Volunteer Coordinator Becky Goche presents Tom Horb with the 2007 Volunteer of the Year Award at the refuge's annual appreciation dinner on May 21, 2008, at Old Country Buffet in Saginaw, MI. Photo by Steve Gasser.

  Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge held its annual volunteer appreciation dinner on the evening of May 21, 2008, at Old Country Buffet in Saginaw.  At this event the refuge recognized all the volunteers and Friends of Shiawassee NWR Board members who donated their time and energy to the refuge over the past year.  Twenty-five volunteers and Friends attended.  Volunteer Coordinator Becky Goche presented a short program covering volunteer highlights.  Each volunteer and Friend Board member in attendence received a lunch box with a volunteer logo and refuge name on it.  Tom Horb was awarded the 2007 Volunteer of the Year Award for his dedicated service in helping with the refuge’s public use program, mostly at Green Point Environmental Learning Center.

   In FY2007, 120 volunteers donated 5,038 hours.  Much of the time was spent on wildlife-dependent recreation such as the non-ambulatory hunt, Kids' Free Fishing Day, guided tours, and other special events.  Volunteers also conducted wildlife surveys, helped maintain trails, provided environmental education programs, and studied the archaeological resources found on the refuge.