E Komo Mai (welcome) to the new six-month volunteer crew and thanks to you they have boots to wear!
(L to R) Emily McGuirt, Michah Kimura, Owen Sobel are the three new volunteers who arrived last month. In the advent of an expired 4-year term Biology Tech/Volunteer Coordinator position, once held by the passionate workhorse Laura Brazier, Molly Henling and Dan Rapp (far right) will now have big shoes to fill as they co-share the volunteer coordinator responsibilities.
This crew has been super busy training to learn the work ahead and we have heard “they are awesome.”
The Friends of Midway Atoll board are grateful for your monetary gifts this year that has provided unrestricted funds allowing the board to expediently help volunteers maintain their normal activities in an uncertain time.
For example: A federal credit card freeze disrupted a purchase that the Refuge staff traditionally buys for volunteers as necessary safety gear. Funds were directed within just a few hours to complete the purchase, and the results are modeled below!
Special note: Dan (far right) is wearing 2 mismatched Crocs found washed up on the beach after a container ship lost nearly 2,000 shipping containers due to a storm in 2024.
This crew will also be assisted by your generosity this year by providing a cushion to the wallets of volunteers who have travel expenses and/or loss of regular income and on-going expenses back home (cell phones cost $) during their time on Midway.
You will be hearing directly from this dynamic next generation very soon!
Article written by Ann Bell