Annual Meeting 2005

On February 3 SFEG held another very successful Annual Meeting. About 140 of our volunteers, members, project partners and friends were in attendance. Salmon was donated and grilled by volunteers, and Cascades Job Corps Culinary Arts students served the salmon along with several side dishes they prepared. As usual, we heard nothing but positive feedback about the meal. Guest speaker Dr. Thomas P. Quinn, author of The Behavior and Ecology of Pacific Salmon and Trout gave a fascinating presentation on the importance of salmon to humans and to natural ecosystems. This year's silent auction was our biggest ever. We had dozens of super auction items donated by local businesses and artists, and our guests dug deep to bid in support of future community outreach efforts.

Of course this event would not have come together so smoothly had it not been for the small army of volunteers who helped. In addition to the donors of auction items, food, and beverages, we'd like to thank everyone who arrived early to help set up tables and chairs, make coffee, set up the bar and auction tables, sound system, and other logistics tasks. Our staff is very appreciative of all the hours contributed by board members and volunteers to help make this event bigger and better each year. I'd also like to thank Vancouver Island artist Robi Smith for bringing her multi-panel painting "Up the Creek" for display at our event. It was a big hit! We had so much help and it was such a great event, I sincerely hope I haven't forgotten to thank anyone. As always, it was a pleasure working with all of you, and we'll see you next time!

Annual Meeting Silent Auction Donors:

Lee Mann The Lincoln Theatre Food/Beverages:
Scott's Bookstore Maggie Rose Cascades Job Corps
Children's Museum of Skagit Co. Thais Armstrong Culinary Arts students
Salmonator Charters Seattle City Light Ken Urstad
Rainy Daze Max Dale's Restaurant Mindi Brock
Work Outfitters Dick Knight Chuck Davis
Georgia Conti The Porterhouse Restaurant Arn Thoreen
Sports and More Skagit Land Trust Gretchen's
Taylor Shellfish Farms Thompson's Greenhouse Fidalgo Bay Coffee
Oliver Hammer SeaBear Smokehouse Skagit River Brewing Company
Christianson Nursery Steel Perceptions Lorna Ellestad
Skagit Conservation District Master Marine
Going in Style Photography Seattle IMAX Theater Programs, logistics
Skagit River Ranch Libby Mills Dr. Thomas P. Quinn
Kaptein's Ace Hardware Island Adventures Gail Hopley-auction coordinator
Blau Oyster Company Bob Warinner Mitch DeGrace and Cascade High School Band-sound equipment
Holiday Sports Center Ivar's Restaurants
Northern Sales Danny Beatty Many, many volunteers who helped set
up and clean up
Village Pizza Dan Ballard
Seabolt's Smoked Salmon Joleen Sloniker
Island Outfitters North Cascades Institute
People for Puget Sound Roxanne Grinstad
Lyn and Jim Bishop Steve Hopley
National Wildlife Federation