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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260407T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260530T170000
DTSTAMP:20260407T130908Z
CREATED:20260407T113224Z
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UID:10000058-1775548800-1780160400@coalitionofrefugefriends.com
SUMMARY:The O'Brien Prize for Refuge Friends
DESCRIPTION:An Opportunity For Your Refuge Friends Group\nEach year the National Wildlife Refuge Association awards the O’Brien Prize to very deserving Refuge Friends organizations. The prize is named after Donal O’Brien III\, a past Board Chair and longtime enthusiast of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Don was a generous supporter of the great work we do for national wildlife refuges and was always very impressed by the dedication and effectiveness of Refuge Friends groups. \n2026 RFP is Available!\nThe National Wildlife Refuge Association is pleased to announce our seventh O’Brien Prize. This prize is a grant that will be awarded to one or more Refuge Friends groups whose project(s) will help build their connection with their community. This application will be used to determine which Friends group(s) will receive the grant(s). Please submit a request for any amount up to $7\,500. \nProjects must: (1) heighten the public awareness of the Friends Group\, (2) bring an enduring value to the Friends Group and bring benefit to the refuge\, and (3) the prize money must cover the full or nearly full cost of the project. \nProposals are due Friday\, May 30th\, 2026. Please submit your applications and direct any questions to Courtney Phelan at cphelan@refugeassociation.org or 202-577-3200. \nClick here to download the application!
URL:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/event/the-obrien-prize-for-refuge-friends/
CATEGORIES:Grant
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260501
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260609
DTSTAMP:20260602T154405Z
CREATED:20260501T114912Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260602T154405Z
UID:10000064-1777593600-1780963199@coalitionofrefugefriends.com
SUMMARY:2026 National Wildlife Refuge Awards!
DESCRIPTION:For more than 50 years\, the National Wildlife Refuge Association has worked to protect\, promote\, and enhance the National Wildlife Refuge System. We are continually inspired by the people whose dedication\, leadership\, and care make conservation possible every day. \nThat’s why we’re excited to open nominations for the\n2026 National Wildlife Refuge Awards! \nEach year\, these awards recognize outstanding individuals and groups who go above and beyond for national wildlife refuges\, whether as a dedicated refuge manager\, an exceptional employee\, a committed volunteer\, an inspiring Refuge Friends group\, or a steadfast advocate. \nNominate Someone Today \nNominations are now open\, and the deadline to submit your nominations has been extended to June 8\, 2026. Award recipients will be announced in August 2026 and celebrated at the 2026 National Wildlife Refuge Awards ceremony and celebration. \nPreviously submitted nominations may be updated and resubmitted. If you know someone who has been nominated before but not selected\, we encourage you to nominate them again. \nVisit our website to learn more about the award categories\, nomination criteria\, and inspiring stories of past winners >> \nAs we look forward to this year’s awards\, we invite you to help lift up the people and groups whose passion and care are protecting wild places\, nurturing wildlife\, and strengthening the communities that are deeply connected to our national wildlife refuges. Nominate someone deserving today! \nIf you have any questions not covered in our Nomination Guidelines\, please contact Debbie Harwood at dharwood@refugeassociation.org. \nThank you for all you do for national wildlife refuges\, \nThe National Wildlife Refuge Association
URL:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/event/2026-national-wildlife-refuge-awards/
CATEGORIES:Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T150000
DTSTAMP:20260501T111245Z
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
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260508
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260515
DTSTAMP:20260508T202639Z
CREATED:20260508T202639Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260508T202639Z
UID:10000066-1778198400-1778803199@coalitionofrefugefriends.com
SUMMARY:Take Action
DESCRIPTION:Thank you! Because of your support\, 87 Friends groups and partner organizations signed on to the Refuge Association’s FY2027 House testimony calling for stronger funding for the National Wildlife Refuge System. \nTogether\, we urged Congress to provide $761 million for the Refuge System’s Operations and Maintenance account\, restoring funding to the FY2010 level adjusted for inflation. This funding is urgently needed to help refuges address severe staffing shortages\, care for wildlife and habitat\, maintain visitor services\, support public access\, and meet growing conservation needs. \nYou can read the submitted House testimony here >> \nWe are now preparing the Senate version of this testimony.