U.S. Fish & Wildlife Director Dan Ashe speaks at the Conserving the Future Conference

TRAVELING TO PLACES LIKE THE FLORIDA KEYS AND TO SANIBEL WHEN
I WAS DOING WORK, GOING TO BLACK BEARD ISLAND OR THE PIEDMONT
REFUGE IN GEORGIA, PLACES LIKE THAT, AND I DID LIKE TO TAKE MY
FAMILY. I HAVE FIVE BOYS, AND HE'S THE
ONLY ONE WHO HAS GONE INTO THIS FIELD.
ALL -- AS A CONSEQUENCE, I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT ALL MY BOYS
HAVE DONE WELL AND ARE DOING WELL AND TURNED OUT WELL.
TO ME, THERE'S NO BETTER WAY OF DOING THAT THAN TO INTRODUCING
THEM TO THE OUT OF DOORS AND TO NATURE AND THEN LET THEM MAKE
THEIR OWN CHOICES AS TO WHAT THEIR LIFE'S WORK IS GOING TO
BE. OF COURSE, I'M ESPECIALLY PROUD
OF DAN, YOU LIKE PEOPLE TO FOLLOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
IT GIVES YOU A GOOD FEELING. HE'S DONE WELL AND HE'S GOING TO
DO BETTER. >> PLEASE WELCOME TO THE STAGE
DAN ASHE. >> I DID NOT KNOW THEY WERE
GOING TO DO THAT. THAT WAS SPECIAL 3- JEFF AND
PEOPLE WHO SAID THAT'S A LONG WALK, THEY HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH
SENATE CONFIRMATION. WE STAND ON SHOULDERS OF GIANTS.
IT'S A PHRASE WE USE OFTEN. AND IT'S A CONCEPT IN FULL VIEW
TODAY. WE HAVE THE RARE CHANCE TO HEAR
FROM THREE PEOPLE WHO LED OUR AGENCY DURING THREE VERY
DIFFERENT TIMES. STEVE WILLIAMS WAS A VETERAN IN
FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BEFORE HE BECAME DIRECTOR OF THE
FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE IN 2002. STEVE CAME TO THE DIRECTORSHIP
AFTER SERVING AS THE SECRETARY OF THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF
WILDLIFE AND PARKS. DURING THE THREE YEARS THAT
STEVE SERVED AS DIRECTOR, HE SOLIDIFIED OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH
OUR STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCY PARTNERS AND HE TOOK
SPECIAL EFFORTS TO ENRICH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SPORT
FISHING AND HUNTING COMMUNITIES. HE ADVANCED COOPERATIVE
CONSERVATION, PARTNERSHIPS, TRAVELING ACROSS THE COUNTRY
ALWAYS WITH THE MESSAGE THAT CONSERVATION IS NOT A ONE-AGENCY
GOAL. STEVE TODAY IS PRESIDENT OF THE
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE, WHICH IS ALSO A VITAL AND
VIBRANT MEMBER OF THE C.A.R.E. ORGANIZATION.
OUR SECOND PARTICIPANT, JAMIE CLARK, SPENT 20 YEARS IN
GOVERNMENT SERVICE, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF IT WITH
THE U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE, WHERE SHE SERVED AS
DIRECTOR FROM 1997 TO 2001. NOTE THOSE YEARS.
JAMIE WAS AT THE HELM IN 1997 WHEN CONGRESS PASSED THE
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT ACT AND JAMIE WAS
DIRECTOR WHEN WE ALL CAME TOGETHER IN KEYSTONE, COLORADO
FOR THE FULFILLING THE PROMISE CONFERENCE.
I WAS ALSO HONORED TO SERVE AS CHIEF OF NATIONAL WILDLIFE
REFUGE SYSTEM WHEN JAMIE CLARK WAS DIRECTOR AND THEN ALSO
DURING A PORTION OF THE TIME WHEN STEVE WILLIAMS WAS
DIRECTOR. DURING JAMIE'S TIME AS DIRECTOR
SHE LAUNCHED THE SAFE HARBOR PROGRAM WITHIN THE ENDANGERED
SPECIES PROGRAM AND OTHERS THAT STILL TODAY ENRICH OUR WORK WITH
PRIVATE LANDOWNERS AND VOLUNTARY -- IN VOLUNTARY
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION. SHE AND HER ORGANIZATION ARE AT
THE FOREFRONT AS ADVOCATES ON BEHALF OF NATIONAL WILDLIFE
REFUGES AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.
YOU ON THIRD GUEST TODAY IS LYNN GREENWALT.
LYNN WAS BORN INTO THE REFUGE SYSTEM, LITERALLY.
HIS FATHER ERNEST WAS REFUGE MANAGER AT WICHITA MOUNTAIN
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IN OKLAHOMA WHERE LYNN WAS BORN.
IN FACT, HIS FATHER WORKED FOR THE REFUGE SYSTEM FOR MORE THAN
30 YEARS. LYNN SPENT HIS FORMATIVE
CHILDHOOD YEARS AT WICHITA MOUNTAINS, AND IF YOU LOOKED
BACK AROUND HARD ENOUGH YOU MIGHT FIND A PICTURE OF
6-YEAR-OLD LYNN WEARING A COWBOY COSTUME WITH THE REFUGE VISTA IN
THE BACKGROUND. LYNN BEGAN HIS FISH & WILDLIFE
SERVICE CAREER WITH SUMMER JOBS AT WICHITA MOUNTAIN IN 1946
WHILE HE WAS EARNING A BACHELOR'S DEGREE, AND ALL THESE
YEARS LATER HE HAS NEVER LOST HIS LOVE OF THE REFUGE SYSTEM OR
THE LAND. LYNN SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF THE
FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE FROM 1973 TO 1981.
AFTER HIS RETIREMENT FROM FEDERAL SERVICE, HE WORKED AS A
VICE PRESIDENT FOR PUBLIC POLICY AT THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE
FEDERATION. HE ALSO SERVED ON THE REFUGE
SYSTEM CENTENNIAL COMMISSION AS WE PLANNED OUR BIRTHDAY IN 2003.
I'LL SHARE A LITTLE VIGNETTE ABOUT LYNN.
AS YOU MOW FATHER WORKED FOR THE FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE FOR 37
YEARS. HE SPENT THE FIRST 17 YEARS OF
HIS CAREER IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, WORKING IN THE REGIONAL OFFICE.
I WAS BORN IN ATLANTA. HE SPENT THE LAST 17 YEARS OF
HIS CAREER IN MASSACHUSETTS AS DEPUTY REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF
REGION 5. THERE WAS A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD OF
TIME WHEN WE MOVED THREE TIMES. THAT WAS WHEN I WAS IN HIGH
SCHOOL. I WENT TO THREE DIFFERENT HIGH
SCHOOLS. A FEW YEARS AGO I ASKED MY
FATHER, WE WERE SPENDING TIME TOGETHER, AND I SAID, SO WHAT
WAS WITH THAT? AND HE SAID, WELL, EVERY TIME I
GOT SETTLED IN A JOB, LYNN GREENWALT WOULD CALL ME AND ASK
ME TO DO SOMETHING ELSE. AS LYNN COMES UP HERE, HE COMES
UP HERE WITH THE TITLE RETIRED BEHIND HIS NAME, BUT DON'T
BELIEVE IT. THIS IS A MAN WHO IS FAR FROM
WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER RETIRED. ALL THREE OF THESE PEOPLE LED
THIS AGENCY DURING CHALLENGING TIMES.
I'M NOT ONLY PLEASED TO INTRODUCE THEM, BUT I'M THRILLED
TO CALL THEM COLLEAGUES AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FRIENDS.
SO LET'S WELCOME THESE THREE WONDERFUL PEOPLE TO THE STAGE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DAN. I APPRECIATE THAT.
I WAS STRUCK AS I WAS LISTENING TO DAN'S REMARKS AND THE REMARKS
ABOUT -- OF COURSE, HIS OWN FAMILY AND JAMIE AND LYNN'S AND
I DON'T HAVE THAT PEDIGREE, UNFORTUNATELY, OF WORKING FOR
THE FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE FOR A LONG TIME.
BUT I DID HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS
A DIRECTOR FOR THREE YEARS, AND I DO HAVE A PERSPECTIVE COMING
FROM THE STATESIDE OF THINGS AND NOW A PERSPECTIVE AS PRESIDENT
OF AN NGO, AND IT DIDN'T TAKE ME LONG AFTER I CAME TO D.C. TO
REALIZE A FEW THINGS. ONE IS THAT D.C. IS A REALLY
HARD PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT DIDN'T
TAKE ME LONG TO REALIZE, AND HONESTLY I DON'T -- I DIDN'T
NECESSARILY BRING THIS IMPRESSION, PERCEPTION INTO THE
OFFICE, BUT IT SURE DIDN'T TAKE ME LONG TO REALIZE THE
TREMENDOUS COMMITMENT, DEDICATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS
THAT FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE EMPLOYEES HAD AND CONTINUE TO
HAVE. SO I WAS VERY, VERY IMPRESSED
EVERYWHERE I WENT, EVERYONE I TALKED TO, AND LOOKING AT THE
PROJECTS THAT YOU ALL ACCOMPLISHED.
I'VE SAID THIS NUMEROUS TIMES AND I'M NOT JUST BLOWING SMOKE,
I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A DAY THAT WENT BY WHEN I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS DIRECTOR THAT I WASN'T IMPRESSED AT LEAST
ONCE A DAY WITH SOMETHING THAT I HEARD YOU ALL WERE DOING OR WHEN
I GOT TO GO ON THE ROAD, WHICH I DID QUITE A BIT.
TOOK A LITTLE RIBBING FOR THAT. I HEARD TODAY SECRETARY SALAZAR
SAID KIND OF WHAT I THOUGHT, THAT THE REAL WORK GETS DONE OUT
IN THE FIELD IN ECOLOGICAL SERVICES OFFICES AND THE FISH
HATCHERIES AND THE REFUGES, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT FOLKS, AND MY
DRAWING WAS ALWAYS AWAY FROM D.C. OUT TO WHERE YOU FOLKS DID
THE INCREDIBLE JOBS THAT YOU DID.
SO IT WAS QUITE AN HONOR, AND I JUST WANTED TO SORT OF THIS
CURTAIN CALL SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY AT THE FISH & WILDLIFE
SERVICE FOR MAKING ME FEEL LIKE FAMILY, FOR PROVIDING THREE OF
THE MOST INCREDIBLE YEARS I'VE EVER HAD AND WILL EVER HAVE IN
MY CAREER. HAVING SAID THAT, I COULDN'T BE
HAPPIER THAT DAN ASHE IS SERVING AS YOUR DIRECTOR NOW.
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF GROUPS, MANY GROUPS, ACROSS D.C. AND
ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT WERE VERY ANXIOUS TO HAVE -- TO SEE
THAT DAN WAS NOMINATED AND CONFIRMED.
