasional bird watcher, or simply occasionally solitude-seeker--has the unique opportunity to play an important role in shepherding Florida’s natural world in the 21st Century.
Every Florida resident or visitor can provide critically needed funds to aid in the creation and management of healthy, sustainable plant and animal communities for future generations.
Mission Statement :
Florida is like no other place on earth. Our goal is to ensure that Florida's wildlife survives and thrives for future generations of Florida residents and visitors.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; in deed it is the only thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead
"The struggle for today is not all together for today, it is for a vast future, also."
-Abe Lincoln
Please join us in contributing to "Michelle A. Lawless' Wildlife Conservation Memorial Fund."
The link for making a contribution to Michelle's Memorial Fund: http://www.?
- The family is also working to create a Service Award throught the Wildlife Foundation of Florida (WFF) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in Michelle's honor.
- Each year the WFF honors Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) employees whose dedication and service has made a significant contribution to the protection and conservation of Florida’s fish and wildlife. The family is striving to create an award in her name to honor her colleagues in the future who will go "Above and Beyond" the call of duty in the field!
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Future Events in planning:
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DONATIONS & TRIBUTES MADE IN MICHELLE'S HONOR:
- NOV. 2007 - 10 TREES PLANTED IN THE GALLATIN NATIONAL FOREST, WYOMING - ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION
- DEC. 2007 - NATIONAL RESOURCE DEFENSE COUNCIL DONATION FOR POLAR BEAR PROTECTION
- DEC. 2007 - HOLLYWOOD ANIMAL HOSPITAL'S SOHO FOUNDATION TO ASSIST LOW INCOME PET OWNERS IN NEED
- JAN. 2008 - WORLD WILDLIFE FOUNDATION
- JAN. 2008 - NATIONAL HUMANE SOCIETY
- APR. 2008 - SPCA WILDLIFE CARE CENTER, FT. LAUD., FL - OVER $3,000 IN DONATIONS FOR THE WALK FOR WILDLIFE
- MAY 2008 INITIATED - BROWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION FOR "ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES" SCHOLARSHIP (TO DATE $1,000)
- tbd - WILDLIFE FOUNDATION OF FLORIDA - "WILDLIFE CONSERVATION OFFICER MICHELLE LAWLESS MEMORIAL FUND"
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Watch for updates to this page for continuing efforts to honor this fallen officer. 2 | |||