The 2009 National Wildlife Refuge System "Friends Unite!" Conference, co-hosted by NWRA and the FWS, was held February 21 - 23, 2009 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C., followed immediately by the NWRA’s Hill Rally on February 23-24.

The 2009 Friends Conference brought together over 500 Friends and FWS staff from all over the nation for the largest such gathering in the history of the Friends movement. Nearly 300 Friends from 162 different organizations in 49 states represented over 230 national wildlife refuges at the Conference and were joined by almost 200 FWS staff.

The speakers and sessions offered at the Conference were organized by NWRA and FWS to give Friends the tools needed to address the serious issues facing the NWRS including climate change, threats from Beyond the Boundaries and organizational challenges in managing Friends groups. Sessions were offered in three tracks:

1. Refuge System Resource Challenges
2. Tools, Programs and Strategies for Success
3. Friends Capacity Building

A conference reception honored the outstanding efforts of the recipients of the 2009 Volunteer of the Year and Friends Group of the Year, Marie Springer of the Friends of Wallkill River NWR in New Jersey and the Friends of Pool 9 of the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge in Iowa.

See all of our 2009 Award Selectees!

228 Friends from 131 Friends groups representing over 146 refuges across 44 states in all 8 regions stormed Capitol Hill on February 24th! ©Evan Hirsche

NWRA Leads over 228 Friends to Capitol Hill!

Directly following the 2009 Friends Conference, NWRA held an advocacy training and led 228 Friends from 131 Friends groups representing over 146 refuges across 44 states in all 8 regions to Capitol Hill on February 24th – one of the largest groups to ever advocate on Capitol Hill for the National Wildlife Refuge System at one time!

Friends met with over 245 U.S. Representatives and Senators as well as key House and Senate Committee staffers, to advocate for more support for the NWRS - specifically, increased funding for the Refuge System, increased funding for land acquisition and for member support in the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus. With so many refuge supporters swarming Capitol Hill at once, refuges were a topic of conversations all over the halls of Congress. Several, if not most, Friends had personal meetings with members of their Congressional delegation and were able to explain the challenges facing their refuges and the entire Refuge System directly to the people making decisions on policies that impact the System.

Downloads:
State Fact Sheets for Refuge System Asks
CARE FY10 Funding (PDF)
Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF): Conserving America's Landscapes
Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus

Friends ended their amazing advocacy day at an evening Hill reception co-hosted by the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE) and the FWS. CARE honored Representative David Obey (WI), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and Senator Dianne Feinstein (CA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies for recognition of their work as stewards of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

CARE press releases