Congratulations to the recipients of our 2021 Volunteer Awards!
The Sierra Club Georgia Chapter’s annual Volunteer Awards recognize the folks who have made exceptional contributions to our work across the state. With these awards, we hope to highlight the work of lots of different kinds of leaders in our community of volunteers – whether or not they’d identify themselves as such!
Volunteers were nominated by their colleagues in November and early December. The nominations were reviewed by a committee consisting of five Chapter volunteers and two staff.
OGDEN DOREMUS AWARD FOR CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP
In honor of the influential forerunner of the Georgia Chapter, the Ogden Doremus Conservation Leadership Award honors exceptional contributions to the protection, preservation, and restoration of Georgia’s natural environments and the ecological communities that inhabit them.
This year’s awardee is Roger Buerki, Georgia Chapter & Centennial Group conservation & outings volunteer. Roger is a trailblazer in Georgia’s conservation community. He’s one of the original “River Rats,” local activists who worked to protect the Chattahoochee from development and campaigned for national legislation to create the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in the 1970s. He’s praised for his “hands-on” approach, people skills, and “walking the walk.” He’s frequently spotted walking some of Cobb’s busier streets picking up litter. Several testimonials said Roger inspired them to get involved in the conservation movement. His generosity with his time extends beyond the Sierra Club – he also volunteers with the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Keep Cobb Beautiful, Chattahoochee Nature Center, and more.
OUTSTANDING GROUP AWARD
The Outstanding Group Award recognizes one of our Local Groups for their recent efforts in their community.
The Greater Gwinnett Group, which serves Gwinnett and surrounding areas, is this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Group Award. Volunteers with the Gwinnett Group have worked hard to build relationships with both local government bodies and other environmental organizations. In 2021, the group conducted more than 50 cleanup events in partnership with Come Clean Gwinnett and Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, held voter registration events in diverse communities, and worked to ensure accessibility and proper maintenance of the Beaver Ruin Wetlands. Special recognition goes to outgoing Gwinnett Group Chair Dan Friedman, who stepped down last year after 10 years leading the group. Testimonials praised Dan for going “above and beyond” and for reinvigorating the Gwinnett Group, turning it into one of the most active groups in Georgia.
OUTSTANDING GROUP LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Outstanding Group Leadership award recognizes local champions and leaders who tirelessly push to ensure productive, healthy, and just groups across the state.
This year, we are recognizing LaGrange Group Chair Mary Lou Dabbs. Nominations for Mary Lou called her cheerful, organized, and extremely capable. Despite a pandemic that prevented most in-person activities, Mary Lou is credited with using her technological savvy to improve communications with group members using social media, Zoom meetings, and email. Mary Lou has been so successful leading the LaGrange Group that they are considering expanding their boundaries to bring in more people!
CHUCK MCGRADY AWARD FOR POLITICAL ACUMEN
We’re honored to continue McGrady’s legacy by highlighting volunteers who invest deeply in our political and legislative initiatives, who ensure all have what they need to engage in our democracy, who fight for more just policies in the state, and who hold our representatives accountable.
This year’s awardee is incoming Centennial Group ExCom member and current Chapter political volunteer, Tania Robinson. Tania is being recognized for her dedication in the Chapter’s legislative and political programs, for her services as a member of the hiring committee for temporary political and legislative staffers, and for being an exemplary representative of the Sierra Club Georgia Chapter. She is passionate about the work and eager to play a role in shaping our efforts in the future. Folks from the selections committee noted Tania’s ability to weave in empathy and care into volunteering, as well as her dependability in the spaces she dedicates herself to. Tania’s expansive volunteering goes beyond the Sierra Club – she’s also active in local politics and her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta.
STELLA MARIE SCHMITTNER AWARD FOR BEHIND THE SCENES IMPACT
In honor and memory of the impact Stella Marie Schmittner had on the Chapter’s fiscal health at a crucial time in our organizational growth, this award recognizes a volunteer who might be less visible to most, but who makes a quiet and significant difference in the successes of our groups and Chapter.
Bill Jackson, Savannah River Group Membership Services Chair, is this year’s recipient for improving communications for the group at a time when it became more important than ever to organize online. Attentive to details and dedicated to accuracy, Bill grew the group’s social media presence (including developing the group’s social media policy) and maintained its email list to keep the group’s members informed. He’s also praised for his efforts to teach others how to use digital tools in order to accomplish tasks on their own.
OUTINGS LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Chapter’s outings program works with communities across Georgia to make sure everyone has opportunities to experience and learn about the outdoors. Outings help build the foundation for our commitment to enjoy, explore, and protect, and this award recognizes outstanding leadership within the program.
If you’ve ever floated down a river in Georgia, chances are you’ve paddled past Pete Johnson. His knowledge and experience as an Outings Leader and advocate has inspired many veterans to take part in the Sierra Club Military Outdoors program over the years. He was instrumental in helping with “virtual outings” during the pandemic, and as soon as it was safe to hold outings again, Pete was leading a group down the Chattahoochee. He played an important role in starting the Vets for Essential Workers Campaign that launched in February 2021, which seeks to give veterans and their families an opportunity to give back to the folks who kept our communities working during this pandemic. We’re honored to give Pete Johnson the 2021 Outings Leadership Award.
The Georgia Chapter runs on volunteers, and we would not be successful without the time these generous individuals dedicate to our shared cause. We cannot thank you enough for what you do!