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JUNE'S GRAND OPENING
LAUNCHES A NEW ERA
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Morning light at the River Center
Photo by Ardyth Wendt
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RIVER CENTER REOPENS WITH
GREATLY INCREASED CAPACITY
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A NOTE FROM
BOARD PRESIDENT
ANNETTE NESSE
The River Center board and staff spent 2022 in a much-anticipated state of transition.
The Center officially opened to the public in June, transitioning
from a two-year construction project back to a nature center.
With the capital campaign budget spent down, the operations budget
increased: a small, 1,600 square foot, multi-purpose space transformed
into a 7,580 square foot facility with room for meetings, classes, exhibits, a
wildlife viewing room, and even a coffee shop. The Tribe completed the levee removal project, improving salmon habitat while changing the Olympic Discovery Trail access to the Center.
The Cedar Hat outdoor classroom also began to take shape and when
finished would provide a permanent spot for grade school field trips and all
the equipment needed by teachers.
Staffing increased to improve how we manage the Center, adding a
volunteer coordinator to juggle the schedule of 85 volunteers.
Work continued to transition the old River Center into an exciting exhibit space. Now visitors will take an amazing journey down the Dungeness River from headwaters to mouth featuring flora, fauna, and Tribal cultural information along the way.
The Board and its committees focused on how to effectively operate
a larger, more complex facility by addressing these questions:
How do we fund, staff, and manage a larger facility?
How do we offer rental space and still meet the needs of
mission-based programming?
What policies and procedures do we need in place to ensure a welcoming
Center that offers public safety and security? And protects our investment?
The Board and staff tackled these issues, and many more, as
we oversaw the Center transitioning from a local nature center to what we
believe is becoming a world class nature center.
World class means visitors from around the globe enjoying an
experience that they talk about, relish, and come back to time and time again.
I am personally and professionally grateful to the River Center's
top-notch staff, our dedicated cadre of volunteers, members, donors, and
partners, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society, and the National Audubon Society, as they continue to embrace the challenging work
it takes to offer our Center to the world.
And so, a round of applause for a job well done in seeing this
phase of the River Center expansion completed.
Believe me, there is more to come!
Annette Nesse, Board President
Photo Above: Annette Nesse, Board President, weeding the River Center's raingarden.
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Above: Jamestown S'Klallam Tribal Chairman/CEO W. Ron Allen and River Center founder Annette Hanson cut the ribbon of cedar boughs and open the doors on a long-held dream. | |
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February: Covid restrictions lift in conjunction with office ready for occupancy. Staff return to work in a construction zone as the building nears completion.
February-May: With construction still underway, Peninsula Trails Coalition Travelers Series is the first large public event in the new building.
First in-person River Center Annual Meeting & Potluck held in Rainshadow Hall.
June: Sixth grade field trips return. Grand opening and building blessing by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. Summer camps resume after a two-year hiatus for Covid.
June-October: Project begins for levee removal and remediation of former parking lot into flood zone and salmon habitat. Bridge was closed to public for five months.
July: Amphitheatre and picnic shelter used for children’s field trips removed from levee site with new Cedar Hat classroom design approved.
August: Exhibit narratives completed. Designers begin work in the former River Center’s main room. Tim Quinn mural, with modifications, sent to Seattle to be enlarged for display on exterior wall.
September: Audubon Council of Washington Conference, 25 Washington Audubon Chapters attending.
October: New bridge sections lifted into place; bridge reopens to the public. First wedding at the new River Center on the plaza and in Rainshadow Hall.
November: Construction underway on new outdoor classroom.
December: Highest bridge crossing count ever recorded, thanks to spectacular lighting of towering cedar tree in front of building and lights, wreaths, and cedar stretching approximately 1000’ across the bridge spans.
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Pictured above, Celebrating the River Center's Grand Opening on the new plaza in a softly falling rain, are, from left to right, Jamestown S'Klallam singers and drummers Theresa R. Lehman, Michael Lowe, Mackenzie Grinnell, Jorene Dick, Loni Greninger, Cathy MacGregor, and Alisha Adams. | |
Pictured above: Jamestown S'Klallam citizens Elaine Grinnell and spiritual leader Pat Adams | |
Above: Loni Greninger, Cathy MacGregor, and Alisha Adams | |
A YEAR OF EXCITING TRANSFORMATION & GROWTH!
RIVER CENTER DIRECTOR
POWELL JONES
The grand opening of the River Center in June 2022 was the culmination of the hard work and dedication of many people that resulted in a small community-based nature center transforming into a burgeoning world-class facility.
