Sierra Club Florida

Awards

SIERRA CLUB FLORIDA AWARDS PROGRAM

The Sierra Club Florida has always felt that recognition of the work of volunteers is a responsibility because volunteers are essential to the work of the Club. All Groups should take advantage of this state-level awards program to honor your volunteers.

It is time once again to help us honor volunteers around the state who have done extraordinary job of protecting our environment and/or say thanks for their essential work in the Club. We need your help to let the Awards Committee know who should be honored.

See detailed award descriptions below.

To nominate someone, please use Awards Form.
Send you nomination to Mary-Slater Linn, sierraclub01@yahoo.com, by July 1, 2013 Winners will be honored at their local Sierra Club meeting unless other arrangements are made. Winners will be selected by the Awards Committee: Janet Larson, John Swingle and Mary-Slater Linn.

Description of Awards and Past Winners

There are three categories of Sierra Florida Awards:

• Awards to members for outstanding work/leadership at the State level.
• Awards to members for outstanding work/leadership at the Group level.
• Awards to Sierra members or members of the community at-large for outstanding environmental work.

AWARDS FOR GROUP ACTIVISM

PINE TREE AWARD

This is a special award for Group leadership. It honors a Group leader whose outstanding leadership has been of exceptional benefit to the Group in any of the following areas: management, inspiration and encouragement of volunteers, outings, fundraising, membership, etc. This is not an award for environmental work. Each Group may nominate one person for this award. The awards Committee will select 0-4 recipients annually.

Previous awardees:

1986 Roy Ingham (BB), Mary Sheppard (MS), Harold Harkins (TB)
1987 Nancy Neiman (BR), Bob Kelly (MI), Jack Maney (TC)
1988 Ron Haines (LX), Pat Joslin (TC), Alan Donn (TB)
1989 Mary Allgire (BB), Mary Heminger (MS), Brian Paradise (NE)
1990 Sharon Berube (TB), Tim Macksey (MS), Carol Meeds (LX)
1991 Carl Mullis (TB), Inga Padgett (CF), Gary Lehnertz (LX)
1992 Marty Brow (BR), Betsy Grass (MI), Cecilia Height (CF),
Tonya Van Hook and Bruce Ferguson (SSJ)
1993 Peggy Leach (LX), Ben Friday/Sonya Guidry (VF), Wendy Johnson (CF)
1994 Bob Richardson (MS), Stephanie Webster (LX), Jodi Marvet (BR),
Marion Ryan (AI)
1995 Noreen Chase (BB), Kathy Criscola (MI), Angie Parrish (TB)
1996 Angela Bailey (NE), Brigita Barobs (MS), Pat Lopez (MI), Suzanne Valencia (TC)
1997 Jimmy Orth (NE)
1998 Thalia Potter (TB), Cathy Stripling (MI), Susan Kairys-Courech (CF),
Gail Bagley (BR)
1999 Maurice Coman (NE)
2000 Lisa Hanley (LX), Linda Brown (BR), Jennifer Caldwell-Kurka (BB),
Fern Dytko (VF)
2001 Greg Kalmbach (BR), Pat Kiesylis (SC), Heidi Kuchenbacker (MI)
2002 Harriet Damesek (VF), Dave McGarvey (TB)
2003 Kay Gates (LX), Sharon Maxwell, (NW)
2005 Jim Woodfin (TC)
2006 Cathy Harrelson (SC), Linda Jamison (BB)
2007 Tom Larson (NE), Rob Brinkman (SSJ)
2010 Bill Armstrong (NE)
2012 Mike Davis (TB), Richard Zambrano (LX)

MANATEE AWARD

This award honors a Group member who has done an outstanding job of service to the Group. Each Group may nominate one person annually for this award. The Awards Committee will select 0-4 recipients annually.

Previous awardees:

