On March 15, Ike Edwards received the Adopt-the-Shoreline’s Outstanding Volunteer Award at the annual member recognition dinner. The event serves as the official kickoff for the 2012 Spring Shoreline Cleanup. More than 120 people attended the dinner, which was sponsored by Ameren Missouri and held at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach, Mo.
This year’s cleanup is March 17 through April 15.
Edwards was nominated by Johnie Ray, the zone 2 coordinator, and Rick King, the zone 5 coordinator. He received the award for his commitment to the program and 21 years of dedicated service. Ray remembers when Edwards brought students to the first cleanup event in 1991; they removed more than 100 discarded steel barrels from a single cove and filled several barges with trash and debris.
“Ike and his student volunteers give 100 percent effort,” King said. “In the past a huge dumpster and barge was needed to accomplish a cleanup today only a few trash bags are needed. Ike’s long-term commitment is what has made this possible. He and the Ecology Club are most deserving of this special recognition."
In addition to the Outstanding Volunteer Award, the Adopt-the-Shoreline Service Award was presented to volunteers who haven’t adopted sections of shoreline, but instead participate annually with an adopting group. In zone 4, Rick Dias was recognized for keeping the cleanup boats running. In zone 6, Joe Ballin was recognized for supporting Creel Resort’s cleanup. In zone 10, Bob Caby was recognized for participating with the Fowlers Point Homeowners; G and G Marina was also recognized by the Big Island Homeowners for providing a pontoon work boat each spring.
“Hundreds of volunteers work annually to protect the Lake of the Ozarks shoreline, and they all deserve to be recognized,” said Bryan Vance, coordinator of Adopt-the-Shoreline. “Our annual recognition dinner enables us to do that, as well as kickoff the annual spring cleanup by showing appreciation to volunteers.”
Ameren Missouri sponsors Adopt-the-Shoreline, provides administrative support, and pays for the disposal of the trash and debris removed during cleanups, but the actual cleanup work is done entirely by volunteers.
Adopt-the-Shoreline began in 1994 with nine civic clubs adopting 89 miles of shoreline. Today, it includes more than 90 businesses, organizations and individual property owners, who have adopted more than 650 miles of shoreline between Bagnell Dam and Truman Dam.
Vance expects more than 800 volunteers, representing 60 Adopt-the-Shoreline member groups, to participate in this year’s event. He said additional participation and help are always welcomed.
If you would to participate in the cleanup or join Adopt-the-Shoreline, call the Adopt-the-Shoreline office at 573.365.9252.
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Ameren Missouri has been providing electric and gas service for more than a century, and our electric rates are among the lowest in the nation. We serve 1.2 million electric and 126,000 natural gas customers in central and eastern Missouri. Our mission is to meet their energy needs in a safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally responsible manner. Our service area covers 63 counties and 500 towns, including the greater St. Louis area. For more information, visit AmerenMissouri.com.
CONTACT: Missouri Communications, 314.554.2182, missouricommunications@ameren.com