MARK
YOUR CALENDARS FOR NEXT REUNION
The next reunion for Fish and Wildlife
Service Retirees will be held at the NCTC in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The particulars:
What: The 2004 FWS Retirees Reunion
Where: National Conservation Training
Center
Shepherdstown, West Virginia
When: April 30 – May 2, 2004, Friday
thru Sunday
A
package special for room and meals will be offered with Friday and Saturday
night lodging and meals beginning with dinner Friday evening through Sunday
lunch. The cost for two people for
lodging and all meals for the weekend will be $228. The single rate is $156. There is also very limited RV
parking available. You will be provided additional details next Spring in time
to register and make reservations.
The
reunion will begin Friday evening with a 6:00 p.m. evening icebreaker social
and dinner. Saturday morning will
feature reports on Heritage Committee and retirees activities, workshops on
issues important to retirees giving way to a fun afternoon of socializing,
tours of the NCTC campus and its museum archives and / or tours to local
historic sites. This will be
followed by a banquet and awards dinner Saturday evening. Karen Hollingsworth
has been invited as guest speaker.
Sunday will be a breakfast remembrance session and goodbyes. The reunion
ends with a final Sunday lunch.
D.C. area Service employees will be invited to join us.
WE
ARE NOW OFFICIAL
An
application to the State if West Virginia for incorporation of the Association of Retired
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Employees, Inc. (Association) was completed and approved with the filing of
Articles of Incorporation. This
means the FWS retirees group is now an officially recognized organization able
to conduct business and activities supporting the purposes of the
organization. The address of this
official Association is the National Conservation Training Center, the home of
the Fish & Wildlife Service. Paperwork
has been completed and sent to the Internal Revenue Service requesting the
Association be recognized as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. This request is currently under review.
What’s
next? A draft set of Bylaws has
been developed to guide the operation of the organization. These draft Bylaws propose seven
elected officers to be the Board of Directors. This Board will be responsible for the actual operation and
conducting the business of the organization.
Will
you help? We need retirees to fill
the Board vacancies. Requirements
are slight. You must have retired
from your career with the Fish & Wildlife Service and be willing to stand
for election by your retired colleagues.
The Board is composed of staggered terms which means that for this first
election, to get the organization off the ground, the positions will be for
either 1, 2, or 3-year terms. If
you are interested in helping to guide this organization, please contact one of
the interim Board members below.
Also, if you are not willing or able to serve on the Board but you know
a shy someone who would make a cracker jack Board member, please let us know
their name. Current plans are to
have a ballot completed by March 2004 for all retired FWS folks we have
addresses for to vote their choice for the seven Board members. The Board could then be in place by the
April reunion.
To
get the ball rolling in this organization, the following folks comprise the Interim
Board:
Jerry
C. Grover 503-684-1809
Groverjerry.judy@att.net
Denny
F. Holland 1-877-831-5591
Denny_Holland@fws.gov
Jerry
French 505-445-3835
frenchj@bacavalley.com
Please
feel free to contact and discuss our organization with these volunteers.
NATIONAL REFUGE SYSTEM
MANAGEMENT
During the last reunion, it
was noted that negotiations were on-going to develop Indian Tribal management
at the National Bison Range, Montana.
The issue has taken on a lot of interest with retirees. Here is the latest word from a news
article on October 8, 2003:
“MOIESE - The U.S. government will not turn over management
of the National Bison Range to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the
government's lead negotiator said Tuesday. Rick Coleman, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's regional
refuge chief, said the service has identified functions and activities"
that could be performed by the tribe "in cooperation with the refuge
system."
But management of the 18,799-acre refuge will
remain with the Fish and Wildlife Service, Coleman said during the Bison
Range's annual roundup - where he was a first-time visitor.
"This refuge is managed by the federal government
for the benefit of the American public - all Americans," he said.
"People in Key West, Fla., have as much interest in and ownership of the
National Bison Range as do people in Montana."
Still, negotiations are continuing between the
Fish and Wildlife Service and the Salish and Kootenai Tribes, with the goal of
transferring some duties at the Bison Range to the tribe, Coleman
confirmed. The negotiators' next
meeting is later this month and is not open to the public.”
