Marianne Dorais | Perry, MI
2024 Board Candidate

Thank you for considering my application to become a Michigan Audubon board member. My work experience includes over 25 years at nonprofit agencies in a variety of roles, including special events management, program development, fundraising & membership development, donor communications and grants administration. I possess a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree from Wayne State University and a Master of Leadership: Non-Profit Administration degree from Siena Heights University. I am currently employed as Resource Development Manager with Peckham, Inc., a vocational rehabilitation organization that offers workforce development, skills training and job placement opportunities to individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment. As primary fundraiser, I secure external grants to support special projects. My most recent success was in January 2023 with a $2M grant award from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, which is funding a work training program for justice-involved individuals in Flint and Lansing. I am also the staff liaison to the Peckham Community Partnership Foundation (PCPF) board of directors. In this role I oversee the organization’s internal grantmaking program, distributing approximately $3M annually in grant funding for staff projects.   My personal passion is animal welfare. In 2015, I moved from the metro Detroit area to Perry, where I purchased an old farmhouse with acreage. Over the years I have adopted numerous rescued or stray animals, currently housing over 40 animals. My modest sanctuary includes goats, rabbits, cats, dogs, a Vietnamese potbelly pig and a variety of birds: chickens, peafowl, pigeons and call ducks.

Why do you want to serve as a board member for Michigan Audubon, and what would you like to contribute?

Residing in a rural area has opened my eyes to the urgency with which we must work to stem the effects of climate change and habitat loss. Even in my rural community, development has contributed to the razing of wooded areas and the conversion of green fields to subdivisions. While I understand the need for more housing, as stewards of the environment we must also advocate for the long-term health of our planet, including its creatures. By serving on the Michigan Audubon board, I could help advance a mission that is close to my heart: the conservation and protection of bird species and their habitats. As a board member, I would be dependable, prepared, and willing to lend my expertise to the organization while also being open-minded to new ideas and respectful of other opinions. I would also actively participate in sub-committee work, if required, and regularly attend events and community functions.

What is your favorite bird and why?

My favorite domestic bird is the call duck, a descendent of the Mallard that is about half the size of a typical domestic duck. I own four of these friendly, playful birds and they are a joy to observe. My favorite wild or exotic bird is the Oropendola, a tropical blackbird which is native to South America. They have the most amazing (and loud!) vocalization that sounds like dripping water or a sci-fi sound effect. I was fortunate to hear these birds on a trip to the Amazon rainforest and it is an experience I will never forget.