FOI Winter Newsletter
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Volume 4 Winter Edition February 2019
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Dear Readers,
The recent government shutdown, lasting 35 days, affected refuges all across the nation, including our own McKinney Refuge. Normally during this time, the staff would be busy planning their projects for 2019, deciding where to apply their limited resources to do the most good, and maybe even completing some habitat improvement out in one of the units. Unfortunately, they were unable to go to work since before Christmas, amounting to considerable time lost. As refuge supporters, we all hope that our leaders in Washington will work to resolve their differences without affecting wildlife refuges and thousands of government workers.
When this was written in February, it had been a relatively easy winter in southern Connecticut, with little snow to clear. The recent storm comes as no surprise to long-time residents of our state, and we can only hope that Spring comes on time this year. In the meantime, reminisce about that warm, sunny, day you spent on Outer Island. |
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Volunteer Spotlight:
Peter Gloor and Julie Wagner
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Pete attended the first organizational meeting of Friends of Outer Island in 2003 and has either served as a Docent or one-week Island Keeper every year since. He met Julie about that time. She often joined him on his Island duties and became a member of FOI and Docent a few years later. They love the unspoiled beauty of the Island and the fact that most of the Island remains a sanctuary for birds and other wild-life.
We are really pleased in the improvements made for Island visitors over the years and glad that they have, if anything, reduced the human footprint. In the first years, we remember needing to dump seawater into a toilet connected to the old boat house. The waste likely went into an antiquated and ineffective septic system that can’t have been good for Long Island Sound. I was glad to help nail together the outhouse for the composting toilet that Bill Anthony designed and built.
We have served as Island Keepers for a week during each of the past four or five years. This program keeps the Island open Monday to Friday during September, after the college interns have returned to school. Island Keepers get to live in the main house and the duty is quite light, with an average of less than 10 visitors a day. I recommend it for any Friends of Outer Island who have the time. Where else could you escape to an Island get-away for free? Often on September weekdays Island Keepers get to help out with the program in which school kids visit the island, to have fun, hands-on sessions to learn about the importance of preserving our natural environment.
Prior to starting to serve as temporary Island Keepers, we regularly took advantage of the program that allowed overnight stays the night before Docent duty. The beautiful sheltered deck that FOI built about 8 years ago really made that stay much nicer. We would pitch a tent there (to keep the bugs at bay), rather than sleep in the lab, which could get stuffy on hot summer nights.
On 2011, one of those overnight stays led to our most unusual experience on Outer Island. Around 7 pm, after we had closed the Island and were preparing our dinner, we heard voices on the far side of the island. A motor boat had run out of fuel and had washed up on the Island’s granite shoreline, knocking a hole in its hull. We encouraged passengers to get off the boat, helped secure it, got the boat-owner’s name and contact information, and notified the Fish and Wildlife Service. The roughly ten “castaways” didn’t even know they were on an island. We called emergency services, the town motor launch evacuated them from the Island, and so after a couple of hours of a-little-too-much excitement, we had a peaceful Island to ourselves again.
The owner of that damaged boat told us he planned to have a friend tow it off the next day. This could have led to the boat sinking and spilling fuel and oil into Long Island Sound, so of course the Fish and Wildlife Service intervened to have the damaged boat safely towed with an inflated collar to keep it afloat.
About five summers ago, early one morning, before the other Docent had arrived, by coincidence three very large kayak groups all appeared within a half hour of eachother. They all needed a rest and so over thirty people landed on the Island simultaneously. It was hard to impress on that many people the need to stay off closed areas and to keep an eye on them all.
It led me to realize that the Island’s “Area Closed” signage was dilapidated and inadequate. I asked Fish and Wildlife if I could make a dozen movable signs that could be placed as needed to help ensure that visitors stayed off of closed, sensitive or hazardous areas. During our next Island-Keeper stay, I built the signs from scrap wood left over from the ramp project and they have been in use since. The lesson is that USFWS is open to suggestions if you notice something, small or big, that you could do to help preserve our beautiful citizen-owned Island.
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Peter and Julie's Q&A...
What was your first impression of OI (Outer Island)?
The floating dock! I really enjoy the rocking of the dock as you get out of the water taxi to walk toward the island. I also like to sit on the dock in the evening, feeling its gentle movement, and watch the sun go down.
What's your first memory of FOI?
I don’t remember my first memory. But my fondest memory is waking up on island, hearing the sound of the waves and the buoy. I took a cup of coffee and sat on the east side of the island while the sun crested over the horizon, brilliant and bright. I experienced a sense of total well-being and gratitude for our beautiful Sound.