In February 2022, staff returned from two years of working at home to an unfinished office to prepare for the year, working in construction-zone chaos to ready the Center for the visitors that would arrive daily. We strengthened our staff, increased volunteer engagement, worked on countless details in preparation to hosting meetings and classes, and of course, jumped back into educational programs as soon as possible.
In the middle of all this, Railroad Bridge Park began a transformation of its own when the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe set to work in July to remove a levee that had limited the river’s natural movement for nearly 70 years. The project involved repurposing trees, once standing on the levee, into large woody debris for the river, building engineered logjams, and the removal of 12 thousand cubic yards of levee material, to recreate a historic side-channel from our former parking lot back into salmon habitat.
In October, an impressive length of new pedestrian walkway opened that rerouted the trail over the newly restored floodplain.
The staff also made some big transitions in 2022. Jenna Ziogas accepted new challenges by taking a position in the Tribe’s Natural Resources Department in October. Her impact on the Center was profound. Her work during the Covid shutdown and on the Center’s new exhibits was exceptional.
Montana Napier, from Washington State Parks and Olympic National Park, accepted the Education Manager position in late 2022 and set to work planning 2023 community and school educational programming.
Linda Gonzales was hired in late 2022 as our first dedicated Volunteer Coordinator and quickly set to invigorate our volunteer core. In coordination with other staff, she helps train, track, schedule, and find ways to appreciate our invaluable volunteers.
Long-time gift shop manager Roger Magee stepped down after designing and building display units for the new, expanded space. Ethel Colon came on board to replace Roger as the Visitor Services and Gift Shop manager and quickly expanded and put her own touch on inventory to fill the shop.
Most importantly, the River Center is most grateful for you, our donors, members and volunteers. You believed in the vision for the River Center and gave to the Capital Campaign, to educational programs, and to operations.
Thank you for choosing the River Center as a recipient of your gifts to do the work in the world you believe in!
Powell Jones
Dungeness River Nature Center Director and Park Manager
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“When the beauty created by humans comes together with the beauty created by nature, all eyes are turned to this beyond-beauty metamorphosis!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan
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GROWTH IN 2022:
Memberships
Volunteers
Staff
Donations
Grant Awards
Bridge Crossings on the Olympic Discovery Trail
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We did it! The 2022 Board of Directors is grateful for you all, and your generous donations to build the new Dungeness River Nature Center. | |
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The "Inspire Wonder"
Capital Campaign ended
June, 2022
with the building completely paid for with your gifts, and
grants from individuals, organizations, and foundations,
the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe,
and the Taxpayers
of Washington State
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YEARS IN THE MAKING—
THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
PERSEVERED, REACHED ULTIMATE GOAL
BY ANNETTE HANSON, CAPITAL CAMPAIGN CHAIR
Created by the Board of Directors in June 2016, the newly formed committee of volunteers set their sights to begin a capital campaign to raise funds to expand the River Center.
Notes from the first Capital Campaign Committee (CCC) meeting in September that year captured a shared vision of the Center with more space. All expressed the importance, fun, and achievability of this project, and also the realization that it would be a major time and effort commitment.
The group met behind-the-scenes nearly every two weeks, preparing documents and setting the timeline and goals of the private, then public phases of the campaign. In 2018 they, working with staff and Center partners, hit the ground running to raise the funds—and met with success. Then Covid hit—challenging and changing everything.
The 2020-2022 years saw dramatic building materials and labor price increases, shortages, and delays; shutdown of the Center; and committee meetings had to be held on Zoom. Our goal kept rising, but the CCC and others persevered.
Thanks to our generous donors to the campaign and hard work of the CCC and many others, by the end of the campaign we had received or had committed funds of $5,743,734 to complete the new construction, remodel, and exhibits projects. The sources included roughly 22% from the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, 27% from individuals, and 51% from grants the CCC had applied for from the Taxpayers of Washington State, foundations, corporations, and organizations.
This is a dream come true, and I am deeply humbled by the support we received to fulfill it. My sincere regard and appreciation go to our Donors, the Capital Campaign Committee, Building Advisory Committee, Building Concept Committee, Exhibit Design Team, Staff, Center Partners—Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society, and State and National Audubon; the Construction, Remodel, and Exhibit Teams of Architects, Contractors, and Subcontractors; our Legislators, and our Community.
Teamwork made us successful!
