Blackwater NWR Holds Volunteer Awards Dinner

During 2009, volunteers contributed 16,603 hours of their time to Blackwater NWR, equivalent to approximately eight full-time employees. Volunteers who reached milestones in 2009 included the following:

• Past Friends of Blackwater President Helen Combes received a certificate, 25-year pin, and $25 FOB gift certificate for her 25 years of continuous volunteer service.
• Paul and Marilyn Stone received a 20-year pin for 20 years of continuous volunteering. Frannie Malley received a 15-year pin for 15 years of continuous service; Pam and Gordon Jennings each received a 10-year pin for 10 years of continuous service; and Donna Harms and Ellen Myerberg received certificates for 5 years of continuous service.

There were 38 volunteers who donated over 100 hours in the year 2009! Six volunteers -- Melanie Didomizio, Megan Cousins, Ellen Myerberg, Tom Johnson, Joshua Glock, and Tre’ Law -- received a Blackwater NWR jacket for working over 100 - 300 hours for the first time in the year 2009. Brooke Miller, Curt Hayes, Cindy Todd, Doris Butler and Tom Butler received a vest and a brass name tag for their second year of earning over 100 - 300 hours, having previously earned a jacket. Sharon Glock donated over 600 hours for the third year and received a 14 oz. copper mug with the volunteer logo on one side and Blackwater NWR logo on the opposite side. Nancy O’Connor, Mary Lynch, Tom Wolfle, Nancy Kreek, Wolf Hehn, and Charlotte Hehn donated 100 - 900 hours for the fourth year and received a Blackwater NWR key chain engraved with their name, the year, and number of hours they worked. Erna Hammerton, Mary Konchar, and Marty OConnor donated over 100-700 hours for the sixth year and received a padfolio with the Volunteer logo on it. Alice Zalik, Shirley Bailey, and Chuck Mock donated over 100 - 300 hours for the seventh year and each received a white polo shirt with the Volunteer logo on it. Mary Beth Goll, Lisa Mayo, and Rose Mary McDermott worked over 100 - 200 hours for the eighth consecutive year and each received an LED pocket flashlight with the Volunteer logo. There were eleven Volunteers who volunteered over 100-700 hours for the ninth consecutive year. They include: over 100 hours - Cynthia MacDonald, Duncan MacDonald, Dennis Ewell, Bob Hammerton, and Tom Hook; over 200 hours - Bill Reybold and Thelma Insley; over 300 hours - Cindy Bech and Ron Tillier; over 500 hours - Peggy Tillier; and over 700 hours - Zeeger de Wilde. These folks received the new tote bag with Volunteer logo.

Award pins and/or certificates were also presented for the accumulation of total hours volunteers have worked at the Refuge since they each began to volunteer. Award pins were given for 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000 , 8,000 and 9,000 hours. Those volunteers who have accumulated 1,000 hours or more have their name engraved on a Volunteer Hall of Fame plaque displayed in the Visitor Center. For each 1,000 hours they have volunteered, they receive a goose engraved on their name plaque. Three new names were added to the plaque this year with Kay Trice, Helen Davies, and Marilyn Stone each accumulating over 1,000 hours. Others who received an additional goose for their additional 1,000 hours accumulated included:

• 2,000 total hours Shirley Bailey, Sharon Glock, and Wolf Hehn
• 3,000 total hours Charlotte Hehn, Marty O’Connor, and Bill Reybold
• 8,000 total hours Peggy Tillier

Other volunteers received pins and/or certificates. They include:

• 900 total hours Erin Smail
• 800 total hours Tom Wolfle
• 700 total hours Mischelle Nalley, Terry Allen
• 600 total hours Richard Ball, Harry Armistead
• 500 total hours Cindy Todd, Doris Butler, Tom Butler, Nancy OConnor
• 400 total hours Mary Lynch, Tre' Law
• 300 total hours Curt Hayes, Brooke Miller, Arnella Trent, Ellen Myerberg
• 200 total hours Mary Munro
• 100 total hours Megan Cousins, Jeff Miller, Debra Doller, Melanie DiDomizio, Tom Johnson

Other presentations included a $10 FOB Eagles Nest Book store gift certificate to Harry Armistead, Terry Allen, and Shirley Bailey for leading bird walks, and a $10 FOB Eagles Nest Book store gift certificate to Shirley Bailey for her assistance in coordinating the volunteer schedule.

A special award, a framed Mary Konchar photo, was presented to former Visitor Services Manager Maggie Briggs, who retired on January 2 and attended her first Volunteer Dinner as a volunteer herself. Maggie was honored for her dedication to the Volunteer Program during her 20-year term at Blackwater. Maggie spent a large portion of her time on the Volunteer Program at Blackwater, and the Recognition Dinner was always one of the highlights of the year for her.

The dinner also allowed the volunteers an opportunity to celebrate the hiring of a new position to Blackwater Visitor Services, Volunteer Coordinator Michele Whitbeck. Michele recently made the transition from Ranger at Eastern Neck NWR to Blackwater NWR, but could not attend the dinner because she was on maternity leave. Michele was instrumental in the planning of the Volunteer Dinner (both before AND after the birth of her daughter on April 9), and all the Volunteers and staff look forward to her return to work in July or August.

The highlight of the evening was the addition of two new names engraved on the Volunteer(s) of the Year plaque that is displayed in the Visitor Center. The Volunteers of the Year Tom Johnson and Cindy Todd each received a framed certificate in appreciation for their efforts in 2009. Tom put in many hours at the desk in the Visitor Center in 2009, often filling in empty slots when he was called, and Cindy took over the Events Committee on the FOB Board, bringing in a new level of organization and planning for the refuge's special events.

Refuge Manager Suzanne Baird and Volunteer of the Year Tom Johnson

Refuge Manager Suzanne Baird and Volunteer of the Year Cindy Todd