How very fortunate we are to have the St Marks National Wildlife Refuge. There is nothing as grand as the salt marsh and the stately pines and palms that talk to us about old Florida. It helps me to keep these pleasant images in my subconscious as I reflect on the past year. We’ve seen some very good things happen at the Refuge over the previous year, and we’ve had some difficult issues to address, as well.

The government shutdown last winter affected our Refuge staff for over a month; their income and serenity suffered. To show our support for them, the Friends provided Refuge staff with a picnic lunch from Sonny’s BBQ on a very chilly mid-winter day. The refuge staff not only enjoyed the food, but they appreciated the opportunity to get together with their co-workers and Friends again.

The lighthouse relighting event in October was a tremendous success. It was very impressive to see the lighthouse come to light and see the keeper’s quarters restored with great integrity and attention to historical detail. The evening resonated with excitement that was shared by many local participants. The relighting culminates a 5-year effort by the Friends to realize this accomplishment.

We held a very successful Friend-building event with Proof Brewing the day before the official lighthouse event at the Refuge. We are grateful to the hundreds of people who showed up to support the lighthouse by purchasing the specially crafted beer in commemorative glasses that sold out in 20 minutes. We are looking forward to repeating this event in the coming year to support the intern programs.

The Friends have also put some wonderful improvements in place this year.  One of them is a beautiful new website, filled with a lot of important, new information. If you’re reading this report, you are in the site right now. Take a few minutes to navigate some of the links that lead to information-packed pages.

Behind-the-scenes, we implemented a quicker checkout process in the Nature Store. In addition, the store inventory is now talking to our book keeping system; when technology is working, it’s a joyful time.  This means more accountability and productivity for you, the Friends’ members.

Behind-the-scenes, we implemented a state-of-the-art iPad-based POS (point of sale) system in the Nature Store. By harnessing technology we have simplified the sales process and taken the struggle out of inventory management. Now our Nature Store manager has up to the minute data to use in ordering and product selection to maximize sales and profits. When technology is working, it’s a joyful time.  This means more accountability and productivity for you, the Friends’ members.

The Refuge exists and thrives because of you. Your donations, membership, and purchases at the Nature Store make it happen. Thank you for making this past year a very progressive one.