Living in the islands brings joys and responsibilities — we benefit deeply from our connections to nature, and in return we work to ensure the long-term health and vitality of our islands and the Salish Sea. As one of our Friends members once said, “You have to be more careful with an island.” Together we can fulfill that obligation of thoughtful, intentional stewardship.
The story of Friends of the San Juans began nearly 42 years ago; the organization was created by its founding members and dedicated to protecting and restoring the natural beauty in the San Juan Islands. Today, environmental issues are far from resolved; new impacts and demands are arising from a changing climate; and our county is experiencing unprecedented development and growth. The need for Friends’ work has never been greater.
Your story at Friends begins when you connect with the islands’ natural beauty and discover a feeling of awe and responsibility. You align your community engagement and support with your values, and those values bring you to engage with Friends of the San Juans. As a Friends member, you tap into the power of community: Through membership, you are investing in what matters to you, and your voice joins the voices of your neighbors to create powerful change.
We know you value the stunning and fragile island environment, intertwined with the shorelines and the Salish Sea. We also know you share our feelings of obligation to be good stewards, and as a member, you trust Friends to carry on the work — and Friends relies on your support to do that.
If you’re a member, you received a copy of our Annual Report in your mailbox. If not, you can find it here. Read the Annual Report, pause for a moment on the shoreline, witness what we have accomplished together this year and for the past 42 years, and ask yourself, how will I be part of the solution? The work described in Friends’ Annual Report can only continue with your support. This work is not haphazard or an afterthought — it is strategic and impactful. We have ambitious goals to meet the challenges on the horizon. If you have the means to align your actions with your values, then please renew your membership and join the family of Friends today.
Members of Friends, ask your friends to join Friends! Membership at every level makes a difference. You are investing in the big picture and our community’s future: the critical work of a local, grassroots nonprofit protecting the islands and all that lives in and around the Salish Sea.
One more thing, before you go: many of our members have found it easier to become monthly donors. There is no amount too small, and recurring gifts are the best way to give us the financial security to plan our work going forward.
Thank you.
