Friends Groups & Refuge Staff Peer to Peer Conference 

Workshops - Sharing - Education - Camaraderie........................................

Is what the May 15-17, 2015 Friends & Refuge Peer to Peer Conference is all about.   Make your plans now to be part of this great event.  Registration deadline is April 15, 2015.

The Friends of Crystal River were fortunate to be awarded the NFWF Grant to cover the major expenses of this Conference.  All meeting rooms, classroom, conference materials, meals day of conference (lunch and breaks) and speaker fees are covered by the Grant.

Participant expenses (as outlined in the previous "Save the Date" information) are: lodging (information below), transporation expenses, and a registration fee of $65 payable in advance to the Friends of Crystal River. Registration fees cover all meals not included in the Grant expenses which are a Friday evening Welcome Dinner, Saturday Breakfast and Saturday Evening Dinner with a dynamic speaker. To register for the Conference and pay your fee either by PayPal (credit card) or by mailing a check, click on the "Register Now" button below and you will be taken to the Registration page.

There will be 4 different workshops scheduled on a rotating basis so all attendees will be able to participate in all workshops.  Once all registrations have been received, attendees will be scheduled into the different workshops.  Workshop leaders will be knowledgeable Regional and National staff and Friends' Group leaders. 

Workshops include:1.Roles and Responsibilites within the USFWS and Friends Group partnerships to include the new Friends Policy Agreement. 2.Board Member and Volunteer Recruitment, Engagement and Retention and Meeting Your Mission, 3.Effective Social Medial Marketing and Communication, 4.Grants, Fundraising and Other Income Sources. (this workshop may change with instructor availability)

Room rates for this Conference are $109 per room per night plus tax.  Tax exempt rates are available by presenting a tax exempt cerificate at check-in.  Government rates are not availalbe for this Conference.  An upraded room is available for $127 per night.  The deadline for obtaining a room under this room block is April 15.  The method of reservation is shown below.

METHOD OF RESERVATIONS

All individuals are responsible for making their own room reservations by calling the resort at 800-632-6262 and refer to the Booking Name "Friends of Crystal River National  Wildlife Refuge Peer to Peer Conference 2015" before the cutoff date of April 15, 2015.  Reservations received after this date are on a space and rate available basis.  A one-night deposit is required to guarantee your reservation.   (The $109 rate is for a Garden View Room, the $127 is for a water view room).  Rates are available 3 days prior and 3 days post the Conference.  All rooms are King or Double.

On Sunday morning, May 17, the Friends of Crystal River will sponser a breakfast for all who wish to attend and a boat tour of the Kings Bay portion of the Refuge.

To reinvigorate your Friends Board and increase your visibility and effectiveness in your community and the partnership between Friends Groups and Refuge Staff, this Conference is a MUST for your calendar.  Insure your spot by clicking on the "Register Now" button below and make your reservations for this event.

Further information will be communicated via Constant Contact e-mail.  Be sure to remind all of your members to check their e-mail for information.  The e-mail will originate from shirleySEF@aol.com and the subject will be "Friends and Refuge Staff Peer to Peer Conference".  Add us to your address book to be sure we will not drop into your spam.  If there is anyone else in your organization who should receive this correspondence, please forward.

HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON!

Friends of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge

Visit our website at www.friendsofcrystalriver.org

Register Now!