It is no accident that the word at the center of our organization’s title is “Friends.” If you look the word up in your dictionary, you will find that it covers many different sorts of relationships, and nearly all of those apply to FOMR and its membership.
Let me offer some examples. Friends come together voluntarily. Friends share interests. Friends help each other. Friends add value to each other’s lives. The list goes on and on, but you get the idea. All these definitions describe the relationships that define our organization and its very special membership.
I bring this up in this issue of the Musings because our annual autumn opportunity to come together and enjoy each other’s company is coming up in mid-October. As detailed elsewhere in this newsletter, we’ll be coming together for a very special evening on October 18th at Bend’s Universalist/Unitarian Church.
The evening will feature entertaining programs and good food, but what makes it truly special is the opportunity to spend an evening with people who care as much about Malheur as you do. In the room , I suspect, you will find not only old friends but almost certainly new ones, too.
Key to all this, I think, is the inescapable fact that as friends we both share the inspiration offered by the refuge and bring inspiration to each other. Malheur Refuge offers many opportunities for finding inspiration, but not until we share those opportunities do they fully come into focus.
Personally, I know that most of the friends I enjoy the most are those with whom I have spent time exploring the natural world. We have bonds that have endured for decades and look likely to remain strong for many years to come.
The Friends of Malheur is made up of friends – not only to the refuge but also to each other. If you’re able to join us next month, you’ll see just how true that is.
– W. Tweed
