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2002
National Friends Conference
An
Overwhelming Success!!
 The
First National Refuge Friends Conference represented a milestone
in the refuge Friends movement and an important moment for our country's
national wildlife refuges. The conference marked the first time
in the decade-long history of refuge Friends groups that so many
volunteers gathered in a national forum to form a single voice in
support of the Refuge System.
On
February 23-25, 2002, more than 270 attendees representing 102 refuges
and 43 states, the District of Columbia and Midway Atoll shared
stories and ideas with each other and learned new ways to reach
out and gain the support of their communities, the news media and
lawmakers.
As
a result of this event, disparate Friends groups have begun to speak
in a unified voice. 130 attendees visited Capitol Hill following
the conference to ask their Members of Congress to increase funding
for refuges. Thanks in part to the Florida Friends delegation, a
letter was circulated in the Senate for signatures by Environment
and Public Works Subcommittee chairman, Bob Graham (D-FL), which
requests a $100-million funding increase for refuges in fiscal year
2003. Several influential Senators, Republicans and Democrats alike,
signed on to the letter in a tremendous show of support for our
Refuge System. Quite an accomplishment for the Friends!
In
addition to getting Congress' attention, the conference also attracted
interest from Interior Secretary, Gale Norton, who taped a welcome
address for the group praising their efforts to improve refuges
locally. She also sent along a letter
expressing her support for the activities of Friends groups.
Assistant Secretary Craig Manson also participated in the Refuge
System Awards reception honoring the 2002 Volunteer and the Friends
group of the year.
Keynote
speaker Representative Curt Weldon (R-PA), gave an energized talk
about how groups should go about influencing their members of Congress
- a great primer for Monday's visits.
Throughout
the event friends received an important message about the value
of partnerships. Flanking the podium were banners with the conference
sponsors' logos including the NWRA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Ducks Unlimited, National Wildlife Federation, Defenders of Wildlife,
National Rifle Association, The Wilderness Society, Ocean Conservancy,
Wildlife Management Institute, Trust for Public Land, Wildlife Forever,
Audubon and the American Birding Association.
It
truly was a joy to witness the enthusiasm of the Friends gathering
for the first time, many of whom had for years corresponded by phone
and email. We saw the delight of Friends sharing stories and pictures
with each other of refuges closest to their heart. We noticed Friends
engrossed in discussing the intricacies of refuge management issues
and sensed mutual understanding between Friends sharing their frustrations
and their victories. We glimpsed bright eyes and glad hearts all
over as we heard from the recipients of the Refuge System awards.
We observed Friends studiously taking notes, careful not to miss
a single detail and felt the rare and fervent passion of people
who share a common love of refuges and wildlife.
Here's
what some of the attendees had to say:
"Really
enjoyed meeting other Friends and picking their brains. The whole
conference was upbeat and inspirational."
"It
was the best conference I ever attended - bar none!"
"I
greatly appreciate the opportunity to be with such a range of people
with whom I share values."
"It
was truly great and inspirational. Wish I had the time to implement
all the great suggestions - one drawback to volunteerism."
"Awards
reception was very nice! In contrast to prior award presentation,
this was absolutely great! And to have Judge Manson as guest speaker
was wonderful!"
"Thank
you for all you did to make the conference so smooth-running and
so much fun. You and your team anticipated so many aspects of our
being together and made it look easy. That's not easy!"
"It
was a wonderful conference. We had a great time seeing old friends
and meeting lots of new ones. I think everyone was impressed with
the turnout and having so many Friends Groups represented. I also
think that the folks now realize that they are part of a large,
national organization of volunteers just like they are, who love
refuges just like they do, and we all vote!"
"Folks
around here are so excited they could pop! I truly enjoyed the weekend,
and it was a remarkably useful and invigorating event you all put
on. You should all be proud...Those events are so challenging and
rewarding when they come off as well as that! Congratulations!"
"Many
thanks for putting on an outstanding meeting. Beautifully planned.
Our sessions with legislators were especially effective because
of all your work. Take a bow!"
"We
don't have enough words to express our thanks and congratulations
to all of you for the fantastically wonderful Friends Conference
you all worked so hard to provide for us. We are still absorbing
information and working out how we are going to do all of the ideas
and projects we came back with. It was very worthwhile, and you
all deserve a big bow for your hard work."
"I
enjoyed the conference very much, especially meeting so many enthusiastic
people. Also the sessions were very informative and the skill-building
workshop on lobbying filled a major need."
The
NWRA would like to recognize and thank the generous sponsors of
the 2002 National Refuge Friends Conference.
Lead
Sponsors
Ducks Unlimited
National Wildlife Federation
National Wildlife Refuge Association
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Additional
Sponsors
American Birding Association
Audubon
Defenders of Wildlife
National Rifle Association
Ocean Conservancy
The Wilderness Society
Trust for Public Land
Wildlife Forever
Wildlife Management Institute
2002
Friends Conference Plenary Speakers
Keynote Speaker: Representative Curt Weldon (R-PA)
Dan Ashe, Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System
John Berry, Executive Director, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
"Buff" Bohlen, Chairman, National Wildlife Refuge Association
Bob Byrne, Wildlife Program Coordinator, Wildlife Management Institute
Lynn Greenwalt, Member, Centennial
Commission
Evan Hirsche, President, NWRA
William
Horn, Chariman, Centennial
Commission
Craig
Manson, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife and
Parks
Noah
Matson, Refuge Program Manager, Defenders of Wildlife
Neal
Sigmon, Treasurer, National Wildlife Refuge Association
Kathy
Woodward, President, Friends of Great Swamp NWR
Co-Emcee's:
Louis Hinds, Florida Refuges Supervisor and George Hoffmann, NWRA
Friends Representative
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