Association Projects

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The St. Marks Refuge Association, Inc. was formed in 1987. Profits from Nature Store sales support Refuge projects. Consider joining the refuge association. All members receive a 10% discount on Nature Store purchases. You may also contribute by making a donation in the log cabin box inside the front door.

Current pending federal legislation will soon transfer ownership of the St. Marks Lighthouse to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Association will spearhead efforts to restore and open the historic lighthouse. We expect to raise most of the funds through matching grants but donations are gratefully accepted. Checks should be made payable to St. Marks Refuge Association and mailed to:

St. Marks Refuge Association, Inc.
Lighthouse Restoration
P.O. Box 368
St. Marks, FL 32355


The St. Marks Refuge Association, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.

Board of Directors

Board of Directors
Photo by Lou Kellenberger

BETSY KELLENBERGER, President & Membership - I was born in Virginia, raised in Maryland and West Virginia, lived in Alabama for 26 years but have called Tallahassee home for 23 years. Husband Lou and I have four grown children and seven grandchildren who live in Florida and Alabama. As a stay-at-home mother, I spent many hours volunteering as Girl Scout leader, Sunday school teacher, swim team driver and homeroom mom. While living in Dothan I served on boards of the Service League, Southeast Alabama Community Theatre and the Dothan Landmarks Foundation, a living history farm and science center. When we moved to Tallahassee I went back to school, first at TCC and then FSU where I earned a BA in English-Creative Writing. Upon graduating I took a part-time job at the State Library in the Bureau of Library Development and worked there for 12 years mostly dealing with library statistics and publishing the annual statewide library directory. Lou and I love the Refuge and spend many hours with our cameras prowling about looking for birds, wildflowers and changing light to photograph. As a volunteer I hope to join others in preserving our Refuge which is a natural gem in our area.

DEDE WELLS, Treasurer - Born in Indiana, I moved with my family to Cocoa, Florida in the mid-1950's, and I've lived in Florida since, except for a 6 year stint in California. I retired in 2004 after thirty years working with special education programs, first as a speech pathologist, then as a consultant with the Florida Department of Education, then as an administrator in local school district special education programs. My husband, Jerry, and I live at Shell Point, in the house we built in the 70's. We are a second marriage, and have 4 grown children and 5 grandchildren scattered around the country. We are both fond of the water and have fished and dived the local waters. We also enjoy kayak explorations around the Florida Panhandle.

GAYLA KITTENDORF, Secretary - I grew up in several places, but have lived most of my life in Florida, and have called Wakulla County home since 1975. My early introduction to the outdoors was in family camping trips, as well as Girl Scouts, and in visiting my grandparents in rural Oregon. A love for the outdoors is something my husband Craig and I have in common, even camping on our honeymoon! I have a degree in English Education from FSU, but my work experience has been secretarial, retail (during college), and nearly twenty years as a pediatric nurse (retired). I was secretary of Tallahassee Genealogical society for two years and volunteered at our daughters' school while they were there. I've been a volunteer at St. Marks NWR and a member of the St. Marks Refuge Association since 2007. I feel that we have a responsibility to preserve the Refuge and other lands like it, and that includes educating the public and promoting the Refuge to both visitors and those who have not been here yet.

LOU KELLENBERGER, At Large - Lou was born and brought up in the Charleston, West Virginia area but has lived in "the South" since 1962. He and wife Betsy lived in Dothan, Alabama for 26 years before moving to Tallahassee in 1988 after their four children had grown up. Lou was in the financial services business for many years, the last nineteen years at Morgan Stanley in Tallahassee. Lou enjoys being outdoors, mostly with camera in hand. His favorite subjects are the flora, fauna and landscapes of the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. He loves watching the seasons change with all the amazing color provided by birds, wildflowers, insects, clouds and sunsets in this beautiful place. Lou hopes to be an asset to the Refuge Association and join the other volunteers in assisting the staff with ongoing projects to promote and preserve this special property that we are fortunate to have so close to Tallahassee.

