‘Friends have new leadership

The Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes organization is headed in a new direction in terms of both structure and personnel.

So say hello to Bonnie Bastian, who was elected chair of the group’s board of directors, and the Friends first executive director in Laura Ann Johnson.

“It’s because of our volunteers,” Bastian said in explaining how the group has grown to become an icon of service for the Lakeshore, which annually attracts about 1.6 million visitors. “They love Sleeping Bear Dunes. They do everything possible to make it a better experience for everyone who comes to visit. They also do everything to better the experience for (National) Park Service staff.”