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                        Friends of Pool 9 Receives National Award

The Friends of Pool 9, Upper Mississippi River Refuge, Inc. received a national award at the Friends Unite Conference in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, February 22, 2009. Members of the Friends of Pool 9 joined a record number of National Wildlife Refuge Friends and staff at the largest National Friends Conference held in the history of the Refuge Friends movement. The conference drew over 450 participants, representing 161 different Friends groups from forty-nine states and included 150 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff.

The Friends of Pool 9 were selected as the "2009 National Wildlife Refuge System Friends Group of the Year" from the more that 220 Friends groups across America. In just four years the group has grown to over 500 members, and was cited for their accomplishments in Pool 9 of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge and their involvement on the political front as well. The Awards Reception and Ceremony program highlighted the Friends of Pool 9's programs and accomplishments including the annual Pool Wide Clean-Up Day, the implementation of the “Leave No Trace” campaign, the Mississippi River Adventure Day, and the Fall Rivers and Bluffs Birding Festival. The award includes a $2,000 cash award presented to the Friends of Pool 9 and an engraved plaque and wildlife print.

John Verdon, President of Friends of Pool 9 speaks to the crowd of 500 in attendance at the Awards Reception Ceremony. Others in the photo include wife Phyllis (left), Nita Fuller (Region 3 Chief), Ric and Betty Zarwell, Kim and Mark Schneden, Tom Melius (Region 3 Director), Mamie Parker (NWRA Board), and Evan Hirsche (far right, NWRA President).

The group was complimented for their high visibility programs and projects that have improved the Pool 9 communities’ relationships with the Refuge and opened up new opportunities for Friends groups all along the river. Four new groups have recently formed using the Friends of Pool 9’s grassroots approach as an example. By opening the communication lines between the Refuge and the community through their quarterly newsletter “The Otter’s Tale” and by reaching out to local newspapers, news television networks, and radio shows, the Friends of Pool 9 have gained regional, and now national recognition for their efforts.

There are 549 national refuges across the nation. The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge extends 261 miles long and includes Pools 4 – 14 on the Upper Mississippi River. Don Hultman is the Refuge Manager and Tim Yager is Manager of the McGregor District, which includes Pool 9. It is the most visited national wildlife refuge in the lower forty-eight states with 3.7 million visitors yearly.

The conference was sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA). It featured nearly two dozen training sessions and special forums in three tracks: Refuge System resource challenges; tools, programs, and strategies for success; and Friends capacity building. Experts discussed the impact of climate change and invasive species on national wildlife refuges, the vitality of citizen science programs, and how nonprofits can grow and ensure a future in which the National Wildlife Refuge System and the wildlife it protects will thrive.

On Tuesday, February 24, 2009 more than 225 refuge Friends (from 130 Friends Groups representing 146 refuges and 44 states across America) went to Capitol Hill. They met with no fewer than 245 US Representatives, Senators, and key Committee staffers to advocate support for the National Wildlife Refuge System, specifically increased funding and member support for the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus.

The largest gathering of Friends advocates in NWRA history to address the needs of the refuge system on Capitol Hill. Local Friends members from Pool 9 and Pool 10 are in the front row, middle left to right; Ric Zarwell, Betty Zarwell, Mark Schneden, Phyllis Verdon, John Verdon, and Robert Vavra.

Friends of Pool 9 and Pool 10 members visited with local Congressmen to advocate for increased refuge funding, protection, and enhancement. The group was in contact with eight different Iowa and Wisconsin Senators and Representatives during the day, as well as Appropriations Chairs Dianne Feinstein and Norm Dicks.

Friends group members from Pool 9, Pool 10, Trempealeau, La Crosse, and Necedah visit with Congressman Ron Kind (center) while in Washington. Photo includes Ric and Betty Zarwell (left), Robert Vavra (rear left), Mark Schneden (right), and Phyllis Verdon (far right).

The Friends of Pool 9 award will be on display in area businesses in the communities of Lansing, New Albin, Waukon, Genoa, De Soto, Ferryville, and Lynxville. It is the result of all communities bordering the Mississippi River and Pool 9 joining together in one common goal. The award belongs to all the communities involved and will be shared by all. President Verdon ended his remarks at the Awards ceremony by saying “we can, we will, and we are having an impact on the world.”

Congratulations to the Friends of Pool 9 on their award. We look forward to an improved Mississippi River stewardship ethic and its impact on all river users for years to come. The next project for Friends of Pool 9 is the annual Pool Wide Clean-Up scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2009. Details and sign-up sheets will be forth coming at the April 7 organizational meeting at the Kerndt Brothers Community Center in Lansing. Contact Glen Springer at 539-9232, John Verdon at 538-4836 or visit our Pool Wide Clean-up Page here on our website.

President of the Friends of Pool 9 Receives Award from Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

John Verdon of Lansing, Iowa recently received the River Guardian Award from the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Mr. Verdon was recognized for his years of dedicated service with the Friends of Pool 9, a citizen group which promotes public awareness and support for the Refuge and its mission.

Mr. Verdon has lead the Friends of Pool 9, serving as its president, since its inception in 2006. He has been instrumental in building a productive citizen partnership with the Refuge which has fostered increased communication with Refuge staff and increased participation in projects which contribute to the mission of the Refuge. Tim Yager, District Manager of the McGregor District, Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge reflected on Mr. Verdon’s contributions, “John is someone you can always count on to assist the Refuge with completing projects. No matter what the event, he is always there helping organize volunteers for river cleanups, wildlife surveys, and environmental education programs such as River Education Days and the Mississippi River Adventure Days. John is a very humble individual, and attributes his personal success to the committed members of the Friends of Pool 9. He is a great leader and very deserving of this recognition.”

Under his leadership the Friends of Pool 9 have been recognized by the Governor of Iowa as the Volunteer Group of the Year. The group also received the 2007 Honor Roll Award from the Izaak Walton League of America, and most recently was recognized as the 2009 Friends Group of the Year by the National Wildlife Refuge Association.

The River Guardian Award recognizes citizens who have demonstrated outstanding actions in the service to people and/or the resources of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.