No. 23 - The Award of Excellence
No. 23, Award of Excellence is an award given by the National Garden Clubs. Inc. to a non garden club member who has made an outstanding contribution in achieving NGC initiatives. Each state is given the opportunity to recommend someone for this honor.
NCAGC has submitted an application and a book of evidence for such a person—Stella Koch—a Virginia Conservation Associate for the Audubon Naturalist Society who has developed and managed the ANS conservation initiative in Northern Virginia for over 17 years. She is an environmental advocate and lobbyist and serves and has served on many regional committees supporting environmental and water quality initiatives. She also writes a bimonthly column for the Audubon Naturalist News.
• SERVED as committee member since 1996 and since 2004 SERVES as chairman of the Environmental Quality Advisory Council, an advisory group appointed by the Fairfax Board of Supervisors, whose recommendations have resulted in the Board of Supervisors requiring a base-line stream assessment and watershed restoration planning for all streams in the county, and also designating a penny for each dollar collected from the real estate taxes to be used for stteam restoration and water quality protection in Fairfax County. (1996-2007)
• SERVES on the task force that created the organization and then continued on the Board of the Potomac Riverkeeper. an organization whose mission is to protect and restore water quality in the Potomac River and its tributaries. The PRK is an aggressive advocac} group that pursues solutions to water quality violations mat occur in the Potomac watershed and will litigate if necessary. (2003 - 2007)
• SERVES as vice president to the Center for Watershed Protection. The CWP provides local governments, activists, and watershed organizations around the country with the technical tools for protecting some of the nation's natural resources, streams, lakes and rivers. It encompasses watershed planning, restoration, storm water management, research, site design, education and outreach, and watershed training. (2003 -2007)
• STELLA and members of the city of Great Falls Citizen Association Environmental Committee formed a Habitat Team and in a little over a year acquired the number of points necessary to have Great Falls designated as a National Wildlife Federation Community Wildlife Habitat. This is the 23rd such designation in the United States. The committee also created the Great Falls Heritage Tree Census which had the community identifying specimen frees in 23 species in Great Falls along with raising awareness of these invaluable resources. In September 2007 Stella and members of the city of Great Falls Citizen Association Habitat Team received a commendation from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for their work achieving Great Falls Community Wildlife Habitat status. (2005 - 2007)
• APPOINTED to the Tyson's Land Use Task Force. This group is charged with making recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on the scale of growth and development that should occur in the 1700 acres of Tysons Comer as metro rail comes to the area. Stella represents the environmental interests with an eye towards restoration and
• enhancement of natural resources of the area and reducing growth impacts in the region. (2005 to 2007)
• IN 2006 Virginia's Governor Kaine appointed Stella to the Citizens Advisory Committee to the Chesapeake Bay Council whose mission is to evaluate and make recommendation to help reduce pollution, and protect and restore natural resources in the Chesapeake Bay. (2006 - 2007)
• STELLA KOCH was designated Lady Fairfax by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. This award is given to recognize outstanding citizens of Fairfax County who have effected change and demonstrated exceptional service to the county-. (May 14, 2007)
• SERVED as an alternate commissioner on the Interstate Commission of the Potomac River Basin established in 1940. This committee is comprised of members from Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia and its purpose is to regulate, control, prevent or otherwise render unobjectionable and harmless the pollution of the waters of the Potomac River. (2001 - 2003)
Stella Koch has fulfilled National Garden Clubs, Inc. stated goal to encourage and assist in the protection and conservation of natural resources and to advance the study of environmental issues while cooperating with other organizations in furthering the interest of conservation and environmental protection for future generations.
NCAGC highly recommends Stella Koch as most deserving of the NGC Award of Excellence.
