President
Message, Bob Reece
February,
2024
It was exhilarating when I
learned that the Treacy Foundation believed enough in the Friends mission,
and the need for a new Visitor Center (VC), that it awarded our
organization $25,000. In the past, Friends has depended on the kindness of
our membership - which is very much appreciated - for financial support
toward battlefield projects; however to garner that high amount from
membership would have taken longer than the time required.
The $25,000 award was immediately turned over to Superintendent Dustin
Sene. Friends did not retain a penny. Our membership can be proud of that.
I know I am! This donation has come at the opportune time because with
each passing day, the costs of construction continue to rise.
Superintendent Dustin Sene Appointed Acting
Superintendent of the Powder River Group
Dustin Sene was recently
appointed Acting Superintendent of the Powder River Group while James Hill
is on assignment. The Powder River Group includes the Parks at Little
Bighorn, Bighorn Canyon, Fort Laramie, and Devil’s Tower. Dustin quickly
arranged to bring over Bethany Gassman from Yellowstone. Bethany will
serve as the acting superintendent of Little Bighorn. Her role will be to
ensure the construction of the new VC keeps moving forward.
NOTE: Effective May
2024, Mr. Sene is no longer acting for the Powder River Group, but back
full-time as superintendent of Little Bighorn Battlefield National
Monument.
Park Ranger Marvin Dawes Retirement
Marvin retired from the NPS
effective December 31, 2023. I have known Marvin since the 1990s when he
started as a seasonal ranger. Today, he is an incredibly active member of
the Crow Tribe, and is a fixture at Little Bighorn College located in Crow
Agency, Montana.
Over the years Marvin was very generous of his time, so would share with
me Crow Tribal oral accounts. He speaks the Crow language and is working
to ensure all young members of his tribe learn their language. Marvin will
be missed.
Because I was unavailable last December-January, I asked Jim Thorn and
Lola Mauer to get word to the membership regarding Friends not holding
official events for June 2024. They emailed the notice in January.
Friends Events for June 2024 Cancelled
At the general membership
meeting last June, we discussed the possibility of canceling the 2024
events. The various reasons discussed included how incredibly difficult it
is to arrange for Friends events because of unforeseen circumstances from
the VC construction. We do not want our events to be in the way of this
major project. We do not know how accessible management staff will be, if
at all. We do not know if we could even use the administration building
for the command post. As of this writing, there are still many unanswered
issues that LIBI management is working to resolve.
Personally, I do not feel it right to ask our members to arrange travel to
Montana – at the exorbitant costs for such travel – when it is still
unclear what parts, if any, of the battlefield will be accessible. The
board did discuss the possibility of holding events off the battlefield
but decided otherwise for several reasons: Friends events have always been
held on the battlefield because we are an official partner with the NPS,
and we assist staff where necessary over the busy anniversary weekend. NPS
did not know – still does not know – if official events are to occur on
June 25. Additionally, there are no venues in Hardin to be had. I had
looked into Friends establishing a command post at the Bighorn County
Museum; however the NPS will be using that location.
I’ll see you on Last Stand
Hill.
Bob Reece
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