“The friendship of those we serve is the foundation of our progress.”
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THE RIVER CENTER'S MISSION IS
TO INSPIRE UNDERSTANDING, RESPECT, AND STEWARDSHIP OF OUR NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES
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FINANCIAL ALLOCATIONS & GRAPHS
TELL THE STORY AT A GLANCE
BY WANDA SCHNEIDER, BOARD TREASURER
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2022 RIVER CENTER DONORS
Thank You for inspiring generations
with your gifts to the River Center!
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$300,000 AND ABOVE
MJ Murdock
Charitable Trust
$200,000 AND ABOVE
Sunderland Foundation
$100,000 AND ABOVE
Astrid Harmer
National Endowment
for the Arts
$50,000 AND ABOVE
Shirley Anderson
$20,000 AND ABOVE
Ken Wiersema
$15,000 AND ABOVE
William Booth
Rose Forbes
$10,000 AND ABOVE
Ron & Merine Allen
Laura Dubois
Dr. Jack E. & Pat Fletcher
Renee & Elliot Leiter
Richard & Helen McCammon
Tuttie & Richard Peetz
John R. Zey
$5,000 AND ABOVE
Dave & Julie Jackson Kulakala Point Foundation
Martha & George Moyer
Lyn Muench
Judith Newman
Eleanor & Donald Naddy
Trust
Olympic Peninsula
Visitor Bureau
Marsha Robin
Marion Rutledge
Sound Community Bank
$2,000 AND ABOVE
William Biery
Mike & Mary Blanton
Bob & Barb Boekelheide
Camaraderie Cellars
Virginia Clark
Syrene Forsman
Charlene Gustafson
Sylvia Hancock
Jean Harrington
Clare & Don Hatler
Klahhane Club
Ingrid Lehrer
Caroline Littlefield
Kerry & Mike McCool
Eckart Mildenstein
& Ryoko Toyama
Sergio & Leiann Niccoli
North Peninsula Electric
Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society
Randy & Sallie Radock
Joyce Ryba
Mike Schonsey &
Kathy Jenkins
Terry Santos
Grace Sommers
Ann Soule &
Dave Shreffler
Rebecca & Zandy Stewart
Kathy Strozyk
Richard & Mary Van Dyke
$1,000 AND ABOVE
Carol Alfarone
Liam Antrim &
Pam Maurides
Audubon Washington
Steve & Pam Backe
Peter & Patty Benson
Sandra Boren
Lee Bowen & Sue Gilleland
Andy Bowman
John & Rose Bridge
David &
Chrystina Bruneau
Colin Hiday Concrete Inc.
Paul & Bertha Cooper
Francis & Carolyn Desalvo
Betsy Donworth
Enterprise Fleet Mng, Inc.
Stacey Fradkin
Vanessa Fuller
Nancy & Lee Gould
Harbor Food Service
Daniel Houk
Roger & Jill Hughes
Jamestown Excavating
Jamestown Family
Medical Clinic
Gary & Sandra Lange
Judy Larson
Walter & Montel Livingston
Korsmo Construction
Ann Kuster
Bob Marine &
Carol Colbeck
Ruth Messing
Catherine & Tom Mix
Sasha Muench
George & Lin Norris
Olympic Game Farm
Robin Ornelas
Sara Ellen Peterson
Janet & Francis Piccola
Andy & Kathy Pitts
Tom Pysher
Sandy Reed
Steven & Jennifer Resnick
Sandra Ristow
Kevin & Patricia Roth
Beth & Cappy Rothman
Larry St. John &
Cat Xander
Cheryl Smith
Doug & Sherri Smith
Eftin & Ingrid Strong
Stephen Tharinger
Vincent Thrutchley
Virginia Hospital Center Hospitalists
Elke Wiersema
Wilder Auto Center
$500 AND ABOVE
Angeles Millwork
& Lumber Co.
Mike & Helen T. Buckland
Nancy Bull
Ken & Mary Campbell
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$500 AND ABOVE (Cont)
Nina Carter & Tom Rainey
Sue Chickman & Bob Lynette
Scott Chitwood
David Fradkin
Audrey & Jim Gift
Hartnagel Building Supply
Annette Hanson
Ed & Linda Holden
Sharon Howard
Bruce Hughes
Johnston Land Surveying Inc.
Dow & Marlene Lambert
Sue Molin
Lori Moilanen
Annette & Pete Nesse
Norberg Family Foundation
Conn & Virginia O’Neil
Skip & Caroline Perkins
Port Angeles Marathon Assoc.