1986 Richard Radford (NW)
1987 Laura Mistrata (TB), Miriam Owenby (BR), Carol Albietz (MI)
1988 Susan Korzenewski (LX), Beth Ann Brick (MI), Tom Hay (MS)
1989 Bryan Kattwinkel (TC), Margi Lehnertz (LX), Neil Mingledorf (TB),
Eleanor Moore (BB)
1990 Maria Belingit (BB), Michael Cole (MI), Alan Parmalee (LX)
1991 Ben Berauer (TC), Jan Kelley (MI), Bob Murphy (TB), Lisa Hanley (LX)
1992 Nancy Caire (BB), Maurice Coman (NE), Debbie Emerson (MI), John Mahon (SSJ)
1993 Roberta Gastmeyer (LX), Jack Kleinberg (VF), George Phillips (SSJ),
Bruce Hossfield (CF)
1994 Larry Marvet (BR), Melissa Loeschen (LX), Shelly Eckert (SC),
Johna Holloway (TC)
1995 Brigette Fontenot (TC), Rod Tirrell (BR), Christine Wagner (MI),
Gordon Williamson (VF)
1996 Betsy Grass (MI), Peter Kostrzewa (TC), Brynn Newton (VF), Paul Scudder (MS)
1997 John Puhek (CF), Richard Wainer (TC), Georgia Guerra (MI), Freda Perrotta (MS)
1998 Shirley Owens (VF), Brian Vonn (NE), Maria Papazian (MI), Rudy Scheffer (SC)
1999 Carl Mullis Jr. (TB), Fern Dytko (VF), Virginia Wells (NW), Shirley Schue (CF)
2000 Grayal Farr (BB), Elaine Wise (BR), Frank and Virginia Keller (VF),
Rosalie Shaffer (NW)
2001 Mary-Slater Linn (CF), Joe Murphy (SC), Betsy Roberts (MS),
Alexa Abercrombie Ross (VF)
2002 Eleanor Moore (BB), Ginger Perlman (MS), Linda Demler (SC)
2004 Dr. James Gross (MI)
2005 John Koch (LX), Rebecca Falkenberry (SC), Patty Lillie (CF), Rheda Weeks (TB)
2006 Ben Fusaro (BB), Marcia Biggs (TB), Marc Washburn (SC)
2007 Gina Burrell (NE), Suzanne Valencia (TC)
2010 Janet Larson (NE), Alyssa Cadwalader (LX)
2011 Whitey Markle (SSJ)
2012 Melinda Fedorko (MIA)

PANTHER AWARD

This award is given to a Group member who has done outstanding conservation work on a project within the Group's area. Each Group may nominate one member annually. The Awards Committee will select 0-4 recipients annually.

Previous awardees:

1986 Chan Jones (BB), John Baker (VF)
1987 Frank Slansky (SSJ), Rod Jude (MI), Dave Caulkett (BR)
1988 Linda Hall (TC), Bill Lewis (MS)
1989 Dorothy Leslie (VF), Deb Swim (BB), Ed Turanchik (TB)
1990 Denise Gammonly (TB), Owen Howard (SSJ), Rose Schulte (TC)
1991 Dan Kixmiller (BB), Sybil Vosler (TB), Bud Kleckner (TC), Sharon Carveth (CF)
1992 Catherine Dwore (LX), Mary Thoreen (TB), Kay Yeuell (CF)
1993 Karen Young (MI), Richard Ludlam (NW), Carl Carlander (CF)
1994 Kay McGinn (BR), John Ryan (AI)
1995 Amelie Blyth (NW)
1996 Dan Donaldson (NE), Jo Ann Quarrier (MI), Arlene Sweeting (MS)
1997 Alan Farago (MI), Janet Stanko (NE), Rod Tirrell (BR), Mary Todd (TC)
1998 Gabrielle Faddis (NW), Sofia Metcalf (CF), Mark Behar (LX), Allison Edwards (TB)
1999 Mike Fitzpatrick (LX), Ned Stone (BR), Jim Egan (TC),
Nancy Miller/Martha Wellman (BB)
2000 Nancy Eichert (BR), Kathleen Cantwell (SSJ)
2001 Karen Ciemniecke (MS), Nancy Lee (MI), Michael Miller (SC), Doug Sphar (TC)
2002 Karen Kaplan (AI), Jo Ellen Basile (VF)
2003 Gwen Pallante Straub (VF), Gayle Reynolds (MS)
2004 Barbara Lange (MI), Kathy Cantwell (SSJ), Sara McDonald (SC)
2006 Phil Compton (TB), Chad Hanson (BB)
2007 Rick and Patti Causey (BB)
2012 Lisa Hinton (SC), Bev Griffiths (TB), Barbara Herrin (VF)

OAK LEAF AWARD

This is a special achievement award for environmental work. Recipients of this award will be selected by the Awards Committee from among the nominees for the Panther Award. From 0-3 persons will be selected annually.

