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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251106T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251106T203000
DTSTAMP:20260528T003829
CREATED:20251013T154111Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251013T154111Z
UID:10000044-1762457400-1762461000@coalitionofrefugefriends.com
SUMMARY:A History of the American Conservation Movement and the Refuge System
DESCRIPTION:Join Alex Harper for a captivating journey through the history of conservation in the United States—from the 1800s to today. This presentation traces the key moments that shaped the formation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Wildlife Refuge System\, culminating in the establishment of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. \nAttendees will gain a deeper understanding of how conservation policies evolved\, how decisions are made to preserve the ecological integrity of refuges\, and why these places matter now more than ever. \nWe all love Bosque del Apache\, but it can sometimes be difficult to know how to make a difference. Through a mix of historical context and stunning wildlife photography taken at the refuge by Alex throughout the years\, this talk will connect past and present conservation efforts. \nAlex will also discuss the risks posed by potential rollbacks of environmental protections—including the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Endangered Species Act—and what such changes could mean for the refuge’s future. \nThe presentation will conclude with Friends Board President Jonathan Manley highlighting what’s happening on the ground at Bosque del Apache and how Friends is continuing to protect the refuge’s diverse flora and fauna. \nQuarterly OASIS Zoom calls are now open to the public\, so please invite your friends and family to come learn about our beautiful refuge and theOASIS\, a sustaining community of hope! This is the perfect time to join as a monthly donor by giving a monthly gift in any amount that feels right for you – you’re in control of when to start\, stop and make changes to your level of monthly giving! \nRegister Now
URL:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/event/a-history-of-the-american-conservation-movement-and-the-refuge-system/
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-13-114007.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251119T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251119T151500
DTSTAMP:20260528T003829
CREATED:20250729T133228Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251114T112803Z
UID:10000034-1763560800-1763565300@coalitionofrefugefriends.com
SUMMARY:Leading with Purpose – Building Stronger\, More Connected Wildlife Friends Groups
DESCRIPTION:This three-part webinar series is designed to equip leaders and members of Wildlife Friends Groups with the insight and tools to strengthen their communities\, deepen collaboration\, and lead with clarity in complex times. Together\, we’ll explore how to create cultures of belonging without weaponizing identity\, ensuring that all feel seen and valued without reinforcing division. We’ll examine strategies for navigating change with integrity\, so your group can remain mission-focused while adapting to evolving challenges. Finally\, we’ll dive into the principles of transformational leadership\, helping you inspire action\, cultivate trust\, and guide your group toward lasting impact. This series offers practical frameworks\, space for reflection\, and a chance to align around shared values while honoring difference. \nJoin Zoom Meeting \nhttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/84310909165?pwd=tTeEFiL92WRPxgIrENS6DIed1H4zWZ.1\nMeeting ID: 843 1090 9165\nPasscode: 647750 Join instructions\nhttps://us06web.zoom.us/meetings/84310909165/invitations?signature=w4WBMtkScuebAx4n7djpjm9CAlZbSxdJi6G3xWRujWQ
URL:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/event/leading-with-purpose-building-stronger-more-connected-wildlife-friends-groups-3/
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Screenshot-2025-07-25-131240.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251217T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251217T150000
DTSTAMP:20260528T003829
CREATED:20251203T162531Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251203T165328Z
UID:10000045-1765980000-1765983600@coalitionofrefugefriends.com
SUMMARY:Let's Celebrate!
