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Executive Director Position

Work part-time and make a difference in our community!

If you’re looking for a part-time job that’s flexible, interesting, and personally rewarding and have some administrative or management experience, then Executive Director of Keep McIntosh Beautiful might just be for you! Lots of opportunities to make use of YOUR talents, skills, and experience and implement new ideas and activities for making Darien and McIntosh County a clean, green, and beautiful place to live, work and visit. You’ll get resources, training and support from strong national and state organizations and work with a diverse board of directors from our community. 40-50 hours per month, hourly wage, beginning date flexible.

 

To learn more about Keep McIntosh Beautiful and this position, contact keepmcintoshbeautiful@gmail.com

Call 912-289-1083 or mail KMB PRESIDENT, P.O. Box 2055, Darien, GA 31305.

Download PDF Application here.

Download a Word Doc here.

 

 

The 2023 Oyster Roast fundraiser was a great success in spite of the blustery weather. As usual, the wonderful fire-grilled oysters and barbeque were enjoyed by all.

A big thank you to our sponsors, Chairman Jody Martin, Co-Chair Brandi Gaydos, our host of volunteers, our remarkable photographer, Bob Claxton, the marvelous music and dancing with Michael Hulett, and to all at the beautiful Hudson Creek Lodge.

A very special thank you to all of you who purchased tickets. Your investment in McIntosh County is greatly appreciated.

We now invite you to join us this year in activities to continue to Keep McIntosh green, clean and beautiful!

OUR ANNUAL OYSTER ROAST FUNDRAISER IS KEEP MCINTOSH BEAUTIFUL’S MAIN SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR OUR…

1)   ABANDONED BUILDINGS PROGRAM

2)   LITTER PREVENTION AND CONTROL

3)   ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS

4)   RECYCLING AND WASTE REDUCTION

5)   EDUCATION AND AWARENESS

Visit the Google Photo Album from Bob Claxton
KMB Oyster Roast 2023
Spartina Garden Club Check for KMB

On December 7th, Executive Director Natale Adorni of Keep McIntosh Beautiful presented a check in the amount of $500.00 to the Spartina Garden Club. The funds will be applied toward the beautification of one of McIntosh County’s sweetest treasures, the Smallest Church in America.

Spartina Garden Club Group

Thanks we had 51 vehicles drive in , thanks to all who dropped off, so much saved from our land fill!

THANKS!

“Participating in Keep McIntosh Beautiful’s Rivers Alive waterway clean-up was a wonderful experience. We had beautiful weather, and getting out on the North River was absolutely breathtaking. I’m grateful that we were able to remove a significant amount of litter and debris from the area. We’re so fortunate to live in such a beautiful place, and I think it’s imperative that we are all responsible and caring stewards of the environment. Kudos to KMB & all of the volunteers who made a difference!”
Marci De Sart
“The River Alive Event was a great way to introduce folks to what is offered In McIntosh County.  The canoe was an added pleasure.  Being able to see firsthand the beauty of the river and the wildlife along with the feeling of being a tiny bobber could not have made a better way to spend Saturday morning.  Great way to give back.”
Thanks
Selso Tello

River’s Alive Event  October 15 at North River at the Blue N Hall Marina 

What an absolutely gorgeous day for a River Clean up!! Much Appreciation to the Volunteers and “new” Friends of Keep McIntosh Beautiful’s River’s Alive Event. We were 27 strong for KMB’s Annual River Clean up !!  Thank you to all who came out to share in the spirit of Litter Clean up.
Darlene Garner-Fuller
Executive Director

 

To learn more about Rivers Alive, just click here.

A Big THANK YOU!

 Fort King George Historic Site for partnering with us.

They provided canoes, paddles, and life vests.

Also, the McIntosh Rod and Gun Club for partnering with us well.

Many Thanks to all who made the Keep McIntosh Beautiful Open House a success!! A BIG thanks to Harris Neck ACE Hardware for donating plants given away as door prizes. We are excited about the outpouring of the McIntosh community’s response to future Litter Prevention, Recycling events, and Conservation education.

Keep in the Loop…future KMB Events will be posted soon.! #keepmcintoshbeautiful #darienga #visitmcintosh #McIntoshGA #LetsCleanUpMcIntosh

Drink Coasters Coast into Coastal Georgia this August
“Together We Make a “Difference.”
In the continued promotion of cigarette litter prevention, THE GEORGIA’S COAST IS NOT AN ASHTRAY “drink coaster outreach effort” coasts into McIntosh County this August. Look for these “Coasters” at local retailers and restaurants. 
 
