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The time has come for me to make the very bittersweet announcement that I am moving on from my role with the Friends of the Refuge in March. There are not words to express what an absolute pleasure it has been to serve as the Habitat Restoration Specialist for this incredible organization. Working with our dedicated team of volunteers, board members, and staff has been an experience like none other, and has truly shown me the power of collective action. The talents and passion that each of you bring to this organization drive our work forward, and are ever more critical as the challenges we face loom large. The advocacy of the Friends led to the establishment of Tualatin River NWR, funded the construction of our headquarters, environmental education shelter, and visitor center, fought back against environmentally destructive projects impacting our watershed, and will continue to drive our work forward and make our voices heard as we navigate this uncertain time.
While we advocate for the wellbeing of the land and the community we serve, that service often comes in the form of fostering our own Refuge community. Every visitor center volunteer who welcomes the public, every board member engaging with the community, every employee putting on a fabulous event, every restoration and biology volunteer that pulls a weed or conducts a survey represents our Refuge community, and reflects our work, values, and the
wonder of the Refuge to the broader community. I am so unbelievably grateful to have had the opportunity to serve alongside and learn from each and every one of you dedicated, talented, powerful people over the past year and a half.
If you have volunteered with me, you have likely heard me say, “We couldn’t do what we do without volunteers like you,” and I hope you know how deeply I believe that. The Refuge has a full time staff of seven incredible, dedicated human beings. Five of those are USFWS employees. Together with you, our volunteers, board members, and partners we care for and protect close to 2,500 acres of important habitat, and serve the tens of thousands of community
members we engage each year. This simply could not be done without you! I appreciate every single person that has spent long hours in the field, tabled at an event, collaborated, brainstormed, and so generously offered their time to me and the Friends. I am better for having been a part of this beautiful community and our important work.
I will be moving into a position with Ducks Unlimited, one of our amazing partners, and continuing the work of the Friends and the Refuge-conserving and restoring land in our region for the benefit of people and wildlife. You’ll still find me on the trail, admiring the geese, paragons of tenacity that they are. Rachel Carson, an early conservation warrior said it well, “In nature, nothing exists alone.”
Thank you for everything you do.
Best,
Bella Padgett
Friends Habitat Restoration Specialist
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