DESCRIPTION:NWRA has declared December 17\, 2025\, Refuge Staff Appreciation Day. In recognition of this day\, let’s celebrate the National Wildlife Refuge and Hatcheries systems\, their dedicated staff and loyal Friends groups with Jim Kurth\, Retired Deputy Director of the USFWS as he reminds us all why we do what we do. \nJim will reminisce a little about his time with the Service and why we can be so proud of the work we help to support.  Then\, he has agreed to field your questions about the Service. If you have a question for Jim\, please send it to coalitionrefugefriends@gmail.com  There should also be time for “live” questions during the webinar. \nJim Kurth began his career as a biological technician with the U.S Forest Service on the Wayne National Forest in Ohio. He transferred to the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service in 1979 as assistant refuge manager at Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge. He served as an assistant refuge manager at Loxahatchee NWR in Florida\, Bogue Chitto NWR in Louisiana\, and Seney NWR in Michigan. He then served as refuge manager of the seven refuges in Rhode Island and Connecticut. After a tour in the Alaska Regional Office in Anchorage\, he served as the manager of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from 1994 to 1999. \nJim then moved to the Washington Office and served as Deputy Chief (1999-2011) and Chief (2011-2015) of the National Wildlife Refuge System\, then Deputy Director of the Service from 2015 until his retirement in June 2019. \nSign Up! \n 
URL:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/event/lets-celebrate/
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-03-112006.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates (CORFA)":MAILTO:coalitionrefugefriends@gmail.com
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260218T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260218T150000
DTSTAMP:20260528T003829
CREATED:20260203T181928Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260203T181928Z
UID:10000050-1771423200-1771426800@coalitionofrefugefriends.com
SUMMARY:Marine National Monuments & Their Role in the National Wildlife Refuge System
DESCRIPTION:Take a break from winter’s cold; come explore the warm\, colorful and vast Marine National Monuments of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Susan White will lead this webinar; guiding us through the Pacific Marine National Monuments and explaining how they are managed as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. \n😎 Put on your sunglasses\, forget about the snow and ice\, and learn about these special watery places. 🌊 \nPresenters\n \n\nSusan White retired from the USFWS after 28 years and has spent about 36 years in conservation overall. Her career took her from Florida’s Keys to J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge\, and to Hawai’i\, with stops in Washington\, DC\, and Detroit River International Refuge. Susan retired as Deputy Area Supervisor of the vast Pacific Islands refuges and Marine National Monuments.\nBarry Christensen retired from USFWS in 2011 after a 31-year career managing national wildlife refuges and wetland management districts throughout the U.S.\, including a 3.5-year term as Refuge Manager of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.\n\nSign Up!\n  \n 
URL:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/event/marine-national-monuments-their-role-in-the-national-wildlife-refuge-system/
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-03-131410.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates (CORFA)":MAILTO:coalitionrefugefriends@gmail.com
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260318T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260318T150000
DTSTAMP:20260528T003829
CREATED:20260304T144551Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260305T121241Z
UID:10000053-1773842400-1773846000@coalitionofrefugefriends.com
SUMMARY:Dark Skies and Wildlife
DESCRIPTION:🌝 Just in time for International Dark Sky Week (April 13–20\, 2026)\, join us for a conversation about how nighttime light affects wildlife\, habitat\, and human health. 🌌 \nWhether urban\, rural\, or somewhere in between\, every national wildlife refuge has a nighttime light footprint. Bill Kowalik\, PhD\, Board Chair of DarkSky Oregon\, will share what light pollution means for wildlife and people\, plus practical steps we can take on refuges and in our communities to reduce our light footprint. \nJanelle Wicks\, Executive Director of Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge\, will highlight their annual Malheur After Dark event and share ideas for celebrating the night sky as a natural resource at your refuge. \nO’Brien Prize spotlight: During the webinar\, we will highlight Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge’s Malheur After Dark event\, a project supported in part by the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s 2024 O’Brien Prize for Refuge Friends. We will also share a brief update on the O’Brien Prize and ways Friends groups can start thinking about project ideas for this year’s opportunity\, request for proposals releasing soon! \nPresenters\nBill Kowalik\, PhD is the Board Chair and a founding board member of DarkSky Oregon. He has three degrees in the earth sciences and decades of experience in remote sensing and technology development. \nJanelle Wicks is the Executive Director of Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and helps lead community-based programs like Malheur After Dark that connect people to refuges through the night sky \nSign Up!
