Breaux Act Newsflash - Nominations Sought For Top Conservation Awards
***********************************************************************For Immediate Release
Contact: Randy Lanctot; 225/344-6707; Randy@lawildlifefed.org
Nominations Sought For Top Conservation Awards
The Louisiana Wildlife Federation (LWF) is now accepting nominations for
the 43rd Governor's State Conservation Achievement Awards. The program
recognizes those persons and organizations who make outstanding
contributions to the natural resource welfare and environmental quality of
the community, parish and state. There are eight award categories for
which nominations can be made. They are: professional; volunteer;
business; educator; youth; elected official; communications and
organization.
The awards themselves, handsome statuettes of majestic wild animals, are
unique to the program and highly coveted by all who receive them.
According to Terry L. Melancon, LWF president, "For over 40 years the
federation's annual conservation awards program has recognized those
individuals, organizations and businesses who have gone 'above and beyond'
in their efforts to conserve fish and wildlife resources, to enhance
opportunities for all of our citizens to enjoy the outdoors, to improve
the quality of the environment, and to educate and advocate on behalf of
our natural resources here in Louisiana. Thanks to the participation of
hundreds of Louisiana citizens who have, over the years, encouraged good
conservation work by submitting nominations to the program, these awards
are widely acclaimed as the most prestigious recognition of conservation
accomplishment that are presented annually in our state."
Melancon noted that, in keeping with tradition, the Governor has endorsed
the program. He encouraged the public to make nominations.
Nominations are now open and will be accepted until February 6, 2007.
Nominations should be based primarily on accomplishments in 2006. The
awards will be presented on March 3rd at a special banquet held in
conjunction with the 68th annual convention of the Louisiana Wildlife
Federation at the Holiday Inn in Gonzales. An awards program brochure
with nomination form is available by contacting the LWF office
(225/344-6707) or can be downloaded from the LWF's website:
www.lawildlifefed.org.
Award Categories
Category#1 Professional
Category#2 Volunteer
Category#3 Youth
Category#4 Business
Category#5 Educator
Category#6 Elected Official
Category#7 Communications
Category#8 Organization
Last year's honorees were
B. E. M. "Ben" Skerrett, III, Lafayette businessman and icon in the
decades-long effort to preserve the Atchafalaya Basin was honored
posthumously. Skerrett was cited for his passion to preserve the
Atchafalaya Basin, and particularly, his efforts to implement the Buffalo
Cove Water Management Unit as a means of restoring the water quality and
productivity to that popular Basin fishing ground. The ground breaking
for the project was December 2nd, only a few short weeks after his death;
Noel W. Kinler of New Iberia, Biologist Program Manager, Fur & Refuge
Division of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, for
leading the state's alligator management program and maintaining its
status as one of the top wildlife conservation programs in the world;
Thad Bellow of St. Amant for mentoring youth of the community in hunter
education, serving as Greenwing and Jakes Chairman of the local Ducks
Unlimited and National Wild Turkey Federation chapters and providing
leadership and service to the East Ascension Sportsman's League;
Kellon Lee of St. Joseph for stepping up to help wildlife battered by the
hurricanes;
Architecture + of Monroe for volunteering architectural services for the
development of the Conservation Learning Center at Black Bayou Lake
National Wildlife Refuge;
Rex H. Caffey, PhD of Baton Rouge, Director and Associate Professor,
Center for Natural Resource Economics and Policy, LSU Department of
Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, for helping citizens to
understand the opportunities and realities of coastal land loss and
restoration;
Louisiana District 60 Representative Karen St. Germain of Pierre Part for
providing key support for projects to improve the water quality and
fisheries productivity of the Atchafalaya Basin;
C. C. Lockwood of Baton Rouge for informing the public through his
photography and writings of the crisis of coastal land loss, and
particularly for his "Marsh Mission" project and subsequent publication of
Marsh Mission: Capturing the Vanishing Wetlands, a collaboration between
photographer Lockwood and painter Rhea Gary, depicting dramatic images of
Louisiana's fading coast;
Ducks Unlimited for its commitment to enhancing waterfowl habitat and
restoring Louisiana's wetlands, particularly along the coast where it
commenced or completed 3 projects last year that will restore or improve
the quality of almost 50,000 acres of wetland habitat.
Complete write-ups of the accomplishments of these honorees are posted on
the LWF website and may be consulted by those who wish to have examples of
the kind of work that is worthy of recognition through this awards
program.
The Louisiana Wildlife Federation is a statewide conservation education
and advocacy organization with over 10,000 members and 25 affiliate
groups. Established in 1940, it is affiliated with the National Wildlife
Federation and represents a broad constituency of conservationists
including hunters, fishers, campers, birders, boaters, and other outdoor
enthusiasts.
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[Edited 2006-11-14 -webmaster]