Blackwater NWR Holds Volunteer Awards Dinner

On April 21, 2009 Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) held a volunteer recognition dinner. During the year 2008, 104 volunteers contributed 18,103 hours of their time to Blackwater NWR, a 5% increase over 2007, equivalent to approximately 8.7 full time employees. There were 39 volunteers and 19 staff members present. The event was co-sponsored by the Friends of Blackwater (FOB) who provided the buffet dinner at the Madison Cafe and Raw Bar, in Madison, MD. Following the delicious dinner and power point photo presentation on how the volunteers assisted the Refuge in 2008 by Maggie Briggs, Project Leader Suzanne Baird and Visitor Services Manager Maggie Briggs presented the awards to the Volunteers.

The highlight of the evening was the addition of another name engraved on the Volunteer of the Year plaque that is displayed in the Visitor Center. The Volunteer of the Year Marty O'Connor received a framed certificate in appreciation for the donation of over 575 hours of his time and effort to many activities at the Refuge throughout the year.

Two of our bird walk leaders, Terry Allen and Harry Armistead, received a framed certificate and a $25 gift certificate to the Friends of Blackwater Eagle's Nest Book Store, for leading bird walks at the Blackwater NWR for 25 years.

Bob Hammerton, Erna Hammerton, Wayne Potter, Don and Catharine Wagner received a 15 year pin for 15 years of continuous service; Bill Reybold, Cindy Bech, Rose Mary McDermott, Erin Smail, Jeannine and Tom Hook received a 10 year pin for 10 years of continuous service; and Alice Zalik, Kathy Walker, mary Konchar, Dot Kubista, Marty O'Connor, and Nancy O'Connor received certificates for 5 years of continuous service.

There were forty three volunteers who donated over 100 hours in the year 2008. Five Volunteers, Mary Munro, Cindy Todd, Curt Hayes, Barbara Barkley, and Elaine Wright, received a Blackwater NWR jacket for working over 100 - 200 hours for the first time in the year 2008. Richard Ball and Sharon Glock received a vest and a brass name tag for their second year of earning over 100 - 800 hours, having previously earned a jacket. Catharine Wagner, Don Wagner, Nancy O'Connor, Mary Lynch, Jennie Rideout, Merriam Brown, Tom Wolfle, Nancy Kreek, Wolf Hehn, and Charlotte Hehn donated over 100-800 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. Mischelle Nalley donated over 100 hours for the fourth year and received a Blackwater NWR key chain engraved with her name, year 2008, and number of hours she worked, that could be placed around her neck like a medallion on a red, white, and blue ribbon. Erna Hammerton, Dave Wilford, Mary Konchar, and Marty O'Connor donated over 100-500 hours for the fifth year and received an official FWS Volunteer T-Shirt. Alice Zalik, Shirley Bailey, Jeannine Hook, and Chuck Mock donated over 100 - 300 hours for the sixth year and each received a padfolio with the Volunteer logo on it. Frannie Malley, Mary Beth Goll, and Lisa Mayo worked over 100 - 200 hours for the seventh consecutive year and each received a white polo shirt with the Volunteer logo on it. There were 14 Volunteers who volunteered 0ver 100-600 hours for the eighth consecutive year. They include: over 100 hours - Pam Jennings, Helen Combes, Cynthia MacDonald, Duncan MacDonald, Gordon Jennings, Dennis Ewell, and Bob Hammerton; over 200 hours - Tom Hook; over 300 hours - Bill Reybold, Thelma Insley, and Cindy Bech; over 400 hours - Peggy Tillier and Ron Tillier; and over 600 hours - Zeeger de Wilde.

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 Sharon Glock, Nancy Kreek, and Paul Smail each accumulating over 1,000 hours. Others who received an additional goose for their additional 1,000 hours accumulated included:

• 2,000 total hours Lisa Mayo, Frannie Malley, Charlotte Hehn, and Marty O'Connor
• 3,000 total hours Tom Hook
• 4,000 total hours Thelma Insley
• 8,000 total hours Ron Tillier
• 9,000 total hours Zeeger de Wilde

Other volunteers received a 500 hour or 100 hour pins and/or certificates. They include:

• 900 total hours Kay Trice
• 800 total hours Erin Smail
• 700 total hours Tom Wolfle
• 600 total hours Merriam Brown, Mischelle Nalley
• 500 total hours Richard Ball
• 400 total hours Nancy O'Connor
• 300 total hours Mary Lynch, Jennie Rideout
• 200 total hours Curt Hayes, Barbara Barkley, Cindy Todd, Kathy Walker, Brooke Miller, Elaine Wright
• 100 total hours Skip Rideout, Stan Haddox, Rick Abend, Mary Munro

Other presentations included a $5 FOB Eagle's Nest Book store gift certificate to Harry Armistead, Terry Allen, Shirley Bailey, and Norm Saunders for leading bird walks, and a Volunteer lunch bag to Robin Benfer, Cindy Beck and Shirley Bailey for their assistance in coordinating the volunteer schedule.

The volunteer program, which started in 1983, has enabled the Visitor Center to remain open for the public when it would have been closed because of staff shortages. Their enthusiastic assistance and cheerful greetings are appreciated by the visitor and Blackwater NWR.

Refuge Manager Suzanne Baird and Zeeger de Wilde (9000 hours volunteered)

Refuge Manager Suzanne Baird and Volunteer of the Year Marty O'Connor