Association of West Virginia Solid Waste Authorities
2006 Volunteer of the Year
VOLUNTEER OF YEAR AWARD FOR 2006
Good evening ladies and gentlemen! Mr. Chairman, thank you for the
opportunity tonight to present the Volunteer of the Year for 2006 to the
honorable members and guests of the Association of West Virginia Solid
Waste Authorities and to the representatives and guests of the DEPs
Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan.
But before that
happens, I would like to take a moment to express my appreciation for
being fortunate enough to have met and been associated with such an
incredible group of people, such as yourselves, VOLUNTEERS who serve on
county and regional solid waste authorities throughout our beautiful
state. Your work and dedication goes well beyond improving solid waste
management in your community. Your personal contribution in this effort
makes an important impact on other people’s lives, helps protect our
environment and natural resources, and truly improves the world around
us.
I know that each member of the selection committee for
Volunteer of the Year echoes these sentiments, and I would like to
introduce them at this time:
Ms. Tammy Bonar, Ms. Alice Jo
Buzzard, Ms. Bridget Grounds and Dr. Ralph Taylor. (APPLAUSE) They do a
fine job in reviewing the accomplishments of the nominees. As you may
not know, as chairman of this committee, I can only vote in the event of
a tie and I am pleased to say that I have never had to cast a vote.
This year’s recipient will join the ranks of other distinguished
volunteers who have received this prestigious award, including Al
Babcock, the late Fred Clark and Roger King, Denver Enoch, Bud Weigle,
Harry Reiter, Walt Swiger, John Tuckwiller, Sarah Douglas, Alice Hartman
and last year, Kurt Keesee.
The volunteer that we are
recognizing tonight has been a member of a county solid waste authority
for well over a decade, who has served as its treasurer for over 7
years.
This volunteer has provided the vision and leadership for
many worthwhile projects, such as the implementation of an Athletic Shoe
Recycling Project, wherein worn out shoes are processed at the local
recycling center for distribution through Nike and the National
Recycling Coalition for rejuvenating running surfaces and playground
areas.
Another project that this volunteer was instrumental in
was the development of a Community Enhancement Program, that continues
today. The solid waste authority started this program in 1999 in order
to receive the greatest benefit of utilizing some of its revenue to
create its own grant program. Through this local grant program they have
been able to award an average of 6 grants each year to enhance the
quality of life in their community. For example, practically every
school in the county has received a grant for such things as outdoor
classroom and playground equipment made from recycled content materials.
With the assistance of this volunteer, the Authority has awarded
grants to volunteer fire departments in their county to enhance
hazardous waste response capabilities, improved walking trail surfaces
in public parks with recycled materials, they have awarded a $100,000
grant to a municipal recycling facility in the county and equally
important, they have provided considerable funds to adjacent county
solid waste authorities in times of special need.
If this were
not enough, this year’s volunteer has assisted in helping identify and
catalog illegal open dumps throughout the county. He continues to
support the solid waste authority’s involvement in aluminum recycling
contests, river sweeps, scholarships for area youth to attend various
conservation and environmental camps across the state and many
beautification projects.
Additionally, this year’s award
recipient is heavily involved in many other volunteer activities in his
community. He is a charter member of the City of Parkersburg Tree
Commission. He is a member of the Earth Team of the Natural Resources
Conservation Service. He has been recognized as a distinguished and
outstanding state representative for the Road Runners Club of America
and he serves as a certified track official for the WV Association of
Secondary Schools Activity Commission.
Ladies and gentlemen, it
is a great honor to present to you tonight, your Volunteer of the Year
for 2006,
a member of the Wood County Solid Waste Authority from
Parkersburg, West Virginia,
THE HONORABLE WILLIS J. RIDENHOUR