Level up your skills and network with refuge and hatchery Friends from across the country.
Friends Groups fortify our National Wildlife Refuge and Hatchery Systems. Together, we amplify impact, generate support, and build stronger and healthier communities. This two-day virtual conference is designed for Friends leaders, board members, staff, and volunteers who want to build capacity, share best practices, and connect with peers from across the country.
Learn more here.
| Time | Track 1 | Track 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 2:00 pm | Opening Session
Joan Patterson
Director at Large, Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates
Mark Musaus
Vice President, Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates | |
| 2:10 pm | Kickoff Keynote
Eric Alvarez
Deputy Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System | |
| 2:30 pm | Sessions 1, 2, 3 & 4 Overview
Joan Patterson
Director at Large, Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates | |
| 2:45 pm | Session 1: Fundraising, Membership and Donor Engagement
Janelle Wicks
Executive Director, Friends of Malheur NWR
Sue Hix
Board Member, Friends of Sherburne NWR
Mary Beth Volmer
President, Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands
Thomas Daubert
Executive Director, Friends of Kauai National Wildlife Refuge Complex | Session 2: Nature Stores
Kristen Gilbert
Branch Lead for Communications and Digital Services, Division of Visitor Services and Communications, USFWS
Tom Worthington
Director at Large, Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates
Jill Bachman
Nature Store, Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Carolyn Ferrell
Executive Director, Booth Society, Inc.
Melissa Worthington
Volunteer Manager, Minnesota Valley Refuge Friends |
| 4:00 pm | Session 3: Community Involvement
Angie Horn
Urban Wildlife Program Director, National Wildlife Refuge Association
Ken Kupchak
President, Friends of Oahu NWRs & CORFA Board
Christopher Dunham
Community Engagement Manager, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Lisa Bryant
Community Engagement Coordinator, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge | Session 4: Volunteers: The Critical Role of both Friends Volunteers and FWS Volunteers
Linda Schnee
National Friends Program Coordinator and National Lead for Volunteers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Sue Hix
Board Member, Friends of Sherburne NWR |
| 5:10 pm | ||
| 5:55 pm | Close Out: Recap of Day 1
Ken Kupchak
President, Friends of Oahu NWRs & CORFA Board | |
| Time | Track 1 | Track 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 2:00 pm | Welcome and Orientation to Day 2
Janelle Wicks
Executive Director, Friends of Malheur NWR
Tom Worthington
Director at Large, Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates | |
| 2:10 pm | Spark Talk
Desirée Sorenson-Groves
President & CEO, National Wildlife Refuge Association | |
| 2:30 pm | Sessions 5,6,7 & 8 Overview
Janelle Wicks
Executive Director, Friends of Malheur NWR | |
| 2:45 pm | Sessions 5, 6, and 7
Cathy Allen
Nonprofit Governance Consultant, Board Doctor
Carol Mertesdorf
President, Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
Janelle Wicks
Executive Director, Friends of Malheur NWR
Willem Stoeller
Director at Large, Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates
Samantha Zeiner
Director of Operations, Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
Jen Burks
Senior Policy Advisor, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI)
Richard Dolesh
Board Member, Friends of Patuxent | |
| 4:00 pm | ||
| 5:15 pm | Keynote Address
Brian Nesvik
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | |
| 5:45 pm | Close Out: Recap of Day 2
Cheryl Hart
President, Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates | |
Use the box below to purchase your tickets. After your purchase, you will receive more information about how to join the event.
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