Door County, Wis. (May 1, 2020) – The Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands would like to thank our members and supporters for being part of our organization.
While it was a difficult decision, our team has agreed to cancel our popular annual Sunset Cruise fundraiser set for late July, as well as all May work days.
Currently, FOPPI plans to host its annual meeting virtually on July 11. Typically, the board and our partner, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, host a picnic the same day of the annual meeting on Plum Island. We hope to decide in early June whether to continue with, delay or cancel the picnic.
Each year, FOPPI partners with the Washington Island Art and Nature Center in mid-May to host the Washington Islands Birding Festival. That event has been canceled for 2020. We also work with The Ridges to host an annual Door County Festival of Nature. The event has been moved from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day weekend.
Other Friends group events on the island – including August work days, Explore Plum Island, overnight bat surveys and monarch tagging with Washington Island students, are on hold as well.
These weren’t easy choices to make, but FOPPI’s primary goal is to keep cherished visitors and volunteers healthy and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is our goal to bring people to Plum Island as soon as we can. FOPPI and the USFWS will follow guidelines determined by Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about when we can safely do so. Visit FOPPI’s website: plumandpilot.org, or follow the nonprofit on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates.
We recognize this is a challenging time. FOPPI hopes those who are able will consider making a financial contribution to support us in our mission to restore historic maritime buildings on Plum and Pilot islands as well as preserve nature within the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge for all visitors. We look forward to seeing you on the island soon!