submitted by Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club
The 85th Annual Sanibel Shell Festival, co-hosted by the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club and the Sanibel Community Association, was a great success and the two organizations wish to express their appreciation to everyone who supported and attended the event. The partnership of these two organizations has been essential to make the Festival one of the most important and well-attended Sanibel events.
The following generously donated to the Sanibel Community Association 2022 raffle: Sanibel-Captiva Resorts – a five night vacation for two; Suzanne Marie Dietsch for her 11” Sailor’s Valentine in a Cliff Cloud frame; Congress Jewelers – Sanibel sea life jewelry ensemble; Casola Stained Glass Studio — a Tiffany reproduction glass creation; Adventures in Paradise and the Sanibel Cafe Restaurant — two shelling cruises, four sunset cruises, and six meals at the Sanibel Café Restaurant; and from Mary Calkins, a painting titled “After the Storm.”
We want to thank Ginny Dickinson for creating her huge shell-covered heart and bringing it to the Shell Festival for everyone to enjoy.
The Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club would like to extend a special thank you to our Scientific Division Judges, José H. Leal, PhD and John Chesler, and to our Artistic Division Judges, Shannon Webster and Marci Chamberlain, for their painstaking evaluation of the 232 Shell Show exhibits. This year there were 606 linear feet of exhibits. That is longer than two football fields.
The Shell Club would like to thank the 47 Shell Show sponsors. Their support insures that the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club Grants Program will be able to continue its mission. The proceeds from the Shell Show are given out in the form of grants toward education and research in the fields of conchology and malacology, as well as for conservation and water quality projects, primarily in Southwest Florida.
Special thanks also to Coastal Watch and Chase Bank for their donation of reusable canvas bags.
The Shell Club thanks its members and others who prepared the “thank-you bags” of shells given out at the Shell Show entrance. We thank the authors who participated in book signings at the Author’s Table. And a big thank you to all the volunteers who gave so tirelessly of their time and efforts, and to all of the exhibitors, whose incredible scientific and artistic exhibits continue to make the Sanibel Shell Show the largest and most prestigious in the country.
Thank you to the Island Sun/River Weekly, Islander/Island Reporter, Santiva Chronicle, Florida Weekly, Fort Myers News Press, and Fort Myers Magazine for providing great coverage with stories and photos before and during the Festival. The Island Sun’s Sanibel Shell Festival magazine was beautifully done and distributed to all households on the islands and at the Festival.
A special thank you goes to the Sanibel Community Association Executive Director Teresa Riska-Hall and her staff for the many tasks they performed for the Shell Club and Shell Crafters throughout the year and during the Festival.
A huge thank you is extended to the Sanibel Community Association Shell Crafters who work throughout the year using their talents to incorporate shells and marine life into lovely artistic floral arrangements, holiday ornaments, mirrors, and whimsical items, as well as the Jewelry Artisans who design earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. Also, thank you to the Shelling Bees who sort and prepare donated shells for the Crafters’ use and to sell.
Thank you to the staff of the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum for sharing their knowledge about mollusks at the live shell exhibit.
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