Written by Bill Tweed, Friends of Malheur NWR Board President
As president of this organization, I spend a lot of time checking in with Janelle, our wonder-working executive director. We bounce ideas off each other, test possible visions, and just try to keep each other informed. In this way we seek to find the magic balance between vision, planning, and reacting to our ever-changing circumstances. We need to consistently pursue all three. When we succeed, good things happen.
As an organization, we have made several breakthroughs in the past twelve months. These started with adding a new cadre of board members to our board of directors. By year’s end six new persons had stepped forward to join our volunteer group, bringing with them high-level skills in the fields like business management, biological science, communications, fundraising, and economic analysis. Each is contributing not only their skills but also their energy to FOMR.
Adding this new energy and vision to that of our existing and already strong board and staff, we were able this past fall to organize by far our most successful fundraising event ever. This single event put over $40,000 of additional funds in our accounts. This is important because it is fundraising that gives us the resources to carry out the projects that our refuge needs.
We are investing some of these funds in a new seasonal position to support our Crane’s Nest Nature Store and its volunteer program. This means that for the next few months we will have three paid employees (just two years ago we had only one). More employees increase our capacity to do things – and that’s why we’re here!
At the same time, we continue to invest in projects that support the refuge. In the past months, for example, we’ve installed – with lots of help – a new osprey nesting platform and foundations for several bat condos on the refuge. Sometime soon, we’ll go online with a nest camera at the osprey platform that will allow us all to observe the nest and its hoped-for occupants. We’re also at work seeking cultural clearances for improvements to the exhibits at Frenchglen, discussing how to reestablish native vegetation in the vicinity of Dunn Dam, and developing concepts that will lead to the restoration of Marshall Pond as a year-round home for waterfowl. There’s more, but you get the idea.
In the meantime, we’ve also faced a year uncommonly rich in unpredictable events. In the past twelve months, the refuge has dealt with regional flooding – good for birds but not for infrastructure— the longest government shutdown ever, and government-wide programs to further reduce government staffing. All of these have demanded our attention.
As 2026 begins, our organization is positioned to accomplish even more. Our hard-working staff and dedicated board are envisioning the next round of projects and strategizing how to fund them. You can count on us to keep you informed of the impact you are driving with your support of our work!
