NRCM Announces Its Fourth Annual People's Choice Award Nominees
We are pleased to announce this year's five finalists* for our People's Choice Award! We had nominations for this year's award from all across the state. A special thanks to all of you who sent in nominations; we are so pleased to learn of so many people doing terrific work to help keep Maine a special place. The descriptions of each finalist are taken from their written nominations.
Voting has closed for this year's People's Choice Award. Please join us at our annual meeting on October 7th, with keynote address by Dan Reicher of Google, to find out who this year's winner is. Thanks to all who voted, and to all of our finalists who are doing such great work for Maine's environment.
This year's finalists (in alphabetical order) are:
Evelyn Dunphy, Bath - An artist with a deep love for Katahdin, Evelyn has made this mountain a major focus of her work for the past several years. There's a story behind every painting; most important to her are the works that she continues to create as part of her passion for preserving wilderness areas of Maine. Her very first watercolor sketches were done at Moosehead Lake, and she is now interested in the effort to preserve this spectacular lake. Determined to do her part, Evelyn, along with 15 other artists, have raised thousands of dollars for the Katahdin Lake conservation effort by auctioning off new paintings of the lake and mountain vista, considered an icon of American landscape painting. Evelyn has been chosen to be the first "Visiting Artist" in Baxter State Park.
Cay Kendrick, Yarmouth- Cay was the primary mover behind preserving land at the end of the Bayview peninsula in Yarmouth on the Royal River Estuary (the former Spear farm, which includes woodlands, marsh, freshwater pond). The effort grew into a public-private partnership in which the town, environmental groups, grants, and individual citizens were all mobilized. This is a very special place for the Town of Yarmouth and the Royal River watershed, which will now be able to be enjoyed by the people of Yarmouth and all who visit the area. Cay is proof that one person can make a difference!
Chloe Maxmin and the Lincoln Academy Climate Action Club, Nobleboro - Chloe Maxmin's life mission is to make global warming the defining issue of her generation. When she entered high school, there was no environmental club, so she founded the Climate Action Club. The club’s mission is to raise awareness about environmental issues and to provide an opportunity for everyone to be involved in the fight against global warming. At school, they eliminated vehicle idling, started battery and printer cartridge recycling programs, raised energy-efficiency awareness, and conducted an energy audit. Most recently, they raised $4,300 to purchase 1,900 reusable bags for the community, saving an estimated 671,000 plastic bags from local landfills.
Kevin Quist, Stockholm - Kevin has spent countless hours volunteering his time to ensure that future generations will enjoy the kind of Maine we all know and love. For 10 years, he has been teaching Maine Outdoor Programs and recreational safety programs made available through the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. His volunteer work includes hundreds of hours teaching outdoor ethics and personal responsibility for the land and water. Outdoor ethics, to Kevin, is "what you do when no one is watching." These lessons that he teaches boaters and hunters is helping to ensure that future generations will safely enjoy the Maine outdoors while keeping these recreational traditions of our ancestors alive for years to come.
Sam Saltonstall, Peaks Island - Though a recent newcomer to Peaks Island, Sam has already helped lead the effort, working with Unity College, to test whether the wind resource on the island is sufficient to justify tackling a wind power project on the island. With assistance from a small group of others, Sam has kept people informed through emailed updates and public outreach events, worked with the City of Portland as it amended its zoning ordinance to make wind testing possible, and shepherded the project well into the application process. Sam is a member of the Peaks Environmental Action Team and Board Chair at Maine Interfaith Power and Light. He brings a thoughtful approach, communication skills, and strong dedication to this project.
*The nominations do not represent endorsement by NRCM of any particular environmental position, stategy, or viewpoint.