President’s Message

It is always a pleasure to write glowingly about the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge just as it is to discuss ways the Friends support the Refuge mission. This Annual Report will attempt to do that, but in a slightly unusual way. That’s because it has been a very unusual year, essentially broken into two parts. First, there’s the part that’s business-as-usual, and then there’s the second part that is uncharted territory business.  The latter, of course, relates to the COVID-19 Pandemic that has made us all step back (or forward, if you will) and look at our Friends’ work virtually. 

But, before I get into that virtual part, let’s look at the front half of the year.  Our fiscal year for 2019 got underway innocently enough with the monumental culmination of several years of lighthouse restoration work – the “Re-Light the Light” celebration.  On July 13th, the replica Fresnel lens that the Friends funded was put in place, and once more, the light shined brightly across Apalachee Bay. It was the first time the light had been cast across the water since 2000.  On October 31st, an official re-lighting ceremony took place at the lighthouse, and the public came out in full force. 

The re-lighting of the light coincided almost exactly with another important Friends’ milestone. Board member, Bill Everitt, engineered a new, dynamic website for the Friends. The site is intuitive and easily read. It now allows us to communicate electronically in ways we hadn't explored before, through blogs, mail lists and more. It's also a friendlier site for those of us using hand-held devices, such that the content resolves well to match our phones or tablets. We've moved into a new age of web technology with this new site design.   

Behind every project at St. Marks there is a group of dedicated professionals and supporters. We are very lucky to have a few special people whose generosity has been and continues to be instrumental in making certain conservation and cultural history projects a part of the Refuge. Quite simply, when the need arises, they were there. This year has been no different.

Since 2014 Dr. Ed and Hilda Carney have been a very strong part of this distinguished group where our intern program is concerned. The interns are valued assets for both the Friends and the Refuge. We are extremely grateful for their help over the last seven years.  In addition, Val and Dave LaHart have shown a great love for the lighthouse – they were, in fact, married there. They have assisted us when we really needed help for the lighthouse restoration over the past several years.  Then, in the most recent couple of years, New York Times best-selling author Jeff VanderMeer also has stepped forward to assist us with environmental work, particularly the Friends’ Frosted Flatwoods Salamander initiative. Royalties from the critically acclaimed Southern Reach Trilogy books allow the Friends to continue important environmental work.

The Friends are so fortunate to receive financial help from these caring people in their effort to underwrite some of the most important projects at the Refuge. We are honored to have them as true Friends.

It was almost uncanny that these donors supported us this year when they did.  It was as if they each had an eye on the future. Because, in early March, the Friends had to halt business-as-usual. 

 Most everyone realizes that the Friends rely heavily upon the kinds of donations mentioned above.  Membership is also very important for our well-being.  But, by far the Friends’ greatest revenue source is the Friends Nature Store. With the Visitor Center closing almost immediately with the onset of the Pandemic in early March, the Nature Store closed its doors, too. That’s when the Friends began doing business over a computer network. 

• Almost immediately, the Nature Store committee realized that a “virtual” store was going to have to be put in place. Therefore, store manager and Board member Rita LeBlanc worked her magic in creating an "online” electronic presence with limited merchandise available at the beginning. As the months passed, however, the merchandise offerings expanded greatly. The virtual store evolved to provide "curb-side service" to those ordering online and opting to drive by the Refuge Visitor Center to pick up their purchases. The store is an incredible success story for this report period in spite of the hurdles we have faced.  Visit the store online.

•  The concept of bringing the Refuge right through the front door of the public has been accomplished virtually in other ways, as well.  Friends’ Board of Directors member Preston Earley hiked through remote areas of the Refuge during the summer and videotaped his explorations describing what he saw and what he heard as he walked along.  Each exploration he made was posted on the Friends’ website so that the public could follow along with him. These blogs have been very well received. View the Refuge rambles.

• A popular virtual camera system allows the public to check weather conditions at the Refuge and lighthouse area. WeatherSTEM cameras, a joint effort of Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge, the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, the Wakulla County Department of Emergency Management, The Florida Division of Emergency Management, and WeatherSTEM, was put in place on July 16, 2020.  They are located at the east end of Levee Trail in the lighthouse parking area. One camera provides a view of the lighthouse and the second looks toward the pier, with a view out into the bay seen in both. In particular, Facebook users love to use these cameras to capture sunrises and sunsets and share them on their timelines. Others can then see the beautiful cloud formations across the pier and past the lighthouse as the light changes. Go to the cameras.

•  Finally, Friends’ Facebook followers get glimpses of some of the best Refuge wildlife photography approximately a couple times each week ever since the Pandemic began.  These photos of birds, animals, insects and landscapes are available to anyone who follows the Friends via FB, and all they have to do is turn on their computers or open their phones. Each time a post is made, several thousand viewers are reached.  In addition to photography, FB allows Friends to make important announcements that relate to seasonal Refuge activity.  Go to the Friends’ Facebook page.  

That’s a brief summary of 2019-2020.  It hasn’t always been a smooth ride, but it has been one of innovation.  The Friends have had to figure out a different way to continue their mission of supporting the Refuge. The Friends’ Board of Directors, early on, began meeting via Zoom. Our meetings have been very productive, and I encourage you to be on the lookout for an exciting new opportunity to get involved with your Refuge coming in 2021. Stay tuned.

 All along, the Friends have worked to navigate these uncharted waters. With our member base, and with the public’s understanding, we will get through this difficult time. Thank you.