Minnesota Waters announces its 2011 award winners, selected from nominations around the state.
Lake Volney Association (Le Sueur County) is the Lake Association of the Year. Itasca Water Legacy Partnership (Itasca County) is named the Outstanding Citizen Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program. The City of Saint Cloud (Stearns County) is named the River Friendly Community of the Year. The team of Jack and Judy Wallschlaeger of Pequot Lakes, MN (Crow Wing County), members of the Whitefish Area Property Owners Association, are awarded the Volunteer of the Year distinction.
Each year, Minnesota Waters presents these awards to honor citizen volunteers who have made exceptional commitments to protecting their local lake or river. Each winner will receive an honorary plaque, two tickets to the Minnesota Waters awards gala, and a gift $1,000 to continue their good work.
The awards will be presented at the Minnesota Waters River Night, Lake Night, Great Night!, an annual gathering of peers and water enthusiasts, at the BayView Event Center on Lake Minnetonka (Excelsior, MN) on September 14, 2011.
The nominations revealed an impressive and heartening number of water quality achievements made by citizen volunteers across the state; however, the four award winners were notable for demonstrating success in collaborating with other individuals and groups.
“Each exemplifies the partnership, leadership, scholarship and stewardship qualities that advance the sustainability of our water resources” said Lois Sinn Lindquist, Executive Director of Minnesota Waters. “Responsible stewardship of our water resources is our mandate. Engagement of our membership is powerful. We celebrate these -- the gifts of their efforts.”
Minnesota Waters believes an engaged citizenry will effectively protect and restore Minnesota’s irreplaceable natural assets -- clean and healthy lakes and streams -- for current and future generations. The non-profit organization provides training, connections, issue advocacy, and support to empower citizens and citizen-led groups to be active, effective advocates for Minnesota’s unique waterscape.