REFUGE NEWSLETTER
In other NWR news, the
National Wildlife Refuge System has requested FWS retirees mail addresses so as
to include a copy of the new bi-monthly Refuge System Newsletter to
retirees. The Newsletter will be
generated by the Chief of the NWR System.
Kevin Kilcullen at 703-358-2382 can fill in the details.
MIGRATORY BIRD ANNIVERSARY
Spring
2005 will mark the 50th anniversary of the aerial waterfowl survey coordinated
by the Division of Migratory Bird Management. Since 1955,
biologist-pilots and observers have been gathering population and habitat
information while flying over Canada and the northern U.S. from both fixed-wing
aircraft and helicopters. In recent years, the survey has included more
than 80,000 linear miles of transect lines. This survey is touted
as the largest and most reliable survey of its kind in the world and as such,
we want to bring recognition to all those who have been and are a part of this
great effort to document our waterfowl resources.
As the program approaches its 50th Anniversary, we'd like to take a look back
at how far surveys have come since the first flight in a World War II vintage
aircraft, using pencil and paper, through the era of Dictaphones and adding
machines, to today's use of custom-built aircraft, satellite tracking systems
and advanced computer software programs to track and count
birds. To do this we need your help.
In order to produce the various visual materials necessary to promote this
program and the anniversary we need Photographs, film footage, journals, survey
equipment, flight suits/uniforms, or other artifacts that would help to tell
the story of this unique program. If you would consider donating
appropriate items to the FWS Conservation Archives for preservation and
display, in honor of the 50th anniversary, please send them to:
Jeanne Harold, FWS Curator
NCTC Archives and Museum
698 Conservation Way
Shepherdstown, WV 25443-9713
1-800-553-9472 x7285,
jeanne_harold@fws.gov
HOW TO
TELL THE SEX OF A FLY
A woman walked into the kitchen to find her husband stalking around with a fly
swatter.
"What are you doing?," She asked.
"Hunting flies," He responded.
"Oh! Killing any?," She
asked.
"Yep, 3 males, 2 females," he replied.
Intrigued, she asked, "How can you tell?"
He responded, "3 were on a beer can, 2 were on the phone."
FedWeek
Web Site
The
FedWeek Weekly Newsletter continues to have a lot of good information on the
current proposals and actions being considered by the Administration and the
Congress. It is all free over the
internet. More recently they have
included a weekly ‘Handbook” series.
Here are the contact addresses.
The Newsletter http://www.fedweek.com
The Handbook http://www.feddesk.com
RETIREE SURVEY
This
past summer an e-mail survey was sent to the 725 FWS retirees with e-mail
address to gage whether FWS
retirees would be interested in assisting
current Service employees working at their old stations or offices on projects
initiated or completed by them.
The purpose was to keep current Service employees from having to
"reinvent the wheels" that you retirees created. This project was done cooperatively with
the Service's Leadership Legacy Initiative, an effort by the Service to reach
out to retired employees, in all
programs and at all levels, to maintain an active link between past, present
and future conservationists
Here are the results. There were over 80 responses to the survey. Over 80% came from employees with 25
years plus with the Fish and Wildlife Service. Nearly 50% of the responses came from former refuge
employees, with 22% from fisheries.
96% of the respondents were GS employees. There was no representation from Wage Grade employees. Over 90% of the responding retirees
said they would participate and be willing to contribute time.
THE PASSING OF COLLEAGUES
During the past several months, I have received
information regarding the passing of our former colleagues. The information was forwarded to those
Fish & Wildlife Service retirees with e-mail and is being repeated here for
you people without e-mail.
Virginia Boughman died June 3, 2003, at home. She was 79.
Internment will be next to her husband Harry, a career Air Force
person, at Arlington Cemetery on June 20 at 11 a.m. She was a
retired federal employee of the FWS as a secretary at Bombay Hook NWR for many
years beginning with Gordon Nightingale. I don't think her last name
was spelled correctly in the paper. I believe it is Baughman. She
was a good friend.