Cigarette receptacles and coasters can be found at Hunter’s Café in Shellman Bluff, Altman’s Restaurant in Eulonia, The Fish Docks in Crescent,  Chamber of Commerce/McIntosh Welcome Center in Darien, The Studio and The Local Exchange in Darien, and Skipper’s Fish Camp in Darien. Made of cellulose acetate, a type of plastic, cigarette butts do not easily biodegrade and are the nation’s most littered item.
For more information:
Contact Keep McIntosh Beautiful via email, director@keepmcintoshbeautfiul.com  via phone,  912-289-1083, or log into georgiascoastisnotanashtray.org

Lets Learn a

 Did you know that pollinators deliver ⅓ of the food we eat?

Or that approximately 75% of all flowering plant species need them to survive?

 

Bee City Roam GA

In Rome, Georgia you can attend a Bee Fest each June, or visit over 50 acres of pollinator plots sown with wildflower seeds.

The city of Warner Robins recently planted native flowers on two central medians, reducing roadway flooding and the need to mow. Learn more at beecityusa.org.

KMB_group

Pictured from left to right. Darlene Fuller, Executive Director, Molly McClellan, Barbara Hawthorne, President Keep McIntosh Beautiful

 

Congratulations to Molly McClellan 2022 KMB Scholarship in the amount of $500.

Molly McClellan will be attending Coastal College in the Fall.

We send our best wishes for her success in her future career

Children of a wide range of ages listen as Darlene Garner-Fuller, Executive Director of Keep McIntosh Beautiful, talks about the importance of recycling and reuse, then each of them made a tote bag from an old T-shirt during the “Make it and Take it” activity. The June 14 program was part of Ida Hilton Public Library’s Summer Reading Program for kids of all ages with a theme this year of “Oceans of Possibilities.”

Celebration for our newest Adopt-A-Highway Community Members – “Spartina Garden Club” and “FERST Readers !!”

Thank you for your hard work, commitment, and dedication to keeping our McIntosh roads beautiful and litter-free in Shellman Bluff.

 

Spartina Garden Club and FERST Readers have  Adopted Miles  from the intersection of Shellman Bluff Rd and Williamson Rd to Sutherland Bluff Rd

Celebration for our newest Adopt-A-Highway Community Members – “Spartina Garden Club” and “FERST Readers !!”

Thank you for your hard work, commitment, and dedication to keeping our McIntosh roads beautiful and litter-free in Shellman Bluff.

 

Spartina Garden Club and FERST Readers have  Adopted Miles  from the intersection of Shellman Bluff Rd and Williamson Rd to Sutherland Bluff Rd

Learn How To Adapt A Mile

“Many thanks to all the volunteers who participated in our Earth Day Clean up with  Altamaha Riverkeepers.”

” Our Earth is the one thing we all have in common.”

“Together we are growing a culture of Beautification and Appreciation.”

Keep McIntosh Beautiful Earth Day 2022-1
Keep McIntosh Beautiful Earth Day 2022-2
Keep McIntosh Beautiful Earth Day 2022-3
Keep McIntosh Beautiful Earth Day 2022-4
Keep McIntosh Beautiful Earth Day 2022-5
Keep McIntosh Beautiful Earth Day 2022-6

Thank you to everyone who volunteered at our Darien Waterfront Park Cleanup on Saturday.

Together, we were able to clean up 17 big bags of trash!

Keep McIntosh Beautiful Organization Statement

 

RE: McIntosh County Roadside Chemical Herbicide Spraying

Whereas the chemical herbicides spraying approved in 2022 by the McIntosh County Commissioners is an environmental hazard and could put McIntosh County’s residents, vegetation, pollinators, and wildlife at risk. KMB is opposed to the spraying of chemical herbicides for the purpose of roadside vegetation control

McIntosh County is a vast landscape of pristine marshlands and waterways and home to all manner of mammal, bird, fish, and insect life. Citizens and tourists alike, call our county “paradise.” In keeping with the KMB Mission, we are here to provide beautification awareness, conservation resources and protect our homelands and wildlife.

Chemical herbicide could put shrimping, beekeeping, blueberry and row crop farming and household gardens at risk. McIntosh County is home to a notable array of wildlife consisting of shrimp, oysters, crabs, wood storks, dolphins, gators, pollinators and other birds and fish life. We need to act in a prudent manner for the conservation of our McIntosh “home.”

Our Recommendation:

  • Continue mowing our roadsides through this 2022 season.

  • Order a full Dept of Agricultural environmental land study.

  • Investigate the legal ramifications of using a widespread chemical herbicide.

  • Present the completed studies to the citizens of McIntosh County before choosing how to proceed.

Executive Director, KMB

and

Board Members, KMB

How long Until?

Keep McIntosh Beautiful was founded in 2009.  Its mission is to engage individuals, businesses, and organizations to take responsibility for improving our community’s surroundings.  KMB activities include an Adopt-a-Highway program, beautification projects, roadside, waterway, and beach clean-ups, recycling events and educational programs, and an abandoned building removal assistance program.

