Evergreen Audubon is supported by an incredible community of volunteers, members, and participants. The work we accomplish throughout the year is only achievable because of you. This was highlighted in celebration at our annual banquet on January 19th. We had a wonderful evening celebrating the successes and contributions of 2023 and looking forward to another exciting year in 2024.
After a delicious dinner and time spent socializing, Kathy Madison presented six Royal Order of the Dipper Awards. The Dipper Awards are a long-standing tradition with Evergreen Audubon to recognize volunteers who go above and beyond in helping the organization.
Janet Warner received her award for the countless ways she volunteered with Evergreen Audubon in 2023. To name just a few of the ways Janet volunteered, she helped with the Nature Center move-in day, the Native Plant Sale, distributing wreaths for the annual sale, tackled the tremendous task of cleaning the kitchen at the Nature Center, and has helped with the Highway Clean-up event almost every year! Thank you, Janet, for the numerous ways you support Evergreen Audubon!
Chuck Burdick received his award for his outstanding woodworking contributions to the Nature Center! Not only did Chuck help with our demolition days (tearing down a wall in the front room and opening a window in the Director’s office!) but he also made the beautiful “Evergreen Nature Center, est. 2008” sign that hangs in front of the ENC, and he built the discovery tables in the science lab at the Nature Center and the new stands for the interpretive watershed panels in the Mammal Room, and more! Thank you, Chuck, for sharing your talents with Evergreen Audubon!
Dwight Souder received his award for his long-standing, and incredibly meaningful contributions to Evergreen Audubon. Dwight has been volunteering for years, but in 2023 he was a crucial part of our demolition team in the front room of the Nature Center, helping with our move-in day, the Highway Clean-up Day, Triple By-pass, and nest box build days! Dwight is a cornerstone volunteer with Evergreen Audubon and we are so glad to recognize him with this award. Thank you, Dwight, for your dedicated and meaningful volunteering!
Chris & Holly Marr received a joint award for their herculean efforts to refinish the floors at the ENC. They spent days over the summer tirelessly tearing up carpet, sanding, staining, and finishing the hardwood floors in the front room – the room looks amazing! While the award was presented jointly, Chris and Holly each give an enormous amount of their time and efforts to supporting Evergreen Audubon. Their efforts as Treasurer and Social Events Director are easily perceived, but behind the scenes they both give even more of their time to plow the parking lot at the ENC, clean the nature center, power-wash and stain the front porch, and more. They truly are a dynamic duo! Thank you, Chris and Holly, for everything you do for Evergreen Audubon!
Ed Furlong received his award for his continual tremendous contributions to Evergreen Audubon. Not only does Ed coordinate all our monthly chapter meetings, but he also helps lead bird walks, installed the watershed paintings at the ENC, helped with move-in and demo days at the ENC, and takes on the daunting task of leading our annual nest box build. Ed is always ready to help and gives his time generously throughout the year to support Evergreen Audubon. Thank you, Ed, for your incredible commitment to this organization!
Evergreen Audubon truly would not be successful without the monumental support of our volunteers. Thank you all for going above and beyond in 2023!
Speaking of “above and beyond,” following Kathy’s presentation of awards and ceremonially handing the Evergreen Audubon gavel to Melissa Leasia, our new President, Ed Furlong, and Lisa Wald came to the front with a special award. In the words of Ed Furlong, the “Above and Beyond Award . . . recognizes sustained, superior achievements over multiple years in support of the mission of Evergreen Audubon and the Evergreen Nature Center.” Evergreen Audubon is proud to recognize Kathy Madison as the inaugural recipient of this prestigious award! To further quote Ed Furlong: “ Kathy has provided extraordinarily sustained and visionary leadership during her 3 terms as president, including gracefully managing changing staff, hiring a new director, managing the development of that position to the executive director, and responding to legal challenges . . . Prior to her terms as President, Kathy served the chapter as program chair, communications chair, and development chair; throughout her time on the Board she has played a major role in our annual fundraising, provided technical skills to our website, expanded our online sales and auction capabilities, supported our electronic communications needs and our transition to hybrid in-person/Zoom meetings . . . Throughout her time with Evergreen Audubon, Kathy has been cheerful, optimistic, and wise. It can be truly said that Kathy always goes the extra mile.”
Thank you, Kathy, for your tremendous efforts and for setting the standard for our new Above and Beyond Award.
The next part of the evening was a presentation on our Education & Outreach efforts in 2023. For a brief summation, we saw a 16% growth in our program numbers between 2022 and 2023 – we had a total of 4,235 programmatic impacts in 2023! Despite the loss of the Warming Hut, our programmatic efforts continue to grow and expand.
In celebration of our education and outreach volunteers, there were three additional awards given:
“I-Can-Plant-That Award” was presented to Andrea Furlong for sharing her plant knowledge and enthusiasm! Thank you for spearheading our native planting initiatives at the Nature Center, and for your education support with our after-school programs!
“I-Can-Paint-That Award” was presented to Kim Hamilton for sharing her artistic talents! Thank you for your incredible work refinishing our Wingspan sign, and for the beautiful bookmarks you donated to the gift shop. We are so thankful for your creativity!
“I-Can-Help-With-That Award” was presented to Jay Tierney for his numerous hours volunteering with our education programs! Thank you for dedicating so much time to assist with our camps, partner programs, and Nature Center efforts. Your enthusiasm and love for education is apparent and appreciated.
Lastly, Chuck announced the Birding Challenge achievers: those successful birders who met the 2023 Birding Challenge to record 1/3 of all birds in any of these areas: Bear Creek Watershed (111), Jefferson County (130), Clear Creek County (75), Gilpin County (64), Park County (102), or all of Colorado (171). Those busy birders who met the challenge were: Chuck Aid (co), Ron Belak (w-j), Margo Constable (co), *Jon Deppe (co), Steve Garman (w-j-co), Peg Linn (w-j), Kathy Madison (w-j-co), Chris Marr (w-j-co), Holly Marr(w-j-co), Don McKenna (co), Rob Raker (j-co), *Kate Shirley (co), and *Holly Winters Deppe (j-o). Guide: * = first-time winners w = Watershed, j = Jeffco, co = Colorado.
What a night! It is such a joy to celebrate the monumental efforts of our volunteers every year. I hope you will consider volunteering this year and working alongside the incredible individuals who work to make this organization the best that it can be. I am excited by the continued potential in our new space and cannot wait to see what 2024 has in store.
Last, but not least, the 2023 Bird-of-the-Year Award went to JoAnn Hackos for the Lapland Longspur.
Kind regards, Emma