Thanks to Ken and Nancy Liehr
------------------------------------
Chuck H. Gernes, 81, passed away July 4 in New London, MN. Chuck was born in Winona, MN and
volunteered for military service in WW II, and served in the European
Theatre. After the war he entered
college and received a BS degree from St Mary’s College and then continued his
education at the University of Minnesota.
His first job in natural resources was as a fisheries biologist with the
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. In 1951, he joined the ranks of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service as a Fishery Biologist and had assignments at National Fish Hatchery’s
at Manchester, IA, Neosho, MO, Crawford, NB, Hebron, OH, and New London,
MN. During his tenure, he attended
the year-long in-service training schools at Cortland, NY, and Marion, AL. He retired in 1983 but accepted
seasonal employment with Minnesota DNR at Winona, working there through 1989.
He was active with the Boy
Scouts for over 60 years earning the Wood Badge, Silver Beaver, and the
Catholic St. George award. He was
also active in several civic clubs, youth activities, and environmental
organizations, taught firearms safety and was President of the New London
chapter of the Izaak Walton League.
He is survived by 4 children and 10 grandchildren and a sister but was
preceded in death by his wife Pat in 1986.
Thanks to Steve Brimm of D.C.
Booth for sending the obituary.
-------------------------------------
Robert W.
Young passed away on July
29, 2003. Bob’s early career with
the Fish and Wildlife Service in the mid-1950's was in Region 4 as a realty
specialist/negotiator. From that time until 1972, he was a Realty
Specialist/Appraiser in the Division of Realty in Region 4, Atlanta. In
the fall of 1972, he transferred to the newly established Regional Office,
Region 6, in Denver as that Region's first Chief of Realty. He remained in that
position until his retirement in December 1988, completing 36 years of Federal
Service. He is credited with innumerable land acquisitions in both
Region's 4 & 6. Most notable are key acquisitions at the National Elk
Refuge and Seedskadee Refuge in Wyoming and the Red Rocks Refuge in Montana.
Bob was a strong
advocate of the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Refuge System. He
attended the Retiree's Reunion in Spearfish, SD, in 2002 and again in Florida
in 2003, the latter he attended in a wheel chair with his beloved wife, Joanne
of 39 years, doing the navigating.
Bob's health had
been declining in recent years, beginning with heart by-pass surgery, then
kidney failure, and finally heart failure followed by other complications.
He was well known
for taking new recruits under his wing and spending lots of personal time with
them and their families, giving them a real personal welcome and orientation
into the FWS family.
Information provided by Paul Hartman
----------------------------------
Thanks to Janet Marvin
To the Friends and Colleagues
of Ray Glahn ~
I
received word yesterday from Pat Glahn that her husband Ray passed away on
August 22 in Bellingham, WA, after a 2-week long struggle from the effects of a
stroke. He will be interned at Green Acres Memorial Gardens, at
Ferndale, Wednesday August 27, 9:00 AM with full military honors.
In the afternoon at 2:00 PM there will be a Memorial Service to celebrate
his life at the Garden Street United Methodist Church, Bellingham. It is
requested that in lieu of floral gifts, donations be given to a Hospice or
to a charity of the donors choice.
A
few brief notes about Ray. He joined the Army Air Corps in WW II; was an
aircraft flying instructor, flew P-38's; later stationed in the Canal
Zone. He graduated after the war with a Wildlife Degree from Utah Ag
College [now Utah State University].
He
joined the Fish and Wildlife Service and was a Pilot-Biologist for North
Dakota Refuges. He also held assignments as a
Pilot-Biologist stationed at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge
and was the Service's long-time Regional Pilot-Biologist stationed in
Portland. He had other flying assignments during his career throughout
the country, including Alaska. He had the reputation among his colleagues
as one of the safest, most respected, pilots who ever flew.
He
and wife Pat had been living in Bellingham, WA, the last few years after his
retirement.
As
usual this note is only going to those with e-mail addresses. If you know
of someone without e-mail who would like to be informed, please let them
know.
