Leadership Articles

About Us – Articles about the Friends’ leadership.

Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore’s Access for All initiative wins Governor’s Tourism Award

Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore’s Access for All initiative wins Governor’s Tourism Award

On behalf of our donors, partners and lakeshore visitors, Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is proud to win a Governor's Tourism Award for our Access for All initiative. Access for All is an effort to make the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore accessible to people of all abilities. Our current keystone project is an accessible ramp at Meyers Beach, gateway to the mainland sea caves, scheduled to be built this summer. In addition, Friends has funded or supported construction of boardwalks, an accessible amphitheater on Stockton Island, an accessible viewing platform at Little...

Outgoing board member Erica Peterson shares lifelong love for nature, passion for the Apostle Islands

Outgoing board member Erica Peterson shares lifelong love for nature, passion for the Apostle Islands

"Erica is a force of, and for,  nature." That's how park superintendent Lynne Dominy describes Erica Peterson, retiring president and board member of Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Erica finished her tenure on the Friends board of directors at the end of January.  Over the years, she devoted her heart, time and talent to supporting the national lakeshore and to building the Friends group into the strong and vibrant organization it is today. Friends Executive Director Jeff Rennicke says, "With all of her creativity, Erica came up with so many great ideas she started what...

New year, new faces: Friends of the Apostle Islands adds three to its board of directors

New year, new faces: Friends of the Apostle Islands adds three to its board of directors

Fresh off the inspiring success of its Access for All capital campaign, Friends of the Apostle Islands recently announced the addition of three new members to its distinguished Board of Directors: Janet Bewley, Greg Lais, and Mary O’Brien.“New challenges require new viewpoints and voices,” says Jeff Rennicke, Executive Director of Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. “Each of the new board members will bring a fresh perspective and new energy to our organization.”Janet BewleyJanet Bewley understands northern Wisconsin. From acting as an original cast member of the Big Top...

Friends endorses Meyers Beach ramp, Little Sand Bay trails, encourages you to show your support before comment period ends

Friends endorses Meyers Beach ramp, Little Sand Bay trails, encourages you to show your support before comment period ends

With the public comment period winding down, now is the time to show the National Park Service your support for Access for All and the exciting Meyers Beach accessible ramp project, as well as a companion project that includes a new trail system at Little Sand Bay. You only have until May 12th to add your voice on the National Park Service website.Last month, the Park Service published a draft Environmental Assessment covering both projects. The 54-page document says, “Providing an Architectural Barriers Act-compliant ramp would provide long-term, beneficial impacts to visitor experience via...

The scoop about Coop: 10 questions with retiring Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Archeologist Dave Cooper

The scoop about Coop: 10 questions with retiring Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Archeologist Dave Cooper

We join the National Park Service in celebrating the retirement of David J. Cooper, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Archeologist and Cultural Resource Manager. Superintendent Lynne Dominy recently praised Cooper's award-winning efforts. “Dave has spent his lifetime protecting the historical and cultural resources on and around Lake Superior." she said. "From portages to fish camps to lighthouses and shipwrecks, Dave carefully documented and communicated the human interactions and influences on the islands, shorelines, and lake beds of Lake Superior.” In the photo above, Dave enjoys a...

New challenges require new voices: Friends of the Apostle Islands welcomes new board members

New challenges require new voices: Friends of the Apostle Islands welcomes new board members

Friends of the Apostle Islands, the official nonprofit philanthropic partner of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, recently announced the selection of two new members to join its board of directors. “Friends is proud to announce the addition of both Neil Howk and Jess Nuutinen to our board,” Executive Director Jeff Rennicke recently said.Both new members bring with them deep connections to the Apostle Islands. Jess Nuutinen, currently a Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at Ashland’s Memorial Medical Center, has the islands woven deeply into her family history.“I have a family...

Friends organizations gather in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Friends organizations gather in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The autumn splendor and wispy fog of Great Smoky Mountains National Park may seem like a world away from the Apostle Islands, yet those Tennessee mountains were the backdrop for the recent fall 2022 Friends Alliance conference sponsored by the National Park Foundation.Nestled among the valleys of the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, Tennessee served as the site for the annual gathering that brought together over 200 people representing 84 organizations – from Alaska Geographic and the Alliance for Florida’s National Park to the Zion Forever Project – and an array of personnel from the National...

Stronger Together: The Lake Superior Summit

Stronger Together: The Lake Superior Summit

As remote and out of the way as some of our national parks can feel at times, the old adage still holds true: we are stronger together. In that spirit, a wide-ranging group of park superintendents and park partners staff came together for the Lake Superior Summit hosted by the National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation, the Red Cliff Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa, and the National Park Service. The gathering included representatives from Isle Royale National Park, Voyageurs National Park, Pipestone National Monument, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Grand Portage...

Change Begins Here: Friends Represented at the Leadership Institute

Change Begins Here: Friends Represented at the Leadership Institute

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change world,” Margaret Mead once famously said. “Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” From April 24th to the 27th, our Executive Director Jeff Rennicke joined a small group of thoughtful, concerned leaders from Friends groups across the country at the first in-person gathering of the 2022-23 Leadership Institute in Portland, Oregon. Representatives from Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain, Virgin Islands, Acadia, Shenendoah, and Cabrillo National Moment were also in attendance.   A program of the National...

Erica Peterson’s legacy will live on!

Erica Peterson’s legacy will live on!

Beach walks, bog smells, night skies, and flower gardens Erica Peterson’s legacy will live on in many forms as she steps down after nearly eight years of guiding the Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Enjoy a ranger talk at the all-accessible amphitheater at Stockton Island. Inhale the sweet scent of the flower beds at the Michigan Island Lighthouse. Stroll through history along the Sand Island boardwalk. These classic Apostle Islands experiences and many more have one thing, or rather one person, in common: Erica Peterson. Recently, Friends of the Apostle Islands announced...