This is the second consecutive year a national wildlife refuge friends group from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region has been named Friends Group of the Year. Last year the Rydell Refuge Association, from Rydell National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Minnesota, was awarded the same honor. In addition, the Friends of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge won the award in 1998.
"The Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region has a long history of strong partnerships with the local communities we serve," said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Director William Hartwig. "It is appropriate that the Friends of the Upper Mississippi River Refuges receive this award as the National Wildlife Refuge System celebrates its 98th birthday. Without Groups such as this, the System would not be as strong as it is today. We look forward working with them to ensure the System is even stronger when we celebrate the Systems centennial in 2003."
The Group is an independent, non-profit organization consisting of a board of directors and five chapters dedicated to conserving the natural and cultural resources of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge and its districts offices located in Winona, Minn., LaCrosse, Wis., McGregor, Iowa and Savanna, Ill. In addition, the Group supports the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge in Trempealeau, Wis., and the Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge in McGregor, Iowa. These refuges are located in and along the Upper Mississippi River Valley.
"It was a great honor to accept this award on behalf of the Group," said Group President George Hoffmann. "This award really goes to the 250 members who volunteer their time and effort to do the on-the-ground work that supports the refuges. The real reward is the personal satisfaction all of us get from knowing we are helping this great river and the fish and wildlife it supports."
The Group has been instrumental in securing funding and volunteer services for the Mississippi River refuges. The Groups chapters have donated thousands of dollars in funding and volunteer hours, organizing activities such as tree and shrub plantings, an annual photography contest and fishing activities for children and developmentally disabled adults.
The Group has also served as advocates for the resources of the refuges and the National Wildlife Refuge System as a whole, contacting Congressional members and other influential people and organizations on behalf of refuges. The Groups activities last year led to Congressional funding for the Environmental Management Program, designed to improved the ecological health of the Upper Mississippi River.
"This award and the work that the Group has accomplished really shows that Friends Groups can make the difference for national wildlife refuges on both a local and national level,
