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2007 Plant Materials Award RecipientsUpdated 08/21/2008 Thank you to all who participated in this year’s award nominations. First, I would like to recognize our distinguished judges and thank them for participating in our effort for the 3rd year in a row: Ben Smallwood, National Pest Management Specialist, Wash, DC Julie Hawkins, State Biologist, Virginia Jeff Burwell, SRC, Colorado. I was hoping to distribute the awards in person, but my travel budget won't permit it. We are in the process of preparing awards for the winners and will provide them as soon as possible. I want you to know I appreciate your efforts and the Program is better because of you. Keep up the good work, and together, we shall continue to solve conservation problems. Bob Escheman National Program Leader-Plant Materials And now, the winners by category: Plant Materials Outstanding TeamThis award is presented in recognition of the best overall performance by a Plant Materials Center, Plant Materials Specialist, and associated program over the past year. The Kika de la Garza Plant Materials Center (STPMC) has become one of the most productive PMC programs in the nation. John Reilley, Shelly Maher, Albert Quiroga, and George Farek have done a commendable job in developing an effective program built on a quality plant selection process and partnerships leading to the advancement of plant science technology for conservation of natural resources in South Texas. John has cultivated an outstanding working relationship with Texas A&M Kingsville, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas Agriculture Experiment Station at Beeville, and the South Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts. These relationships have produced nine native grass releases in the past two years. In 2007, the STPMC produced 29 scientific documents, 17 popular documents, gave 14 presentations at local, regional and national meetings and provided assistance to over 400 customers on plant materials related issues. The PMC ranked as the number one producing PMC in 2006 and 2007. In fact, in 2007 the PMC scored a perfect 100% on the performance index. The PMC staff is committed to producing high quality plant materials products for the South Texas Plains and Gulf Coast. Plant Materials Outstanding EmployeeThis award is presented to the Plant Materials employee who has demonstrated excellent leadership and skill in contributing to the Plant Materials Program over the last year. No entries were submitted for FY2007. Plant Materials Meritorious ServiceThis award is presented to a Plant Materials employee who has made a significant and tangible contribution to the discipline over a long period of time. The winner for this year is Nancy Jensen, agronomist, Bismarck Plant Materials Center. She has been a driving force in many of the accomplishments of the Bismarck PMC since she started in 1989. Nancy is an innovative individual and always looking for the most efficient and effective way to accomplish a task. She has a special knack in communicating with tour groups and at workshops, especially with youth, and in providing a practical hands-on experience whenever possible. A sample of her accomplishments and contributions over the last 18 years include the following:
These major accomplishments have contributed significantly to the overall success of the plant materials program at Bismarck. Nancy’s commitment to the program and ability to handle a large workload in an efficient and expert manner has had a tangible impact on the plant materials service provided to the field offices in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Plant Materials Special ServiceThis award is presented to a non-plant materials person, either within NRCS or outside the agency whose efforts have or are substantially advancing the plant materials program. Niles Glasgow, former State Conservationist in Florida and now State
Conservationist in South Carolina, has been a strong supporter of the NRCS
Plant Materials Program at both the national and local level for a number of
years. On a continuous basis, he has briefed both the Chief and the Deputy for
Science and Technology on the Plant Materials Program stressing its importance
and needs. As a result, he was asked to coordinate the Task Force for Plant
Materials in 1999-2000. This Task Force was instrumental in the creation of the
National Plant Materials Advisory Committee for which Niles has served as chair
since its creation. As part of this national committee, Niles spearheaded many
of the Plant Materials marketing and awareness initiatives, and has been
involved in the development of the Plant Materials strategic plan and
preparation of issue papers. He has personally been instrumental in increasing
the awareness of other State Conservationists about the program, and Niles’
involvement was critical to getting a Congressional earmark (the Oregon Garden)
removed from CO-46 and reassigned to CO-01 a few years ago. Plant Materials Notable AchievementThis award is presented for efforts by an individual in completion of a specific plant materials product or specific activity. We have two winners in 2007: Mary "Mimi" Williams and Leslie Glass Mary "Mimi" Williams, Plant Materials Specialist, Florida, updated a major dune publication entitled “Native Plants for Coastal Dune Restoration: What, When and How for Florida”. The publication, which was first published in 1991 by NRCS, was expanded to include 33 different plant species consisting of grasses, herbaceous, trees, and shrubs. The publication features pictures of plants common to Florida dunes, the plant’s area of occurrence in Florida, and establishment and management protocols for using plants effectively in a dune system. The publication is written and designed for homeowners, municipalities, consultants, and others interested in establishing, enhancing, maintaining or repairing dunes. The publication serves as the prototype for a future regional coastal restoration publication for the South Atlantic, Gulf Coast, and Caribbean. Hard copies of the publication have been printed and the publication is available on the Florida NRCS web site or the National Plant Materials Program web site. Leslie Glass is the Secretary for the Bismarck Plant Materials Center, North Dakota (NDPMC) and Webmaster for the Plant Material Program Web site. During 2007, from approximately April 15 – December 15, Leslie was involved in extensive clean-up, reorganization, updating, and documenting of the PM Web site. Specifically, she was responsible for the following:
Without Leslie’s efforts the Plant Materials Web site would not have progressed as far as it has. Leslie’s activities with the Web site have also had a direct correlation with the number of users of the site. Visitor sessions to the site hit an all-time high of 96,546 in July 2007, up from 49,710 in July 2006. Plant Materials documents (PDF publications) being accessed from the site hit an average of 90,000 per month for FY 2007 (it was less than half that for FY 2006). This is astounding progress, due mostly to Leslie’s initiative and efforts. Previous Years Plant Materials Program Award Winners
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