The 2005 workshop brought home to us the level of support we have internally and externally. Regional Director Hamilton told us to take pride in what we do, because he does. He listened to our concerns and has followed through with actions, including funding a workshop during a time of very lean budgets. The Regional Directorate and our many partners recognize our contributions and the importance of what we do for the resource. Workshop guest speaker Tom Bennett, Commissioner of Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, made it clear that we are truly the ?backbone of the Fish and Wildlife Service.?

We in the wage grade community recognize ourselves as part of a larger organization of people that are pulling together for the conservation of our fish and wildlife resources. Along with other Service employees, we are ambassadors for our refuges and hatcheries. We know that our communities use us as sounding boards for local issues, and we plan to stay tuned in and to communicate with management on what we see and hear. We have come a long way in the past three years. We will go a lot further in the next three.

Contributed b y Ricky Campbell, Co-Chairman, Wage Grade Advisory Committee, and Manager of Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery in MS