WE WEREN'T AS ANXIOUS AS DAN WAS, I CAN TELL YOU THAT FROM
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, BUT A LOT OF GROUPS DID THEIR BEST TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE GOT A DIRECTOR THEY
DESERVED, AND IN DAN ASHE YOU DO, A COMMITTED WILDLIFE
PROFESSIONAL AND I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER.
THIS CONFERENCE -- YOU KNOW, IF I COULD TWEET, WHICH I CAN'T --
I DON'T KNOW MY BOOK FROM FACE SPACE OR WHATEVER THAT STUFF IS.
BUT I DON'T THINK I COULD DO IT IN 140 WORDS OR CHARACTERS OR
WHATEVER THAT IS, BUT I GUESS I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THIS IS JUST
AN INCREDIBLY VENT. IT'S AMAZING.
THE ENERGY THAT'S IN THIS ROOM, THAT'S BEEN IN THE HALLWAYS,
THAT'S BEEN IN THE SESSIONS, I SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED.
I GUESS I SHOULD JUST EXPECT THAT FROM THE FISH & WILDLIFE
SERVICE AND ALL THE CONSERVATION PARTNERS THAT ARE REPRESENTED
HERE TODAY. SO I'M QUITE PLEASED TO BE HERE,
HONORED TO BE -- AGAIN TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU FOLKS FOR A FEW
SECONDS -- OR A FEW MINUTES. THE VISION DOCUMENT THAT YOU PUT
TOGETHER, I THINK, IS A TREMENDOUS START TO THE FUTURE
OF THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM.
I'M PLEASED AND I HAVE TO DO THIS EVERYWHERE I GO, PLEASE TO
SEE THAT THERE IS AN INCLUSION OF THE TRADITIONAL -- SOME OF
THE TRADITIONAL FIRST CONSERVATIONISTS, THE HUNTERS
AND ANGLERS IN THIS COUNTRY, RECOGNITION OF THE ROLE THEY
PLAY IN CONSERVATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE ROLE THEY PLAY
WITH THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM.
SO, FROM THAT SECTOR OF THE CONSTITUENTS -- CONSTITUENT
SERVICES I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THIS IS A VISIONARY DOCUMENT. IT'S TOUGH.
IT'S AMBITIOUS. BUT THAT'S WHAT VISIONARY
DOCUMENTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE. I APPLAUD YOU ALL FOR THE WORK
YOU'VE DONE PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND I APPLAUD YOU ALL
FOR THE OPENNESS AND THE INVOLVEMENT, VERY ACTIVE
INVOLVEMENT, TRYING TO GET THE PUBLIC TO HAVE A SAY IN HOW THE
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM IS RUN NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.
WITH THAT, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
CONGRATULATIONS, DAN, AGAIN, AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE
JAMIE CLARK, WHO WAS THE FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE DIRECTOR
IMMEDIATELY BEFORE ME. SO, JAMIE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M SO DELIGHTED TO BE HERE
AMONG SO MANY FRIENDS AND FORMER COLLEAGUES.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW GOOD IT FEELS.
IT FEELS LIKE I'VE COME HOME AGAIN.
IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE SO MANY OF YOU.
I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T HAVE AT LEAST A FEW WORDS ABOUT
DAN ASHE BEFORE I START MY REMARKS.
I COULDN'T BE MORE DELIGHTED WITH DAN AS YOUR DIRECTOR.
YOU HAVE A GEM, AND HE IS THE RIGHT PERSON AT THE RIGHT TIME
TO LEAD THE FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE.
AS HE MENTIONED, DAN I WORKED VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER WHILE I
WAS AT THE SERVICE, AND, IN FACT, DAN WAS PROBABLY THE MOST
INSTRUMENTAL PERSON IN HELPING ME GET THROUGH THE CONFIRMATION
PROCESS. HE TEED ME UP, HE, ALONG WITH
MANY FOLLOWED MEAL AROUND WITH GINORMOUS NOTEBOOKS OF
INFORMATION TO LEARN, WHICH I STUDIOUSLY MEMORIZED BEFORE
MEETING ALL THOSE YOU HAVE TO MEET BEFORE SENATE CONFIRMATION
AND THEN WE WENT OFF TO SEE THE SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL WORKS CHAIR
JOHN CHAFFEE, WHO WAS THE MOST AMAZING CONSERVATIONIST, AND A
SPECIAL FAVORITE OF ALL OF OUR OBVIOUSLY.
SO I HAD STUDIED EVERYTHING. I KNEW HOW MANY HATCHERIES,
IMPORTANCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF EACH HUNTING FRAMEWORK.
I KNEW THE REFUGES. I KNEW ABOUT ES AND GO IN WITH
ALL MY KNOWLEDGE AND DAN AND I ARE SITTING DOWN AND SENATOR
CHAFFEE SAT US DOWN AND SAID I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE FACTS, I
ASSUME YOU MUST KNOW THEM, TELL ME YOUR VISION.
AND I ABOUT HAD A STROKE. WHAT'S EXCITING ABOUT THIS WEEK
AND THE JOURNEY YOU'VE BEEN ON AND WILL CONTINUE IS THE
IMPORTANCE OF TAKING THE LONGVIEW, THE IMPORTANCE OF
VISIONING AND THINKING TO THE FUTURE.
WHILE LIVING IN THE MOMENT IS IMPORTANT, IT'S THE VISION THAT
YOU ARE DEVELOPING, WE ARE ALL DEVELOPING THIS WEEK, THAT IS SO
EXCITING. NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES IN
PARTICULAR HOLD SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART.
MY HUSBAND JIM AND I WERE ACTUALLY MARRIED ALMOST 22 YEARS
AGO ON A SMALL REFUGE OFF THE COAST OF TEXAS, MADAGORDA
ISLAND. I WAS ASKED AND I DECLARED IT SO
THAT IT WAS A COMPUTE ANNUAL USE OF THAT REFUGE AT THE TIME.
BUT JIM WAS A REFUGE MANAGER THERE, AND WE WERE MARRIED BY
THIS TERRIFIC, I THINK, MINISTER.
THE MAINTENANCE WORKER AT ARANZAS.
I LEARNED AN AWFUL LOT ABOUT THE SYSTEM BEING MARRIED TO A REFUGE
EMPLOYEE. IN FACT, JIM'S FONDEST MEMORIES
OF HIS TIME AS A SERVICE EMPLOYEE WAS THE YEARS HE SPENT
AT NCTC OVERSEEING THE REFUGE TRAINING ACADEMY AND WITNESSING
FIRSTHAND THE COMMITMENT AND PASSION OF SO MANY FOLKS
DEDICATED TO PROTECTING THESE SPECIAL LANDS, AND I'VE REALLY
ENJOYED SEEING SO MANY OF YOU HERE THIS WEEK.
AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, BOTH HE AND MY SON CARSON ARE NATURE
PHOTOGRAPHERS IN BLACK WATER. ARE SOME OF THEIR FAVORITE
DESTINATIONS FOR SHOOTS NEAR OUR HOME.
SOMETIMES, AND I EMFAUX SOMETIMES, IF I PROMISE TO BE
PATIENT AND QUIET, THEY ACTUALLY EVEN LET ME TAG ALONG, BUT
UNFORTUNATELY THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN.
I HAVE VISITED DOZENS OF REFUGES OVER THE YEARS FOR BOTH BUSINESS
AND PLEASURE. AND I OFTEN NOW FIND MYSELF
REFLECTING ON MANY OF THOSE VISITS WHILE I'M WORKING IN MY
OFFICE IN D.C. IN FACT, A GOOD BIT OF MY
CONSERVATION CAREER HIGHLIGHTS SEEM TO BE ROOTED IN THOSE
MEMORIES. RELEASING BLACK FOOTED FERRETS
ON CHARLES M. RUSSELL, WATCHING BABY SEA TURTLES ERUPT OUT OF
THE SAND AND SCURRY TO THE WATER AT ARCHIE CARR, REFLECTING ON
HISTORY AT PELICAN ISLAND WHILE PLANTING NATIVE GRASSES,
OBSERVING HUGE FLOCKS OF SANDHILL CRANES AS THEY
DESCENDED ON THE FLATS AT BOSQUE, HIKING OVER THE RISE AND
BEING OVERWHELMED, THE ONLY WAY I CAN DESCRIBE IT, WALLOWS OF
WALRUS AT TOGIAK. EXPERIENCING SENSORY OVERLOAD AT
RIO GRANDE. YOU AND CANOEING THE DARK WATERS
OF OKEFENOKEE WITH SAM HAMILTON. THESE WERE MADE POSSIBLE NOT BY
THE REFUGES THEMSELVESES BUT BECAUSE OF THE HARD PEOPLE AND
THE PARTNERS AND FRIENDS WHO KEEP THE REFUGES GOING DAY TO
DAY AND PROVIDE EXPERIENCES OF A LIFETIME.
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES HAVE TRULY PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN
THE CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES BUT THEY ALSO PLAY A
KEY ROLE FOR PEOPLE. AS OUR COUNTRY BECOMES MORE AND
MORE URBANIZED, AND WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THIS WEEK, REFUGES
HAVE BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, PROVIDING A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
FOR SO MANY BOTH YOUNG AND OLD WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY SPLASHING IN THE OCEAN, CATCHING A
FISH, HIKING, BIRDING ALONG TRAILS TEAMING WITH WILDLIFE.
NOT ONLY DO REFUGES PROVIDE THESE EXPERIENCES, BUT THEY
TRULY TEACH US ALL A RESPECT FOR NATURE IN THE TRUE SENSE OF
STEWARDSHIP. CONSERVATION IS SURELY BECOMING
MORE INCREASINGLY COMPLEX IN THIS WARMING WORLD OF OURS, AND
REFUGES IS TRUE JEWELS AND ANCHORS OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
WILL PROVIDE SOME OF THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR WILDLIFE TO
SURVIVE AND THRIVE IN THIS CHALLENGING AND CHANGING WORLD.
WE CAN'T OVERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE FOR CONNECTIVITY AND
FOR OUR CONSERVATION FUTURE. DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE HAS BEEN A
FRIEND OF THE REFUGE SYSTEM FOR DECADES.
WE'VE CONSISTENTLY ADVOCATED FOR FUNDING FOR HE EXPANSION AND
RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVATION.
I'M PARTICULARLY HAPPY TO BE HERE TO CONTINUE THAT SUPPORT
AND TO CHEER ON THE EFFORT THAT IS GATHERING EXCITING STEAM THIS
WEEK. DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES
ESPECIALLY WITH BUDGET, AND WE HEARD PRETTY COMPELLING AND
SOBERING NEWS FROM THE SECRETARY THIS MORNING, WE'RE REDOUBLING
OUR EFFORTS IN THE COMMUNE TEED TO PROVIDE A MUCH NEEDED VOICE
AND A LOUD VOICE TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE
OF CONSERVATION INVESTMENTS FOR NOW AND THE FUTURE AND HOW AN
UNACCEPTABLE TODAY'S BEHAVIOR IN CONGRESS IS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, BUT WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU
HAVE LOTS OF FRIENDS AND VOICES TO SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS.
