Wildlife Forever CEO Doug Grann and Midwest Regional Director Robyn Thorson sign a Memo Of Understanding on conservation outreach cooperation, Jan. 22. - FWS photo by Chuck Traxler

On Jan. 22, Regional Director Robyn Thorson and Doug Grann, CEO of Wildlife Forever, signed a Memorandum of Understanding that allows the Midwest Region and Brooklyn Center, Minnesota-based Wildlife Forever to work together on conservation issues of mutual interest, such as invasive species outreach and conservation arts programs.  The MOU also covers activities related to outreach to diverse audiences in urban schools.

The MOU evolved from a meeting in Aug. 2005 among Thorson, Grann, and members of the Fisheries, Diversity and Civil Rights, and External Affairs staffs.  All participants saw many ways that the Service's Midwest Region and Wildlife Forever could work together to promote conservation among a wide variety of audiences.  Fisheries had previously been working with Wildlife Forever on invasive species awareness activities; an MOU to formalize the relationship seemed the next logical step.

Over the next five months, a team of Wildlife Forever and Service representatives worked to craft the MOU.  It covers three main areas:

1. FWS participation in Wildlife Forever's annual State-Fish Art contest, held here in the Twin Cities.

2. Cross-promotion opportunities between the State-Fish Art contest and the Service's Junior Duck Stamp program

3. Coordination with Wildlife Forever on reaching out to diverse and underserved audiences in area city schools with conservation education.

The MOU is also written so that future cooperative efforts that do not fall within these specific areas may be undertaken.

A crowd of about 40 Regional Office employees gathered in the RD's conference room for the MOU signing ceremony.  They stayed to hear a presentation by Doug Grann about some of Wildlife Forever's most recent successful outreach campaigns.

The team that wrote the MOU and will lead cooperative activities under the MOU is: Brett Richardson, grants and education coordinator for Wildlife Forever; Mike Hoff, Region 3 invasive species coordinator; Rob Grant, Region 3 chief of Diversity and Civil Rights; Mara Koenig, Minnesota Junior Duck Stamp coordinator; Cheryl Groom, park ranger at Minnesota Valley NWR; Dave Radloff, Fisheries outreach; and Rachel Levin, outreach coordinator in External Affairs.