Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge honored its volunteers and Friends of Shiawassee NWR Board of Directors at a special recognition dinner, June 27.  The dinner was held at Old Country Buffet in Saginaw. 

Nineteen volunteers and Friends members attended the event.  Following a buffet meal, Volunteer Coordinator Becky Goche and Refuge Manager Steve Kahl presented a brief program and handed out gifts of appreciation. 

Steve Gasser was honored as the 2006 Refuge Volunteer of the Year.  Gasser began volunteering at the refuge in 2003.  He leads refuge hikes, bird tours, helps with island bird surveys, serves as the Junior Duck Stamp photographer, and provides many of the photos that the refuge uses in its programs, brochures and website.

In 2006, 115 people donated 4,335 hours helping on the refuge.  These hours were broken down as follow: 535 hours for wildlife and habitat management, 2,539 hours for wildlife-dependent recreation, 240 hours for environmental education and 1,021 hours for cultural resources.