I'VE BEEN ASKED A NUMBER OF TIMES SINCE I ARRIVED LATE
YESTERDAY ABOUT KEYSTONE. I REMEMBER WELL OUR TIME IN
KEYSTONE BACK IN 1998, WHICH WAS, AS DAN MENTIONED THE FIRST
LARGE GATHERING OF REFUGE SYSTEM MANAGERS AND COLLEAGUES IN
HISTORY. WHILE SOME THOUGHT IT WAS A
RISKY ENDEAVOR TO GATHER THAT PEOPLE TOGETHER TO DISCUSS THE
FUTURE OF THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM THERE WAS NO
DENYING THE EXCITEMENT, PASSION AND ELECTRICITY AS THE MEETING
GOT UNDER WAY. I WAS CONFIDENT THEN THAT THE
DECISION TO ASSEMBLE A GROUP OF FOLKS WHO LOVE THE LAND SO MUCH
WAS ABSOLUTELY THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
THERE WERE SO MANY TIES THAT BOUND THAT GROUP TOGETHER,
ORGANIZATIONAL IDENTITIES JUST MELTED AWAY.
WE WERE ONE SERVICE. WE WERE ONE CONSERVATION
COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER TO SERVE AND PROTECT OUR SPECIAL
PLACES SET ASIDE FOR WILDLIFE. I FEEL THAT SAME SENSE OF
EXCITEMENT AND COMMITMENT HERE THIS WEEK IN MADISON.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD, LET'S NOT RETRACE OUR STEPS SINCE KEYSTONE
BUT INSTEAD BUILD UPON THEM WITH NEW IDEAS THAT LEAPED TO BOLD
CONSERVATION ACTIONS ON EVERY REFUGE.
THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT ACT HAS THE
STRONGEST STEWARDSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES OF ANY LAND
MANAGEMENT STATUTE TODAY. WE MUST HOLD THE LINE AS WE LOOK
TOWARDS THE FUTURE. FIRST AND FOREMOST WE MUST
CONTINUE TO PUT WILDLIFE FIRST AND CONSERVE BIODIVERSITY IN
AMERICA'S MOST SIGNIFICANT ECOSYSTEMS, REACHING OUT ACROSS
GENERATIONS, CULTURES AND INSTITUTIONAL BOUNDARIES FOR
HELP AND SUPPORT. AS WE STEP FROM VISION TO
PRACTICE, WE MUST ENSURE THAT REFUGES HAVE THE APPROPRIATE
POLICIES IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT WILDLIFE CONTINUE TO TAKE FIRST
PRIORITY IN THE FACE OF MOUNTING CONSERVATION PRESSURES.
WE MUST CONSERVE WILDLIFE ON THEIR TERMS, ENGAGING THE WHOLE
ECOLOGICAL NEIGHBORHOOD IN REFUGE PLANNING, SO THAT SPECIES
ARE PROTECTED THROUGHOUT THEIR RANGE, NOT JUST WITHIN REFUGE
BOUNDARIES. WE MUST BETTER PROTECT AMERICA'S
WILDLIFE FROM NEW AND WORSENING ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS,
CONTINUING OUR EFFORTS ON CONSERVING TRUST RESOURCES BUT
ALSO BY BARGAINING OUR EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY AND CONSERVE THOSE
SPECIES, HABITATS AND ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES THAT BEST INDICATE AND
CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH AND INTEGRITY OF THE
REFUGE SYSTEM. WE MUST ENSURE THAT REFUGES
REMAIN HEALTHY AS ANCHORS OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY,
ARTICULATING A CLEAR STRATEGY FOR LAND ACQUISITION THAT WILL
ALLOW WILDLIFE TO NAVIGATE THROUGH A WARMING WORLD AND THE
REFUGE SYSTEM TO ADAPT AND REMAIN RELEVANT IN CONSERVATION
FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. WE MUST REACH OUT TO A WIDER,
MORE URBAN AND MORE DIVERSE AUDIENCE TO HELP REPAIR THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC'S GROWING DETACHMENT FROM NATURAL WORLD
AND REINVIGORATE THE PUBLIC'S COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING IT.
WE'VE HAD AN IMPORTANT JOB TO DO HERE THIS WEEK IN MADISON, BUT
THAT JOB DOESN'T END HERE. WHETHER WE'RE REFUGE MANAGERS OR
MAINTENANCE WORKERS, BUDGET ANALYSTS, HUMAN RESOURCES
SPECIALISTS, FRIENDS, VOLUNTEERS OR PARTNERS, EACH ONE OF US HAS
A CRITICAL ROLE TO PLAY IN TRANSFORMING OUR SHARED VISION
INTO REALITY AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL SUCCEED AND I'M
EAGER TO BE A PARTNER IN THAT SUCCESS.
WHEN I LEFT THE SERVICE, GOSH, IT'S ABOUT A DECADE AGO, I KNEW
I'D CONTINUE, AFTER I GOT OVER THE SHOCK OF IT, I KNEW I'D
CONTINUE MY CAREER AS AN UNABASHED ADVOCATE FOR WHAT YOU
DO AND AS A LIBERATED VOICE OF HIGH EXPECTATIONS.
I HAVE SUCH AN UNWAVERING READ EXPECT FOR THE FISH & WILDLIFE
SERVICE. I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO STAND
TALL AND THINK BIG, THINK LONG TERM, THAT YOU ENSURE THAT
SCIENCE MATTERS AND THAT AS WE FACE THE INCREASING NEEDS TO
BALANCE OUR NATURAL RESOURCES LEGACY WITH OTHER COMPETING
DEMANDS YOU MAKE SURE THAT THE CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE AND
SPECIAL PLACES TAKE A BACKSEAT TO NOTHING.
I'M -- I AM REMINDED EVERY DAY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR WORK
TOGETHER AND IN PARTICULAR THE ROLE OF THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE
REFUGE SYSTEM TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR COLLECTIVE CONSERVATION
MISSION WHEN I PURSUE MY GREATEST PASSION, BEING A MOM TO
MY NOW 12-YEAR-OLD SON. I'M SOBERED BY THE NOTION THAT
WE MAY BE THE FIRST GENERATION TO PASS ON A LESSER QUALITY
ENVIRONMENT TO OUR CHILDREN THAN WE INHERITED OURSELVES, AND I
FIND THAT JUST UNACCEPTABLE AND IRRESPONSIBLE.
WE NEED TO HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE AND REMEMBER THAT
THOSE THAT ARE COMING BEHIND US DESERVE AT LEAST THE SAME RICHES
THAT WE OURSELVES HAVE ENJOYED. I CAN THINK OF NO ONE WHO CAN
HELP URGE US ON MORE AS WE CHART THE VISION FOR THE NATIONAL
WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM THAT OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
LYNN GREENWALT IS A GREAT FRIEND AND HAS BEEN WITH THE REFUGE
SYSTEM EVERY STEP OF
THE WAY. GAVE THEIR CAREERS AND SOME EVEN
GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR WHAT YOU ARE WORKING TOWARDS.
SAVING DIRT. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT'S MY
PLEASURE AND HONOR TO INTRODUCE ONE OF THE BEST THERE IS AT
SAVING DIRT, LYNN GREENWALT. >> IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE
KEYSTONE. SO MANY THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.
SO MANY CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE. YET IT'S STILL VERY MUCH THE
SAME. HERE I AM FACING A THOUSAND OF
MY FRIENDS, A THOUSAND DEVOTEES OF THE THINGS WE CARE ABOUT, A
THOUSAND PROFESSIONALS OF UNPARALLELED ABILITY.
I NEED TO SHARE WITH YOU A COUPLE OF SIMPLE EXPLANATIONS
AND RECITATION OF EVENTS. SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THAT SOME
MONTHS AGO I WAS REMINDED OF MY MORTALITY.
ALL OF US FACE THAT AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER.
WHEN THE WORD SPREAD MIRACULOUSLY, AS IT ALWAYS DOES
IN THIS ORGANIZATION, I BEGAN TO RECEIVE CARDS AND NOTES AND
LETTERS AND OCCASIONAL CALLS, AND I WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO
THANK YOU FOR DOING SO BECAUSE YOU HELPED A SOMEWHAT
APPREHENSIVE OLD MAN REALIZE THAT PEOPLE STILL CARE.
NO GREATER BLESSING CAN FLOW TO ANY PERSON.
NOW I'M IN GOOD HEALTH. [ APPLAUSE ]
THE ONLY SCARS I BEAR, BEYOND THE ONES YOU'LL NEVER SEE IN THE
FRONT OF ME, IS A CURIOUS CHANGE IN MY VOICE THAT SOMETIMES COMES
WITH THESE SORTS OF OPERATIONS, AND THOUGH I ONCE SOUNDED LIKE
GREGORY PECK, AS YOU ALL REMEMBER, I NOW SOUND AS I DO AS
PRESENT, AND IT'S A LITTLE DISCONCERTING, BUT YOU CAN CHALK
IT UP TO EMOTION BECAUSE BEFORE I'M THROUGH MY FEW MINUTES, I'M
LIKELY TO BECOME EXTRAORDINARILY EMOTIONAL BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF
THOSE TIMES WHEN I HAVE THE RARE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND BEFORE SUCH
A GROUP AND TALK ABOUT MY EXPECTATIONS OF YOU AND YOUR
OPPORTUNITIES. KEYSTONE WAS THE KEYSTONE, THAT
CRITICAL BLOCK THAT HOLDS UP THE ARCH.
THIS ONE MAY BE REFERRED TO BY SOME AS THE CAPSTONE.
DON'T LET IT IMPLY THAT THERE IS NO GREATER HEIGHT TO REACH,
BECAUSE IT IS NOT TRUE. I THINK IT WILL ALSO BE, AS
SOMEBODY SUGGESTED, A TOUCHSTONE, BECAUSE YOU WILL
CONSTANTLY BE REMINDED OF THAT WHICH WENT BEFORE.
SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE STOOD ON THIS STAGE, SO MANY PEOPLE WHO
ARE SO KIND TO ME HAVE SAID THINGS ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVE GONE
BEFORE THAT I ALMOST DECIDED NOT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT,
UNTIL I CAME HERE, AND WITH A STRANGE CONVERGENCE OF EVENTS, I
LOOKED UP, AND THERE ON THE SCREEN, AND YOU WILL HAVE SEEN
IT, IS A PICTURE OF A PAIR OF REFUGE EMPLOYEES EACH WEARING A
FEDORA. NOW, THAT'S NOT DONE MUCH
ANYMORE, BUT IN ONE TIME THAT WAS DONE.