Previous awardees:

1986 Lyle Danielson (CA), Dwight and Joan Adams (SSJ)
1987 Dorothy Holle (TB), Bob Mikes (BR), Barbie Zingg (SC)
1988 Ellen Peterson (CA), Sue Hale (MS), Roni Monteith (MI)
1989 Ken Bosserman (CF), Orville Clayton (MS), Debbie Evans (LX)
1990 Sandy Jensen (MI), Brian Moore (BB), Terry Walker (LX)
1991 Chuck Potter (LX), Margaret Hames (TC)
1992 Lee Emerson (MI)
1994 William Daniel (CF)
1995 Linda Bremer (NE), Bill Killen (TC)
1997 Elaine Usherson (LX), Robert Haviland (VF), Gordon Williamson (VF)
1998 Kathy Marsh (VF), Art and Phyllis Saarinen (SSJ)
1999 Keith Schue (CF), Dan Donaldson (NE), Lynn McGarvey (TB)
2000 Tiana Burton (NW), Denise Layne (TB)
2001 Margy Bielling (SSJ), Susan Eberle (CF), Helene Klein (BR)
2002 Sara Case (BR)
2003 Marge Holt (CF)
2005 Karen Ahlers (SSJ), Amy Tidd (TC), Mariella Smith (TB)

OTTER AWARD

This award honors a Group member who has done an outstanding job for the Group's outings program. Each Group may nominate one person annually for this award. The Awards Committee will select 0-4 recipients annually.

Previous awardees:

1997 Debra Leue (BR), Lee Jacobs (MI), Sheryl Chapman (BR)
1998 Brian Paradise (NE), Kathy Arbuthnott (MI), Jeannie Williamson (TB),
Bob Bennett (VF)
1999 Michael Ramos (TB)
2000 Ginny Bazin (TB), Jackie Fisher (BR), Sally Christiansen (MS),
Geraldine Leslie (TC)
2001 Don Bouvier (VF), Dan Cruse (MI), Mike Pici (SC)
2002 Ben Berauer (SC)
2005 Claudia Germano (NE), Claire Garcia (TB)
2006 Richard Gruenther (TB)
2007 Charles Hunt (LX)
2010 Andy Quinn (AI)
2011 Shelly Fine (NE)
2012 Mark Walters (MIA)

GOPHER TORTOISE AWARD

This is a Group support award for a person (spouse, significant other, good friend, etc) whose continued extraordinary behind the scenes efforts encourages and supports a more visible, recognized activist. Nominations must detail the actual contributions to Sierra Club of the nominee as they relate to this award. Named for the gopher tortoise, whose burrows can support up to 360 other species, including those endangered and threatened. Each Group may nominate one person annually and the Awards Committee will select up to four recipients per year.

Previous awardees

1995 Tim Flanagan (LX)
1996 Louise Daniel (AI), Dave Holloway (TC), John Quarrier (MI)
1998 Sydney Potter (TB), Les Height (CF)
1999 Dave McGarvey (TB)
2000 Julie Thaler (SSJ), Debbie Tirrell (BR), Natalie Dix (VF)
2001 Michele Langlais (TC), Ray Lopez (MI), Michele Miller (SC), Jack Ross (VF)
2002 Charlie Layne (TB)
2004 John Gates (LX)
2005 Colin Whitworth (SSJ)
2011 Paul Michel (MIA)
2012 Steve Holt (F)

SAND DOLLAR AWARD

This award honors a Group member who has done an outstanding job for the Group’s fund raising program. Each Group may nominate one person annually and the Awards Committee will select up to four recipients per year.

Previous Awardees

2000 Martha Wellman (BB), Liz Taylor (TB), Johna Hollaway (TC), Mark Walters (MI)
2001 Faith Jones (CF)
2002 Lynne Osborne
2003 Frances Brown (TB)
2005 Maria Papazian (MI), Don Pepe (NE), Jerry Strain (TB)
2007 Shelia Calderon (LX)

WHOOPING CRANE AWARD

This awards 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. Each Group may nominate one person annually and the Awards Committee will select up to 4 recipients per year.

2002 Andrea Holman (CF). Mike Hebert (SC). Corky Crowley (TB)
2005 Stu Juengst (SC), Alice Platt (NE)
2007 Lucy Peak (TB)
2010 Frances Coleman (AI)
2011 Coky Michel (MIA)
2012 Naomi Papirno (MIA)

AWARDS TO SIERRA MEMBERS OR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

WILLIAM K. "RED” HOWELL
LEGAL SERVICES AWARD

This award is given in remembrance of a dedicated friend of the environment. Red Howell was an attorney and a Sierra Club activist who served as the fourth chair of the Florida Chapter. He was a founder and a chair of the Polk County Group and was an activist in the Volusia-Flagler Group. His special interest was land use law, and he spent the last fifteen years of his life working to protect Florida's fragile environment. This award is given in Red Howell's name to recognize attorneys who work through the legal system to improve Florida's environmental quality.

