Powered by Members Who Care Deeply About Acadia

BY ELIZA WORRICK

This spring, a Friends of Acadia member left us a voicemail asking a question about the park.

“I don’t know if I’m a member or not,” the voicemail began. “I’m a donor who gives to Friends of Acadia each year. I just love what you’re doing for the park. Anyway…”

It was a reminder that the terminology surrounding Friends of Acadia membership and giving can sometimes be a bit confusing, so we wanted to clear a few things up.

In short: A member is a donor, and a donor is a member.

The terms are interchangeable.

If you give $35 or more annually, you’re a member and a donor. Whether you sign up to make an annual, quarterly, or monthly Trailblazer auto-renewing gift on the Friends of Acadia website or donate at our Membership Table at Jordan Pond House, or you give to our Raise the Roof housing campaign, you’re a member and donor.

And anyone who supports the park through Friends of Acadia we consider a Friend—whether that’s by donating, volunteering, advocating, or just general support.

The “power of Friends” is having great impact for Acadia National Park now and for future generations.

For Mindy Gosselin, membership means memories.

Mindy Gosselin and William Biallas. (Courtesy photo)Growing up in Connecticut, it was her grandfather who first introduced Mindy Gosselin to Acadia National Park. He’d visited regularly since the 1960s.

“We would always explore the island together; he was always with us,” Mindy said as she recalls their summer visits to her grandfather’s cabin in Otter Creek for two weeks each summer. “I saw a huge starfish on Bar Island, and grandpa got right into the water to show it to me.”

These trips gave her something to look forward to each year, but she also got to see how parts of the park changed over time.

“I remember seeing the Tarn slowly change into mainly grass and not really knowing why,” she said.

Witnessing these environmental shifts sparked an interest that led to a career in habitat restoration and conservation. Once Mindy started her role in an environmental non-governmental organization (NGO) in Connecticut, she gained a front-row seat to the kind of work that organizations like Friends of Acadia accomplish.

“Seeing and hearing what it is they actually do made me want to donate as soon as I had the means to,” Mindy said.

She made her first donation on her grandfather’s birthday, choosing to make the gift at the Otter Cliffs Society level as a nod to his cabin in Otter Creek. To ensure her donation lands on his birthday annually, Mindy joined the Trailblazers program, meaning her gift will automatically renew each year.

“I wish I could be up there more, but I can’t. To me, giving every year helps contribute in some way.”

For Renee Anderson, membership means connection

Renee and Charlie Anderson. (Courtesy photo)While Renee and her husband Charlie live in Delaware, they have been drawn to Maine over the years, most recently when their son bought a home in Bar Harbor.

During a quick trip last summer, Renee and Charlie stopped by the Jordan Pond House where they met volunteers at the Friends of Acadia membership table.

“I just had a wonderful time talking to the volunteers at the table and found all kinds of connections to people they knew who I knew or of places that I knew.”

That conversation inspired the Andersons to make their first donation to Friends of Acadia. Since then, they have made several more contributions as they learn about the work the organization is doing, such as building seasonal housing.

“With my donor advised fund I am able to support many of the places and causes that are important to me,” Renee said. “Friends of Acadia is now one of those places!”

For Mike Staggs, membership means leaving a legacy

Mike and Grayson Staggs. (Courtesy photo)

About 15 or 16 years into his 23-year career at Friends of Acadia, Mike was working on creating a will right after his son Grayson was born.

“At some point you realize you’re working for or donating to this thing that you love and are passionate about that was here long before you, and it’s going to be here long after us,” Mike said.

He chose to include Friends of Acadia in his will, a decision that made him a member of the George B. Dorr Society. The Dorr Society honors George Bucknam Dorr, whose dedication to preserving Mount Desert Island helped create Acadia National Park.

“We’re just a snapshot in its history and to be a bigger part of that legacy, it just seems to make sense,” said Mike.

A decade later, Mike’s legacy is on his mind again as he prepares to leave Friends of Acadia for a new opportunity as the Executive Director of the Seal Cove Auto Museum.

The investment he made when Grayson was born takes on another layer of meaning as he considers this transition.

“I’ll still be a Dorr Society member and keep Friends of Acadia in my will because, even if I’m at the museum until I’m 65, I’ll still only be there for half the time I was at Friends of Acadia. So, it’s been a large part of my life, and I hope that my planned giving will be some small part of Acadia’s future.”

Thanks to all of you for being members AND donors AND Friends.


ELIZA WORRICK is Friends of Acadia’s Digital Marketing Manager.