ONE OF THEM SITS IN A JEEP AND THE OTHER ONE STANDS ON THE
OUTSIDE WITH A STATE OF THE ART MOTOROLA TWO-WAY RADIO THAT
WEIGHED ABOUT 28 POUNDS, AND IF THE SUN WAS DOWN, IT WOULD
TRANSMIT 3 MILES, PROVIDING YOU STOOD ON THE TOP OF THE TRUCK.
THE ONE HOLDING THE RADIO IS MY FATHER.
[ APPLAUSE ] BUT ALMOST MORE IMPORTANT TO ME
IS THE OTHER PERSON WHO CAME TO TRAIN UNDER MY FATHER MANY YEARS
AGO, AND HE BROUGHT WITH HIM A BLITHE SPIRIT, A BRILLIANT
COMPANION AND ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN I HAVE EVER
MET. SHE HAS BEEN MY WIFE FOR NEARLY
56 YEARS NOW. SO IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE THE
IDEA THAT PERMEATING THIS ORGANIZATION IS THE TENDRIL,
THE, IN DEEP TAP ROOTS OF RELATIONSHIPS AND DIRECT BLOOD
RELATIONSHIPS, AND IT GETS EVEN MORE RAMIFIED WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT IT. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS
ROOM WHOSE FATHERS, MOTHERS, PERHAPS WERE REFUGE EMPLOYEES,
OR FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE EMPLOYEES, AND THE CONNECTIONS
GET INTERESTING AND COMPLICATED. YOU ALL KNOW DENNY HOLLAND.
ANYBODY WHO DOESN'T KNOW DENNY HAUL AND HIS WIFE HAS BEEN A
CLOSET FOR YEARS. DENNY AND I ARE CO-GRANDPARENTS
BECAUSE HIS DAUGHTER MARRIED MY SON.
OH, HIS DAUGHTER WORKS FOR THE FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE, AND HER
NAME IS HOLLAND, AND SHE WORKS IN MIGRATORY BIRDS.
ISN'T THAT STRANGE. I WAS BROUGHT UP WITH SOMEBODY
WHO IS FAMOUS, OR SHOULD BE TO EVERYONE, THE LONGEST SERVING
MAINTENANCE MAN IN THE HISTORY OF THE REFUGE SYSTEM, EDWIN
DRUMMOND, WICHITA MOUNTAINS. BY THE WAY, HIS FATHER WORKED ON
THE WICHITA REFUGE AND WAS ONE OF THE KEY INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED
IN GETTING THE LONGHORN CATTLE HERDS REESTABLISHED WITH THE
EXACT BLOOD LINES OF THE OLD MEXICAN CATTLE.
IT IS POSSIBLE TO FIND THIS CONNECTION EVERYWHERE.
I RAN INTO SOMEBODY THE OTHER DAY WHO HAS A -- WHAT I WOULD
CALL AN OUTGOING PERSONALITY, AND HE STOOD IN FRONT OF ME AND
PRESENTED HIS PROFILE AND SAID: WHO DOES THIS REMIND YOU OF?
AND ALL I COULD SAY WAS THE STATUE OF CRAZY HORSE.
ACTUALLY, IT WAS BARRY STEIGLETZ.
AND I PERCEIVE HE WAS NOT OFFENDED, BUT HIS FATHER AND I
WERE COLLEAGUES. THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF THIS.
I THINK THERE'S ALMOST A TREND BEING SET.
BUT WHAT IT SAYS TO ME IS THAT THERE IS IN THIS ORGANIZATION A
SPECIAL BOND THAT COMES FROM WORKING TOGETHER IN GOOD TIMES
AND BAD, DOING THINGS YOU LOVE TO DO.
I AM CONVINCED THAT THERE IS NO ONE IN THIS ROOM, NOR IS THERE
ANYONE WHO REPORTS TO PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND WORKS FOR THE FISH
& WILDLIFE SERVICE WHO DOES NOT ENJOY HIS OR HER JOB.
THE MOST PATHETIC INDIVIDUAL ON THE JOB IS THE PERSON WHO IS
WORKING AT SOMETHING HE DOES NOT LIKE TO DO.
MY ADVICE TO THEM, AND I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THEM ALL MY LIFE, IS
FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO. LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO TORMENT
YOURSELF. I SENSE NO TORMENT IN THIS
ORGANIZATION. YOU ARE REMARKABLE.
YOU ARE WONDERFUL. YOU ARE SUPERIOR IN EVERY WAY.
NOW, I CAN SAY THAT BECAUSE I'M AN OLD MAN AND I DON'T HAVE TO
ANSWER TO ANYBODY, BUT I BELIEVE IT.
YOU ARE AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS -- THAT HAS STARTED GOING
FORWARD FROM KEYSTONE WHEN I SPOKE OF SAVING DIRT.
THAT'S THE SIMPLE THING. THAT'S THE OBJECTIVE.
IT'S GETTING THERE THAT'S TOUGH. AND YET YOU'VE MOVED AHEAD TO A
DEGREE THAT I COULD NOT HAVE FATHOMED, EVEN AT KEYSTONE.
LET ALONE WHEN I ENTERED THAT CORNER OFFICE IN THE INTERIOR
BUILDING MORE THAN 29 YEARS AGO. I ACTUALLY ENTERED IT 35, 36
YEARS AGO. I'VE BEEN AWAY FOR 29 YEARS.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME. BUT WHEN I ENTERED THAT OFFICE,
IT WAS A DIFFERENT PLACE, A DIFFERENT WORLD IN WHICH WE
LIVED. NOW IT'S MORE COMPLICATED, MORE
DIFFICULT, AND I HAVE TO SAY, I HAVE A LITTLE SECRET THAT I
HARBOR THIS GREAT THANKFULNESS THAT I DO NOT HAVE TO COMPETE
WITH THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THIS ORGANIZATION NOW, OR ELSE I
WOULD HAVE REMAINED A MAINTENANCE MAN ON WICHITA
MOUNTAIN'S WILDLIFE REFUGE WHERE I ONCE WORKED IN THAT CAPACITY.
YOU ARE DIFFERENT. AND I'M GLAD.
BECAUSE THE EXTRAORDINARY THINGS THAT WILL BE ASKED OF YOU
REQUIRE SOMETHING BEYOND THE ORDINARY.
NOW, THERE'S BEEN MUCH DISCUSSION ABOUT TOUGH TIMES AND
CHALLENGES, AND IT'S POSSIBLE THAT IT MAY GET RATHER GRIM.
GRIM TIMES HAVE COME INTO OUR WORLD MANY TIMES SINCE I WAS
BORN, AND I REMEMBER THE PIONEERS WHO FACED THOSE
OBSTACLES, AND THEY MUST HAVE BEEN GREAT FRUSTRATION WHEN
THINGS DIDN'T GO SMOOTHLY. I HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED IN MY 80
YEARS TO MEET A GREAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHOSE NAMES YOU HEAR
RE CITED TO YOU AS THE CHAMPIONS OF CONSERVATION.
CLARK SALYER AND IRA GABRIELSON TOOK MEALS AT MY MOTHER'S TABLE
MANY YEARS AGO. I'VE KNOWN MANY OF THESE PEOPLE,
AND THEY FACED CHALLENGES, AND THEY OVERCAME THEM.
YOU ARE MEN AND WOMEN WHO MAKE ME SO PROUD, SO PLEASED TO BE
HERE WITH YOU BECAUSE IT IS WITH THE SINGLE EXCEPTION OF BEING IN
THE BOSOM OF MY SMALL FAMILY, FIVE GRANDCHILDREN, FOR WHOM YOU
DO WHAT YOU DO, WITH THAT EXCEPTION I CAN THINK OF NO
OTHER PLACE ON THIS PLANET I WOULD RATHER BE THAN IN THE
COMPANY OF MY BRIDE WHOM YOU SHOULD MEET IF YOU HAVE NOT.
YOU WILL KNOW WHY I AM AS I AM. THERE IS NO PLACE I'D RATHER BE
THAN IN YOUR COMPANY. THE COMPANY OF PROFESSIONALS WHO
EXHIBIT ALL THE CHARACTERISTICS THAT HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED TO YOU
IN THE LAST TWO DAYS... COURAGE AND TENACITY, NO OVATION,
IMAGINATION, VISION, ENERGY, VIGOR.
ALL THE THINGS IT TAKES TO SUCCEED.
JUDY AND I GO AS OFTEN AS WE CAN TO WILDLIFE REFUGES AND FISH
HATCHERIES AND OTHER PARTS OF THE SERVICE ORGANIZATION BECAUSE
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT MEETING WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHOM WE
INVARIABLY SURPRISE BECAUSE WE LIKE IT THAT WAY.
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MEETING THEM THAT TAKES US HOME AGAIN
FULL OF ENTHUSIASM BECAUSE IT'S WORKING WELL.
IT'S CLEAR. IT'S OBVIOUS.
THE AIM OF AN ORGANIZATION LIKE YOURS IS TO SERVE WELL THE
PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES IN BEHALF OF THE WILD CREATURES AND
THE PLACES THEY LIVE. DAN ASHE, YOUR NEW DIRECTOR, AND
A REMARKABLE YOUNG MAN, HE IS VERY YOUNG, EVERYBODY IS YOUNGER
THAN I AM, AND THAT'S A GOOD REFERENCE POINT, I CAN BE VERY
PATRONIZING TOWARD PEOPLE WHO ARE YOUNGER THAN I AM, HE WILL
GIVE YOU A CHARGE AND AN ADMONITION, I'M SURE, IN JUST A
FEW MOMENTS, BULLPEN I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH ONE AS WELL.
REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE -- THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM,
WHICH IS A PART OF THE U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE TAKEN AS A
WHOLE OF WHICH THERE IS NO PEER. I FEEL THERE IS NO BETTER
ORGANIZATION, NO BETTER EQUIPPED OR EDUCATED OR TRAINED OR
SETTLED IN THEIR MINDS TO DO THE THINGS YOU'RE GOING TO BE ASKED
TO DO AND AS YOU GO FORWARD, AND AS YOU UNDERTAKE THESE
ACTIVITIES, REMEMBER ALSO TO LOOK AFTER YOURSELVES.
JIM KURTH, WHO IS ONE OF THE FINEST PUBLIC SPEAKERS I HAVE
EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE, AND I HOPE YOU AGREE, HAD SAID THAT HE
FELT AN OBLIGATION, HE SAID TO ME AFTER HIS SPEECH, TO SPEAK
ABOUT THE SPOUSES AND I ECHO THAT.
