AWARD DINNER 2011 - Volunteers Honored

On Thursday, December 8, in Volo Bog SNA’s classroom, 124 volunteers were honored for their services to Volo Bog State Natural Area, Moraine Hills State Park and McHenry Dam in 2011. Together they contributed a record number of 6,181 hours to our Illinois Department of Natural Resources sites! Site Superintendent Greg Kelly and Natural Resources Coordinator Stacy Iwanicki presented certificates and plaques to those present. Special Recognition was given to two individuals as Volunteer of the Year at their respective sites.

Bob Vetter of Grayslake was named Volunteer of the Year for Volo Bog State Natural Area. He contributed over 350 hours to the State Natural Area (plus an additional 248 at Moraine Hills State Park) in 2011. His tasks included coordinating 20 prairie & native gardeners at the three sites. Bob assists with special events including WinterFest, International Migratory Bird Days and Ghost Stories and leads occasional bog tours. He also serves as the site’s photographer. Bob began volunteering at Volo Bog in September 2004. In 2007, he joined the Friends of Volo Bog board of directors. He serves as webmaster for FOVB as well as for Friends of Moraine Hills State Park. He is a founding member of the latter and also serves on their board. Visit www.FriendsofVoloBog.org and

www.FriendsofMoraineHillsStatePark.org to see his talents!

Dave Albright of Crystal Lake was named Volunteer of the Year for Moraine Hills State Park and McHenry Dam. Dave began volunteering in early 2009. He contributed 132 hours in 2011. His tasks included: tending the native gardens near the park nature center; co-stewarding Osprey Meadows as part of the site’s Habitat Restoration and Stewardship Team; Roving Naturalist; and assisting with special events including International Migratory Bird Day and Family Fishing & Nature Discovery Day at McHenry Dam and Run for the Hills 10K and Half-Marathon at MHSP. Dave also serves on the board of directors of the Friends of Moraine Hills State Park as their treasurer.

In addition to Volunteer of the Year plaques, each also received a Certificate of Appreciation and a Centurian Award Plaque which is presented to all volunteers contributing over 100 hours for a given year. A record number of individuals also received Centurian Award Plaques for over 100 hours each in 2011:

Kate Altman of Volo (now Maryland) Anima Dubey of Grayslake Myrna Nelson of McHenry

Marie Caviness of Round Lake Savannah Eisenmann of Cary Steve Savocchi of Lake Zurich

Pat Copp of Tower Lakes Bill Ewert of Ingleside Carol Shaffer of Grayslake

Julia Denne of Arlington Heights John Fairgrieve of Hawthorn Woods Jeri Shannon of Wonder Lake

Nina Denne of Arlington Heights John Holmes of Lake Villa Bonnie Sheehan of McHenry

Steve Domski of McHenry Carl Krautwurst of Grayslake Neil Whitman of McHenry

Jerry Donahue of Mundelein Merry Miller of Lake Villa Judy Wooderson of Crystal Lake

The following received Certificates of Appreciation for contributing 50 -99 hours each to Volo Bog and/or Moraine Hills/McHenry Dam in 2011:

Bev Battaglia of Lake Villa Mike Iwanicki of Wonder Lake Jack Powell of Grayslake

Nancy Doughty of Barrington Linda Kantor of Palatine Nancy Schietzelt of Crystal Lake

Nandu Dubey of Grayslake Kathy Kozacky of Roselle Randy Schietzelt of Crystal Lake

Sachin Dubey of Grayslake Esther Larson of McHenry Ann Shanks of Grayslake

Brian Gilbert of Lake Zurich Yvette Liautaud of Streamwood Trisha Steele of Highland Lake

Mark Ginger of DesPlaines Karen Lund of Genoa Stacey Stutzman of Libertyville

Gail Goeke of McHenry Meg Macdonald of Lake Bluff Jan Wemple of Ingleside

John Hall of Island Lake Wayne McGhie of Ingleside

Melonnie Hartl of Antioch Myrna Nelson of McHenry

Eighteen additional volunteers received certificates for contributing between 25 -49 hours each, with another 59

people offering their help on smaller (often one-time) projects.

Volunteers contribute in numerous ways to educational programming, public relations and habitat restoration at

Volo Bog State Natural Area, Moraine Hills State Park and McHenry Dam. Trained volunteer naturalists lead tours of Volo Bog for individuals and small groups on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. Youth Program Naturalists lead environmental education programs including Bog Life tours. Nearly 5,000 school and youth group children are introduced to Volo Bog each year. Roving Naturalists reach out to park users at Moraine Hills State Park and McHenry Dam.

Special events such as International Migratory Bird Days, Family Fishing & Nature Discovery Day, International Bog Day, Ghost Stories, Run for the Hills and WinterFest rely heavily on volunteers. Volunteer Docents greet visitors in both sites’ Visitor Centers, while others lead Bird Walks at both Volo Bog & McHenry Dam. Volunteers monitor bird nesting trails and tend to demonstration Prairie & Woodland Gardens at each site. In 2011, the sites formed the first chapter of the Veterans Conservation Corps, a joint venture between the IDNR and the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

The evening started with a potluck dinner and a fun questionnaire as an ice breaker
Randy, Bob & Mike tell the members about Friend activities during the year
FOVB Chairperson	FOVB & FOMHSP Boards		FOMHSP Vice-Chairperson

Photos by Paul Howerton & Bob Vetter
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