About Us
About Us
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Money raised by the Friends supports environmental education, natural resource protection, cultural preservation and scientific research. The Friends also acts as an advocate for our National Park, particularly on issues that threaten its precious natural or cultural resources.
Incorporated in 1988, the Friends is governed by a 13-member volunteer Board of Directors. Our full-time staff consists of a president, development director, program manager, and store manager. On a part time basis, we employ an office assistant and bookkeeper. Our offices are located just outside the Park in Cruz Bay on St. John, US Virgin Islands.
With the generous financial support of our donors, Friends of Virgin Islands National Park has played a significant role in helping protect and preserve VI National Park for the past 20 years. Below is just a sample of the projects and programs that Friends funding has supported.
SCA Trail Crews — During the last seven
summers, teams of young conservationists improved more than 35 miles of Park
trails ($203,500).
Boat Moorings – The Friends installed 220 moorings in 8 bays to protect
turtle habitat and coral reefs from anchors’ damage ($230,000). More recently,
19 day-use, fishing and dive moorings, and 120 storm moorings were installed in
Hurricane Hole in the Coral Reef National Monument ($306,000).
Eco-Camps – Hundreds of 8-14 year old Virgin Islands youth have spent
three days at camp in the Park learning about the island’s terrestrial and
marine eco-systems ($181,500).
Archeology Program – Uncovering and preserving pre-historic Taino and St.
John plantation era artifacts ($319,000).
The Friends closely monitors projects for which we raise funds. We assure that projects are conducted on schedule and that funds are expended effectively. Learn more about Friends’ Programs.
Our Board of Directors are dedicated, our staff is skilled, our accomplishments are admirable, and our reputation is that of an organization that gets good things done for the Park and St. John.
Early each year, Virgin Islands National Park submits a support request list to the Friends’ Board of Directors. The Board carefully evaluates each request within the context of our mission and funding priorities. Projects and programs that further efforts previously funded and those that involve volunteers are of most interest to us.
Looking toward the future, we work closely with the Park Superintendent and Park staff to develop new projects, set priorities, and apprise philanthropic individuals and organizations of opportunities for supporting Virgin Islands National Park.
Currently, over 60% of our support comes from the generous donations of individuals, with the remaining 40% from corporations, private foundations, events, and proceeds from the Friends of the Park Store. In 1999, we received a large gift which allowed us to establish an endowment of $1,700,000.
Friends provides $300,000 to $600,000 in funding to support programs and projects in Virgin Islands National Park.
The Friends has more than 3,000 members from the Virgin Islands, all 50 states and ten foreign countries. We keep in touch with our members via quarterly newsletters, e-mail, annual membership renewal letters, special appeals, community events and our website.
We are a grassroots organization that promotes volunteerism among residents as well as those who would like to help during their holiday on the island. Friends volunteers contribute thousands of hours to the Park each year. Our volunteers help staff the Friends of the Park Store in Mongoose Junction, offer tours at the Annaberg Plantation ruins, clean beaches, clear trails, assist Park scientists, record and label artifacts from the Cinnamon Bay and Trunk Bay dig sites, teach seminars, maintain our website, and assist in the office.
Our volunteer Board of Directors consists of community-oriented leaders who represent a variety of interests in the Virgin Islands from both the public and private sectors.
Traditional officer positions are assigned based on bylaws. The Board meets monthly, requires a seven-member quorum and holds an annual membership meeting to fill any vacant positions and to update members on the state of the organization and the state of the Park.
| Executive Committee Fraser Drummond, Chairman Sam Hall, Vice Chairman Earl Thomas, Secretary Elsa Angel, Treasurer |
Directors Larry Boschulte Harry Daniel Maggie Day John Fuller Cid Hamling |
Curtis Penn Glen Speer Miles Stair Andy Stillman |
Joe Kessler, President
Joe joined the Friends in 2001 with more than 20 years of non-profit management experience, principally as an international relief and development assistance professional. Contact Joe at 340-779-4940 or jkessler@friendsvinp.org
Heather Ruhsam, Development Director
Heather Ruhsam joined us as Development Director in April of 2010. She is delighted to be back home in St. John and part of the Friends team. Heather can best help you with matters relating to sponsoring projects, programs and events, special contributions and planned giving. Contact Heather at 340-779-4940 or hruhsam@friendsvinp.org
Audrey Penn, Program Manager
Audrey Penn joined us as Program Manager in September 2008. She is very excited to be working for the Friends and is a great asset to the team. Audrey can best help you with matters related to specific project activities, the Friends Seminar Program and volunteer opportunities. Contact Audrey at 340-779-4940 or apenn@friendsvinp.org
Arlington Tyrell, Administrative Assistant
Ali is the Friends’ administrative assistant who joined us in May, 2005. Arlington Tyrell (better known as “Ali”) is native to St. John. He is happy to have the opportunity to work for the Friends in that it fulfills his interest in environmental and cultural preservation. “We are truly blessed to be surrounded by so much beauty on St. John,” he says. Ali will help you with matters related to membership and license plates. Contact Ali at 340-779-4940 or atyrell@friendsvinp.org
Karl Pytlik, Store Manager
Karl took over the managerial position at Friends of the Park Store May 2008. He has a background in retail management and a love for the environment. Karl can help you in matters related to the Friends of the Park Store. Contact Karl at 340-779-8700 or karl@friendsvinp.org