EVERY ONE OF YOU IF YOU'RE AS FORTUNATE OR HALF AS FORTUNATE
AS I HAVE BEEN HAS A HELPMATE, A PERSON WHO MAKES IT WORK FOR
YOU. DO NOT DIMINISH YOUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE PEOPLE FOR THE JOB.
THEY'RE PART OF WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE A MEMORIAL, A MONUMENT, AND A SET
OF AFERISMS HONORING SPOUSES. WE REALLY MUST.
I CAN THINK OF MANY SUCH PERSONS WHO HAVE MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
IN THE WORLD. IF YOU EVER WERE STATIONED, LET
US SAY, AT COAL BAY IN ALASKA, AN UNDERSTANDING WIFE OR HUSBAND
IS LIKE MONEY IN THE BANK. EVEN IF YOU WERE NO MORE
REMOTELY SITUATED THAN AT FISH SPRINGS IN UTAH, IT'S GREAT TO
HAVE SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS. NOW, I GOT MINE READY MADE
BECAUSE SHE WAS BROUGHT UP ON A REFUGE, BUT SOME WIVES I HAVE
MET OVER TIME ARE NOT QUITE LIKE THAT, AND THEY ARE -- THEY
SACRIFICE A GREAT DEAL. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES, TAKE
CARE OF YOURSELVES. NOW, THERE COMES A TIME WHEN I
HAVE TO SIT DOWN. I HAVE TO GO BE QUIET FOR A
MOMENT. BUT THERE IS ONE THING I WILL
SAY THAT I SAID AT KEYSTONE, AND IT BECOMES LESS AND LESS
PRACTICAL TO SPEAK THESE WORDS BUT I WILL SPEAK THEM
NONETHELESS. IF MY BLITEE SPIRIT, MY RADIANT
BRIDE AND I WERE JUST A LITTLE YOUNGER I WOULD GIVE EVERYTHING
I HAVE TO GO WITH YOU THIS TIME. I LOVE YOU ALL.
IT'S EASY FOR ME TO SAY, BUT IT IS -- IT IS EASY BECAUSE IT IS
TRUE. I LOVE YOU ALL BECAUSE YOU ARE
MY LIFE AND MY RECOLLECTION. BETWEEN THE MAN WITH THE 28
POUND RADIO AND YOU PEOPLE LIES THIS VAST ASSEMBLAGE OF FOLKS,
SOME LONG GONE, SOME STILL AROUND, THAT MAKES AN
ORGANIZATION THAT IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER I KNOW OF, AND I ECHO
SECRETARY SALAZAR'S ENTHUSIASM WHEN HE SAYS, YOU'RE THE BEST.
I WISH I COULD GO WITH YOU. BLESS YOU ALL AND THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> FOR ALL OF US AT THE OPENING RECEPTION THE OTHER NIGHT,
THAT'S LIKE A [INAUDIBLE] RIGHT? WELL, THIS IS MY FIRST CHANCE TO
ADDRESS A LARGE GATHERING OF FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE
EMPLOYEES AND CONSERVATION PARTNERS SINCE BEING CONFIRMED
AND SWORN IN AS DIRECTOR, IT WOULD BE TWO WEEKS AGO TOMORROW.
IT'S A DEEP HONOR TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE, AND I WANT TO THANK
YOU ALL FOR YOUR KIND WORDS AND YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT DURING THE
PROCESS DURING WHICH I WAS BEING CONSIDERED FOR CONFIRMATION.
AND I PROMISE YOU I'LL DO MY VERY BEST.
AND I ASK FOR YOUR HELP IN THAT EFFORT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. WE NEED TO DO IT TOGETHER.
AFTER I WAS SWORN IN, I GOT HUNDREDS OF CONGRATULATORY
MESSAGES, E-MAILS FROM PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE AND IN
OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. THEY WERE ALL MEMORABLE AND
SPECIAL IN THEIR OWN WAY. DAVID VIKER, REGION 4 REGIONAL
REFUGE CHIEF SENT ALONG WHAT HE CALLED A HEARTFELT SOUTHERN
SHOUTOUT. ON BEHALF OF REGION 4 RE
EMPLOYEES. IT WAS IN 36 POINT FONT.
SO TO GIVE EVERYONE HERE THAT SHOUTOUT, DAVID HAS HELPED ME
ASSEMBLE A TEAM TO GIVE A HAND IN GIVING A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED
SOUTHERN SHOUTOUT, AND SO I THINK THAT TEAM IS GOING TO JOIN
ME UP HERE ON THE STAGE. >> PLEASE WELCOME TO THE
STAGE... >> COME ON UP.
ALL RIGHT. OKAY.
SO IF YOU'RE FEELING THE VISION, IF YOU'RE FEELING INSPIRED AFTER
THREE DAYS HERE IN MADISON, IF YOU'RE READY TO PUT THIS VISION
INTO PRACTICE, THEN LET THE ENTIRE REFUGE SYSTEM HEAR IT.
THAT'S A LONG WAY. IT HAS TO GO FROM PUERTO RICO TO
MARIANAS TRENCH. IT'S GOT TO BE ENORMOUSLY LOUD
AS JAMIE CLARK WOULD SAY. THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO LEAD US
ON. LET'S GO.
YOU HAVE TO GET UP HERE NEXT TO THE MICROPHONE AND WE'RE GOING
TO DO IT, RIGHT? WE GOT ANY INSTRUCTION?
ON THREE? READY?
ONE -- AND YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HELP, RIGHT?
ALL RIGHT. LET'S ROCK THIS PLACE.
READY? ONE, TWO, THREE.
YEE-HA! ALL RIGHT.
[ APPLAUSE ] ALL RIGHT.
NOW I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO JOIN ME IN SAYING THANK YOU TO
SOME -- A FEW SPECIAL FOLKS. I'M GOING TO ASK THESE PEOPLE TO
STAND UP, AND I'M GOING TO ASK THEM TO STAY STANDING AS I GO
THROUGH THESE INTRODUCTIONS, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM
ONE BIG NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM SIZED ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
ROWAN GOULD, ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE SERVICE DURING THE LAST
YEAR. HE HAS BEEN THERE FOR US WHEN WE
LOST SAM THROUGH THE DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL AND HIS STRONG
AND STEADY LEADERSHIP HELPED US -- HELPED BRING US HERE TO
MADISON. SO, ROWAN, PLEASE STAND UP.
THERE HE IS. ALL RIGHT.
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE ASSOCIATION AND ITS EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR EVAN HIRSCHE AND HIS STAFF.
THEY HAVE BEEN A SOURCE OF VISION AND COMMITMENT TO THE
FUTURE OF THE REFUGE SYSTEM. SO, EVAN, CAN YOU AND YOUR STAFF
PLEASE STAND UP? THE 70 SERVICE EMPLOYEES WHO
WORKED ON THE FIVE CORE TEAMS AND DRAFTED THE VISION DOCUMENT
THAT CONCEPTUALIZED THE VISION, PUT TOGETHER THE PLAN THAT WILL
BE RATIFIED HERE. SO CORE TEAM MEMBERS, PLEASE
STAND UP. THE STEER YOUNG COMMITTEE AND
ITS CHAIR GREG SIEKANIEC AND THE CONFERENCE PLANNING WORKGROUP,
THEIR EFFORTS IN GUIDING THE VISION PROCESS AND PLANNING THE
CONFERENCE HAVE BEEN TIRELESS. STEERING COMMITTEE AND
CONFERENCE PLANNING WORKGROUP, PLEASE STAND.
AND AMONG THOSE WE'RE ESPECIALLY THANKFUL TO OUR COLLEAGUE JOHN
KENNEDY FROM THE WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH FOR
THE EFFORT HE GAVE IN SERVING ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE.
JOHN MADE TIME IN HIS BUSY SCHEDULE AND WORKED TIRELESSLY
TO ENSURE THAT OUR STATE COLLEAGUES' PERSPECTIVES WERE
BROUGHT INTO THIS PROCESS. OF COURSE, JOHN.
OF COURSE, WE OWE OUR SINCERE THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN
A PART OF THIS PROCESS. COUNTLESS CONFERENCE CALLS,
MEETINGS AND INDIVIDUAL TASKS THAT HAVE RESULTED IN A PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING WEB-BASED, VIDEO, BLOGING AND TWEETING
COMPONENTS THAT ARE UNPRECEDENTED IN THE SERVICE
HISTORY. BUT THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE
STANDING DESERVE OUR SPECIAL APPRECIATION.
SO LET'S MAKE THEM FEEL SPECIAL WITH A REFUGE SYSTEM-SIZE ROUND
OF APPLAUSE. BY NOW MOST OF YOU KNOW MY
STORY. YOU SAW MY DAD ON THE SCREEN.
THAT WAS SPECIAL FOR ME. I HAVE A LIFELONG CONNECTION
WITH THE FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE AS MY DAD WORKED FOR THE SERVICE
FOR 37 YEARS. AND AS HE SAID, MY BROTHERS, I
HAVE FOUR BROTHERS, AND WE GOT TO TAG ALONG WITH DAD ON HIS
BUSINESS TRIPS TO EXOTIC AND WONDERFUL PLACES.
WE SPENT MANY DAYS EXPLORING REFUGES LIKE BLACK BEARD ISLAND,
BANDING BIRDS AT PLACES LIKE PIEDMONT, FISHING THE WATERS
AROUND DING DARLING WITH REWARDS LIKE THOSE THAT ARE SHOWN IN
THAT PHOTOGRAPH. I'M IN THE GUY IN THE MIDDLE
WITH THE BIG OL' FLOUNDER. I KNEW JACK WATSON, THE
LEGENDARY AND FIERY MANAGER OF THE NATIONAL KEY DEER REFUGE.
HE'S STANDING IN THIS PICTURE WITH MY MOTHER.
THAT CARRIED A THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN IN THE TRUNK OF
HIS CAR. AND HE LET US HOLD IT.
AND I AND EACH OF MY FOUR BROTHERS WANTED TO GROW UP TO BE
A REFUGE MANAGER. IN THIS PICTURE, JACK WATSON IS
STANDING WITH MY PARENTS OUTSIDE OF THE FRAME, AND AS WE WERE
POSING, HE WARNED US, DON'T GET TOO CLOSE AND DON'T MAKE ANY
SUDDEN MOVES. WELL, I'M THE GUY BENDING OVER
THERE TO GET THE BIRD'S-EYE VIEW.
A SECOND LATER THAT BIRD FLARED UP AND JUMPED UP AT US, AND I'M
TOLD THAT THE RECORD STILL STANDS IN MONROE COUNTY FLORIDA
FOR THE 8115 BARE FOOTED 50 YARD DASH OVER OYSTER SHELLS.
UNDER KEYSTONE CONFERENCE IN 1998 I SHARED A BOY HOOD STORY
OF WALKING AND EXPLORING THE BEACH AT BLACK BEARD ISLAND OFF
THE COAST OF GEORGIA, NAMED FOR THE FAMOUS PIRATE.
