These are changing times as directives unfold with caution and deliberation. What we can be certain of is that the sun will rise and set, the tides will rise and recede. Our staff is truly humbled by the opportunity we have to work from home and participate in new ways to communicate, monitor, and survey our natural surroundings. We are grateful for those of you that continue to provide services to keep communities and households functioning. We hold a sacred space of empathy and encouragement for those of you more closely and personally impacted by COVID-19.
Friends’ office will be closed for the next six weeks. If you would like to get in touch with any of us, please visit www.sanjuans.org/staff where you can find our email and office numbers.
While we acknowledge all that revolves around us, we want to share a lighter but seriously productive side to our workforce as we practice social distancing and rigorous hand washing.
Pictured above is Jess Newley, our Marine Program Assistant. In the coolest form of social distancing, Jess is diving into the Salish Sea, capturing high quality video and images of herring spawn, which will be used in the Friends new immersive underwater education program (pending full program funding). Jess will also be transforming existing forage fish and eelgrass programs into online compatible resources for students and interested adults. These are programs in process. Sign up here to be notified when we launch the online materials; or subscribe to our Instagram or Facebook page to get a sneak peek.
We will continue every effort to focus with passion and dedication to protect the San Juan Islands and the Salish Sea. We will keep you informed and provide opportunities to comment, support, and even virtually engage with us in the coming weeks.
All of us wish you peace and good health.
