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Fall into Conservation Fundraiser
November 1, 2025 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm EDT
$40
Please join us as we welcome keynote speaker Professor Gordon Patterson who will bring to life the fascinating stories and history captured in his book Mosquito Wars. Professor Patterson will explore the intriguing conservation connection between mosquitoes and preservation of natural spaces. The event will feature a silent auction and raffles, with proceeds directly supporting environmental education programs, community outreach, and conservation actions. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served as guests enjoy an early evening by the river—an ideal setting to relax, connect, and share conversation with fellow nature enthusiasts.
About Merritt Island Wildlife Association
The Merritt Island Wildlife Association inspires community stewardship by advocating for wildlife, advancing conservation education, and expanding outreach that supports the Merritt Island and Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuges.
Keynote Speaker: Professor Gordon Patterson
Gordon M. Patterson is a Professor of History at Florida Tech, where he has taught since 1981. In addition to his work at Florida Tech, he has served as a Vector Historian with the Rutgers University Center for Vector Biology. Before coming to Florida, he lectured at the University of Maryland. Dr. Patterson holds graduate degrees from UCLA and a Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University.
His teaching and research have taken him around the world, including work in Europe and China, visiting professorships in Korea and Japan, and field research in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Professor Patterson is the author of The Mosquito Wars: A History of Mosquito Control in Florida and The Mosquito Crusades: A History of the American Anti-Mosquito Movement from the Reed Commission to the First Earth Day.
Itinerary
4:00 – 4:30pm Enjoy hors d’oeuvres with the river view and silent auction browsing
4:30 – 5:15pm Keynote Presentation followed by book signing
5:15 – 5:45pm Dessert, raffle drawings, social time, silent auction close out
5:45 – 6:00pm Merritt Island Wildlife Association highlights and sponsor recognition