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	<img alt="" src="{filedir_5}CloseUpofGirls.jpg" style="float: right; width: 250px; height: 188px; " />Au Sable will kickoff a Friends of Au Sable (FAS) group composed of Au Sable alumni and supporters who have given their time, energy, and financial support to help the Institute further its mission.&nbsp; The Friends group also will serve as a bridge to the many alumni and supporters who have been impacted by their engagement with Au Sable, and help to build up the creation care community by finding ways for alumni and supporters to connect with one another. The goal of FAS is to help alumni and supporters maintain contact with the Au Sable community they had become part of, help them to form connections with the wider Au Sable community, deepen their understanding and commitment to Christian environmental stewardship, and give them meaningful ways to assist Au Sable towards achieving its mission.</p>
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	&ldquo;The &lsquo;friends&rsquo; part of &lsquo;Friends of Au Sable&rsquo; has double-meaning,&rdquo; says Dave Mahan, Au Sable&rsquo;s Associate Director, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s for those who have been friends to the Institute through their help and contributions, but also for forming friendships and connections between Au Sable alumni and supporters across time and space. Strengthening Au Sable strengthens the Christian environmental stewardship community.&rdquo;</p>
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	<img alt="" src="{filedir_5}alum-grad-fellows.jpg" style="float: left; width: 250px; height: 188px; " />The Friends group will be led by a steering committee of volunteers who will work with Au Sable staff. The committee will provide assistance in a variety of capacities, including helping to coordinate special events and gatherings; maintain up-to-date information on Au Sable alumni and supporters; assist with locating stories about Au Sable alumni; provide opportunities for alumni to learn of professional experiences, internships, and jobs; coordinate alumni feedback on Au Sable programs; and assist with communications and fundraising efforts.</p>
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	Dieter Bouma, Assistant for Recruitment, Development, and Communications, says, &ldquo;The community created at Au Sable is unique.&nbsp; Much of it is intertwined with the uniqueness of the place and learning environment.&nbsp; Through &lsquo;Friends of Au Sable,&rsquo; we hope this community takes shape in a different way: one that gives back to Au Sable for the opportunities its afforded them and also one that encourages people professionally, vocationally, and spiritually.&rdquo;</p>
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	&lsquo;Friends of Au Sable&rsquo; will kickoff soon by holding a photo contest to gather photos of people&rsquo;s experiences at Au Sable.&nbsp; The three categories will be field (nature shots), community (photos that capture Au Sable community), and place (photos that capture the interaction between the Au Sable community and the natural world). &nbsp;Alumni and supporters will vote on their favorites photos, and prizes will be awarded for photos with the most votes in each category.</p>
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	Become a friend by <a href="{filedir_11}donate/ways_to_support_asi/">supporting Au Sable</a> today, or by filling out your <a href="{filedir_11}alumni/update_my_contact_information/">updated contact information</a> and writing &lsquo;Friend of Au Sable&rsquo; in the &lsquo;Comments&rsquo; section.&nbsp; If you&rsquo;re interested in becoming a part of the &lsquo;Friends&rsquo; steering committee, please write Dieter at <a href="mailto:dbouma@ausable.org?subject=Friends%20of%20Au%20Sable%20-%20Steering%20Committee">dbouma@ausable.org</a>.</p>
