Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge
Reflections Newsletter, December, 2020
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COVID-19 Virus Update
As most of you are undoubtedly aware, the concerns about COVID-19 have changed almost all of our day-to-day activities that we normally take for granted. Therefore, for the foreseeable future, there are no tours, classes or other events scheduled at the Refuge.
Visitors are NOT allowed access to the Visitor Center at this time. However, at the VC parking area, a phone number is posted to call (850-925-6121) regarding entrance fees and passes. A staff person will then meet you at the VC ramp entrance to assist. For any payments, we suggest credit card use to avoid contact with cash.
Restrooms at the VC are therefore not open as well. However, the Mounds' restrooms are still open, and there is a portalet in the VC parking lot as well as at the salt water boat ramp. Thank you.
For a more complete Refuge report and to stay updated about the federal government message about activities at the Refuge, please visit the Refuge Public Health Update. |
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Being a Friend During a Pandemic
Please take a minute to read this; The Friends Board of Directors is working hard under difficult circumstances.
As a Friend of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge, you join hundreds of others who support our wonderful Refuge through volunteer work and helping fund important Refuge projects such as Red-cockaded Woodpecker preservation and Longleaf Pine restoration. While Friends activities have been—to say the least—subdued this year due to the Pandemic, we are not being idle and with your continued support much good work continues that we’d like to tell you about.
One of the biggest challenges for the Friends this year was a complete shutdown of our very popular Nature Store which provides the largest single source of funds for Refuge projects. Through the technical wizardry of Friends Treasurer and webmaster, Bill Everitt, and the creative mind of board member and Nature Store manager, Rita LeBlanc, the Nature Store was restored as an online shopping option that you can visit via the newly updated Friends website.
Though starting in May with just a few items, the online Nature Store now offers a wide variety of ever popular T-shirts, nature-focused jewelry, books, and our exclusive line of Area-X merchandise which enjoys world-wide popularity through the sponsorship of Refuge Friend and New York Times best-selling author Jeff VanderMeer. Recently the Nature Store even added a curbside contactless pickup option in addition to regular mail delivery. Now that the Holidays are upon us this is an opportunity to make family and friends happy with wonderful gifts while supporting a great cause! Check it out for yourself and see how the online Nature Store can be your most enjoyable + rewarding shopping option this year!
Like the rest of the world this year, the Friends have become familiar with Zoom meetings. Friends' committees that have remained virtually active include the Nature Store Committee, Communications, Governance, and Membership committees. We are using this interruption of normal activities as an opportunity to re-imagine our communications and membership strategies while actively recruiting new Board members and committee members. If you have ever thought about getting more involved with the Refuge, now is a great time to act on that thought. Contact us at info@stmarksrefuge.org and someone will respond to talk about your interests and opportunities.
One of the major areas of Friends “re-imagineering” in the past few months has been undertaken by the Membership Committee. After an extensive review of our membership program, the Committee, supported by the entire Board, made the difficult decision to temporarily pause our membership efforts and make the momentous move from a mail/paper/filing-cabinet system to a state-of-the-art digital system. This new system will mean a much easier and better experience for you – as a Friend – when it comes time to renew your membership. This project is still very much a work in progress and you should be on the lookout for exciting announcements in the weeks to come, but in the meantime we encourage you to take a look at some of the improvements made to date.
Finally, we want to thank you for your continued support of the Friends and the Refuge through this difficult year. With your Friends' membership or donation, you are making all the difference for the science, education, conservation, and recreation activities that are ongoing.
And finally, finally—keep in mind that this year your generosity qualifies as a deductible charitable contribution, even for non-itemizers, under new IRS guidelines in the 2020 CARES Act.
Thanks again and see you at the Refuge!
Text courtesy Mr. John Haines, former Board of Directors Treasurer
Photo Caption: Tom Baird, former Board President, talks with Ranger Gail Fishman at the October 28 dedication for the B-17 Crash Historical Marker at Picnic Pond.
Photo: the editor
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Fire Tower Acquisition
On November 20, Justin Dewey, Realty Specialist from the Fish and Wildlife Service contacted Senior Supervisory Ranger Robin Will to say that the deed to the Newport Fire Tower was recorded and that the tower was now officially a property of the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.
The tower has long been a landmark seen just off of Highway 98 as you turn onto Lighthouse Road. There is a second tower that the public can see off of Headquarters Pond Trail near the restrooms along Lighthouse Road.
It is exciting to see that these old remnants of Florida Forest Service activity in the state are still standing proud.
The editor
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Refuge Departures . . . We'll Miss
You All
Robin Will
Friends of the Refuge are seeing a true "Friend" leave. Officially set to retire as of early January, Robin has been a huge asset to the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). And, in serving as liaison to the Friends Board of Directors, I can assure you that she will be missed greatly.