MY FATHER'S ONLY ORDER ON THAT DAY WAS FOR ME AND MY FOUR
BROTHERS TO STAY TOGETHER. OTHERWISE, WE WERE FREE TO
WANDER AND DISCOVER. I GAVE THE SAME ADVICE TO THE
ASSEMBLED REFUGE MANAGERS AND EMPLOYEES AT KEYSTONE.
STAY TOGETHER. YOU'VE DONE WELL.
I'M SURE ALL OF YOU HERE HAVE SIMILAR MEMORIES OF REFUGES.
THEY DEFINE THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT REFUGES AND THE WAY WE
THINK ABOUT THE REFUGE SYSTEM. THEY DO FOR ME.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WE'RE NOT BUILDING A VISION
FOR YESTERDAY'S REFUGE SYSTEM. NOR TODAY'S.
A VISION IS A DESCRIPTION OF A DESIRED FUTURE STATE.
MY DAD WAS A RESPECTED LEADER IN THE SERVICE, AND TO THAT USE AND
OLD PHRASE I'VE HEARD AGAIN HERE TODAY, HE SAVED A LOT OF DIRT
DURING HIS CAREER. DING DARLING IN FLORIDA, AND
NEW MEXICO, TWO OF MY FAVORITE PLACES PROTECTED TODAY BECAUSE
OF HIS ENERGY AND VISION AND COURAGE.
I'M PROUD OF THE REFUGE SYSTEM THAT I KNEW AS A BOY.
I'M PROUD OF THE ONE THAT I'VE HELPED TO LEAD.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT, AS LYNN GREENWALT REMINDED US IN
KEYSTONE AND AGAIN TODAY, TO HONOR THE PAST, BUT OUR
CHALLENGE IS NOT TO LOOK BACK TO THE SAFETY OF SHORE, BUT TO HAVE
THE COURAGE TO SAIL TO THE HORIZON AND DISCOVER THE REFUGE
SYSTEM OF TOMORROW. THE VISION THAT YOU'RE HELPING
US TO FORGE IS THE SHIP THAT WILL CARRY US THERE, THE
MEMORIES THAT WE ALL HAVE PROVIDE THE INSPIRATION THAT'S
GOING TO POWER THAT VOYAGE. WATCHING THE CRANES AND GEESE AT
BOSQUE DELL APACHE. MARVELING AT BROWN BEARS AT
KODIAK ISLAND. WALKING THE SIN 10 ANNUAL TRAIL
AND WITNESSING THE ANCIENT RITUAL OF WOOD STORKS NESTING AT
PELICAN ISLAND ARE MEMORIES FROM WHICH I DRAW STRENGTH.
SOME MEMORIES ARE BITTERSWEET, BUT STILL INSPIRE US.
THE LOSS OF MOLLY BEATTY AND SAM HAMILTON, GREAT FRIENDS AND
COLLEAGUES. WE ARE HERE.
SO THEY'RE HERE WITH US. IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING WEEK.
I KNOW YOU'VE WORKED VERY HARD. I'M IMPRESSED.
I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT AND THE INTENSITY THAT'S GONE INTO THIS.
I WAS EXCITED ON TUESDAY MORNING WHEN GREG INTRODUCED THE VISION
FOR CONSERVING THE FUTURE TO THIS ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD OF
SERVICE EMPLOYEES, FRIENDS, CONSERVATION PARTNERS AND
CITIZEN CONSERVATIONISTS. OUR VISION FOR CONCURVING THE --
CONSERVING THE FUTURE ADDRESSES CHALLENGES SUCH AS HOW HE WILL
WE GROW THE REFUGE SYSTEM, INVIGORATE RANCE ON REFUGES AND
APPLY A LANDSCAPE APPROACH TO CONSERVATION.
HOW WILL WE DEVELOP NEW MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO RESPOND
TO A CLIMATE CHANGE WORLD? HOW WILL WE BUILD A CONNECTED
CONSERVATION CONSTITUENCY? ALL OF THESE ARE URGENT
PRIORITIES. OUR GATHERING HAS BEEN ENERGIZED
THROUGHOUT THE WEEK BY THE FRESH PERSPECTIVES T INSIGHTS AND
LEADERSHIP OF SOME GREAT INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKERS.
ADMIRAL THAD ALLEN, DOUG BRINKLEY, SYLVIA EARLE, CURTIS
TAYLOR, DEWITT JONES, MAJORA CARTER, JUAN MARTINEZ.
I'M IMPRESSED BY THE NUMBER OF YOUNGER SERVICE EMPLOYEES AND
YOUTH DELEGATES, AS WELL AS THE DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE AND
PERSPECTIVES. I SAW TWO FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES
WHO ARE BATTLING CANCER. JOHN TAYLOR AND BETH STEVENS.
THEIR COURAGE AND OPTIMISM IS A REAL INSPIRATION.
BUDGET CUTS. FLOODS.
FIRE. HOW HARD IS THAT BY COMPARISON?
OUR VISION FOR CONSERVING THE FUTURE FITS HAND IN GLOVE WITH
OUR NATION'S 21ST CENTURY CONSERVATION AGENDA OUTLINED IN
THE AMERICA'S GREAT OUTDOORS REPORT.
I'M GRATEFUL TO SECRETARY SALAZAR FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND
FOR TAKING HIS TIME AWAY FROM HIS PERSONAL VACATION TO COME
HERE AND SHARE HIS VISION AND PASSION FOR CONSERVING OUR
WILDLIFE HERITAGE. MR. SECRETARY, THE FISH &
WILDLIFE SERVICE WILL SERVE AS A POWERFUL ARMY IN YOUR CAMPAIGN
TO CONSERVE AMERICA'S GREAT OUTDOORS.
WE'LL LEAD WHERE WE SHOULD AND WE'LL SUPPORT OTHERS WHEN THEY
LEAD. CONSERVING THE FUTURE OUTLINES
THE WORK AND THE NEXT GENERATION -- FOR THE NEXT
GENERATION OF CONSERVATION LEADERS AND FOR US.
OUR SUCCESS IN IMPLEMENTING OUR VISION WILL DEPEND, I BELIEVE,
OUR ABILITY TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, GEOGRAPHIES,
RACES AND SOCIAL BACKGROUNDS CONNECT TO THE NATURAL WORLD
AROUND THEM. MY DAUGHTER PLAYED COLLEGE
SOCCER. HEY, HOW ABOUT THAT WOMEN'S
NATIONAL U.S. NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM?
[ APPLAUSE ] I MISSED THE GAME WITH BRAZIL.
SO I SENT A TEXT TO MY DAUGHTER AND I SAID, WHAT A GAME.
I HOPE YOU WERE WATCHING IT. SHE SENT ME A TEXT BACK AND
SAID, ARE YOU KIDDING? AFTER HER FRESHMAN YEAR SHE CAME
HOME WITH A PRACTICE JERSEY. HAD THE NICKNAME HAWKEYE
EMBLAZENED ON THE BACK OF IT. WHEN I ASKED HER WHERE THAT CAME
FROM, SHE SAID, WELL, WHENEVER WE'RE PRACTICING OR TRAVELING
I'M ALWAYS THE ONE THAT'S POINTING OUT THE GEESE, THE
DUCKS, THE WOODPECKERS, THE BLUE JAYS, THE VULTURES THE HAWK.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PROUD THAT MADE ME.
BECAUSE SHE HAD THE CHANCE TO GROW UP WITH NATURE, THOSE BIRDS
ARE IN HER. NO AMOUNT OF EDUCATION,
URBANIZATION OR AMBITION CAN TAKE IT AWAY.
AND BECAUSE THEY'RE IN HER, THEY'LL BE IN HER CHILDREN.
THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING FOR THOUSANDS OF YOUNG AMERICANS WHO
ARE CONNECTING WITH NATURE TO EXPERIENCES ON NATIONAL WILDLIFE
REFUGES. OUR REFUGE HUNTING, FISHING,
EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY CAN
ENHANCE THOSE EXPERIENCES. TOMORROW'S CONSERVATION LEADERS
ARE AMONG THOSE PEOPLE, THOSE YOUNG REFUGE VISITORS, THINKING
ABOUT THAT MAKES ME HOPEFUL AND OPTIMISTIC FOR THE FUTURE.
ALDO LEOPOLD'S WORDS RING TRUER THAN EVER.
"IT IS INCONCEIVABLE TO ME THAT AN ETHICAL RELATION TO LAND CAN
EXIST WITHOUT LOVE, RESPECT, AND ADMIRATION FOR THE LAND, AND A
HIGH REGARD FOR ITS VALUE. BY VALUE, OF COURSE, I MEAN
SOMETHING FAR BROADER THAN MERE ECONOMIC VALUE; I MEAN VALUE IN
THE PHILOSOPHICAL SENSE." THAT'S A CALL TO ACTION FOR EACH
OF US, BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND CITIZEN CONSERVATIONISTS.
WE MUST MOVE FORWARD WORKING TOGETHER TO FACE THE COMPLEX
CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY AND BRING TO OUR WORK A SENSE OF
URGENCY. NOW IT IS TIME TO ACT.
IT'S TIME TO GET TO WORK. I HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF ALL
OF YOU TO SEE THIS VISION IMPLEMENTED.
IT WILL TAKE ALL OF OUR BEST EFFORTS AND YEARS OF HARD WORK,
AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT MY EXPECTATIONS.
FIRST, I'M ASKING THE REFUGE SYSTEM STAFF TO TAKE THE WORK
WE'VE DONE THIS WEEK AND INCORPORATE THE BEST IDEAS INTO
THE FINAL VISION FOR CONSERVING THE FUTURE WILDLIFE REFUGES AND
THE NEXT GENERATION. I WANT THE FINAL VISION DOCUMENT
COMPLETED BY REFUGE WEEK IN MID-OCTOBER.
I WANT THE VISION TO DEFINE A FUTURE STATE, BUT I WANT IT TO
RESPECT THE PAST AND THE PARTNERSHIPS AND TRADITIONS THAT
HAVE BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT IN TIME.
THE REFUGE SYSTEM LEADERSHIP TEAM WILL GUIDE THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR VISION. I'M SIGNING A CHARTER TODAY THAT
SPELLS OUT THAT CHARGE. THE LEADERSHIP TEAM WILL MEET IN
OCTOBER AND LAY OUT A DETAILED SET OF PRIORITIES AND TIME LINES
FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FINAL VISION.
I'M ESTABLISHING TODAY THE FIRST THREE VISION IMPLEMENTATION
TEAMS. THE FIRST TEAM WILL BE CHARGED
WITH FINALIZING POLICY FOR STRATEGICALLY GROWING THE REFUGE
SYSTEM. WE NEED A RAPID TOP TO BOTTOM
REVIEW OF CURRENT LAND ACQUISITION PROJECTS, WE NEED
CLEAR PRIORITIES IN ORDER TO DECIDE HOW MANY NEW PROJECTS WE
CAN TAKE ON AND HOW TO SELECT THOSE PROJECTS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS.