TOM DARRAGH, At Large - I was born in Jenkins Kentucky, but spent my early years in Detroit Michigan. At age twelve my family moved to Mexico Beach, FL where I lived until 1979 when I moved to Newport FL to work with St. Joe Paper Company. I am currently employed with Leon County Fleet Management, as shop Supervisor. My wife Teresa and I have one daughter, Rebecca. I was actively involved in my daughter's school activities. This included holding the office of Band Booster Vice-President for two years and President for the following two years. Growing up I did a lot of hunting, which is where I gained my love for the outdoors. I have hung up my gun for a camera now, but still find great rewards in the hunt. I am currently President of the St. Marks NWR Photo Club. My goal is to get more families and youth involved in the outdoors. I want to help educate our youth in understanding and enjoying our refuge and instill a love for the great outdoors. I want us to leave our Refuge better than we found it; for we are truly blessed to have such a wonderful jewel in our own backyard.

CRAIG KITTENDORF, At Large - I was born in Miami, FL and lived there until I graduated from FSU. My wife Gayla and I lived in Tallahassee before moving to Wakulla County to raise our four daughters. Before retiring, I worked for the State of Florida for thirty-five years. The natural beauty of this area was an invitation to get into nature photography. The St. Marks NWR and especially the lighthouse have attracted my attention. In addition to being a member of the St. Marks Photo Club, I also serve as webmaster for the St. Marks Refuge Association and the Friends of Wakulla Springs, and past President of Capital City Carvers (woodcarving club).

DALE ALLEN, At Large - Although a native of Florida, Mr. Allen received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University. He worked in the Washington, DC, area until 1979 when he moved to Tallahassee to take his Masters Degree from Florida State University.

Following a brief tour of duty as a Legislative Assistant on the Natural Resources Committee of the Florida House of Representatives, Mr. Allen began his almost 30 year career with The Trust for Public Land in 1981 and retired in 2009. During this almost three decades of public benefit service with TPL (a national non-for-profit land conservation organization headquartered in San Francisco), Mr. Allen was involved with many significant conservation projects in the Big Bend region of North Florida. These projects include the federal acquisition of "Fiddlers Point" in Wakulla County (as an addition to the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge), the State of Florida's acquisition of the DeSoto-Apalachee Historic Site in downtown Tallahassee, the State's addition of the "Lake Overstreet" property to Maclay State Gardens, and the creation of the Miccosukee Canopy Road Greenway in Leon County.

Besides these more traditional public land transactions, Mr. Allen was also instrumental in the purchase by the Florida Department of Transportation of the abandoned Tallahassee-St. Marks railroad corridor from CSX corporation, and its development as Florida first ever "rail-trail" project. He subsequently advocated for the program that became the known as the Florida Greenways and Trails Program. Many hundreds of miles of abandoned railroad right-of-ways have been purchased through this program and used by hundreds of thousands of citizens and visitors annually.

Mr. Allen currently serves as the President of the Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation and is on the Board of the Florida Trail Association and the St. Marks Refuge Association. He is also a self-taught naturalist and devoted organic gardener.

PAUL HAMILTON, At Large - I was born in New York City, but escaped as soon as I could. After a stint in the Air Force, including 2 years in Southeast Asia, I completed a BS at Cornell (72) and a PhD at FSU (76), and then worked for 31 years as a biology professor in Pensacola and Arkansas. I did my doctoral research in the St. Marks NWR, and came back many times over the years, often with students. I have been involved with several science education programs and have done lots of writing, and my wife Betty and I have considerable experience with grants, and some with fundraising. After retiring in 2007, Betty and I lived on the road while volunteering about 6 months per year for organizations in Alaska, Maine and Texas that do nature and environmental education work. We were resident RV volunteers at the St. Marks NWR on two occasions, and now live in a house we built near the Refuge. We are life members of The Nature Conservancy and of the St. Marks Refuge Association. I enjoy bicycling, hiking, kayaking and photography.

BETTY HAMILTON, At Large -



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