Various Friends of Stewart B. McKinney NWR Celebrate

The Stewart B. Mckinney National Wildlife Refuge spans 70 miles of the Connecticut coastline and includes several separate "units" of land. Many of these units are supported by individual friends groups and volunteer organizations. In the past it has been challenging to get all 10 friends groups to come together as a whole.  In an attempt to get these groups moving toward better communication and cooperation with refuge staff and each other, refuge staff held a Friends and Volunteer Appreciation Celebration on May 12 in Guilford, Connecticut.  Forty-four friends and volunteers attended, including representatives of Potapaug Audubon Society/Friends of Salt Meadow, Friends of Outer Island, Faulkner's Light Brigade, Norwalk Seaport Association, Great Meadows, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Conservation-piping plover monitoring program, many piping plover monitoring program volunteers, and a variety of individual volunteers representing various refuge units.   

                        Outdoor recreation planner Ava Kahn was the M.C. for the event.  Acting refuge manager Rick Potvin also spoke to the group and introduced the staff.  All friends and group presidents/representatives spoke and shared their groups' missions, accomplishments, and future goals during the celebration.  One of the refuge friends' groups, Faulkner's Light Brigade, helped co-sponsor the event.  Refuge staff and all attending friends groups and other organizations set up displays with brochures and information. 

                        Attendees enjoyed a plentiful variety of food, including a six foot sub sandwich with a wide variety and options of meats and cheeses, macaroni and potato salads, pizza, chips, soda, water, and a full size sheet cake.  All attendees also received Certificates of Appreciation and volunteer gifts.  Long time volunteer, Howard Pierpont was given special recognition for his many years of dedicated time, efforts, energy and commitment to volunteering for the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge.  Attendees were also treated to a 15 minute DVD about Falkner Island as well as a rolling slide show showcasing refuge friends and volunteers in action. 

Refuge staff encouraged all friends groups to plan and host future friends and volunteer appreciation celebration events, showing off "their" unit of the refuge.