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Faces of Friends

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Our most dedicated volunteers are phenomenal at recognizing needs and meeting those needs while inspiring others to do the same.  Friends volunteers are folks who have a passion for the outdoors and Georgia’s most treasured resources. They recognize that conserving these treasures takes work and do their part in protecting these treasures for future generations. Dianne Stone is one such volunteer.

Dianne is a long-time Friends member and volunteer who has given more than just her time. She has generously shared her talents and heart with Friends in order to make Georgia’s state parks and historic sites well protected for all guests. Dianne volunteers with Friends of DNR Search and Rescue Team, which originated as a group of first responders dedicated to keeping Georgia’s most beautiful places safe. Dianne first started volunteering on the Team in 1998 but has been a Search and Rescue K9 handler since 1988. She has also served as a member of her local fire department for the past 10 years.

Dianne worked with Friends to start the Friends of DNR Search and Rescue chapter in 2007 as a way to help raise funds and draw support for our first responders. She has served as a Friends chapter leader ever since. This has given her the opportunity to give back to the Team and her community by applying for grants, raising funds and assisting with training and supply goals. 

“We have great leaders in Rusty Garrison and Ray Smith (DNR first responders),” Dianne shares. “We can’t do this alone and our Friends chapter is awesome!”

Recently, Dianne was able to do a remote radio interview on behalf of Friends of DNR SAR to help raise awareness and funding for the Team during Friends Georgia Gives Day campaign. Through Georgia Gives Day efforts, over $10,000 was raised for the Team. 

Already this year, the DNR SAR had a 2-day seminar, which was heavily supported by Dianne and funded in part by Friends. This was the first time a full seminar has been offered in a number of years. The Team went through extensive learning tracks on land navigation, aviation services, high angle overview, swift water skills, navigation software, lost person behavior and other common challenges faced during a rescue. 

Dianne also regularly teaches “Lost But Found Safe and Sound” to school age children.  Dianne is truly a leader and an asset to Friends and the Georgia park system. Because of her passion and years of expertise, Georgia’s state parks are better, safer places for all visitors!

Thanks, Dianne, for making a difference!

 

Your donations and membership support helps Friends support our volunteers and the projects that they are accomplishing at your Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites. To make a donation to Friends, please Click Here.