What has surprised you most about working with FOI?
One day my husband and I were island keeping and a large group of school kids came to the island on a field trip. Their enthusiasm and energy were like a whirlwind! They had a full curriculum, but we also helped them learn to use binoculars and taught them a bit about birds. It was fun to share birding – something we love so much.
What do you find most challenging about FOI?
The lack of running water makes it challenging to stay on the island for more than a few days. But it’s totally worth it!
What do you wish other people knew about OI?
I wish more people knew that it is open to – and owned by - the public! Many people think that all the Thimble Islands are private. But OI is this beautiful island just waiting for everyone to come visit!
Why are you supporting FOI as opposed to other groups working on similar causes?
I volunteer for several environmental groups. FOI is particularly enjoyable because I get to be outside in Long Island Sound in the fresh sea air.
What would you say are some of your strongest beliefs about OI?
I believe it should stay open to the public and remain a place of education for kids to get outside and learn about our natural treasures and also remain a place of enjoyment for people who otherwise may not have easy access to the Sound.
When your friends or family find out that you volunteer, what do they say or ask?
Everyone wants to know how they can volunteer, too!
The interest in FOI seems to be growing. Why do you think that is?
I think that more and more, people are realizing the importance of preserving natural places. They connect us to our common origins and remind us that we share this earth with brother/sister species like fish and birds and turtles. These places are sources of respite and rejuvenation. The sheer beauty of OI is a treasure that draws people to the island.
What would you tell someone who is thinking about volunteering?
Try it!
·What do you think will change about FOI over the next five years?
I think that as USFWS experiences cuts in funding, FOI will need to step up to volunteer and take on even more work on the island. The few USFWS employees are spread thin across the entire Stewart B. McKinney NWR.
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Formerly a boathouse where the Weil family lived during the Depression, the oldest structure on Outer Island was renovated into a science laboratory. Photos for this article courtesy Peter Gloor. |
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Friends of Outer Island are again offering the Addison E. Verrill Scholarship to a Branford High School student. For details visit our web site at friendsofouterisland.org.
**DEADLINE is APRIL 15**
Last year's winner, Autumn McHenry, is currently a student at St. Francis University in Pennsylvania. |
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Two of last season's Island Keepers, Sage Maier and Joshua Bartosiewicz. |
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FOI at the Peabody Musuem
FOI members again represented the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge at the 23rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Legacy of Environmental and Social Justice, on Janary 20-21. Refuge staff expressed their thanks for our efforts and regretted not being able to provide support during the government shutdown. More than 800 people came on Sunday and over 2000 explored the museum Monday. Many families stopped by our table, interested in the animal pelts and skulls on display (thanks to board member Richard Boardman of the Peabody) and the kids enjoyed doing the refuge animals activity. Volunteers included Jim Lockhart, Kenny Foscue, and Bob Henninger.
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FOI members Bob Henninger (left) and Kenny Foscue greet visitors at the Stewart B. McKinney table. |
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Calendar of Upcoming Events
March- FOI Speaker Series, Willoughby Wallace Library, date and speaker TBD
April 29- Volunteer Training, 6:00-7:30, Salt Meadow Unit, Westbrook
May 11- Volunteer Training, 9:30-11:00, Outer Island Unit, Stony Creek
May 25- Outer Island opens for the season
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Don't Forget !
Please renew your membership today. Your dues enable us to host special events and welcome children of all ages to Outer Island each season. If you plan to volunteer this season, in any capacity, no dues are required; we value your time and committment, but donations are always welcome.
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Thanks To All Our Dedicated Members Throughout The Years...
