Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

The Friends of Blackwater NWR was founded in 1987 and is the nonprofit, fundraising arm of the refuge that helps with its educational, interpretive, and public-use missions.

The able leadership of President Frank Wolff is moving the organization to new heights. He and his ten-member board of directors have doubled the roster of active members, steered the organization's newsletter Blackwater Tidelines into being a first-rate publication, and launched the preparation of a multigrade education resource book with the help of a panel of teachers and advisory group of school-curriculum directors. As if that were not enough, Wolff and his board took the first step in establishing a cooperating association at Eastern Neck NWR by opening a satellite bookstore there.

Their "Spring Fling" held in May attracts hundreds of people to see both the refuge and the special demonstrations and exhibits as well as to buy special items at sale prices in the book and gift store that they operate and staff daily at the refuge Visitor Center. They also sponsor a refuge open house each December.

Fearful of what a higher Wildlife Drive entrance fee would do to visitation, the Friends made a powerful case to hold it at $3 and won. But in 1995, the refuge also enjoyed in 1995 nearly $12,000 in goods and services financed by the Friends, including half the cost of a new refuge video production, purchase of 21 pairs of binoculars, and the stipend for a summer student aide. Wolff says that he cannot announce it yet, but a revised operating agreement with the refuge is in the works to allow for what he considers much-needed additional assistance from the Friends.

The advocacy role of nonprofits is restricted because of tax laws, so the Friends do not get involved in legislative lobbying. However, the concerned directors felt obligated to do something about a local rezoning decision that would have had harmful impacts on the refuge. After struggling with how they could make their thoughts known without violating the lobbying prohibition, they hit upon a tactic in which they gave a letter to the manager listing all the reasons why the refuge should object to the rezoning request. Whether their letter became public was then the manager's decision. The directors don't take any credit, but their letter was referenced at the public hearing—and the rezoning was denied.

Frank Wolff brings to the presidency of the Friends of Blackwater what every cooperating association hopes for: energy and expertise. As a former official with the New York State Department of Education, Wolff was in charge of a vocational education program involving thousands of students and adults before he and his wife Arlene retired to a small community in Maryland. A registered nurse, she directed a nursing education program for New York State. An equally active member of the Friends, Arlene chairs the bookstore committee. The busy Wolffs find time for other community service as well: He provides tax assistance to senior citizens and she volunteers her services to a local hospice.

Membership to the Friends of Blackwater is $15 a year. To join or to obtain other information, visit the Friends of Blackwater Web site.