Volunteer Awards
Sonny Newson with Andy Meeks (L) and Keith Nevison (R) photo: Greg Tudor
Simply put, volunteers are the backbone of Friends of Trees. We could not do what we do without the enthusiasm, dedication and energy that all volunteers bring each season to the planning, preparation and implementation of our program goals.
Over the course of the 2011-2012 planting season, 3,490 individuals volunteered 35,092 hours to Friends of Trees! We are inspired by this outpouring of enthusiasm, talent, and energy by so many throughout the communities where we work.
Here we honor our most dedicated volunteers who excelled in their roles and helped make Friends of Trees an even stronger and better organization. They deserve our special recognition for their efforts.
2012-2013 Award Winners
2011-2012 Award Winners
2010-2011 Award Winners
2009-2010 Award Winners
The following volunteers received awards at the annual Volunteer Awards Potluck at the end of the 2012-13 planting season:
2012-2013 Award Winners
Volunteer of the Year: Sonny Newson
For his deep and sustained commitment to Friends of Trees, for always being the first to arrive to GSI plantings and the last to leave and for providing positive and lasting value to the organization by crew leading at 20 GSI planting events and for always being cheerful, helpful and energetic.
Honorable Mention: Doug Lovelace
Neighborhood Trees Crew Leader of the Year: Mike Ablutz
For his excellent leadership and commitment to our NT program, for helping establish our pruning pilot project and for attending 8 NT planting events.
Honorable Mention: Charles Datulayta
Green Space Initative Crew Leader of the Year: Steven Gray
For his excellent leadership and commitment to our GSI program, for attending 9 GSI plantings, and for always brining his Junior Superstar crew leaders with him.
Honorable Mention: Amanda Cort/Elliot Levin
Neighborhood Trees Rookie of the Year: Alex Bruyevicz
For being the assistant crew leader who attended the most NT plantings during his first season of crew leading. Alex attended 12!
Honorable Mention: Elise Cryder
Green Space Initiative Rookie of the Year: Nate Johnson
For being the assistant crew leader who attended the most GSI plantings during his first season of crew leading. Nate attended 13!
Honorable Mention: Andrea Geiger
The Conan Award: Erik Weimer
An award created in 2012 to recognize those crew leaders who lead crews for the NT and GSI programs and who set themselves apart from this exclusive group with their leadership skills and sustained dedication. Named in honor of Conan Harmon-Walker -- a leader among leaders at Friends of Trees.
Erik attended 24 planting events in the 2012-2013 season: 15 in the GSI Program and 9 in the NT Program. This is a new record!
Neighborhood Group of the Year: Buckman, HAND, Richmond
For continuosly setting the bar for a outstanding group efforts. Buckman, HAND, Richmond plantings are always smooth, well-organized, successful and positive planting events.
Neighborhood Coordinators: Allen Field, Eric Swehla, Patty Freeman, Jeff Burns, Jack Spadaro, Ellen Mendoza, Annette Pearson, Ryan Durocher, Jim Lodwick, Jonathan King, Janet Range
Honorable Mention: Eastmoreland, Sellwood-Westmoreland
Neighborhood Coordinators: Mary Dettmer, Catherine Mushel, Mike Ellis, Tim Batog
Office Volunteer of the Year: Jeff Timmons
For being a leader around the office in number of hours volunteered and for his reliability and dedication on Monday mornings.
Honorable Mention: John Bander
The Garry Oak Award: Russ Dillman
A new award created in 2013 to recognize a volunteer who most embodies the spirit of community, volunteerism, good work and fun that Friends of Trees -- and our mascot Garry Oak -- strive to achieve every day through our work.
Russ has been a stalwart truck driver and tree planter in our Neighborhood Trees program for the past two years, always ready to help when and where needed. He attended 11 plantings this season, all while bringing his cheerful and helpful personality to planting day.
Honorable Mention: Mike Johnson
Previous Award Winners
2011-2012 Award Winners
Volunteer of the Year: Chris Canida
Honorable Mention: Joanie Beldin
NT Crew Leader of the Year: Forest Tanier-Gesner
Honorable Mention: Barbara McLean
GSI Crew Leader of the Year: Sonny Newson
Honorable Mention: Tricia Sears
NT Rookie of the Year: Jeff Kisseloff
Honorable Mention: Keegan Heron
GSI Rookie of the Year: Neva Knott
Honorable Mention: Cristina Watson
Neighborhood Group of the Year: Westside Vancouver
Sue Bluestein (Hough), Susan Sanders (Carter Park), Claire Beagle (Edgewood Park), Cynthia Thornton-Tang, Glenn Dollar (Lincoln), Catherine Cannon (Shumway)
Honorable Mention: Beaumont-Wilshire, Cully, Roseway
Starr Hogeboom (Cully), Theresa DeSousa, Caitlin Shelman, Leigh Ann Oatney (Roseway)
Office Volunteer of the Year: Wendy Gehring
Honorable Mention: David Meade
The Conan Award: Kenny Symonds
Honorable Mention: Annette Pearson
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2010-2011 Award Winners
Volunteer of the Year: Conan Harmon-Walker
Honorable Mention: David Hyde
NT Crew Leader of the Year: Brian Symes
Honorable Mention: Josh Springer
GSI Crew Leader of the Year: Endre Elteto
Honorable Mention: Caela Levy
NT Rookie of the Year: Lou Gottfried
Honorable Mention: Leah Haykin
GSI Rookie of the Year: Sue Wiff
Honorable Mention: Kenny Symonds
Neighborhood Group of the Year: St. Johns, University Park, Cathedral Park, Kenton, Portsmouth
Christina Pucci, Josh Guerra (St. Johns), Cody Newton (Cathedral Park), Matt Krueger (University Park), Lori Krampetz, Alyssa Phelps (Kenton), Susan Landauer (Portsmouth)
Honorable Mention: Centennial, Hazelwood, Mill Park
Greg Perry (Centennial), Vinette Kennedy-Scott (Hazelwood), Teresa Collins (Mill Park)
Office Volunteer of the Year: Chihiro Aldrich
Honorable Mention: Sochetra Ly
2009 - 2010 Award Winners
Volunteer of the Year: Irek Wielgosz
NT Crew Leader of the Year: Chris Canida
GSI Crew Leader of the Year: Dominic Hartman
NT Rookie of the Year: Jonathan King
GSI Rookie of the Year: Caela Levy
Neighborhood Planting of the Year: Kerns (Doug Lovelace), Laurelhurst (Lisa Adajian), Sunnyside (Peter Nierengarten) & North Tabor (Robert Jordan/Joe Recker)
Office Volunteer of the Year: Luke Groser