Robin was one of the first visitor service employees in FWS. "Her first manager at the Service was not even sure what he was supposed to do with a visitor services person, so Robin quickly defined her role. As a result, nationally, FWS followed her lead when refining the visitor service position," said Manager Terry Peacock.
Robin also assisted in the establishment of the Friends group, which was one of the earliest Friends groups put in place with FWS. In addition, she established the Monarch Festival and organized the event for 28 years. Terry said, "Everything you see the public doing at the Refuge has been touched by Robin".
As with all true friends, those of us who have worked with Robin know her commitment and love for the Refuge. We know that we will see her in the future and have the benefit of her expertise as time goes by. Thank you so much, Robin.
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Gail Fishman
Another stalwart member of the Refuge staff who is retiring is Gail Fishman. Boy, this is another tough loss.
Gail was one of the co-founders of the Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge (then it was called St. Marks Refuge Association), and as a volunteer, she was the very first Nature Store Manager. She’s a terrific advocate for wildlife and her historical and cultural Refuge knowledge is extremely broad. For many years, she often put that information to good use as the editor of the Eagle's Eye newsletter.
Gail's knowledge base was not restricted to just history and cultural ideas, however. She also seemed to have an innate botanical sense. That was keenly evident as she supervised the Monarch Milkweed Initiative throughout her time as the Refuge.
"There's so much to say here about how much institutional knowledge will be gone as Gail moves toward retirement," said Terry Peacock. "We will miss her so much."
Here Gail is seen with her puppy, Old Smokey - now how appropriate is that? Thank you, Gail.
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Dallas Beckett
Dallas Beckett is also retiring this month. He is one of the Refuge staff that you don't see often, but his presence is everywhere. He maintains several million dollars' worth of structures and facilities on the refuge, as well as looking after Refuge equipment and vehicles. Refuge Manager Terry Peacock said "I am going to have a very difficult time replacing Dallas. He requires no supervision. He is the glue that holds our equipment, roads and facilities together."
Dallas has also ensured that all public use areas are mowed, repaired and cleaned. Over 30 years of tropical storms, he has had to rebuild levees many times, and following Hurricane Michael, Lighthouse Road required significant repair that he supervised. Dallas was also responsible for building the Headquarters Pond Trail lookout that visitors absolutely love. In addition, he constructed numerous buildings and other facilities on the Refuge over his career, each one built with amazing attention to detail. Thank you for your service, Dallas.
The editor
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Nature Store Holiday
Gift Ideas
If you are getting an earlier start on your holiday gift-giving, the Nature Store offers all sorts of cool selections. You can do your shopping online to have it delivered to you OR when you make your order, you can drive by the Refuge Visitor Center to pick up your purchases if you don't want it shipped. And, remember that ALL the proceeds from your purchases go to the Refuge. Shop online NOW.
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Historical Marker Dedication
B-17 Bomber Crash at the Refuge in 1944
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On July 30, 1944, a B-17 U.S. Army Air Force aircraft crashed into the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge with only one survivor of the 10-man crew. This was a flight that originated in Avon Park, Florida. It was a mock-bombing exercise scheduled for both Tallahassee and Waycross, Georgia. Severe weather forced the aircraft down.
The significance of this crash was not only the tragic loss of these servicemen’s lives, but of all those approximately 15,000 men and women who died in 54,000 similar accidents throughout the U.S. during WWII. This marker will forever commemorate these valiant Army Air Force men and women and the missions they flew.
A dedication honoring those men who lost their lives in the crash was held on October 28. Thank you to Robin Will and Refuge staff for organizing the ceremony and for their historical research that documents the tragic event. Thank you, also, to the Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge for funding the historical marker.
Photo caption: Travis Pollard spoke during the dedication describing how a fire crew that he led in February, 2011, by chance, discovered parts of the wreckage that led to identifying the aircraft as the one that had left Avon Park in 1944.
The editor
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Winter Birding at the Refuge
This is a beautiful time of year to search for birds at the Refuge. The air is crisp and the skies are often BIG and full of magnificent clouds. Little birds are very much a part of this big picture, even though they are sometimes dwarfed by the enormous wading birds and raptors. So, here is a salute to the little guys out there. Blue/gray Gnatcatcher.
The editor
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Bird Reports Assist Visitors
Don Morrow and Matt Johnstone, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge volunteers and expert birders lead in-depth bird tours at the Refuge frequently throughout the year. Both Don and Matt keep us up-to-date on what we can see from week-to-week. To see what THEY see, so that YOU can see them, check out their sightings on our website.
The editor
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Have you considered including the Refuge in your will? We would appreciate hearing from you if so. The Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge can provide information and guide you through the process. Just call the Refuge at 850-925-6121, and ask to be contacted by the Friends' Development Committee, or email us. |
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Reflections newsletter is a benefit of membership for Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge.
It also serves as an important supplement to
Both the newsletter and the web site provide members and the public information about volunteer activities and events at the Refuge.
Reflections Editor, Phillip M. Pollock
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