URL:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/event/dark-skies-and-wildlife-2/
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/PAHR_NightSky_2022-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates (CORFA)":MAILTO:coalitionrefugefriends@gmail.com
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260415T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260415T150000
DTSTAMP:20260528T003829
CREATED:20260406T191908Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260406T191908Z
UID:10000056-1776261600-1776265200@coalitionofrefugefriends.com
SUMMARY:Endowment for our Refuge's Future
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a quick start to thinking about an Endowment to help secure the future of your Refuge.  There are many details involved\, but on this webinar\, we’ll give you an outline of how to start\, and what challenges to expect. Such as: \n\nDeciding what the purpose of your Endowment would be. This will vary a lot from refuge to refuge but deserves a lot of thought.\nFinding a Foundation or other organization to maintain and invest your Endowment\nCreating a starting mailing list\, or group of founding donors\nForm a committee to deal exclusively with the Endowment and fundraising\nMaintaining records and documenting progress\nReaching goal and deciding on disbursements\n\nOur presenters were instrumental in starting the endowment at Hakalau Forest NWR HI in 2015. It is now just short of $3M and they plan to reach $3.5M by the end of this calendar year. \nPresenters \n\nSharon Scott\, Board member of Friends of Hakalau Forest NWR\, and Chair of the Endowment Committee.  Co-Founder of Hakalau Endowment\nMike Scott\, Former Board member of Friends of Hakalau Forest\, and co-founder of Hakalau Endowment.  Mike was also a USFWS endangered species biologist in Hawaii from 1974-84\, and conducted a 5-year survey of all native forests on the main islands of Hawaii\, which contributed to identifying Hakalau Forest as a native bird “hot spot”\, and helped get the Refuge established.\n\nSharon and Mike have been involved with Hakalau for over 40 years\, and still work toward protecting its species and habitats. \nSign Up!\nWe look forward to seeing you then\, \nNational Wildlife Refuge Association &\nCoalition of Refuge Friends & Advocates
URL:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/event/endowment-for-our-refuges-future/
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-06-151240.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates (CORFA)":MAILTO:coalitionrefugefriends@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T150000
DTSTAMP:20260528T003829
CREATED:20260501T111245Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260501T111245Z
UID:10000062-1778076000-1778079600@coalitionofrefugefriends.com
SUMMARY:How You Can Advocate for the Refuge System This Spring
DESCRIPTION:Join Desirée Sorenson-Groves\, President & CEO of the Refuge Association\, for a timely advocacy briefing on how supporters can help strengthen the National Wildlife Refuge System this spring. Coming off our Hill visits\, we’ll share key takeaways\, walk through the priorities we’re advancing\, and outline clear next steps you can take right away.\nWe’ll cover: \n\nFederal appropriations for the National Wildlife Refuge System (FY2027 Funding Fact Sheet: https://www.refugeassociation.org/s/FY2027-Funding-Fact-Sheet.pdf)\nThe Legacy Restoration Fund (Great American Outdoors Act) to support habitat restoration and conservation (GAOA Reauthorization Fact Sheet: https://www.refugeassociation.org/s/2026-GAOA-Reauthorization-Fact-Sheet-jgyl.pdf)\nTransportation reauthorization to improve wildlife crossings\, habitat connectivity\, wildlife corridors\, and visitor access (Transportation Bill Fact Sheet: https://www.refugeassociation.org/s/Transportation-Bill-Reauthorization-Fact-Sheet.pdf)\n\nWe’ll close with specific actions you can take to help move these priorities forward\, plus time for Q&A. \nPresenter \n\nDesirée Sorenson-Groves came back to the Refuge Association in October 2024 as the President and CEO. Her career has been focused on protecting and enhancing the National Wildlife Refuge System\, first as a grassroots organizer for the National Audubon Society\, then as the Vice President of Government Affairs for the Refuge Association. After 14 years at NWRA\, Sorenson-Groves became the Director of the Arctic Refuge Defense Campaign where she managed an Indigenous-led\, multi-pronged effort to stop any development in the Arctic Refuge. She comes back to NWRA after leading Defenders of Wildlife’s public and private lands programs as their Vice President of Land & Habitat Conservation. She has a B.A. in Geography from George Washington University and resides in Fort Valley\, VA with her husband and two Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.\n\nSign Up!
URL:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/event/how-you-can-advocate-for-the-refuge-system-this-spring/
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-01-070749.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260520T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260520T150000
DTSTAMP:20260528T003829
CREATED:20260508T201120Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260508T201120Z
UID:10000065-1779285600-1779289200@coalitionofrefugefriends.com
SUMMARY:Blue Goose Passport
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a sneak peek at the new Blue Goose Passport prototype\, a refreshed experience designed to help visitors connect more deeply with national wildlife refuges and hatcheries.\nThe new Blue Goose Passport transforms refuge and hatchery visits from a simple checklist into a dynamic\, rewarding experience that turns exploration into a valued\, collectible achievement. This refresh is designed to motivate repeat visits and strengthen the personal connection visitors feel with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service public lands.\nThis webinar will be especially helpful for Refuge Friends groups interested in visitor engagement\, nature store opportunities\, and ways to encourage deeper connections to refuges and hatcheries.\nPresenter \n\nKristen Gilbert is the Branch Chief of Interpretation and Digital Services for the National Wildlife Refuge System.\n\nSign Up! \nWe look forward to seeing you then\,\nNational Wildlife Refuge Association & Coalition of Refuge Friends & Advocates
URL:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/event/blue-goose-passport/
CATEGORIES:Webinar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-08-160559.png
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