Mary Porter-Solberg & Steve Solberg
Sandra Pysher
Ann & Roy Sargent
Wanda & Mike Schneider
Ann Seiter & Kevin Burke
SENSE, Inc
Dave Small
John Staples
Jennifer Bouman Steagall
Cheryle Sullivan &
Jennifer Torba
Jean Tyson
Pat Willits
Yvonne Yokota
$200 AND ABOVE
Paulette Ache
John & Diana Anderson
Lauretta Anderson
Kathy Bachman
Chris & Mike Barton
Jill Blake
Blue Sky Real Estate,
Sequim
Barbara Bodker
Mike & Judy Bromell
Glenn Browning &
Carol Young
Kathy Canavan &
Arlene Havlark
Castell Insurance
Doris Causey
Kelli Chen
Scott & Nell Clausen
Dave & Ellen Cooper
Lucy Copass
Jeff & Wendy Dahlgren
Louisa Donelson
Suzanne Doyle
John & Linda Ellingboe
Patricia Farmer
John & Judy Farnsworth
Judith L. Fick &
John Sorensen
Bob & Cece Fitton
Fogtown Coffee Bar
Nancy & Jeff Foro
Jonathon &
Dyana Fradkin
Sho & Harriet Fuji
Claire & Bonnie Gilstad
Bonnie Glendenning & Vernon J. Arhendes
Linda & Larry Gonzales
Marie & Brian Grad
Jennifer Graham
Ken Henshaw & Jane Hutchings-Henshaw
Steve Helland
Rick & Paulette Hill
Bob & Carolyn Iddins
Tina Jackson
Dale Jarvis & Diana Lee
Ken & Janie Leuthold
Jonathon Jack
Insurance Agency
Diane Jones
Powell Jones &
Laura Gould
Carrie Kalina
Kitsap Bank
Carol & George Kondos
James & Lynda Livesey
Lodge at Sherwood Village
Cindy Lowe
Bob & Jennifer Margison
Hank & Hena Marrero
Mike Michalek
Rice Fergus Miller
Judith Milner
Julia Moore
Jim & Wendy Meusey
Janet Mullen
Janet Norman
Oasis Sports Bar & Grill
Martin & Deborah Ozga
Karen Parker
Jessica Payne
Ann & Dave Perkins
Bob & Enid Phreaner
Ted & Kathy Poston
Sam Reiter
Trevor Roberts
Cheryl & Gib Siard
Lyn Schnug
Cheryl Smith
Libby Ann Smith
Sherry & Randy Smith
Aaron Staeben
John & Sue Stednick
Carlyn Syvanen &
Stephen Vause
Patrick & Karla Terbilcox
Greg & Ginger Voyles
Jackson & Elizabeth Williams
Windermere Real Estate Sequim East
Sandy Yankow
Rebecca Zander
$100 & ABOVE
John Acklen &
Juanice Reyes
Alderwood Bistro
Amazon Smiles Foundation
Laura &
Roy Anderson
Sharon Archer
Rich Avilla
Patty Bacon
Aaron & Paula Barnes
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$100 & ABOVE (Cont.)
Jack & Carol Barnes
Mike Baughman
Ruth & Glenn Beach
Abigail & Julien Berg
Sarah & John Bird
Sara Blake
Rosemary Blumetti
Bob Blush & Susan Savage
Susan Blake & Chris Breen
Ben Bouman
Leigh & Ron Briggs
Penny Burdick
Noreen Burr
Elizabeth Burtner
Rita Buckley
Donna Campbell
Marti Campbell
John Carlson
Sam & Clara Chandler
Lauren B. Churchill
Ingrid Clausen
Judy Clinton
Rosemary Cockrill
Liz Collins
Eileen Cooney & Chris Jones
Eric & Jean Crecelius
Mary Crook
Eileen Cummings
Frank E. Cuthbertson & Jackie Beery
Richard &
Nancy DeBusman
Annette de Knijf
Denny Evans
Marla & Brian Fenske
Facebook Fundraisers
Reed & Janette Finfrock
Nancy & Ed Grier
Marguerite A. Glover
Chris Gutmacher
Sheryl Gurrentz
Laurie L. Hall
Deborah Harrison & Robert Blackett
Troy Hatler & Sheli Potmesil
Paul Howard & Sara Farinelli
Lyn Hiatt
Hurricane Coffee Co.
