This year marked Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River and Its Tributaries, Inc.’s (Citizens United/ CU) 30th Anniversary. So it was fitting to honor those members who have done a significant service to the watershed association over the long haul. Four individuals were honored for outstanding service. We also recognized two outgoing Trustees for their dedication to the organization.
Since 2006 we have held the Ah Why Knot Awards Dinner to honor exemplarily service to Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River and Its Tributaries, Inc. This year’s event was held on October 17, 2009. The award gets its name from volunteers being asked to dedicate time and those who reply, “Ah why not.” The “Knot” spelling is a play on words in as much as our annual visitor to the Delaware Bayshore is the red knot, an imperiled species. The red knot and its other shorebird cohorts are the focus of our conservation activities in May. Each awardee gets a carved likeness of a red knot.
This year’s presidential award and Ah Why Knot recipient was Berwyn Kirby who was honored as the 1979 co-founder of CU for his years of service and steadfast tenacity to the mission. In was at what has become to be known as the Custard Summit, Berwyn named and established Citizens United with Donald Fauerbach at a local custard stand. The organization was begun over concerns of a County Landfill being proposed to be located between the Menantico and Manumuskin Rivers, a location that would later be proposed for a great many development ideas. A large portion of the property today is the Nature Conservancy’s Manumuskin Preserve. The fate of the remainder as of October 2009 remains in question. There is a proposal to develop it for homes; CU, NJ Audubon, Association of Environmental Commissions, and NJ Conservation Foundation have all rallied to advocate preservation. Berwyn was very involved in advocating for the preservation of the Manumuskin Preserve. He has personally taken on expansion of conservation lands. Berwyn was a key player in the establishment of the Wild and Scenic designation. Over the years, his oratory skills have received praise. During the presentations we had some good spirited fun recounting the many self styled idioms and expressions that Berwyn employs to make his point. Berwyn has been our version of John Wayne fighting those who would seek to spoil the natural resources we seek to support. We recognized his wife Kay’s steadfast support and championship. Berwyn reiterated his esteem and affection for Kay and left nary a dry eye in the house.
Todd Heck, Esq. was honored for his professional support of the organization both in good times and in controversy. Todd has taken care of our legal needs since 1985 and was responsible for the incorporation of CU. Being legal council means dealing with many of the mundane aspects of charter and incorporation. But Todd has represented us in some mighty difficult cases as well. He successfully negotiated cell towers be lower than originally proposed. He helped to see that towers were placed in locations that did not further hinder viewscapes – i.e., water towers and tall buildings. Some of our more challenging cases have involved barging and toxic dump situations. In all cases, Todd has represented us successfully and in a gentlemanly fashion, Todd truly keeps us represented in a white hat. He is indeed our knight in shining armor and our hero. During the Ah Why Knot presentations we had some fun with our “Where in the World is Todd Heck” photos provided kindly by Maureen Heck. Todd took our chiding in good humor and in cases added to the frivolity. Todd himself made many kind and generous statements about the accomplishments of CU and its growth into a proactive organization.
Todd’s other volunteer and civic involvements were cited in boy scouting, legal, political, and historic organizations.
Likewise, Stephen Testa, CPA has taken care of the accounting needs of the organization for the same period of time. Additionally, Steve performed the role of Treasurer for many years. He is our “numbers man”, unweaving the complexities of grants and audit preparations for CU and other organizations as well. Steve has quietly volunteered his talents to a great many organizations. His love of the performing arts and his drum playing skills were news to a number of our members. Steve has given of his talents and time to Cumberland Players and Off Broad Street Players. He actively gives fiscal advice to a great many Catholic Schools and Parishes.
The greatest of his endeavors is clearly that of being a man devoted to family. He avidly follows each of his son’s interests in sports and the performing arts. His sons Daniel and Stephen wrote a wonderful letter to their father to be read at the Ah Why Knot in their absence. It was very thoughtful and touching. Everyone who knows Steve knows his main interest and love is his family and his wife Jane. No one beamed with greater pride the night of the awards than she and their family.
Jennifer Swift was recognized for her lifetime achievements of supporting recreation, farmland and open space protection, and dedication to environmental protection. Before becoming a freeholder she served for 15 years on the Millville Planning Board and 12 years on the County Planning Board. She was one of the first school principals to host our Down Jersey Curriculum.
Jennifer was the first woman to hold an elected county seat. Additionally cited were her achievements as Freeholder Director in obtaining Wild and Scenic Designation for the Maurice River and its Tributaries and in establishing a source of funding for farmland and open space protection. Jennifer has served on the boards of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance, and Partnership for the Delaware Estuary.
Jennifer and her husband Ron have represented CU at a number of festivals and events. Ron has a particular interest in the “CU Paint a Landscape” activity.
Trustees Emeritus
Outgoing officers Ed Pio and Joanne Murphine were honored for their years of service. Each leaves the board having left a wonderful mark. Ed selected to leave at the end of his term. Joanne’s term was also up and rather than run for an additional term, Joanne selected to step aside for a younger person to take her place. Joanne has always stressed the need to get younger people involved in CU.
Ed was given a lovely carving of a sandpiper done by member Art Parkin. Ed is a cane whittler and appreciates Art’s finely honed skills.
Joanne’s 20 years of service were clearly a hallmark of the evening. Quite fittingly, Joanne received a pastel expertly executed by member Verna McClain of Bivalve the location where Joanne annually organizes the CU table representatives for Bay Days. She was also presented with a sweet birdhouse made by Bob Schwarz. Worthy of note is Joanne’s husband Frank who for many years has faithfully taken water quality samples in the Menantico River, which he reports to the DE Riverkeeper’s water quality monitoring program.
US Presidential Volunteer Awards
US Presidential Volunteer Awards were bestowed upon a number of people who have clocked countless volunteer hours for the benefit of our local natural resources. In fact, 14 individuals devoted more than 50 hours each and 11 of those dedicated over 100 hours. Over 5000 hours have been tracked this year alone. The projects that had astounding numbers of hours devoted were hosting the scientists, Raptor Discovery Days, the Eagle Festival, the Osprey Colony Project, Adopt Swamp Pink Monitoring Program, Campfire Recollections, and botany surveys/study. Individuals who had this astounding devotions of time are: Irene Bird, Donna Dailey, Leslie Ficcaglia, Karen Johnson, Tony Klock, Tom McKee, Diane Amico, Alan Jackson, Mary Ann Russell, Gerry Moore, Sue Leopold, Renee Brecht, Jane Galetto, Dave and Sue Fenili.
A special thank you to this year’s sponsors-
Janice and John Ackerman
Jim Beebe Chiropractor
Bob Conner, Mints Insurance
Joe Delgado, Inc.
Dr. Peter and Kathy Federici
Legacy Financial Advisors
Ron Macon
Ellen and John Pedersen
Raritan Engineering
Robinson, Andujar & Webb Attorneys
Silverton Marine
Stanker and Galetto, Inc.
Winfields Restaurant, Richard and Lois Abbott
