On Aug. 9, Island Fellows, their advisers and supporters of the Island Fellows Program gathered at the Belfast Boathouse to celebrate the work of 2007 Island Fellows, and thank community members who have made the program successful.
“When Siobhan showed up [on Swan’s Island] she took my vision and made it work,” said adviser Candi Joyce, referring to Siobhan Ryan. Ryan worked with the Swan’s Island Education Society, an organization including the island library and historical society. “She finds, uses and shares resources by collaborating with other communities and organizations. Siobhan is an islander at heart. She is my coworker, collaborator, partner in crime, mentor and friend.”
Sarah Curran completed two years as the Willoughby Stuart Fellow on Peaks Island, assisting the Peaks Island Land Preserve digitize and catalog its land holdings as well as developing stewardship initiatives with local environmental groups and the elementary school. She co-authored the “Island Indicators Report” published this March by the Island Institute.
Sarah’s advisor, Don Stein, spoke on the contributions that Sarah made to the community: “She is an absolute technical expert; she’s a facilitator of individuals, groups, and community coming together; she’s a negotiator for things she thinks are important; she’s a trainer and educator- she trained people in GIS and worked with kids as a mentor. Sarah has also done something that the Island Institute stresses strongly through the Fellows Program: she has worked hard to create sustainability for the work she has done.”
Mark Greene, adviser on Long Island, had similar praise for Louis W. Cabot Fellow Alden Robinson. “Alden has been a tremendous asset to the growth and success of our town,” he said, “and we more than appreciate his efforts: GIS work is up and running and accessible to all; we have a functioning housing program and a growing website, just to name some of his accomplishments.”
The evening included many stories about the added value that fellows bring to their islands. They share their talents, expertise and interests in many other ways than just their assigned projects.
Carly Knight wrote a reflection on her experience with the Chebeague Island Rescue: “Joining the Rescue this winter has been one of those experiences that makes me feel more like a real islander, as it was not a project that fell under my outlined fellowship, nor was it something anyone approached me and asked me to do, but something I wanted to pursue personally,” she said. “I was able to get to know members of the community in the past I had only waved to in passing, as we bonded over oxygen tanks and traction splints. The event that reinforced for me why I had spent all those nights in class this winter came with the Patriot’s Day storm that left Chebeague without power for four days…at the end of the week, I got a ride home from a fireman. As I hopped out of his truck he turned to me and grumbled, `It’s a real good thing you’ve done to join the Rescue. We need young people like you to help.’ And that made all of the hours spent wet, cold, dirty and tired that week worth it.”
In addition to his role implementing place-based education projects at the North Haven School, David Steckler cleared the pond and began running a “skating camp” this winter after school and during break. His wife, Laurie, also became involved with the community, performing with the North Haven Community Chorus and working at Waterman’s Community Center.
Scott Sell, the William Bingham Fellow for Rural Education placed with the Frenchboro Elementary School, began the evening by relating his first Friday afternoon on the island when three of his students ran into his house and asked if he could “come out to play.”
Ryan Albright became a fourth at bridge and volunteered at the library in addition to working on the Islesboro Comprehensive Plan.
Eric Dyer was unable to attend the dinner because he was performing in a production of “The Glass Menagerie” on Islesford.
The evening also included many words of thanks. “Matinicus doesn’t have a lack of good ideas, there is a lack of people there year-round to make ideas happen,” said Natalie Ames, adviser to Anne Bardaglio. My husband, John, [a Matinicus Fisherman] jokes that when we got our fellow, I got a sternman to help me with my long laundry list of things I needed to do to help get the school back on track… I couldn’t get it all done….”
Linda Nelson, Advisor to Stonington / Deer Isle Fellow, Annie Tselikis, echoed Ames’ sentiment. “There are a scarce number of resources to do all that needs to be done, and the fellows program is a great way to address this issue, by bringing in people with a lot of different talents, energy, and intelligence,” she said.
The evening culminated with a final “thank you” from the fellows to the people, organizations and communities that have welcomed them into their lives. “This Peaks Island fellowship provided me with an opportunity to take what I learned in graduate school and apply my skills and knowledge,” said Sarah Curran. “I couldn’t think of a better place to start…I’m excited to have learned as much as I did. It was an amazing experience.”