THIS IS THE MOMENT TO GET IT DONE.
I EXPECT THE CHARTER FOR THIS TEAM AND SELECTION OF ITS
MEMBERS IN 30 DAYS. THERE ARE MANY IMPORTANT
WILDLIFE AND HABITAT MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES IN OUR VISION FOR
CONSERVING THE FUTURE. WE'LL NOT SUCCEED IN THESE
ENDEAVORS UNLESS WE HAVE STRONG SUPPORT FROM A CONNECTED
CONSERVATION COMMUNITY. PEOPLE HAVE TO BE A KEY
COMPONENT IN OUR CONSERVATION STRATEGY.
THE RECOMMENDATION FOR A NEW URBAN REFUGE INITIATIVE IS
EXCITING AND INNOVATIVE. IT'S CLEAR WE NEED SOME OF OUR
BEST THINKERS TO FLESH OUT THE DETAILS OF HOW WE CAN INVEST IN
GREAT URBAN REFUGES WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACES LIKE DENVER,
MINNEAPOLIS, SAN FRANCISCO, NEW ORLEANS, PHILADELPHIA,
PORTLAND. THE SERVICE HAS MADE INNOVATIVE
CONSERVATION FORAYS INTO CITIES WITH URBAN BIRD TREATIES.
HOW CAN WE BRING ALL OF THE SERVICE'S CONSERVATION
CAPACITIES TOGETHER TO ENCOURAGE A NEW GENERATION, A NEW
CONSERVATION CONSTITUENCY IN AMERICA'S GREAT CITIES?
THIS WILL BE THE CHARGE FOR THE SECOND IMPLEMENTATION TEAM.
I EXPECT A CHARTER FOR THIS TEAM AND SELECTION OF ITS MEMBERS IN
30 DAYS. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT TO ME AS DIRECTOR THAN
DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATION LEADERS.
HOW CAN WE PROVIDE MORE EFFECTIVE MENTORING AND COACHING
OF OUR EMPLOYEES? HOW DO WE PLAN FOR A WORKFORCE
THAT WILL HAVE THE SKILLS NEEDED FOR THE FUTURE?
HOW WILL WE PLAN FOR SUCCESSION IN A WORKFORCE FROM WHICH MANY
SEASONED LEADERS WILL RETIRE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?
HOW WILL WE PROVIDE THE TECHNICAL AND LEADERSHIP
TRAINING TO BUILD COMPETENCIES AND ADVANCE OUR EMPLOYEES?
HOW WILL WE HAVE AN INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE THAT REFLECTS THE
DIVERSITY OF AMERICA? TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS I'M
CHARTERING A NEW LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL THAT BUILDS
ON THE SUCCESSFUL APPROACH WE USED TO IMPLEMENT FULFILLING THE
PROMISE AFTER KEYSTONE. ITS TASK WILL BE TO TAKE ON THE
VISION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL
EXCELLENCE. I EXPECT THE CHARTER FOR THIS
TEAM AND SELECTION OF ITS MEMBERS IN 45 DAYS.
I CAN BE A LITTLE BIT REASONABLE.
ON THE TOPIC OF LEADERSHIP, I WANT TO TAKE JUST A SECOND TO
CITE AN EXAMPLE AND ALSO TO SAY THANK YOU TO SOME ONE WHO
REPRESENTS, I BELIEVE, WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY STEP UP TO
LEADERSHIP. HE'S LIKELY THE ONLY PERSON THAT
I KNOW OF WHOSE COPY OF FULFILLING THE PROMISE IS MORE
DOG EARED AND WRITTEN IN THAN MINE IS.
SHORTLY AFTER THE KEYSTONE CONFERENCE I WAS LOOKING FOR
SOMEONE WITH FIELD EXPERIENCE AND CREDIBILITY TO HELP LEND A
HAND IN LEADING THE SYSTEM IN IMPLEMENTING THE NEW VISION.
I SPOKE TO MANY LEADERS OF THE DAY.
SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE SUGGESTED, AND FORTUNATELY THE BEST AMONG
THEM ANSWERED THE CALL. AND FOR ME PERSONALLY AND FOR
THE REFUGE SYSTEM AND THE FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE IT'S MADE ALL
THE DIFFERENCE. JIM KURTH PICKED UP HIS FAMILY.
HE LEFT A DREAM JOB AS MANAGER OF THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE
REFUGE AND CAME TO WASHINGTON D.C.
I WANT TO SAY THANKS TO JIM. I WANT TO SAY THANKS TO HIS WIFE
TRISH. I WANT TO SAY TO ALL OF YOU
YOUNGER PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, PEOPLE WHO I'VE TALKED TO WEEK,
KEENAN, BRIDGET, SABRINA, MANY OF YOU OTHERS -- YEAH, I SEE YOU
OUT THERE -- ONE DAY SOMEONE IS GOING TO CALL.
THEY'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO TAKE A JOB.
AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE RIGHT TIME.
MARK TWAIN SAID: IN THE REAL WORLD NOTHING HAPPENS AT THE
RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME. AT THAT MOMENT I WANT THAT YOU
TO THINK OF WHAT JIM KURTH MUST HAVE BEEN THINKING WHEN I CALLED
HIM AND WHAT HIS BEAUTIFUL BRIDE MUST HAVE SAID WHEN HE TALKED TO
HER. BUT HE STEPPED UP, STEPPED UP,
AND WE'RE ALL THE BETTER FOR IT. THE VISION WE'RE WRITING HERE
WOULD JUST BE WORDS ON PAPER UNLESS YOU STEP UP WHEN IT'S
YOUR TURN. THERE ARE MANY MORE
RECOMMENDATIONS IN OUR VISION FOR CONSERVING THE FUTURE, AND I
EXPECT ACTION ON ALL OF THEM, PRIORITIZED ACTION.
I EXPECT PROGRESS REPORTS AND CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AND
LEADERSHIP OF THE ENTIRE SERVICE DIRECTORATE.
I EXPECT EVERY SERVICE EMPLOYEE TO TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
THAT'S A KEY COMPONENT OF LEADERSHIP... PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY. ASK YOURSELF, WHAT CAN I DO?
TO BE SUCCESSFUL WE'LL NEED THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR STATE
FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCY COLLEAGUES, OUR CONSERVATION
PARTNER SUPPORT WILL BE CRITICAL AS IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN, AND WE
NEED OUR FRIENDS GROUPS NOW MORE THAN EVER.
WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME THIS WEEK TALKING ABOUT THE
UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE... CLIMATE CHANGE IS AN
ECOLOGICAL GAME CHANGER. A GROWING NATION CONTINUES TO
FRAGMENT HABITAT, USE MORE EVER SCARCE WATER AND DEMAND MORE
ENERGY OF ALL KINDS. OUR CHANGING AMERICA HAS A
POPULATION WITH LESS EXPERIENCE IN THE OUTDOORS.
WILL THEY CARE ABOUT CONSERVING WILD PLACES AND WILD THINGS?
WILL THEY KNOW THAT HUNTERS AND ANGLERS HAVE BEEN THE BACKBONE
OF CONSERVATION IN AMERICA? I KNOW THE BUDGET CLIMATE HAS
MANY WORRIED. WOMEN WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO
TURN OUR VISION INTO A REALITY? WORSE YET... WILL DEEP CUTS
DESTROY THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE THAT LYNN GREENWALT
TESTIFIED TO? I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE FUTURE AND
ITS CHALLENGES AND YOU SHOULD NOT BE EITHER.
BUT IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER THAT WE HAVE A CLEAR
VISION, SHARED PRIORITIES AND COMMON COMMITMENTS TO NAVIGATE
THROUGH THE DAYS AND YEARS AHEAD.
THE ENERGY OF THIS HISTORIC GATHERING WILL CARRY US FORWARD
IF WE STAY TOGETHER. WHEN WE GATHERED AT KEYSTONE IN
1998, WE NEVER ENVISIONED THE CHALLENGES THAT THE NEXT DECADE
WOULD BRING. TERRORIST ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER
11, 2001. WARS IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ.
THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE OF 2008. WHO THOUGHT THAT ACCELERATING
CLIMATE CHANGE WOULD CAUSE US TO LIST THE POLAR BEAR AS A
THREATENED SPECIES 10 YEARS LATER?
BUT WE'VE NAVIGATED THESE CHALLENGES AND WE' EMERGED
STRONGER. WE HAVE 37 NEW REFUGES, 57
MILLION MORE PROTECTED ACRES, 10,000 MORE VOLUNTEERS, 10
MILLION MORE VISITORS. WE DID IT BECAUSE WE HAD A
SHARED VISION AND BECAUSE OF YOUR PASSIONATE DEDICATION AND
PROFESSIONALISM. NOT JUST REFUGE SYSTEM
EMPLOYEES, ALL SERVICE EMPLOYEES AND GREAT COLLEAGUES AND
PARTNERS IN ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, DUCKS
UNLIMITED AND THE STATES. WE DID IT TOGETHER.
I'M BETTING SOMETIME, MAYBE ABOUT 2025 THERE WILL BE ANOTHER
GATHERING LIKE THIS ONE. THEY'LL MARVEL... THEY'LL MARVEL
AT THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE.
THEY'LL BE GRATEFUL WE HAD A VISION FOR CONSERVING THE
FUTURE. WE CANNOT KNOW WITH ANY
CERTAINTY WHAT OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS WILL BE, BUT WE
KNOW WITH CERTAINTY THAT WE WILL HAVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THAT
OUR VISION FOR CONSERVING REFUGES IN A LANDSCAPE CONTEXT
FOR STRONG SCIENCE IN THE REFUGE SYSTEM, FOR A CONNECTED
CONSERVATION CONSTITUENCY, AND FOR LEADERSHIP AND EXCELLENCE IS
THE FOUNDATION FOR THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
WE KNOW WE'LL SAVE MORE DIRT. WE KNOW OUR NATION'S PRECIOUS
WILDLIFE HERITAGE WILL BE CONSERVED.
LET'S STAY TOGETHER. LET'S GET TO WORK.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO TO CONSERVE OUR NATION'S FISH
AND WILDLIFE, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO
OUR NATION. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR
YOUR HARD WORK THIS WEEK. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU WILL DO
TO CONSERVE THE FUTURE FOR OUR NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES AND
FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[ END OF DAN ASHE REMARKS ] >> WELL, DIRECTOR ASHE, FIRST
DUTY. AS WE DID A LITTLE BIT THIS
MORNING WITH THE SECRETARY, WE HAD TRIED TO BUILD IN A FEW
MINUTES TO ASK A FEW QUESTIONS THAT ARE COMING IN AGAIN ON
TWITTER AND TWEETS AND TEXTS, WHATEVER THEY ARE.