Previous awardees:

1986 Peter Belmont
1990 Tom Reece
1996 David Guest, Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund
2000 Steve Medina
2001 Dennis Bayer, Tim Keyser and Michael Woodward (joint)
2005 Richard Grosso, Environmental and Land Use Law Center, Ft. Lauderdale
2007 Lesley Blackner
2011 Ralph Brooks, Cape Coral
2012 Marcy La Hart

THE INDIGO AWARD

This award is for a writer/journalist who provides balanced reports on Florida's environmental issues. The recipient may have developed a series of articles, a book, or a script around a specific issue impacting the environment or environmental policy or have consistently provided a voice for the environment of Florida. Samples must be provided with the nomination.

Previous recipients:

1992 Julie Hauserman, Tallahassee Democrat
1992 Peter Kostrzewa, Environmental Awareness and Concern newsletter
1995 Tom Palmer, Lakeland Ledger
1997 Robert McClure, Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
1998 Pam Platt, Florida Today
2000 Kendall Middlemas, Panama City News-Herald,
Dave McDaniel, Winter Park WESH Channel 2
2001 Doug MacGregor, Fort Meyers News-Press
2002 Ron Matus, Gainesville Sun
2003 Scott Streater, Pensacola News Journal, Jim Waymer, Florida Today
2005 Susan Cerulean, Tallahassee; Cathy Zollo, Naples Daily News and Sarasota Sun Herald
2006 Craig Pittman and Matthew Waite, St. Petersburg Times;
Editorial Board, Palm Beach Post
2007 Jack Gurney, Pelican Press
2011 Cynthia Barnett

BARRED OWL AWARD

This award is for a business that has consistently made environmental concerns a major part of its presence in the marketplace through its product and its dealings with suppliers, consumers and the general public. The Awards Committee will select recipient(s) subject to Flexcom approval.

Previous awardees:

1993 Beth Hollenbeck, The Eco-Store, Orlando
1995 David Bruderly (SSJ) Bruderly Engineering Associates Inc., Gainesville.
1997 Bob Swanson, Up The Creek Co.
2001 Nature’s Food Patch, Clearwater
2002 Loren Westenberger, Westenberger Tree Service, Clearwater
2005 JP Patten, Orlando
2006 Matt Ross, Eco-Smart Inc.
2007 Southern Horticulture, St. Augustine and DIxie Cross Roads, Titusville
2011 moksa organics, Gainesville

CYPRESS AWARD

This is for an individual who has contributed greatly to the public's environmental awareness in his or her own locale or Florida as a whole. The Awards Committee will select recipient(s) subject to Flexcom approval.

Previous awardees:

1992 Dr. Ellie Whitney, Tallahassee
1993 Clive Thomas (CF)
1994 Linda Young, Pro-Earth Times
1996 Clyde Butcher, photographer
1998 Dan Hendrickson, Sierra Club
1999 Bobby Cypress Billie, Seminole Indian Nation,
Dr. Bruce Means, Coastal Plains Institute
2000 Shirley Reynolds and Rita Alexander, Joseph Vincent Siry, December McSherry
2001 Dale Crider, Reid Hughes
2002 Barbara Thomason, Pinellas County
2003 Matthew Aresco, Jacksonville
2004 Betsy Knight, Big Bend Wildlife Sanctuary, Altha
2005 Juanita Green, Miami; Annette Long, Gainesville;
Joe Murphy, Randall Lutenberg and Bill Stokes
2006 John Arthur Marshall, Arthur R. Marshall Foundation
2007 Karl Nurse (SC), Bill Sanders, Keep Pinellas Beautiful
2011 Carlton Ward, Tampa

OSPREY AWARD

This award is presented for extraordinary effort by a governmental staff person to promote or effect changes in policy or practice to protect or preserve Florida's environment. The Awards Committee will select recipient(s) annually subject to Flexcom approval.

