Working as staff in a non-profit organization such as Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness has some interesting dichotomies. Sometimes we find ourselves asking, “Why do we get paid to work at something our volunteers donate their time for?” Of course, there are some good answers for that. Continuity. Organization. Maintenance of vision and direction. Impetus. We come to work, really, to continue the work of our incredible volunteers and to justify the faith and perpetuate the vision of those who donate to the cause.
It is good work, and we who are blessed with being paid to do it are grateful for the opportunity and the encouragement. It’s not easy being a wilderness advocate some days. But, it makes it easier when we look behind us and see our thousands of Friends, myriad volunteers and individual donors backing us up.
First, there are our volunteers. It is one fine crew of folks that comes to help in so many ways, from handing out buttons and maps at the County Fair; to spending three days on a back country trail with Pulaskis, pickmattocks and combi-tools rooting out elk sedge and bear grass; to leading kids into wild places and teaching them about what lives there and how important those spaces are.
We also hugely appreciate the larger organizations that support us with grants and continued investment in our cause, but there is something special about getting that faithful annual $35 donation from the lady living on Social Security or the check from the guy who lives across the country and follows us on Facebook and has never seen the Scotchmans. When we get that kind of help from our volunteers and those kinds of donations, we know we are doing something right, and that gives us the inspiration to keep doing what we do.
As staff, we are bound by our duty to our mission to ask you to continue to inspire us. Keep volunteering to back up the staff. Keep sending those donations, large and small. Keep inviting your friends to become Friends. We are also bound by our gratitude to acknowledge how important each of you is to us. So thank you, one and all! With your help, we keep working for Wilderness.
Happy Holidays from the FSPW staff!
Phil Hough, Executive Director • Sandy Compton, Program Coordinator
Britta Mireley, Asst. Program Coordinator • Jen Stone-Kreiner, Sanders County Outreach
Tyler Chisholm, Winter Program Coordinator
Things you can do to continue to inspire and help us:
Sign up to be a Friend, if you aren’t already, or send this link to a friend.
Make an end of the year donation.
Volunteer for one of our many outreach and education activities.