Gary Huff
Joanna Jackson
Jean & Jack Janis
Merrill & Kathy Jefferson
Jim’s Pharmacy
Severne Johnson
Randy & Cheryl Kilmer
Rick & Suzanne King
Jon & Sandy Kurtz
Brenda Landstrom
Wini Leeds & Jeff Baldwin
Leiter Family Foundation
Marc & Valerie McBride
McCarron Family Charitable Giving Account
Mary McConney &
Martin Eller
Debera & Joel McGehee
Catherine Bernadette McGovern
Laurie McKechnie
Darcy & Joel McNamara
John & Barbara Meier
Russ & Linda Mellon
John & Anne Meyer
Mary Mira
Scott & Cindy Moore
Stephen Morrissey
Lisa & David Murphy
Teresa Nasmith
Melinda & Bob Newell
Cynthia &
David Nowowiejski
Susan Ogilvie
Hank Oosterveld & Beverly Hetrick
John & Barbara Orr
Stephen Pace
Lisa Parrish
Barbara Perry
Helen Pilch
Anna Plager
Gary & Helen Raid
Krestine Reed
Robin Reese
Roz & Mike Reichner
Mike Repko &
Gail Kramer
Ann Marie Riley
Bonnie Roos
Beth & Thomas Ruggerio
Julie A. Rumore
Erv & Kirsten Ruhl
SCJ Alliance
John & Rose Sebastian
Sharon Scairpon
Arthur Schneider
Sue Scott
Sequim Medical Assoc.
Bill & Nancy Shaw
Ann Sibole
Susan Sitran
Carl Siver
Kimberly Skerbeck
Mary Solik
Soroptimist Inter-
national PA Jet Set
Fred & Sue Stauffer
Kathy & Gailen Steichen
Allyn Stevens
Jim Stoffer
Barbara & John Stroud
Swain's General Store
Lois Swanson
Dee & Terry Sweeney
Terri & Keith Taylor
Roger & April Uhden
Tom & Connie Unsicker
Barbara Vanderwerf
Bruce & Carol von Borstel
Robert & Leslie Wahl
Joyce Wash
Charlotte Watts
Karen Westwood
Nancy Weyel
Consuelo White
Rick & Shyla Wilcox
Tracy Wilson
Robbie Yankow
DONORS WHO GAVE
$99 OR BELOW:
263
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GIFTS GIVEN IN MEMORY
AND IN HONOR OF FAMILY & FRIENDS IN 2022
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GIFTS IN MEMORY OF:
The Anderson Family
Elenor & Don Anderson
Lynne Avilla
Joe Beery
Bob Blair
Celia
Roger Crook
Kelly Dickerson
Dennis Dickson
Cynthia Gayle Eaton
Mark Freed
Pat Furey
Joe Hart
Gwyneth Hixson
Patricia Hocevar
Brian Neal Jacobs
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Erwin Powell Jones
Les Jones
Kaya
Nelson Linnabary
Nydia Levick
Charlotte McElroy
Ingrid Kathleen Miller
Don Myers
Stuart Nasmith
Dolores Neal
Don Nunley
Gabe Ornelas
Tim Peterson
Judith Sandra Pysher
Gloria Robbins
Albert Ruffner
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Casey & Nina Rumore
Cherie Santos
Erica Schreiber
Dorothy Shreffler
Hazel Wolfe
Kirk Willis
Nancy Yankow
GIFTS IN HONOR OF:
Shirley Anderson
Melissa & Doug Coughlin
Annette Hanson
Darcy & Joel McNamara
Robert &
Barbara Schneider
Ken Wiersema
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Thank you to all of you who volunteer!
Volunteers are the heart & soul of the River Center. A warm thank you to all of you who have served on the Board of Directors and committees, all of you have greeted visitors and worked as docents; as assistants and servers for numerous events; as groundskeepers, tenders of bird feeders, and flower arrangers; and those who have gathered and donated materials for such things as Nature Mart wreath making.
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DUNGENESS RIVER NATURE CENTER
2022 BOARD of DIRECTORS
Annette Nesse (President), Neil Harrington (Vice President), Ann Sargent (Secretary), Wanda Schneider/Rochelle Blankenship (Treasurer), Kendra Donelson, Marie Grad, Deborah Jensen, Tom Mix, Lyn Muench, Carl Siver, Tuttie Peetz, Kathy Steichen, Kathy Strozyk, Ken Wiersema
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Park Hosts: Paul Wistrand and Kyle Shaw | | | | |
