Dems to hear about conservation

BRADENTON -- Democratic Women's Club meets at 11:30 a.m. March 12 at Bradenton Country Club, 4646 Ninth Ave. W.

Speaker will be Tara Bass of the Florida Water And Land Legacy, who will discuss the need for an amendment on the November 2014 ballot to ensure permanent funding for acquiring, conserving and restoring Florida's water and conservation lands.

Cost: $16. Reservations: Marydine Lamb, 813-230-2257.

Young Republicansplan social

BRADENTON -- The Manatee County Young Republicans will meet at O'Brick's Irish Pub, 427 Old Main St., at 6 p.m. March 12 for a social in lieu of their March meeting.

New College professor to address Ranch Democrats

LAKEWOOD RANCH -- New College professor Keith Fitzgerald will be thespeaker at the Lakewood Ranch Democratic Club meeting at 7 p.m. March 12 at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

Benderson mall to be topic for East Manatee GOP

PERIDIA -- The East Manatee Republican Club will meet for lunch at 11:30 a.m. March 14 at the Peridia Golf and Country Club, 4950 Peridia Blvd.

Guest speaker will be Mark Chait, director ofleasing for the Benderson Corporationwhich is building a new shopping mall at I-75 and University Parkway.

Cost: $15. Reservations: Diane at 941-739-3813.

Crist to speak to Manatee Democrats at Ranch

LAKEWOOD RANCH -- Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist will be the keynote speaker at the Manatee County Democrats' annual awards dinner and dance at 6 p.m. March 15 at the Fete Ballroom of the Polo Grill, 10670 Boardwalk Loop.

Crist served as Republican governor of Florida from 2006 through 2010, then ran in 2010 for the U.S. Senate as an Independent. He campaigned for President Barack Obama in 2012 and late last year changed his party registration to Democrat.

Event organizers have put together an evening of cocktails, dinner, auction and prize-drawing activity, along with dancing to music by The Ciceron Brothers.

Auction items include rounds of golf, fine art, restaurant gift certificates and a three-night stay at a Bermuda beach resort.

Cost: $75 a person. Checks may be mailed to Manatee County Democratic Party, PO Box 10605, Bradenton, FL 34282.

Information: Lucy Lapides at 941-704-5971 or lucylap@yahoo.com.

Southeast Manatee Democrats to meet

PERIDIA -- Southeast Manatee County Democratic Club luncheon is set for 11:30 a.m. March 21 at the Peridia Golf and Country Club, 4950 Peridia Blvd.

The featured speaker will be Richard Coe, professor of economics at New College of Florida. His topic will be "The U.S. Budget, Taxes, and Expenditures."

Cost: $15, payable at the door. RSVP to Paul Dain at 941-756-4050.

Sarasota Military CEO to address Ranch GOP

LAKEWOOD RANCH -- Lakewood Ranch Republican Club meets at noon March 22 at Lakewood RanchHoliday Inn, 6231 Lake Osprey Drive.

Guest speaker: Daniel Kennedy, headmaster, CEO and co-founder of the Sarasota Military Academy.

Reservations at www.lwrrc.com. Lunch is $20.

'The State of Manatee County' presentation set

BRADENTON -- The Manatee Forum presents "The State of Manatee County" with Schroeder-Manatee Ranch CEO Rex Jensen and County Administrator Ed Hunzeker at 6 p.m. March 26 at Pier 22, 1200 First Ave. W.

They will describe thecurrent economic landscape and discuss their views onthe future of Manatee County.

Dinner: $20. RSVP to Jane Grace at 941-758-4878 or Janebgrace@aol.com.

-- Herald staff reports