So Now We are Lobbyists : Every nonprofit needs to tell its story. Rita Thofern described the work done by Friends of Willow River and Kinnickinnic State Parks to work with state legislators and others. She told us how their small but mighty nonprofit has journeyed to what appears to be success in funding a new nature center facility at Willow River State Park. After dogged work for several years and experiencing some success and much disappointment, the outlook is bright. Rita provided her slides as a pdf for benefit of those who didn't make the meeting (the last few were a "reveal" of a generous and anonymous donation. The slides are available by clicking on Download Files at the bottom of this Tidings.
About the Speaker: Retired educator Rita Thofern is currently the president of the Friends. Most of her career was with the St. Paul Public schools where she taught and served as building administrator at all levels. Her final assignment was as principal of Battle Creek Environmental Magnet School. Rita was also a lecturer in the graduate school at the University of Minnesota where she had earned a doctorate in Educational policy and Administration. While most of her academic work was in Minnesota, she did earn a master’s degree in education on this side of the St. Croix at UWRF.