The charitable environmental protection organization Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) held their annual general meeting (AGM) on Jan. 20, which included presentations of project progress in 2021 and a significant change to the board of directors.
This was FOCI’s 32nd AGM, according to President Max Thaysen, who got involved 12 years ago and said “there is no work more meaningful in these times.” There were a total of 16 participants at the virtual meeting, including staff, project managers and members.
Thaysen gave a president’s report at the beginning, framing FOCI's work in the context of the time period unofficially known as the "Anthropocene Epoch," which marks the span of Earth’s history with significant human impact on the planet’s ecosystems.
There were presentations about FOCI's work last year, including:
- The Dillon Creek wetland restoration at the land trust of Linnaea Farm
- Marine stewardship activities
- Forage fish monitoring
- Western screech owl project
- Streamkeepers
The goals and education for Dillon Creek wetland restoration. Image courtesy of Friends of Cortes Island.
Thaysen said FOCI’s public events were still decreased due to the pandemic, but there were guided naturalist walks, a film screening and a Firewise event that taught low tech cost effective water storage techniques, the recording of which is available.
Executive Director Helen Hall then named Bruce Harrison as the winner of the Jo Ann Green Environmental Award for 2021. The award is named after one of the founding members of FOCI.
The last agenda item was voting on a new board of directors.
- Max Thysen and Autumn Barrett-Morgan are staying on to serve the remainder of their two-year term
- Arlene Tompkins, Miranda Cross, Richard Andrews, Kai Harvey and Sobhana Dilani Hippola stepped down
- Four new members were elected: Lisa Ferentinos, Michael Moore, Andy Vine and Ian Shamus Lennon
FOCI is always looking for more support both in volunteer time and donations.
Listen to the full CKTZ News report below: