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Sierra Club Local Awards

14, 2005

The following Group awards were bestowed:

Brian Paradise, Distinguished Outings Leadership

Jack Nolan and Harriett “Missy” James, Environmental Stewardship

ICO presented an award for distinguished bus driving (and consistent support—every outing!) to Ross Germano, an award for extraordinary participation to young Lakeith Myers (who unfortunately died of his illness later in the week) and another award to one of the distinguished ICO volunteers, Natalie Schoof.  She has been volunteering aince March 2004 and has been a leader since January 2005.

. . . and . . .

On behalf of Florida Chapter of the Sierra Club, we presented to distinguished members:

OTTER AWARD        Claudia Germano          Honors a Group member who has done an outstanding job for the Group's outings program.

Dedicated chair of Northeast’s Inner City Outings program, with great independence, drive and success is providing outdoor life changing experiences to children who never before had the opportunities afforded by the volunteers that Claudia organizes and inspires.  By determination and persuasion, Claudia continues to find funding to support meals and transportation for the children.  A second cohort of kids has been established, as the earlier participants have grown older—their needs/interests mature and opportunity to serve new kids arose.  By being enthusiastic and persistent, Claudia has led Inner City Outings to continuing success.  She has pursued funding from national and local sources, doggedly illustrating the programs’ impact on the lives of the children participants and persuading foundations and local companies to provide cash and in-kind support (mostly for transportation and victuals).

SAND DOLLAR AWARD     Don Pepe         Honors a Group member who has done an outstanding job for the Group’s fund raising program.

Organizing fundraising paddle sport events (Poker Run and Nature Paddle), Don has contributed in net many thousands of Dollars to the Group’s treasury, while engaging folks outdoors and showcasing the club in local media.  Don has developed a “system” for running these paddle sports events that provides well coordinated and thorough instructions for volunteer supportive workers, encompassing all aspects of the events, from safety to registration, money handling to car parking—all honed to make for a successful experience for all and a good reference for the Club.  Don has led these events for at least three years.  [We’ll organize some more paddle sport events in 2006—please volunteer to help.  They are valuable for the club’s missions!]

WHOOPING CRANE AWARD         Alice Platt         This award honors a Group member who has done an outstanding job in the area of public relations and publications for the Group. This can include keeping the local media informed of local, regional or national activities and issues, Group newsletter publication and promotion, and Group web page development and promotion.

Patient, thorough, supportive and self-reliant newsletter editor & publisher.  Maintainer of our First Coast Community web presence.  Web site visionary and organizer of major technical and formatting update of our group’s web site in coordination with the National Sierra Club web team, using the Atomz system.  These tools are enabling us to be present in electronic media space with the latest of information distribution media.  Check out our new web site at http://Florida.SierraClub.org/Northeast.  Alice has been Editor of  the Northeast Group Sierra Sentry newsletter since its January 2001 edition.  She has distinguished herself in writing, editing, formatting, graphics design and effective use of National newsletter resources.  She participated in Sierra-sponsored newsletter editor training in San Francisco.  She is disciplined, asserts kindly and firmly our publication deadlines with contributors and initiated this year an advertising sales program that is contributing regularly to defray costs of newsletter printing and distribution.  She organized an automated address labeling process at a minimal cost that greatly increased the ease of distribution and saved many tedious volunteer hours that keeps our newsletter on time and helps it be more fresh and timely each month

I am so proud to be associated with and supported by such fine people!

Later, in January, we’ll present a few more awards to worthy members of the club and of the community.  Stay tuned.

Joyously,

Tom Larson, Group Chair