From the President's Perch- Michelle Miller

Greetings Friends!

As I write this note to you, many of the restrictions of Covid-19 are being lifted in Oregon and it is a chance to start thinking more hopefully about what the “new normal” is going to be like. It also is a chance to reflect on this past exceptionally long year. Our Board of Directors have continued to meet via Zoom and managed to keep busy behind the scenes working on a multitude of projects to get our house in order and improve how we function as an organization.

I want to take this opportunity to thank our Board members who worked on these projects during a really challenging time! Highlights include:

• two excellent Virtual Bird Festivals
• formed an ongoing partnership with Greenway Elementary School with educational environmental supplies, mini BirdFest, summer camp and virtual visits.
• secured grants and relief funds to keep us operational
• secured grants to continue supporting the restoration efforts at both Refuges
• IT improvements to the website and newsletter
• training Board members on becoming a more inclusive organization
• creation of an online platform to sell items from the Friends Store and provide curbside pickup

And much more- I do not have space to list everything but rest assured moss did not grow under our feet.

Looking forward to seeing our Friends back on the Refuge, Save the date for our annual membership meeting on September 25th. Watch for your invitation. Not a Friend? We welcome you to join and be a part of supporting wildlife and wild places!

Michelle

News From the Board

Irene Vlach, Secretary

As we are inaugurating an updated format for our newsletter, we are introducing what will become a regular feature of each issue: news from the board. Our newsletter highlights our achievements and successes, but most members don’t know how we get there. Hence, going forward we will keep you abreast of salient conversations at the board level.

The board spent the pandemic reorganizing the functioning of the organization, creating, reviving and populating committees. 

Have you been curious about the workings of the board and toying with the idea of engaging with the organization on a deeper level without making the commitment to join the board? 

The Friends of Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Complex manage the organization and its programs by the means of the committees listed below. If you are interested in joining as we transition from the pandemic behind-the scenes work to opening outward to the community, please contact us for more information.

Recently, we took a deep dive into the Friends' Committee structure and evaluated what tasks each committee would do. We are a working Board, which means we stay active and engaged! Our Friends' President Michelle Miller says" The time I have spent on the Board has made me feel that I have a more meaningful voice, purpose and impact on the mission of the Friends and the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge".

We need Friends members to step forward and help get this important work done and share your unique perspective. Some committees meet monthly while others meet less often depending on topic. Please consider this opportunity to support the Friends. The committees accepting new members are:

• Membership

• Special Events

• Finance –looking for a treasurer- in- training

Committees that we are currently forming include

• Fundraising, Marketing and Outreach

• Photo Society

We are also looking for Friends' volunteers to work in our Nature's Overlook Store and the Visitor Center as we re-open to the public.

Please contact Bonnie Anderson at Info@FriendsofTualatinRefuge.org Subject Line FOR Committee Information and let us know your interest and she will set you up with the right committee or contact.