Nine outstanding Bureau of Land Management (BLM) volunteers (individuals, couples and one organization) and three exceptional BLM employees have been selected to receive the agency's 2002 "Making a Difference" National Volunteer Awards. BLM Director Kathleen Clarke and BLM Assistant Director for Communications Larry Finfer will present these awards May 30 at a special ceremony in Washington, D.C.

These awards recognize exemplary volunteer contributions made in the year 2001 on behalf of the public lands. This work includes protecting archaeological and paleontological resources, promoting the Adopt-A-Horse program, restoring rivers and desert habitat, protecting caves, living on-site to manage a recreation area, and collectively supervising thousands of additional volunteers in these projects.

"Your work is helping the BLM realize President Bush's goal for every American to give an individual commitment of time, heart, and effort in service to America," said BLM Director Kathleen Clarke. "You exemplify the thousands of volunteers who work for our public lands every day. "

The nine winning individuals, teams, and organizations are:

• Bob Bower, Albuquerque, NM;
  
  
• Pete Fish, Ridgecrest, CA;
  
  
• Leon Lesicka, El Centro, CA;
  
  
• Randy S. Paiment, Arcata, CA;
  
  
• Kay Patteson, Salem, OR;
  
  
• Ron & Carol Pownall, Jackson, MS;
  
  
• Margaret ("Maggie") Fugate-Swasey, Price, UT;
  
  
• Chuck & Pat Williams, Las Vegas, NV; and
  
  
• The Southwest Region of the National Speleological Society, Carlsbad, NM.

In addition, three BLM employees were selected for recognition for their outstanding leadership in the BLM Volunteer Program. They are:

• Helene Aarons, Denver, CO;
  
  
• Bill Cannon, Lakeview, OR; and
  
  
• Rose Foster, Barstow, CA.

A national panel of BLM and partner organization representatives selected the winners from nominations submitted by BLM State Offices and National Centers. Award recipients are chosen for "Making a Difference" in management and conservation of the public lands and their resources.

These winners represent only a small fraction of the exceptional contributions that are being made every day by thousands of people on public lands throughout the country. Each year volunteers collectively donate about 700,000 hours to the agency, the equivalent of more than 400 work years. They perform a variety of jobs, from campground host to archaeologist to educator. The value of this work is conservatively estimated to exceed $11 million. In many instances, volunteers serve as BLM's first point of contact with the public, playing an important ambassadorial role for the agency. In some remote areas, campgrounds and other recreation sites would be closed were it not for volunteer assistance. Additionally, volunteers play an increasingly important role for the agency as growing populations in the West have placed increased demands on the public lands.

Highlights of this year's winning accomplishments follow: (A complete summary of winners and accomplishments is attached.)

Volunteers

• Bob Bower, Albuquerque, New Mexico, directed volunteer teams for the past 6 years in order to protect archaeological resources on public lands in New Mexico.
  
  
• Pete Fish, Ridgecrest, California, and his volunteer "Trail Gorillas," have undertaken major restoration work on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail during work events held twice each year since 1995.
  
  
• Leon Lesicka, El Centro, California, has been active for 20 years in protecting the southern California desert and, with his wife, founded Desert Wildlife Unlimited.
  
  
• Randy Paiment, Arcata, California, is resident caretaker of Samoa Dunes Recreation Area, a popular 300-acre site located on northern California's Samoa Peninsula near the entrance to Humboldt Bay.
  
  
• Kay Patteson, Salem, Oregon, helped establish Molalla RiverWatch and works with more than 550 volunteers to preserve the flora and fauna of the river and its tributaries.
  
  
• Ron and Carol Pownall, Jackson, Mississippi, assist with the BLM's Adopt-A-Horse program in Mississippi and neighboring states and helped promote the program on "A Pet Story," an Animal Planet cable TV show.
  
  
• Margaret ("Maggie") Fugate-Swasey, Price, Utah, directed several National Public Lands Day events, including work at the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry National Natural Landmark. She also serves as a non-federal member on a field advisory committee for BLM.
  
  
• Chuck and Pat Williams, Las Vegas, Nevada, have been a driving force behind the success of the Friends of Red Rock Canyon organization, serving the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area outside of Las Vegas, Nevada.
  
  
• The Southwest Region, National Speleological Society, New Mexico. For more than 40 years, this group has provided a reliable volunteer workforce for protecting and managing the more than 1,000 caves under BLM management in southern New Mexico.

BLM Employees

• Helene Aarons, State Volunteer Coordinator for the BLM in Denver, Colorado, enhanced public/private partnerships by developing regional community-based "volunteer centers."
  
  
• William J. ("Bill") Cannon, Archaeologist in Lakeview, Oregon, developed a unique cost efficient volunteer program to complete archaeological work on public lands in Oregon.
  
  
• Rose Foster, Volunteer Coordinator in Barstow, California, recruited more than 1,200 volunteers for a variety of jobs, one of which resulted in the removal of 173 tons of trash from illegal dump sites.

BLM initiated its "Making a Difference" National Awards in 1995 in order to acknowledge invaluable volunteer contributions such as these. BLM held its first recognition ceremony in April of 1996. This year's observance marks the seventh annual presentation of these awards.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), an agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior, administers 262 million acres of America's public lands, located primarily in 12 Western States. The BLM sustains the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

This page was created by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Office of Public Affairs 1849 C Street, Room 406-LS Washington, DC 20240 Phone: (202) 452-5125 Fax: (202) 452-5124

Please contact us with any questions relating to accessibility of documents. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader

This is a U.S. Government Computer System. Before continuing, please read this disclaimer and privacy statement. Accessibility