Greetings!

On December 24, a letter from the IRS arrived with fantastic news for Save Guana Now: "We're pleased to tell you we determined you're exempt from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c) (3). Donors can deduct contributions they make to you under IRC Section 170."

This includes donations that were made as early as July 28, 2016 when Save Guana Now became an organization. This is not only good news for those who have already donated to our effort to stop development at the Outpost, but also to those who are considering making a donation.  A huge THANK YOU to Attorney (and Save Guana Now board member) Ann Bittinger for being a hero to the herons, egrets and eagles, and generously giving your time and guiding us successfully in this process.

We're looking forward to a very happy 2017 as we continue to fight destruction of 70 upland acres of conservation land known as the Outpost.

In other news, we've added two new county commissioners to our list of officials for you to contact with your views about development at the Outpost. Please contact Commissioners Henry Dean and Paul Waldron, and welcome them to the board. Congratulations are also in order for Jimmy Johns who is now Chair of the St. Johns Board of County Commissioners.

How else can you help?  Be an instant volunteer! Just go to this link and print out our flyer (or pick it up preprinted from us), and ask a local restaurant, store, or other business for permission to hang it. Put one up in your office too.

Please order a bumper sticker (or two) if you haven't already. If you've already donated, we'll send you one free - just let us know your preference. If you haven't donated yet, a suggested donation of $5 earns you a bumper sticker.  Choose from 5 designs including the baby owl above. Yard signs are also available at $25 apiece. Scroll down  here  to see them.  

Volunteers are needed to:

-Distribute Bumper stickers at local events such as farmers' markets

-Contribute items or a service to our Silent Auction for our Spring fundraiser and/or help plan this exciting event at a beautiful house on Guana Lake overlooking the Outpost.

-Help with our mini-fundraisers in which we'll be hiking, biking, birding, kayaking, canoeing and photographing the beauty of Guana. 

If you'd like to help out in one of these areas, please reply to this email!

We're anticipating a hearing in early 2017, and we need to fight hard to keep Guana as pristine as it is now - with no habitat destruction or contamination of the lake from 77 proposed homes.  Please spread the word to those who cherish the natural beauty of Guana and the wildlife it protects. 

And don't forget our Christmas present from the IRS. Thanks Uncle Sam for making it a little easier to give to Save Guana Now!

All our best,

Nicole Crosby and Gary Coulliette
Co-founders, Save Guana Now

P.S. Save Guana Now is also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, transfers or gifts under Section 2055, 2106 or 2522. Read the policy on donations made while the IRS application was pending.  If you made a purchase at our recent "Eggnog and Ornaments" fundraiser and would like to know what portion of your purchase you can deduct, please reply to this email and we'll get right back to you.