gators

                                                                                                                                        March 6, 2012
Friends of the Savannah Coastal Wildlife Refuges

An occasional e-mail update for members and friends 

In This Issue
New and Renewing Members
How about you?
Thanks to our Volunteers
Friends Officers
General Membership Meeting
Spring Fling!
Earth Day 2012
Complex Receives Grant
Article Headline
Calling all Volunteers
Butterfly WalkAbout

Quick Links

Life Members 

 

The Friends group deeply appreciates the contributions made by the following individuals who have achieved Life Member status:

____________________________

 

Dr Roy and Lynda Baker

Dot Bambach and Matt Ryan

Dr Robert and Terri Beard
George Cathcart
Sue Chapman 

John and Nancy Davis
Kay Grinell & Jeff Ulbright
Chuck and Kimberley Hayes 

Pat and John Metz

Dr Steven and Beth Roth

Allyn Schneider

Diego Shen Shields

Dr Richard and Leslie Shields, Jr.

Martha and Olvis Spencer
Spencer Tyson
Mark Yeagher & Jane Ritter 

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Life Member status is attained by donating $500 or more to the Friends Group in a calendar year.

Our Business Sponsors

Georgia Emergency Associates

Water-Dog Outfitters

Georgia Ornithological Society

Colonial Coast Birding &

 Nature Festival

St. Joseph's/Candler Health System

Ogeechee Audubon Society

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Thanks to new and renewing members!
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Since the last newsletter, your Friends group has received membership renewals from: Kay and Roger Murray, Kathleen and Mark Schaefer, Peter Range, and Steve and Sandra Calver.  

 

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Our special thanks to  Mark Yeager and Janet Ritter who renewed at the Patron level, as did Chuck and Kimberley Hayes.


Richard
and Doris Shields renewed once again at the Supporter Level.

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New Friends Group members:   Lou Natalie, Debbie Orlemanski, Herbert and Carol Egoroff, Mary Mathis, Leon Giles, Judith and Jack Stewart, Jack Greenshields, Gary and Carol Lawrence, Bob and Judy Williams, and Deborah and Jones Cahill.
Grey  and Kay Hodnett joined at the Sponsor level. 

 

   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 the end of the year. 

 

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.    

 

More Thanks in Order

The Information Desk and The Gator Hole at Savannah NWR  would not function without the dedicated volunteers who answer questions, hand out maps, and ring up sales.  In 2011 the following volunteers contributed more than 115 hours each for a total of more than 1100 hours  at the VC.:
  • Skip Schwanfelder
  • Tracy Toogood
  • Jaynne Reichert
  • Michelle Laskowski
  • John Edman
  • Tim Kilty
  • Joanne Judkins

GH3 

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Others also contributing their time and talents:

  • Walt and Sally Stein
  • Bill Hamel
  • Rosemary Matsko
  • Diane Rand
  • Nancy Gates
  • Ellie Weisbrot
  • Linda Fleeger
  • Sara Miller
  • Jane  Ewart
  • Cindy Barber
  • Debbie Vess
  • Zac Gohsman
  • Christine Fox

And how would we get through the little crises without the able assistance of Amy Ochoa and Monica Harris

 

A big Friends Group thanks to all!! 

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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 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


topFriends:
Spring of 2012 promises to be a busy one for the Friends.

We have already cosponsored the 50th Anniversary Celebration at Harris Neck NWR and participated in Clean Coast's cleanup of two islands in the Savannah River that are part of Savannah NWR.  Read Mary Landers article and watch her video and photos HERE.

Keep reading to see what else we have planned!
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Friends Group Annual Membership Meeting  

The Friends group will meet on Saturday, March 24th, at 1:00 PM in the Savannah NWR Visitor Center for our 4th General Membership Meeting. (The VC is located at 694 Beech Hill Lane in Hardeeville, SC)

 

Jane Griess (Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex Project Leader) will give her annual "State of the Refuges" Update. 

Rick Shields, Friends president, will report on activities of the Friends group over the past year, and introduce some new services available to Friends members.  To complete the business portion of the meeting, we will also be voting on candidates to fill three open spots on the Friends Board of Directors (if you have an interest in seeking a Board position, contact Rick Shields ASAP). 

 

Our featured speaker will be acclaimed Georgia naturalist, photographer, and speaker Giff Beaton.

 

His program on the mysteries of bird and insect migration will be illustrated with many of the photographs he has taken during his adventures throughout the world.  Giff is the author of several popular nature guides including The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Georgia and the Southeast, Birds of Georgia, and Birding Georgia.(Be sure to bring your copies for Giff to sign, or purchase a fresh copy at our nature and book store, The Gator Hole).   Other local authors whose books are featured in The Gator Hole have also been invited for book signings.

 

At about 2:30 PM, refuge staff and volunteers will lead a two-hour guided wagon tour through the refuge (weather permitting).  Seats are limited, so reservations are required (see below).

   hayride

For those not going on the tour, Friends group Board of Director's members will host an "Open-Mike" discussion to answer questions from the audience and solicit your ideas for Friends projects and directions.  Your ideas will help guide the Board as we plan for a Strategic Planning Retreat later this year.        

We will be serving light refreshments and awarding a selection of great door prizes, including guided tours and "behind-the-scenes" opportunities. As a special bonus The Gator Hole will be offering a 20% discount on all merchandise sold all day.   

    

This meeting is free and open to the public, but only Friends members are eligible to win prizes and vote.  You may join or renew your membership at the meeting.  

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Make reservations by phone (843.784.2468 EXT 301), by email ([email protected]), or in person at the visitor center reception desk prior to tour departure if seats are still available.

(Need directions? Visit the Complex web site  .) 

 

Savannah NWR Spring Fling! 

The staff of the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex is sponsoring their Spring Fling on Saturday, March 31st from 10AM to 4PM at the Savannah NWR Visitor Center.



There will be plenty to do for adults and kids alike, rain or shine.  Fire equipment, bird banding, archery skills - everyone will find something to grab their interest. 

 

Earth Day in Savannah

 

Friends Group volunteers and refuge rangers will once again staff a booth in Forsyth Park in beautiful downtown Savannah as local environmental groups celebrate Earth Day, Saturday, April 21st.  Come on down to see all the exhibitors, and stop by our tent to purchase your special-order Earth Day T-shirt with the Friends Group name on the left breast and a stylized loggerhead turtle on the back.  Show your support for the Friends and the Refuge by joining us and wearing the shirt!  We'll be there all day. 

 

 

earthday-T
Back view of Earth Day T

   

Latest from US Fish & Wildlife Service 

 

The March/April issue of Refuge Update is now available.  Read about the addition of the 556th unit to the National Wildlife Refuge System and how the Vision Statement is being implemented.  

refuge_update_marchapril_2012  


Friends Group Board of Directors
Your Board of Directors meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM at the Savannah NWR Visitor Center.  As always, all members are invited attend, take part in discussions, and share your ideas with the Board. 
Calling all volunteers!
emblem 

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 [email protected]
Butterfly Walk-about at Harris Neck NWR

Coastal WildScapes is sponsoring a butterfly walk-about on June 7th at Harris Neck NWR.  Harris Neck Refuge Manager Kimberley Hayes is co-leading this workshop.  Click on the image to get more details

butterflywalk
Hope you enjoyed the newsletter, send your comments, articles, photos, or ideas for articles to:  [email protected].
  
Sincerely,

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