Friends Academy 4October 17-21, 2011

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Friends Academy 4 Group

Facilitator Joanna Webb

Evan Hirsche, President US Fish and Wildlife Association

Purpose of Friends Academy

• Learn about the USFWS• Leadership training• Networking

Topics for the Week• History of National Wildlife Refuge System• Visioning Process and Implementation• Refuge Planning• Communication with community, refuge managers, etc • Generating Revenue• Refuge Budget Overview• Responsibilities of Board of Directors• Membership Program Development• Recruitment , Training of Volunteers• Friends Visioning• Friends Partnerships of the Future

Archives at NCTC

Confiscated Contraband

Daily Work Sessions

The Visioning Process for Friends

• Two recommendations in body of work

Recommendation 11

Develop and nurture active and vibrant Friends groups or community partnerships for every staffed refuge or

refuge complex.

Recommendation 12

Develop a national strategy for recruiting, coordinating and supporting a more self-sustaining volunteer corps, while

creating new opportunities for community involvement in implementing refuge priorities.

Networking among Friends Groups

• Friends Academy 4 Facebook site • Tab on the NWRS website for Friends to

connect to other Friends groups throughout the US.

Advocacy

Communications

Division of Visitors Services and Communications

• Newswire• Refuge Update• Refuge Week Toolkit• Banners• Social Media

Greg SiekaniecDeputy Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service

Some serious times

And some fun times…

Time to Go