On December 4th the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) and Operation Migration (OM) hosted an Open House at the new education building located on the Hiwassee State Wildlife Refuge. More than 100 craniacs attended the inaugural event, which included informative displays and presentations by Operation Migration Inc., Knoxville's Ijams Nature Center and Region 3 of the TWRA. 

Awards of Appreciation were presented to Refuge Manager Wally Akins, and to Public Use Officer Dan Hicks for their ongoing support of both Sandhill cranes and the Whooping cranes that use this critical staging area during their spring and fall migrations.

The Friends of Operation Migration Tennessee are proud to announce that $606 resulted from the event and will qualify for the $5000.00 Tennessee Matching Funds Challenge, which will help OM achieve its 2004 project goals. A portion of the days proceeds will stay at the Hiwassee refuge to help improve crane habitat. Special thanks to the Knoxville Chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society. 

As the ultralight-guided Whooping crane migration entered the volunteer state in late November, an anonymous donor issued a challenge to his fellow Tennesseans, whereby he would match dollar for dollar all funds donated during the time we were in his home state, up to a maximum of $5,000.00. With the Hiwassee Open House the total funds generated now stands at $4,592.00 - Just $408 short of the potential $10,000.00 amount...

Many thanks also go out to the 14 new "Friends of OM" that are now volunteering on behalf of Operation Migration.  Anyone seeking more information about becoming a Friends of OM volunteer, please contact our headquarters at 1-800-675-2618, or by sending us an email: Friends of OM.

Unison calls to the following for making the first annual event a whopping success: 

Chris Mahoney, Ken Dubke, Vickie Henderson, Wally Akins, Dan Hicks, Bruce Anderson, Matt Clarey, Officer Combs, Paul James, Lyn Bales, Shirley Lawrence, and Jimmy & Cynthia Wilkerson for the beautiful floral donations.  

Ijams Nature Center

TWRA region 3

Tennessee Ornithological Society

And lastly, but certainly not least - all of the wonderful crane supporters in the southeast TN area!

We hope to see you at next years Open House, which is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, November 12^th 2005, or at the  Birchwood Crane Festival on February 5^th2005