Since the last newsletter, your Friends group has received membership renewals from: Hal Sugg, Russ Webb (Refuge Manager at Savannah NWR), Stewart Dohrman & Mary Landers, Nancy and Bob Adams, Monica Harris (Visitor Services Manager, Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex), Jean and Larry Wickline, Chris and Ward Milner, Walt and Sally Stein, Gene Carpenter, Jessica and Neil Aldridge, Jennifer and Michael Fell, Brian and Julie Jarrad, Nan LLoyd, Judy and Lynn Greenwalt, Charles and Melinda Powell, Linds Sue Babcock, Brent and Debbie Shields, Erin Shields and Mike Johnson, Paul and Mary Ellen Padula, Sharon Lindsay, John and Dianne Fancette, Marty Coolidge, Tracy and Michael Toogood, Dick and Carol Hansen, Michael Boggs, Noah and Mary Rosenstein, Rick and Mary Agnes Garman, Jane Griess (Project Leader Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex), J. Mike and Wendy Cotterill, Henry Naninga, Karen and Mike McGinty, Shaw Davis (Asst. Project Leader Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex), Steve Wagner and Colleen Crislip, Stan Gray and Sandy Tyler, and Joyce Murless.

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Our special thanks to Marilyn Shaw, Sandra Beasley, Michael Boggs, John and Lilian Edman, J. Hunter and Barbara Hurst, and Carroll Richard for renewing at the SUPPORTER level, and Freda Smith for contributing at the SPONSOR level.

Our extra-special thanks to Kay Grinell and Jeff Ulbright who dug deep to renew at the PATRON level and to George Cathcart for renewing at the BENEFACTOR level.

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New Friends Group members include: Dr. Keith and Heather Siebert (at the SUPPORTER level), Bill and Donna Harris, Joe Wiegand, Gail Blair, Ed Remlinger, Tom and Liz Cooksey, Linda Etchells(at the SUPPORTER level) , Grant and Kathy Greider, Terry Mitchell, Rod and Grant Musselman, Annette Hausman, Shirley and Marcus Wilkinson, Nancy and Thomas Gates, Chris Marsh, Sonny and Dale Thorpe, Richard and Gayl Glover (at the SUPPORTER level), Mark and Kari Guck, Wanda Snell, Nicholas Martens and Maureen Leong-Kee, Joanne and Paul McMenamin, Martha and Robert Hocutt, Janet O'Shea, Wanda Leoplod, Lois and Daniel Clauer, Lou Natalie, and Becky Shortland.

Welcome to the Friends!

How about you?

It's not too late! If you haven't renewed your membership for 2012 all you need to do is send in your renewal, or go to our website and renew using PayPal. If you renew now, you will extend your membership through 2012.

Not a member? Choose your membership level from the list below and send in your check. Membership dues and donations are tax deductible.

Giving a gift membership is also a great gift idea.

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Individual $15 per year.

Family $25 per year

Supporter Level $100-249 (with one year family membership for each $100)

Sponsor Level $ 250-$499 (with one year Family membership for each $100)

Patron Level $ 500-$999 (includes Life membership)

Benefactor Level $1000 or more (includes Life membership)

Download our membership application HERE.

Friends of the Savannah Coastal Wildlife Refuges Board of Directors and Officers:
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Rick Shields, President
Hunter Hurst, Vice-President
Dot Bambach, Secretary
Tim Kilty, Treasurer
Dave Chafin
John "Crawfish" Crawford
Wasil Khan
Pat Metz
Allyn Schneider

Focus on Friends

Around our region...

The Southeast Regional Office of the US F&WS puts out a quarterly bulletin called "Focus on Friends" that details activities of other Friends groups around the southeast. Click HERE to see the latest and access the archive of previous issues.

Friends:

Welcome to our first newsletter of 2012!
2011 was a busy and productive year for your Friends group, and we are looking forward to an even better year in 2012. Please consider ramping up your involvement by volunteering, making a financial contribution, or by talking up the Friends group with your circle of friends and family.

