Crab Orchard NWR 2008 Volunteers of the Year: Mike Lukens, Andy Garrett, Dwight Hoffard, Rick Ritter and Virgil Lukens. - USFWS photo

The Crab Orchard NWR hosted its annual volunteer banquet on April 22, 2009, to honor and recognize an outstanding group of Refuge volunteers.  More than 75 individuals attended the event held at the Giant City Lodge at the Giant City State Park. 

Individuals were recognized for their personal talents and contributions to specific projects as well as for reaching their volunteer hour milestones. In Fiscal Year 2008, 231 volunteers contributed 17,651 hours-valued at over 350,000 dollars! 

Special recognition went to the following for reaching volunteer hour milestones: 100 hours – Kendal Doty, IdaNell Warger, Jerry O’Malley, Laurel Wendt, Lisa Tohmas, Shannon Harms, Dennis Holtzclw, 400 hours – Ann Johnson, David Kverns, Richard LaSalle, Laraine Wright 500 hours – Phyliss Payen, Jerry Perdun, Marsha Bockman, Stacy Langguth 1,000 hours- Tom Cox, Arletta Cox  1,500 hours Ed Gribac, 2,000 hours – Ted Campbell, Paul Fleming 8,500 hours – Roalita Spiller  11,000 hours Darrell Livesay.   

Volunteer of the Year Awards went to a group of individuals who have spent 1,000’s of hours over the past 19 years at Crab Orchard NWR assisting the Refuge with it’s special hunt programs.   Each year these volunteers put out blinds for our youth and disable deer hunt, as well as spending many hours in scouting the area before the hunting season, making sure the blinds are in the right location for a successful hunt.  They provide hunter education programs for our youth turkey and dove hunters as well as assisting in the field during these hunts.  They conduct a daily drawing for the Refuge’s controlled waterfowl hunt as well as assisting with maintaining the blinds in the hunt. These individuals have assisted Crab Orchard NWR in providing an enjoyable and quality hunt for countless youth and other hunters over the years.

 Crab Orchard NWR's volunteers are an invaluable resource, who are truly making a difference.