Anniversaries and Projects

Shared from the USFWS YouTube Channel

In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act in 2023, we are proud to bring you the Songs for Species playlist — a mix of original songs written, performed, recorded, and donated by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service employees. This playlist features music created in 2023 for the ESA 50th celebration, as well as a selection of songs taken from the 2003 Songs of the System Refuge Centennial celebration music CD. All of these songs have an at-risk, threatened….READ MORE

Anniversaries and Celebrations

The Fish and Wildlife Service Retirees Association awards small matching grants to Service Friends Organizations to support anniversary events that promote the rich heritage and missions of the Fish and Wildlife Service. Anniversaries of  50, 75, 100 and more years are especially eligible. Friends groups may apply for matching funds to support these significant anniversary events.

Click here to print an application – fill it out, scan it, and attach it to an e-mail. Send the e-mail with completed grant application attached to: grants@fwsretirees.org

Grants were awarded for the following Anniversaries in 2018:

  • Friends of the Wildlife Corridor for Santa Ana NWR, 75th Anniversary, $500, planned for 1/27/18 – postponed until Fall 2018
  • Friends of St.Vincent NWR for St. Vincent NWR, 50th Anniversary, $500, to be celebrated 7/6/18
  • Friends of Coastal Carolina for Waccamaw NWR, 20th Anniversary, $500, celebrated 5/12/18
  • Friends of Northwest Hatcheries for Winthrop NFH, 75th Anniversary, $500, celebrated 6/9/18
  • Friends of Haystack Rock for Oregon Islands NWR, 50th Anniversary, celebrated 7/14/18

CALL TO ACTION:
Any retirees living in the vicinity of refuges or hatcheries which are hosting anniversary celebrations are asked to attend if possible and offer their assistance.  Please contact the station directly to offer volunteer assistance.

Anniversary events are a wonderful opportunity for collecting oral histories of Service employees. If you are willing to share your career information or know another retiree who should be on a priority list for being interviewed for an oral history, please contact johncornely@msn.com.

Projects We Support

New! The Association is offering financial support for Retirees to volunteer at FWS stations to complete needed projects.  Click here to download a Station Project Mini Grant Application.

The FWS Retirees Association supported the Advance Leadership  Development Program Cohort VIII with completion of the a trailhead kiosk on the Next Box Path at NCTC.  The kiosk was completed in late 2013.  We are able to support such projects through membership dues and funds raised during the reunions.