Tamarac Interpretive Association
2006/2007 Accomplishments
- Participated in a Mentoring Workshop with refuge staff to better define respective roles and responsibilities, and to set joint priorities.
- Sponsored the 2007 Fall Open House
- Purchased grill for Refuge staff for use at volunteer and refuge staff events
- Improved Gift shop with new store display fixtures and lighting
- Assumed coordination and production of the TIA newsletter
- Received a $4,998 technology capacity building grant from the National Wildlife Foundation.
- Provided a staffed booth at the Detroit Lakes Builders Show
- Provided a staff both at the Washington St. Mall, Detroit Lakes, for Earth Day
- Co-sponsored the 2007 Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds.
- Purchased a desktop computer, laptop, and laser printer for TIA
- Moved our website to a full featured web hosting service.
- Set up a TIA office at the refuge visitor center
- Designed TIA letterhead, envelopes, greeting cards, and fax cover sheets
- Designed and printed promotional bookmarks featuring photos taken at Tamarac
- Completed a PowerPoint presentation on TIA
- Created two new board committees: advocacy and one for the giftshop and bookstore.
- As part of our new advocacy effort, mailed an action alert to our members requesting writing letters to their congressman and senators.
- Submitted written testimony to the House and Senate Appropriations Interior Subcommittee as part of friends’ group testimony in support of refuge funding in the FY08 federal budget.
- Attended Minneapolis Gift Mart for purchase of new items now in gift shop
- Visited with Rita Fuller, Regional Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System, about issues of our friends group, during her site visit to Tamarac
- Set up a donated computer in the visitor center with a birding quiz, and purchased a new flat screen computer monitor.
- Set up a donated computer in the museum with a rotating PowerPoint presentations of past photo contest winners and wildflower quiz.
- Assisted with Volunteer Orientation
- Assisted with Clean up day on the Refuge
- Assisted refuge staff with school groups
- Sponsored the 2006 Tamarac Photo contest.
- Created wildlife themed wreath for the Festival of Wreaths Fundraiser
- Sold birdie treats, birds feeders, and wildlife books at Holiday Sale in the Detroit Lakes Washington Square Mall
- Facilitated design and construction of the Blackbird Lake Observation Deck
- Assisted with installation of several interpretive signs & viewing scopes at popular wildlife watching sites.
- Provided funding to Natural Innovations for a county-wide Environmental Education strategy.
- Provided financial assistance for lodging for a refuge intern.
- Organized a TIA fundraising raffle
Tamarac Interpretive Association
2005/2006 Accomplishments
- Sponsored a bus for a fall visit for residents of a local senior care center
- Sponsored the Fall Open House in October
- Contribution to International Wolf Foundation: wolf posters & ed. materials
- Hosted a membership booth at the mall for National Wildlife Week
- Matching funds provided to refuge for native forbes for prairie restoration
- Initiated Contract for Bookkeeping
- Created wildlife themed wreaths for the Festival of Wreaths fund-raiser
- Launched a website www.tamaracfriends.org
- Became a Member of the Lake Country Scenic Byway
- Sponsored the Festival of Birds event
- Set up the Bookstore at the Festival of Birds earning over $1000 in sales.
- Added new videos to the movie collection for refuge weekly nature films
- Purchased equipment and tools for youth programs
- Hosted membership & birdie baked goods Booth at the mall during Holiday
- Attendance to the Minneapolis Gift Mart – new products now in gift shop
- Distributed quarterly Newsletters
- Initiated an Oral History Project of the historic land uses of the refuge
- Sponsored Natural Innovations, Inc. for Community Environmental Ed. Project
- Attended Regional Friends Conference
- Assisted Refuge Staff with School Group Field Days
- Sponsored Refuge Volunteer Orientation Day
Tamarac Interpretive Association
2004/2005 Accomplishments
- Sponsored a bus for a fall visit for residents of a local senior care center
- Sponsored a Fall Open House in October
- Purchased a new spotting scope for the Visitor Center overlook
- Donated funds for a portable LCD projector for refuge off-site programs
- Completed a new sales wall in the bookstore
- Matching funds provided to refuge to purchase a broadcast seeder for prairie restoration
- Reorganized and updated all Inventory Records
- Transferred all treasury transactions to Quickbooks
- Sponsored the Festival of Birds event
- Created and entered wildlife themed wreaths for the Festival of Wreaths fund-raiser
- Made a site visit and established a new agreement for book/gift shop at Agassiz NWR
- Received $3,800 grant from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for Capacity Building
- Developed a Strategic Plan
- Developed a new membership dues structure
- Became an affiliate member to National Wildlife Refuge Association
- Designated a website for TA (www.tamaracfriends.org)
- Became a Member of the Lake Country Scenic Byway
- Added new videos to the movie collection so the refuge could host weekly nature films
- Purchased Insect Swoop nets and several other tools for youth programs
- Hosted a membership booth at the mall for National Wildlife Week
- Hosted a membership booth at the mall for Earth Day
- Attendance to the Minneapolis Gift Mart – new products now in gift shop
- Set up the Bookstore at the Festival of Birds earning over $2,000 in sales
- Designated a new look for the Newsletter, recruited a volunteer editor, expanded issues
- Donated funds to refuge for restoration: Mud Lake, Evans Lake, Visitor Center
- Made contribution to International Wolf Foundation: received posters and educational materials
- Initiated an Oral History Project that will focus on the historic land uses of the refuge
- Adopted an official logo
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