It is a strange feeling, to work for so many hours, days, weeks, and months on something and then have it be over in the blink of an eye. However, that bittersweet feeling is balanced by the joy of witnessing the community coming together. Volunteers were at their stations, the decorations were beautiful, and we could smell the delicious aromas wafting over from where the caterers were setting up. We found ourselves taking a moment to pause and be in awe of the beautiful weather we had, of the still air that barely caused the tablecloths to flutter.
We knew that having our Annual Celebration in the middle of October would be a gamble. Every day in the week leading up to October 15, Collette, executive director of the Friends, and I would anxiously check the forecast. We dreaded seeing a small, pixelated raincloud posted next to our chosen Sunday and our hopes dashed. Of course, we had a back up plan, but the Pinehurst School gym with its dim lighting and basketball hoops couldn’t hold a candle to an afternoon under blue skies and sunlight. So, as the clock ticked closer to 3:30 PM and the sun gently warmed our skin in t-shirts and summer dresses, we couldn’t believe how lucky we were.
On the lawn in front of the picturesque red school house of Pinehurst School, nestled in the heart of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, stretched a small sea of round tables under the shade of a grove of towering ponderosa pines. Each had a centerpiece crafted from pine cones, needles, and bright red berries collected from the local landscape by the fabulous, Mary Ann and assembled with care by volunteer extraordinaire, Cindy.
All around us, our board members and volunteers were putting on finishing touches. Stasie Maxwell, board secretary, arranged the raffle table that was overflowing with the generosity of local businesses who donated kindly and enthusiastically to our humble fundraiser. Taylor McAllister, student board member, organized the merchandise table where our new biodiversity t-shirt was proudly on display. Meanwhile Daniel Collay, board chair, and Rob, also a volunteer of extraordinary enthusiasm and muscle power, set up the last remaining chairs and unloaded plates and glasses that were generously lent to us by Willow-Witt Ranch. There was a final hush as the last detail was moved into place. The table was set, both literally and figuratively, for the 2023 Friends Annual Celebration.
The atmosphere was friendly and jovial as the lawn was slowly filled with attendees. The guitar music of Greg Starbird drifted through the background. Even though many people came from different towns and led different lives, they all shared something in common: A love and appreciation for the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Walking around, we saw many familiar faces from this past year’s Hike & Learns, Sunday Hikes, and Stewardship Days. The same people who we spent hours together sweating and removing barbed wire fencing, or stooped over an old stump examining a burn scar, now enjoyed refreshments and reflected on a year well spent.
Mike, another amazing volunteer, was armed with a practical apron and broad smile, offering an “arm’s length” of bright red raffle tickets as people strategically made their selections and put their tickets into metallic silver cans. On a nearby table, a crowd was clustered around a map of the Monument where pictures of beavers waited along the margins to be moved onto the map in exchange for a small donation. Teresa Coker, board member, explained that it was in support of a future “Beaver Scavenger Hunt '', an important first step in the Friend’s new stewardship program in partnership with Project Beaver.
Soon enough, armed with warm spiced cider and a colorful salmon dinner from Maren Faye catering, everyone found their seats. The lucky raffle winners were drawn and then Collette took the stage. It isn’t usually easy to distill an entire year of an organization’s changes, accomplishments, and future goals into a succinct and interesting presentation but Collette did so admirably. Not only did she highlight our successful programming, including our Hike & Learns, Friends Research Fund, and Monument Days with the Crest, she also celebrated the hiring of Program Coordinator, Zaynab Brown, and temporary Operations Manager, Meaghen O’Rourke. We even got to commemorate our new office! Finally, Collette addressed what all of the cute little beaver cut outs had been hinting at: Our beaver habitat stewardship program in 2024. With this, Jakob Shockey took the stage.
It is hard not to fall in love with beavers when you spend just a little time learning and getting to know them. This is particularly true when they have an advocate such as Jakob Shockey, executive director of Project Beaver. Jakob took us on a journey through the historic presence of beavers in our local area and in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Not only were we all impacted by the tragic loss of their numbers due to removal by white settlers, we were also impressed with their promise for the future of riparian restoration. From table to table there was a palpable excitement, a drive to help these unassuming rodents take charge of our waterways once again.
As Jakob wrapped up his presentation, the air had taken on a decided chill and the sun had disappeared quickly as it so often does in the mountains. The Friend’s 2023 Annual Celebration had officially come to a close and attendees claimed their raffle prizes and headed back to their vehicles for a curvy drive back down to the valley. However, the night wasn’t yet over for our volunteers and their families. Quickly, everyone jumped into action and started taking down decorations, piling tables, and putting back chairs. Even the small kitchen in the school was bustling with brave volunteers tackling piles of dishes. It is always surprising to me how an event that took months of planning and hours of setting up can come down in what seems like mere moments.
Soon, it was quiet and dark, the moon hidden behind clouds. The towering ponderosa pines were no longer casting a shadow but their presence was noted nonetheless. The guests and volunteers had gone home, but all left with a renewed sense of community and anticipation for what was to come.