We recently sent out our Friends Group 2011 Annual Review which highlighted what we have been doing and what's been happening on the seven refuges we support. Click HERE for a digital copy of the report, and feel free to print it out or forward it along. If you would like a hard copy, please drop us a line and we'll send you one.

Please feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and associates by clicking on the "Forward email" link at the bottom of the page.

Harris Neck Issue Resurfaces
fws logo goose

On December 15th, 2011, the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs held a hearing in Washington DC at the behest of Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) to once again review the claims of the original owners of part of the land that now makes up Harris Neck NWR. There has been a renewed effort over the past few years to get the land returned to the original owners.

The National Wildlife Refuge Association (with the help of your Friends group) has been monitoring this ongoing issue. Friends group Board of Directors member and Secretary Dot Bambach was able to travel to DC on short notice to testify at the hearing. For years Dot has been very involved as a volunteer with the wood stork (Mycteria americana) monitoring project at Harris Neck NWR and did an excellent job explaining the vital role that the refuge plays in the recovery of this endangered species.

Do see a video of the hearing and her testimony, click HERE. For more information on the Harris Neck situation, click HERE.

A big Friends group thanks to Dot for representing us and Harris Neck so well!!!

A Successful Year for The Gator Hole

Your Friends group operates the book and nature store at the Savannah NWR Visitor, a cozy little place we call The Gator Hole. 2011 was a successful year with sales of nearly $29,000 and donations of about $1200. All proceeds form the store are used to fund Friends group activities and projects on our refuges.

If you haven't been there recently, we encourage you to stop by to look over our shirts, hats, books, puppets, mugs, children's products, and our unique jewelry and gift items.

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The Gator Hole now is also offering used books on nature topics and pre-owned ceramic bird and animal figurines that have been donated to the Friends group. Marty Coolidge has generously donated a large number of items from the library of her late father, Dr. Herman Coolidge.

Diana Churchill Releases Birder's Eye View

Friends Group member and wildlife photographer Diana Churchill recently published her first book, Birder's Eye View, Savannah & the Low Country. Diana is a frequent contributor to The Savannah Morning News (check out her latest column HERE).

Her book is available at The Gator Hole.

Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex Receives Grant

Russ Webb, Refuge Manager for Savannah, Tybee, and Pinckney Island NWR's recently announced that the complex and been awarded a Power of Flight Grant from Southern Company. Russ described the impact the grant will have:

russ webb

"The Power of Fight grant is more than just money going toward the conservation of natural resources. It is a partnership between the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, the Southern Company, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. All three players are contributing to a common cause, which is the restoration and maintenance of over 300 acres of managed wetlands on the refuge. This is the third time the Savannah NWR has partnered to deliver habitat management through the Power of Flight grant.

One of the main objectives outlined in this two year grant is the treatment of non-target plants such giant cutgrass, cattail, and water hyacinth. We will also construct access points within the wetlands so tractors can assist in the treatment of the plants by soil scarification and herbicide treatment. Finally, we will clean five miles of canals choked with floating vegetation. This will allow for better water control so targeted plants can be managed for the benefit of migratory birds.

All of this work will help fulfill the refuge's goal of providing quality waterfowl habitat for the visiting public to enjoy. "

Congratulations Russ!!

Friends Group Board of Directors
Your Board of Directors will meet for their first meeting of the new year on Thursday, January 26th ot 6:30 PM at the Savannah NWR Visitor Center. As always, all members are invited to share your ideas with the Board.

Our 4th Annual Meeting is fast approaching, and we are always looking for new leadership from our members. If you have an interest in becoming more involved with the Friends, serving on a committee, or running for a spot on the Board, why not attend ?

Calling all volunteers!

The success of Friends Group activities depends on you! If you would like to help out at the savannah NWR visitor center, or assist with other projects, please sign up at webmaster@coastalrefuges.org

Hope you enjoyed the newsletter, send your comments, articles, photos, or ideas for articles to:webmaster@coastalrefuges.org.

Sincerely,

Rick Shields
President
Friends of the Savannah Coastal Wildlife Refuges, Inc.