About Session
Sessions 5, 6, and 7 will all be concurrent sessions: attendees will be able to join any session of interest through a breakout room.
Session 5: Advocacy
How can your Friends Group effectively communicate and advocate with elected officials?
Richard Dolesh: Friends of Patuxent Research Refuge, and the Patuxent Players
Greg Knadle: former VP of Government Relations for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
This session will provide practical advice and tips on the best ways you and your Friends group can connect with your Members of Congress and how you can conduct a successful advocacy visit to Capitol Hill or district office. Bonus: Volunteer Friends members will conduct a mock visit to Capitol Hill and you get to critique how it goes. No matter your knowledge of Congressional affairs and advocacy skills, this session will have value for everyone.
Session 6: Marketing, Social Media and Communication
Grow your skills in marketing and communicating – find your voice and brand!
Janelle Wicks: Friends of Malheur Refuge; Samantha Zeiner: Friends of Ridgefield Refuge
Does your Friends group have a personality? A voice? An image? These are all part of your organization’s brand and are critical to being easily recognizable and relatable to your audience or supporters. Join Janelle Wicks, Friends of Malheur NWR, in an exploration of branding guide components and how to develop a basic set of brand standards from scratch using Canva. Samantha Zeiner, Friends of Ridgefield NWR, will help you grow your skills set in promoting your branded image across various communications platforms from Facebook to LinkedIn and in your email campaigns or press releases.
Session 7: Building Strong Boards: Frameworks, Bylaws, and Governance Tools
How can your group create the right framework of bylaws, operating guidelines, and strategies to achieve sustainable success?
Join Willem Stoeller (Friends of Tualatin River Refuge), Carol Mertesdorf (Friends of Sherburne Refuge), and Cathy Allen (The Board Doctor) for a practical discussion on board development and governance.
We’ll explore:
• Board Development: How to ensure your board of directors is strong, effective, and aligned with your mission.
• Board Handbooks: Why a handbook is a valuable tool for keeping your group focused and running smoothly.
• Bylaws: Common pitfalls when creating or updating bylaws—and how to avoid them.
Board development and governance may not always feel like the most exciting part of Friends management—but it is often the most important.
