FWS Friends Mentor Program, Fall Application Process

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Friends groups along with their FWS Partners have an opportunity to apply for the FWS Friends Mentor Program. The Fall Application is now available. Applications will be accepted until October 31, 2024.

What is the Mentor Program? In many ways, it is just what you want/need it to be. Each mentoring relationship is different but, in a nutshell, Friends and their Refuge Management decide on the topics they would like to learn more about or have help with. That is part of the application. It could be training the board, planning a joint project, or, after this long Covid winter, a reboot to get your board and FWS staff excited about working together again, for example.

Once you have submitted the completed application it will be reviewed by the FWS Friends Coordinator, Linda Schnee, and the Regional Friends Coordinators. If your application is selected, you will be assigned a team of experienced and trained mentors, usually one FWS staff and one Friends Board/Staff person who will work with you on fleshing out an agenda, and then will come to your refuge to conduct a 2-day training.

At the end of that training, your group will identify a set of 3 or 4 objectives that you want to accomplish in the next year. Mentors then check in with you on a regular schedule to offer help, guidance, encouragement, and lots of cheers for the good work you are doing.

Sound like something that your group would benefit from? I’ve been on both sides of mentoring, as a Friends mentor and as a board member of a group being mentored and I can tell you from personal experience that this program provides a couple of skilled “consultants,” for a year, free-of-charge to your Friends group and your Refuge. So, what are you waiting for? Get that application going!

Should you want to find out more about the benefits of this program check out the 2023 recording about the USFWS Mentoring Program.

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Friends: Showing Off Their Stuff on Capitol Hill

  • Post category:AdvocacyNews
  • Reading time:2 mins read

CORFA on Capitol Hill
On the 15th, CORFA took part in the National Wildlife Refuge Expo on Capitol Hill. Members of USFWS, CAREFriends of Patuxent, and CORFA came together in a House office building to show the value of the National Wildlife Refuges. CORFA shared with members of Congress and their staff the importance of the Friends community. We thank all the Friends that contributed to this video about what we do and the special places we support! I also want to thank Aimee Arent, Matthew Emmer, Lisa Jansen-Rees, Jim Nosler and Stephanie Kaufman for making our display possible!

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The Subtle Differences Between Friends & Volunteers: Juggling the Hats We Wear

  • Post category:Management
  • Reading time:3 mins read

Wednesday, November 15th, 2 – 3:30 pm ET

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Participants defined a Friend, Friends Volunteer, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Volunteer. They learned to distinguish the roles for each following USFWS policies for these program and tested their knowledge by participating in scenarios describing situations that may occur on hatcheries and refuges.

We would like to thank our knowledgeable presenters,

  • Jackie Jacobson, USFWS Region 6 Friends and Volunteer Coordinator
  • Helen StrackeljahnUSFWS Region 7 Friends and Volunteer Coordinator
  • Sue Hix, Friends of Sherburne NWR
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USFWS Collection of Information from Friends

  • Post category:Management
  • Reading time:2 mins read

In the Federal Register there is a notice by the US Fish and Wildlife Service regarding information collection activities related to the Friends Partnership Agreement. This notice was posted on 9/25/2023.

The notice states, “In September 2020, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at the Department of the Interior (DOI) delivered its final audit report of the Service’s Friends Program. The audit outlined six recommendations, including a requirement for Friends group to report related data to the Service on a regular basis. In order to collect this information legally, we must complete the Information Collection Clearance process.”

To review the notice and see how to submit your comments go to: Federal Register: Agency Information Collection Activities; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Agreements with Friends Organizations.

Your comments must be submitted on or before November 24, 2023.

Should you have comments or questions that you want to share with the Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates please send them to coalitionrefugefriends@gmail.com. We will work getting clarification and explanations. 

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