AND I GOT A FEW. ALL RIGHT.
SOFTBALL OR -- >> SOFTBALL, YEAH, THAT WOULD BE
GOOD. SOFTER THE BETTER.
>> ALL RIGHT. SOFTBALL STARTS BUT THEN IT'S
COMING AT YOU. WE ARE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, DOING A SCIENCE PROJECT.
IF WE VISITED A WILDLIFE REFUGE, WHERE SHOULD WE GO?
>> WELL, THE EASIEST WAY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION IS TELL
THEM IF YOU'RE IN ARLINGTON, THEN THE BEST PLACE TO GO IS
MASON NECK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE WHICH IS RIGHT AROUND THE
CORNER. BUT IF YOU ARE THINKING
AMBITIOUSLY, THEN I WOULD THINK ABOUT BLACK BEARD ISLAND
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, WHICH IS ONE OF MY PERSONAL FAVORITES.
IT'S OFF THE COAST OF GEORGIA. >> ALL RIGHT.
VERY GOOD. NO MORE SOFTBALLS.
TEXT MESSAGE FROM NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.
UH-OH, THAT'S WHERE MY DAUGHTER IS HANGING OUT.
HOW DO WE BALANCE WILDLIFE AND HUMAN ADAPTATION AS WE DECIDE
WHAT TO DO ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE? >> WILDLIFE AND HUMAN
ADAPTATION. I THINK, REALLY, THAT'S WHAT
IT'S ALL ABOUT, IS BALANCING WILDLIFE AND HUMAN ADAPTATION.
I MEAN, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT IT, IT'S HUMAN ECOLOGY THAT'S
DRIVING WILDLIFE ON THE PLANET. WE HAVE ABOUT 300 MILLION PEOPLE
IN THE NATION NOW. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE BY 2050
IT'S PREDICTED WE MAY HAVE AS MANY AS 390 MILLION PEOPLE.
POPULATION AS A WHOLE IN THE WORLD IS GROWING.
WE WANT TO NOT -- NOT ONLY WILL WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE, WE'LL HAVE
MORE AFFLUENT PEOPLE. WE ALL WANT TO INCREASE OUR
QUALITY OF LIFE. PEOPLE IN ASIA AND INDONESIA AND
AFRICA WANT TO BE MORE LIKE US. THEY DESERVE TO BE MORE LIKE US
WITH BETTER ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION AND
TRANSPORTATION. SO AS WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE IN THE
WORLD, MORE AFFLUENT PEOPLE, WE USE MORE LAND, MORE WATER, MORE
ENERGY, MORE ECOLOGICAL SPACE, WHICH MEANS THERE'S GOING TO BE
LESS SPACE IN THE WORLD FOR EVERYTHING ELSE, THE THINGS THAT
WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR. SO OUR JOB, REALLY, IS TO
BALANCE AS HUMAN POPULATIONS ADAPT, AS HUMAN POPULATIONS
GROW, IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE FIND WAYS TO BRING WILDLIFE
ALONG, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE DIFFICULT CHOICES BECAUSE THE
SIMPLE ECOLOGY AND PHYSICS OF IT IS THAT THERE'S NOT ROOM FOR
EVERYTHING, AND SO WE ARE CHALLENGED WITH THE IDEA AND THE
POTENTIAL OF MAKING CHOICES, AND THAT'S, I THINK, GOING TO BE THE
MOST DIFFICULT TASK AS WE LOOK TO THE YEARS AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, DAN. THIS IS HOW COOL THIS STUFF
WORKS THAT TEXT MESSAGE FROM STEPPING UP TO LEADERSHIP COHORT
22, CURRENTLY AT NCTC. WHAT DO YOU SEE THE ROLE OF
FIELD PERSONNEL IN WORKING WITH LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION
COOPERATIVES? >> LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION
COOPERATIVES... I'VE HEARD THAT MENTIONED A NUMBER OF TIMES
DURING THE WEEK, AND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IN LANDSCAPE
CONSERVATION COOPERATIVES IS BUILD SCIENTIFIC CAPACITY, THE
CAPACITY FOR US TO UNDERSTAND A LOT OF WHAT I WAS JUST TALKING
ABOUT, HOW ARE WE GOING TO FIT BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND
WILDLIFE INTO A CHANGING WORLD, A CHANGING ECONOMY, AND
LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION COOPERATIVES ARE OUR BID TO
BUILD THAT SCIENTIFIC CAPACITY SO THAT WE CAN BETTER INFORM THE
DECISIONS, THE CHOICES THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE AS WE GO FORWARD.
SO I THINK OUR FIELD STRUCTURE NEEDS TO BE INTIMATELY INVOLVED
IN THAT PROCESS OF NOT ONLY BUILDING THAT CAPACITY, BUT THEY
NEED TO BE THAT CAPACITY. BIOLOGISTS, GENETICISTS,
ECOLOGISTS, BOTANISTS, THOSE PEOPLE ARE WITHIN OUR FIELD
STRUCTURE. AND SO GOING BACK TO WHAT I SAID
ABOUT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, THE QUESTION TO ASK OF AN LCC IS
NOT WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME. THE QUESTION TO ASK OF AN LCC IS
HOW CAN I BE A PART OF THIS? HOW CAN I BRING MY EXPERTISE TO
THIS ENDEAVOR? HOW CAN I CONTRIBUTE TO THIS?
BECAUSE THE IDEA IS THAT WE WILL BUILD SHARED AND NETWORKED
CAPACITY. SO I THINK WITHOUT OUR FIELD
STRUCTURE, WITHOUT THE FIELD EMPLOYEES OF OUR STATE PARTNERS
AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY PARTNERS, THE ENTERPRISE OF
LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION COOPERATIVES WILL NOT WORK.
SO IT'S ENTIRELY DEPENDENT UPON THE EXPERTS WITHIN OUR FIELD
STRUCTURE TO BE A PART OF IT. >> THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. ONE LAST ONE PROBABLY HERE, AND
THEN, LOOK AROUND THE ROOM A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO
GUESS WHO SENT THIS AS WELL WHEN YOU'RE DONE.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION AND
NEW TECH -- TECHNOLOGY TO OUR MISSION?
>> YEAH, MICHAEL GALE, ARE YOU OUT THERE?
WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THE U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE, IT WAS
MOLLY BEATTY WHO ASKED ME TO COME AND JOIN HER TEAM AT THE
U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE, AND I CAME AS THE ASSISTANT
DIRECTOR FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, AND SO ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD
THIS COMMUNICATIONS CAPACITY UNDERNEATH ME, AND I KNEW
NOTHING ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS. BUT MOLLY HAD HIGH EXPECTATIONS
THAT THE FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE WOULD BEGIN TO ADVANCE ITSELF,
BECAUSE SHE RECOGNIZED THAT THE CHALLENGES WE WERE FACING, THAT
THAT WE WOULD SIMPLY NOT BE SUCCESSFUL UNLESS WE COULD
BETTER COMMUNICATE WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND WE HAD
COULD -- WE COULD INCREASE OUR TRANSPARENCY, AND SO SHE ASKED
AT THAT POINT IN TIME THAT WE BEGIN AN EFFORT TO KIND OF
REVOLUTIONIZE, TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNICATION CAPACITY.
AT THAT TIME WE HAD A FEW PEOPLE IN EACH REGION, WE CALLED THEM
PAO'S, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICERS, AND THEY WERE A TALENTED GROUP
OF PEOPLE BUT THERE WERE ONLY A FEW OF THEM.
SO WE STARTED AN EFFORT TO REALLY TRANSFORM THE WAY WE
THINK ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS AND ALSO TO BEGIN TO ASK OUR FIELD
STRUCTURE TO HIRE PEOPLE WITH COMMUNICATION CAPACITY.
AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL.
WE NOW SEE THAT EXPERTISE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION, NOT
WITHIN EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICES, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE BUILT AND NEED
TO CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR CAPACITY WITHIN THE WASHINGTON
OFFICE, WITHIN THE REGIONAL OFFICES, BUT, AGAIN, WE NEED
THAT CAPACITY TO BE INTEGRATED THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION,
THROUGHOUT OUR FIELD STRUCTURE, BECAUSE AS WE LOOK TO THE
FUTURE, A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN HERE THIS WEEK,
COMMUNICATION MOVES SO MUCH FASTER IN TODAY'S WORLD, PUBLIC
OPINION GETS SHAPED IN SECONDS, NOT IN MINUTES AND HOURS OR
DAYS. IT GETS FORMED IN SECONDS.
AND THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AT THE SAME SPEED OR
WE'LL GET LEFT BEHIND, OR OUR MESSAGE WILL NOT GET ACROSS.
AND SO I THINK THAT WE -- THAT NEEDS TO BE A PRIORITY AS WE
MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER, ALL OF US NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT HOW WE
CAN IMPROVE OUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE. BECAUSE I THINK THERE ALSO ARE A
LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GOING TO BE CONNECTED WITH NATURE IN
THE WAYS THAT WE HAVE KNOWN, THE WAY I KNEW AS A YOUNG BOY, THE
WAY THAT MOST OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY KNOWN.
THEY'RE NOT, DESPITE ALL OF OUR EFFORTS AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS'
EFFORTS, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THOSE
SAME OPPORTUNITIES. SO WE NEED TO FIND NEW WAYS
USING TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER MEANS TO CONNECT THEM TO THE NATURAL
WORLD. SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE
VITAL AS WE GO FORWARD, GREG. >> THANK YOU, KYLA FOR THAT
QUESTION. WE'RE GOOD.
SO WE HAVE ONE MORE ORDER OF BUSINESS TO DO.
WE'RE GOING TO STOP WITH THE QUESTIONS AND I THINK REBECCA IS
GOING TO JOIN US UP HERE. COME ON UP.
WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW IS WE ARE ACTUALLY
GOING TO BE SIGNING THE CHARTER TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF
IMPLEMENTING THE VISION, AND MR. ASH, WE ARE GOING TO PUT
THIS YOUR HAND, YOU ARE GOING TO BE SIGNING THE CHARTER.
IT WAS PUT ON AN IPAD RIGHT HERE AND PEOPLE IN THE CROWD ARE
GOING TO GET TO SEE YOU AS YOU SIGN.
ALL RIGHT. NO, THEY'RE NOT.
>> MAYBE NOT. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE, YOU KNOW,
THAT IT WORKED BACK THERE. IT DID THERE.
ALL RIGHT. WILL IT WORK NOW?
ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> NOW IF YOU'LL HAND THAT TO
ME. PICK IT UP AND HAND IT TO ME.
ALL RIGHT. WORDS INTO ACTIONS.
THANK YOU ALL! >> THANK YOU!