~ Jerry Grover
[A
thank you to Dick Rogers for additional information]
Louise Nelson. Florence, SC, died on Tuesday, Sept. 9 after a
short illness. She retired from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in
1980 after 28 years of service. She was an avid bowler, a volunteer
at Bruce Hospital and Heritage Nursing Center, was a member of the steering
committee that organized the Senior Olympics in Florence, and was selected as
Sr. Citizen of the year in 1992. She was a member of the Faith
Presbyterian Church of Florence. Memorials may be made to Faith
Presbyterian Church, 1800 Third Loop Rd., Florence, SC, 29505, or to McLeod
Hospice of the Pee Dee, 55 E. Cheves St., Florence, 29506.
The above was taken from the obit in the Florence newspaper -
Thanks to Jo Quinter
September 24, 2003
Richard Mundinger, retired Chief, Contracting and General Services in
the Portland Regional Office, passed away in his sleep last night. Dick retired from the Fish &
Wildlife Service in 1984 and he and wife Evelyn eventually moved to
McMinnville, Oregon, where they were living at the time of his death. A memorial service is scheduled for
Monday (September 29), 11 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church, 301 South River
Road, Newberg, Oregon. The family
has asked that remembrances be directed to the Juvenile Diabetes Association
(503-245-2010) or to CASA [Court Appointed Service Advocates], 1075 SW
Cedarwood Ave., McMinnville, OR 97128.
Dick was born in Minnesota in
September 1927 and grew up in the little town of Nimrod on the Crow Wing
River. In 1946, he joined the Army
and spent two years in Korea as part of the post WW II occupation. After completing his tour with the
Army, Dick enrolled at the University of Minnesota in the School of Forestry. He played football for the University
well enough to be drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1952. He was with them until mid-November
when a leg injury resulted in his release. According to Dick, “That was probably the best thing that
ever happened to me, because I would have kept playing football otherwise. I started with the Fish and Wildlife
Service on December 7, 1954.” He
was hired as an Appraiser in the Minneapolis Regional Office. He attended the Junior Departmental Development
Training Program in Washington, D.C., and upon his return to Region 3, was assigned
to the Wetlands Acquisition Program for the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa and
Wisconsin and started the first field office at Jamestown, North Dakota.
He left the Minneapolis
Region in the fall of 1963 and came to Portland and the Realty Division and by
1971 had earned his way to become Chief of the Division of Contracting &
General Services (CGS), the position from which he retired. Dick had the well deserved reputation
of leading the purpose for CGS was one of total and unequivocal support for the people at field
stations in accomplishing their mission.
Dick was an avid outdoorsman
that began early as a child along the Crow Wing River and extended to his duty
assignment in the Korea occupation after WW II and continued into his
retirement years where his annual elk hunting trips into the eastern Oregon
mountains was a highlight to gather with his hunting buddies. In Dick’s words relating to his
earlier years, “We sat on the top of a mountain in Korea for, well, I was there
for over a year. It was a real
experience. There were thirteen of
us who sat up on top of this mountain and we occupied a former Japanese radio
facility and we lived in Japanese quarters, which were typical Japanese
buildings with paper walls and papered windows. And it was cold that winter I was there. But I never had better hunting in my
life. I went hunting three or four
times a week! It was quite an
experience. We just kept rotating
our assignments and about every two or three days you could go hunting. That was the only recreation you really
had. I hunted pheasants and deer….
. . . with an M-1 carbine! We hunted deer, pheasants, ducks and
fox, and everything. If I had had
a shotgun, we’d have gotten a lot more.”
But Dick’s support for others was exhibited here. Because the Army re-supply wisdom was
geared to 50-man units, the 13 folks on top of that mountain drew rations for
50. They had more food and things
than they could use and distributed the over-supply to the local Koreans.
The Address: Evelyn Mundinger
1750
Doral St.
McMinnville, OR 97128
------------------------------------------
This information was prepared
by Jerry C. Grover and taken from Dick’s oral history, January 2002
This Newsletter prepared and edited by Jerry C.
Grover, Portland, Oregon