Executive Director, KMB

and

Board Members, KMB

Keep McIntosh Beautiful

912-289-1083

keepmcintoshbeautiful@gmail.com

Litter Awareness Campaign

The Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation has launched the Litter Awareness Campaign. The campaign is a statewide public service campaign designed to bring attention to the issue of litter in Georgia with the use of digital and print media, local programs, and community outreach activities, including an online pledge component. In addition to harming wildlife and the environment, litter negatively impacts economic development, health, and safety across our state. Throughout this campaign, targeted messaging, programs, and initiatives will highlight these impact areas and provide resources for everyday actions to help reduce—and ultimately eliminate—litter in Georgia.

Why We Need This Campaign: National Statistics on Litter & Blight:
 • The direct cost of cleaning up litter: $11.5 billion nationally; $10 million in Georgia 
• When litter is present, property value decreases by 7%. 
• 93% of homeowners say that the presence of litter would influence their purchasing decision. 
• 36% of business development officials say that litter impacts their decision to locate to a community. 
• The number of people stealing doubles when litter and illegal graffiti are present. 
• Plastic trash in our environment is valued at $7.2 trillion, including 2% that is incinerated. 
• 80% of ocean plastic comes from land-based sources. 
• Areas with beautified vacant lots have seen a 27.5% reduction in depression. 
• There is a 12% lower mortality rate associated with exposure to outdoor green areas. 
• There are more than 50 billion pieces of litter on our nation’s roadways, with 4.6 billion pieces larger than four inches in size.  
 • Most roadway litter—76%–originates from motorists and pedestrians. • 15% of litter occurs in already blighted environments.
 • Approximately 85% of littering results from individual attitudes. Changing individual behavior is key to preventing litter. 
 • 83% of litter near storm drains consist of smaller items under 4 inches.  
• Motorists not properly securing truck or cargo loads, including collection vehicles, representing 20.7% of roadway litter 4 inches-plus. Vehicle debris and improperly secured containers, dumpsters, trashcans or residential waste/recycling bins represent another 8.1% of litter over 4 inches.  

Join in our fight against litter!

Sign the pledge to end litter at https://www.keepgeorgiabeautiful.org/end-litter

 

KGBF LOGO

Learn more and share these helpful brochures with your family and friends.

Litter in America Fact Sheet: Costs of Littering

Litter in America Fact Sheet: Sources of Litter

Litter in America Fact Sheet: Littering Behavior

Cigarette Litter Prevention Program Infographic

Georgia Litter Laws and Penalties

Secure Your Load in Georgia

Visit Our Upcoming Events Page

KMB had a wonderful 11th Anniversary Oyster Roast and BBQ Fundraiser Saturday-great attendance, delicious oysters, clams, BBQ and desserts and beverages, music and lots of dancing with Michael Hulett Entertainment., a Silent Auction full of great items, 3 Drawings for 25 pounds of shrimp from Shell Creek Seafood, and Wine Toss fun – all at beautiful Hudson Creek Lodge! Please send photos we can post, or if you post, mark #keepmcintoshbeautiful.

Thanks to all who organized, helped, cooked and attended and to all our generous Sponsors and Contributors. All of you made this year’s Fundraiser a big success! We hope you had a wonderful time!

Thanks to all of our Platinum and Gold Oyster Roast Sponsors for 2020

Skippers LOGOlowres
Jarriel Lawn Care LOGO
Oaks on The River
Coastal Electric LOGO
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Thanks to our Silver Sponsors

Southeast Georgia Health System, Southeastern Bank and Crescent Equipment

Learn more about recycling

KMB received a $3,500 Think Green Grant from Waste Management. Russ Hightower presented this to KMB Director Brandi Fisher November 12th at the County Commission meeting.

It’s the mission of KMB to engage residents, businesses and organizations in working together for a clean, green environment that enhances economic activity and helps make Darien and McIntosh County a great place to live, work, play and visit.  And together, we are making a difference!

Community involvement and support are what make possible Adopt-A-Highway, land and water cleanups, beautification projects, recycling and waste reduction events, our award-winning Abandoned Buildings Program and other activities.

KMB was named Non-Profit of the Year for 2017 by the Darien-McIntosh Chamber of Commerce.

 

CLICK HERE to Learn More, Renew or Join

Join us TODAY during our Summer Membership Drive.  Your membership donation is 100% tax deductible.

KMB is already into an exciting new year.  There are so many ways to be involved in Keeping McIntosh Beautiful.

Cigarette Butts are America’s single most littered item!