Bill |
Anthony |
2001 |
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Diane |
Stark |
2016 |
Ernie |
DeSalvatore |
2001 |
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Erin |
Marcel |
2016 |
Paul |
Donoski |
2001 |
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Erina |
Connors |
2016 |
Virginia |
Baltay |
2001 |
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Henry |
Hamilton |
2016 |
James L. (Sarge) |
Michlewski |
2004 |
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Holly |
Hopkins |
2016 |
Judy |
Sullo |
2004 |
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Jacqueline |
Hendricks |
2016 |
Mary Ann |
Nelson |
2004 |
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Janet |
Strickland |
2016 |
Peter & Julie |
Gloor-Wagner |
2004 |
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Jean |
Miles |
2016 |
Russell |
Norton |
2004 |
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Jonathan |
Brady |
2016 |
Brian & Judith |
Cooper |
2005 |
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Karyn |
Stokes |
2016 |
William C |
Horne |
2005 |
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Kelly William |
Joseph |
2016 |
Babby |
Nuhn |
2006 |
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Kenny |
Foscue |
2016 |
Joan |
Rawlings |
2006 |
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Kerry |
Heidenis |
2016 |
David |
Rowe |
2007 |
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Kurt |
Cylke |
2016 |
James |
Lockhart |
2007 |
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Lynn |
Meany |
2016 |
Alan & Carol |
Horwitz-Sanders |
2008 |
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Maggie |
Marone |
2016 |
Deidre N. |
Hamilton |
2008 |
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Mark |
Gaynor |
2016 |
Stanley |
Jarmon |
2008 |
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Mark |
Semrau |
2016 |
Eleanor |
Epler |
2009 |
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Mary Alice |
Lee |
2016 |
Helen (Bimmie) |
Herget |
2009 |
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Melissa |
Peters |
2016 |
Peter & Dana |
Uhrynowski |
2009 |
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Nadine |
Markowski |
2016 |
Steve |
Joseph |
2009 |
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Richard |
Smith |
2016 |
Heather |
Smiarowski |
2009 |
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Shire |
Lyon |
2016 |
Kelley |
Fryer |
2009 |
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Steffen |
Wilhelm |
2016 |
Catherine |
Kopylec |
2010 |
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Tamar Beach |
Wells |
2016 |
Florence |
Pierson |
2010 |
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Terry & Christine |
Durham |
2016 |
Wayne |
Kopylec |
2010 |
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Tom & Linda |
Collopy |
2016 |
Elizabeth |
Dock |
2011 |
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Violet |
Smiarowski |
2016 |
Jennifer |
Lewis |
2012 |
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Corey |
Smith |
2016 |
Rose |
Dufour |
2012 |
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Alberta-Jane |
Gould |
2017 |
Amy |
Humphries |
2013 |
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Carol C. |
Dennison |
2017 |
Anna |
Meassick |
2013 |
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Charles |
Strasser |
2017 |
Marisa |
Ferraro |
2013 |
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Chris |
Hiltgen |
2017 |
Michael & Andrea |
Hogan |
2013 |
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Cinda |
Cash |
2017 |
Thomas & Maria |
Yankura |
2013 |
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Janis |
Belair |
2017 |
Tom & Carolyn |
Halaszynski |
2013 |
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Lori |
LaBonte |
2017 |
Anna |
Bartow |
2014 |
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Lynne |
Steeves |
2017 |
Bailey |
Fryer |
2014 |
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Mary |
Whalen |
2017 |
Bj |
Lambert |
2015 |
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Patty |
Becker |
2017 |
Bryan |
Yoon |
2015 |
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Rebecca |
Caravello |
2017 |
Cindi & Thomas |
Sorrentino/Madelung |
2015 |
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Robert |
Lyon |
2017 |
David & Jo-Ann |
Pearson |
2015 |
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Sabine |
Harris |
2017 |
Ed & Linda |
Kirk |
2015 |
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Wendy |
Sabol |
2017 |
Elizabeth |
Skudder |
2015 |
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Nicole |
Palffy-Muhoray |
2017 |
Erika |
Rundle |
2015 |
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Brendan |
Strebel |
2018 |
Janet |
Battista |
2015 |
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Carolyn |
Van Gemert |
2018 |
Jared |
Bishop |
2015 |
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Corey |
Cantu |
2018 |
Jeffrey |
Rizzo |
2015 |
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David |
Miller |
2018 |
Kathy |
Schwanfelder |
2015 |
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David |
Rimm |
2018 |
Kim, Stephen, & Sam |
Wollschleager |
2015 |
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David & Mindy |
Baker |
2018 |
Laura & Lilian |
Kaiser |
2015 |
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Eileen |
Zehnder |
2018 |
Lynn |
Williams |
2015 |
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Emily |
Searle |
2018 |
Maria |
Scaglione |
2015 |
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Jennifer |
Zehler |
2018 |
Martha |
Fisher |
2015 |
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Joan |
Love |
2018 |
Martin |
Begina |
2015 |
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Jody |
Elant |
2018 |
Moshe |
Gai |
2015 |
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John |
Coleman |
2018 |
Renee |
Brown |
2015 |
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Marie |
Grabowiecki |
2018 |
Robert |
Henninger |
2015 |
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Mark |
Stern |
2018 |
Sandra J |
Gifford |
2015 |
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Marlene |
Basile |
2018 |
Sue & Jerry |
Wylie |
2015 |
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Mary |
Hogan |
2018 |
Tracey |
Kammerer |
2015 |
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Nancy |
Flis |
2018 |
Vicky |
Smith |
2015 |
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Pam |
Rockey |
2018 |
Lew |
Deluca |
2015 |
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Richard |
Wells |
2018 |
Mark |
Anton |
2015 |
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Richard & Gail |
Evarts |
2018 |
Richard |
Boardman |
2015 |
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Robert |
Rodrick |
2018 |
Brian |
Lockhart |
2016 |
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Robin |
Matterfis |
2018 |
Carlos |
Vidal |
2016 |
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Sandra |
Caravello |
2018 |
Chad |
Lyons |
2016 |
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Steve & Patricia |
Kenning |
2018 |
Christine |
Smith Byerly |
2016 |
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Susy |
Cantu |
2018 |
Christopher |
Lyon |
2016 |
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Ian |
Bergemann |
2018 |
Cynthia |
Sheppard |
2016 |
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Suzanne |
Sullivan |
2018 |
Dayna |
Paul |
2016 |
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Now is the time...