\nIf your organization signed on to the House testimony\, you do not need to sign on again. We will automatically include your organization on the Senate version unless you ask us to remove it. \nPlease review the Senate version and signer list to confirm your organization is included and listed correctly >> \nSign-On to the Senate Testimony by Thursday\, May 14th at 5 pm ET \nPlease let us know by Thursday\, May 14th at 5 pm ET if your organization would prefer not to be included on the Senate version\, if your organization’s name or state needs to be updated\, or if your Friends group did not sign on to the House testimony but would like to be added. **This sign-on letter is for Friends groups and partner organizations\, not individuals\, please stay tuned next week for a advocacy alert for individual supporters.** \nIf your Friends group would also like to submit your own testimony\, you can find instructions from the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee here >> \nYour voice matters. When Refuge Friends speak together\, Congress hears directly from the local communities\, volunteers\, and partners who stand with national wildlife refuges every day. \nThank you for all you do for national wildlife refuges\, \nDesirée Sorenson-Groves\nPresident & CEO\nNational Wildlife Refuge Associatio
URL:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/event/take-action-2/
CATEGORIES:Event
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260518T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260630T170000
DTSTAMP:20260518T144011Z
CREATED:20260518T144011Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260518T144011Z
UID:10000067-1779091200-1782838800@coalitionofrefugefriends.com
SUMMARY:Anniversary Grants
DESCRIPTION:The Fish and Wildlife Service Retirees Association has fund for Friends groups celebrating anniversaries. These grants are intended to support celebrations of significant anniversary events of their Service site\, e.g. 10. 50\, 75\, and 100. Even if the anniversary doesn’t end in a 5 or a 0\, the celebration could be honoring conservation heroes like Aldo Leopold\, Ding Darling\, etc.\, and title the event America 250th. \n\n\n\n\nThe 2026 application is on the CORFA website at https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/APPLICATION-Anniv-Grant-MASTER.docx\n\n\nThe submission deadline to me is 30 June for events scheduled from 1 July to 31 December 2026.
URL:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/event/anniversary-grants/
CATEGORIES:Grant
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260520T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260520T150000
DTSTAMP:20260508T201120Z
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
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260526T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260526T170000
DTSTAMP:20260520T221026Z
CREATED:20260520T221026Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260520T221026Z
UID:10000068-1779811200-1779814800@coalitionofrefugefriends.com
SUMMARY:Friends SHARE call on 5.26.26
DESCRIPTION:Get ready to SHARE!  CORFA is hosting the next Friends SHARE zoom call and this month we’ll be focusing on the role an Annual Appeal can fit into your overall fundraising strategies. \nPlease join us on Tuesday\, May 26th at 4:00 pm ET.  Please RSVP by May 25th and we will send you a zoom link for the call.  Registration is required in advance in order to receive the zoom link. \nWe will also have time at the end of the call to field any hot topics or urgent issues you may have.  If you have a burning question for the call\, that you’d like to discuss with other Friends\, or you’re looking for expertise on a specific subject\, please let us know and we’ll do our best to be prepared and find help!  The sooner you can let us know\, the better. \nOur presenters for the May call will be: \n\nSirena Lao\, Executive Director\, Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society\nAlison Schaub\, Executive Director\, Friends of Minnesota Valley NWR\n\nThe Zoom call is only for a member of a Friends group or their staff. Feel free to share this invite with your board members and other Friends groups. To ensure everyone can fully express themselves\, ask tough questions\, have their comments heard and respected\, and be assured that conflict will be respectful the call will not be recorded\, and we ask all participants to review and agree to our Safe Space Guidelines. \nDate: Tuesday\, May 26\, 2026 \nTime: 4:00 PM ET\, 3:00 PM CT\, 2:00 PM MT\, 1:00 PM PT \nRSVP: To coalitionrefugefriends@gmail.com by May 25th with Friends SHARE in the subject line. Register in advance to receive the zoom link. In the body of the email tell us the name of your Friends. \nWe are looking forward to getting together. \nCORFA’s Friends SHARE Team \nMike Baldwin\, Ceal Craig\, Cheryl Hart\, Joan Patterson\, Polly Sheppard\, Willem Stoeller\, Joan Van Gorp\, Kathy Woodward\, Tom Worthington\, Maria Montag\, Janelle Wicks \nP.S. We thank the National Wildlife Refuge Association for providing Zoom for the call.
URL:https://coalitionofrefugefriends.com/event/friends-share-call-on-5-26-26/
CATEGORIES:Friends SHARE
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ORGANIZER;CN="Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates (CORFA)":MAILTO:coalitionrefugefriends@gmail.com
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