Georgia’s Coast is Not An Ashtray is a Coast-wide awareness campaign funded by a grant from Keep America Beautiful that will have activities all summer long focused on proper disposal of cigarette butts and the problems caused by cigarette litter.  READ MORE

KMB Cig-Litter-LOGO_FINAL

A Storm Drain is Not an Ashtray

A beach is not an ashtray

A boat ramp is not an ashtray

Purpose

Preserving and protecting our coastal environment to enhance the beauty and economic activity of McIntosh County.

Mission

Engaging individuals and businesses to take greater responsibility for improving our community surroundings.

Vision

Working together for a greener, cleaner McIntosh County.

Goals

  • Education in the schools
  • Sign Code Adoption
  • Adopt-A-Highway
  • River Clean Up
  • Beautification
  • Recycling
KMB Events Calendar

Thursday, March 1

Georgia Arbor Day Tree Celebration and Planting

On March 1, Keep McIntosh Beautiful partnered with McIntosh County 4-H and the Georgia Forestry Commission for a celebration of Georgia Arbor Day at Todd Grant Elementary School.  All fourth grade students took part in planting a live oak tree in front yard of the school, and each received a tree seeding provided by Keep McIntosh Beautiful to take home and plant.  Community forester Mark McClellan talked with the students about the important of trees in our landscape and as wildlife habitat, how to plant and care for new trees, as well as the special qualities of the Live Oak, the state tree of Georgia.  The event was organized by 4-H extension agent Tammy Tyre.  KMB director Julie Sowell and board member Jody Martin prepared the seedlings and handed them out to each student at the event.

2018 Ga Arbor Day Cele. TGES-JodyMartin- KMB Seedling Giveaway 3.1.18-2 2018 -72-Ga Abor Day Cel-TGES Tree Plant 3.1.18-1

 

Help make it “Green” for annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Saturday, MARCH 17 th,  8:00 am

Shellman Bluff area litter pickup

Meet at the old boat shed across from the Dollar General  store on Shellman Bluff Rd., where road assignments will be made.  Trash bags, trash grabbers, safety vests, gloves and water provided.  Volunteers should wear long pants, long sleeves, boots or sturdy shoes and bring their own bug spray.  For additional information contact Sallie Ann Marsh at 912-266-0449.

Wed., & Thurs., MARCH 28-29,   8 – 11:30 am  

Todd Grant Elem. School Outdoor Classroom Construction Work Days – volunteers needed

Work Days at Todd Grant Elementary School to construct and install various elements of an outdoor classroom.  KMB is a contributor to this project which will be used by all students and have special areas for art and music and many other exciting features.  TGES art teacher Kelly McClellan received a “Bright Ideas” grant from Coastal Electric Member Cooperative and is coordinating the project, which be completed in several stages.

Saturday, APRIL 7,  9 am – 1 pm  Ashantilly Center 

COASTAL WILDSCAPES Spring Native Plant Sale

Free admission

KMB will have a table at this event, which features several native plant vendors, and educational programming.  Learn more at www.coastalwildscapes.org

 

Saturday, APRIL 7,  8:30 – 11:30 am

GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP Community Litter Pickups

Smith Rd – Meet at Prospect Baptist Church, corner of Smith Rd. & Ga. Hwy 99 8:30 am

Blount Crossing – Meet at Darien Church of God on Blount Crossing 8:30 am

Volunteers are needed for litter pickups on both of these roads.  The more volunteers we have, the more miles we can cover.  KMB will supply trash bags, trash grabbers, gloves, water and snacks.  Starting location TBA, but put one of these opportunities to “keep McIntosh clean and beautiful” on your calendar now.  Email Julie at director@keepmcintoshbeautiful.com or call 912-289-1082 to sign up in advance or just show up the day of the cleanup!

Spring BEAUTIFICATION WEEK April 10-12

Tuesday, APRIL 10, 8:30-11:30   Todd Grant Elementary School 

Landscaping around School sign on Hwy 17

Volunteers are needed to install, mulch and water new plants around the sign area.   Please bring shovels, trowels, rakes and gloves and favorite bug repellant.  KMB will provide water and snacks.

Thursday, APRIL 12   9 a.m. – Noon    Fort King George Historic Site

FKG Parking Lot Raised Bed Planting

We’ll be renewing the large raised planter in the Ft King George site parking lot, using native and pollinator-friendly plants.  Please bring garden tools (shovels, trowels, rakes, gloves, etc.) and bug repellant.  KMB will provide water and snacks.

Thursday, MAY 31,  5:30 – 7:30 pm   Ashantilly Center

Member Appreciation/Membership Campaign Kick-off Event

Help KMB recognize our members, volunteers and sponsors with a hamburgers and hot dogs dinner (vegetarian option too!)  Learn about and sign up for KMB activities, and share YOUR ideas and suggestions for future KMB projects and events.