Previous awardees:

1993 John Schert, Alachua County Dept. of Environmental Protection
1994 Rebecca Jetton, Department of Community Affairs
1995 William R. "Billy" Helm, chief (retired), Bureau of Forest Management, Division of
Forestry
1996 Edwin J. Moyer, Northwest Region Director, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish
Commission
1997 Mitch Needelman, Florida Marine Patrol
1998 Randy Kautz and Jim Cox of the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission
1999 Ed Freeman, Sarasota County; Amy Knight, Florida DEP,
Gaye Sharpe, Polk County
2000 Jesse Van Dyke, Division of Aquatic Plants, Florida DEP
2002 Lothian Ager, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission
2003 Ron Wilson, Ombudsman, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
2005 Gary Emerson, St. Johns County, St. Augustine;
Barbara Goodman, National Park Service, Jacksonville
2006 Fritz Musselman, Director, Land Resources Department, Southwest Florida
Water Management District
2007 Danon Moxley, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission
2012 Brandt Henningsend of the Suncoast Group

Previous Awards For Outstanding Leadership at the State Level

This is the highest Chapter honor. It recognizes a member who has sustained an exceptional record of leadership in conservation work on state regional or national levels. This award shall be given no more often than every two or three years.

Previous awardees:

1979 Ellen Winchester (BB)
1980 Shirley Taylor (BB)
1982 Barney and Lynne Capehart {SSJ}
1986 Robert Entwistle (BB)
1989 Richard Coleman (AI)
1991 Ken and Betty Watson (SSJ)
1992 Laurie Macdonald (SC)
1997 Judy Hancock (SSJ)
1999 Mary Sheppard (MS)
2000 Dan Hendrickson (BB)
Lynn and Barney Capehart (SSJ)
Julie Morris (MS)

This award honors a member with an outstanding record of leadership and dedicated service to the Chapter. It can acknowledge service either in the administration of the Chapter or outstanding conservation work at the state or national level. No more than two awards may be given in one year: one for administrative work and one for conservation work. Previous awardees:

Conservation:

1980 Richard Coleman (AI)
1986 Elaine Harrington (BB)
1987 Laurie Macdonald (SC)
1988 Colleen O’Sullivan (TB)
1989 Judy Hancock (SSJ)
1990 Peter Belmont (SC)
1991 Dwight Adams (SSJ)
1992 Jack Maney (TC)
1993 Suzie Caplowe/Dan Hendrickson (BB)
1995 Craig Diamond (BB)
1999 Marian Ryan (AI)

Administration

1986 Jack Kleinberg (VF)
1987 David Auth (SSJ)
1988 Sandy Jensen (MI)
1989 Carl Strohmenger (TB)
1990 Martha Wellman (BB)
1991 Elaine Harrington (BB)
1992 Charles Reid (SSJ)
1993 Sharon Carveth (CF)
1994 Mary Sheppard (MS)
1996 Gerry Swormstedt (MS)
1997 Don Lieb (VF)
2001 Jack Maney (TC)
2011 Debbie Matthews (MIA) for Group Advisory Council work.

Other recipients include: 1979 Cindy Cosper (BB) and Roger Sherman (NW), 1980 Mary Ann Wallace (CA), 1981 Edith Entwistle (BB), Walter Boardman (VF), Betty Watson (SSJ), Vicky Silver (BB), and Jono Miller (MS).

PELICAN AWARD

This award honors a member for exceptional work, above and beyond the call of duty, on a conservation project of statewide importance. This award is for the "layman" volunteer activist. Chapter officers are not eligible for this award while in office. No more than two Pelican Awards can be given in one year.

Previous awardees:

This award honors a member with an outstanding record of consistent, long-term, invaluable service in sustaining or rescuing a vital Chapter function. Chapter officers are not eligible for this award while in office. Up to two awards may be given in one year.

Previous awardees:

1997 Cindy Cosper (BB) Coffeen Management Committee
1998 Ron Haines (LX) Chapter Awards Chair
1999 Al Donn (TB) Chapter Directory
2001 Rudy Scheffer (SC) Chapter Outings Chair
2004 Betsy Grass (MI) Chapter Directory
2007 Kathy Criscola (BB), Pelican Newsletter
2011 Charles Geanangel (AI), Linda Jones, for their work on the Group Advisory Council

FLORIDA BLACK BEAR AWARD

This is a new award for 2012, given to an individual who has made a unique contribution to the Florida Chapter's conservation agenda. The recognized contribution may be for a career-long commitment or for fulfilling a critical, if more time-limited, role in Chapter activities such as campaigns or litigation.

2012 Tom Pelham, Tallahassee