to improve your island volunteer interpretation skills.
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Would you like to be an interpreter rather than just a greeter? When most people hear the word interpreter, they think of someone who translates the meaning of one language into another. In a museum, zoo, or park setting, interpreters "translate" the meanings of artifacts, collections, events, and physical resources into a language that helps visitors understand these resources. If you would like to learn how to be an effective interpreter, please visit these two links:
Foundations of Interpretation Curriculum Content
Foundations of Interpretation
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Q1 - About how many different kinds of bony fish (Osteichthyes) call Long Island Sound home, even if only for one season? a) Less than 25 b) Between 25 - 50 c) Between 50 - 75 d) Between 75 - 100 e) More than 150
Q2 - Outer Island is one of the Thimble Islands. About how many different islands - at low tide - make up the Thimble Islands?
Q3 - What instrument on Outer Island uses dedicated nano-technology sensors to capture data?
Q4 - The Thimble Islands are an archipelago. What is an archipelago? Name some other archipelagos in the United States.
Q5 - In the long tradition of her father and the tightly knit Stony Creek community, Anna Milne is the Captain of which tour vessel that passes by Outer Island regularly?
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A1 - 37 (Go here for more info:
wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_animals_of_Long_Island_Sound)
A2 - The Thimbles are an archipelago of 100 to 365 islands, depending on whether you count small rocks, reefs, ledges and sandbars that surface at low tide.
A3 - The PerkinElmer ELM Air Quality Monitoring System was installed on Outer Island in October 2015. This ELM air quality monitoring system gathers information on atmospheric temperature, humidity, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter and noise. ELM is designed to monitor outdoor air quality using a range of dedicated nano-technology sensors. ELM measures local pollutant levels in real time, wirelessly transmitting the data to a cloud-based system for storage, analysis and processing. To access the daily air quality data from the ELM system on Outer Island, use the following URL:
www.outerisland.org/elm.
A4 - An archipelago is a group, chain or cluster of
islands, or sometimes a sea containing a small number of scattered islands. Some other archipelagos in the US are: the Florida keys, the Hawaiian islands, the Aleutian Islands in Alaska and Channel Islands in California.
A5 - Volsunga IV
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Friends of Outer Island
Mission Statement
- To preserve the natural resources of Outer Island.
- Provide environmental education and wildlife dependent recreation.
- Assist with maintenance and improvement of Outer Island facilities.
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Who are the Friends of Outer Island?
We are citizens from all walks of life with an interest in protecting the environment and serving the public. Visit, donate or volunteer to be a Friend of Outer Island. Click through to our web page,
www.friendsofouterisland.org to learn more about us and how to become a Friend of Outer Island! |
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Friends of Outer Island
Board of Directors
Jim Lockhart, President
Virginia Baltay, Vice President
Richard Boardman,Secretary
Lew DeLuca, Treasurer
Mark Anton, Board Member
Ian Bergemann, Board Member
Kelley Fryer, Board Member
Nicole Palffy-Muhoray, Board Member
Heather Smiarowski, Board Member
Corey Smith, Board Member
Suzanne Sullivan, Board Member
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Thanks to our newsletter staff and contributers:
Mark Anton
Lew DeLuca
Peter Gloor & Julie Wagner
Jim Lockhart
Beth Skudder
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We Want To Hear From You!
Let us know what you like or dislike about your newsletter; what would you like to see. We plan to publish three times a year; our next edition will be out in the Spring of 2019. Contact us at friendsofouterisland@gmail.com.
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Votes: 0
Voting..
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