Lake Ozark resident Mike Page received this year's Adopt-the-Shoreline Outstanding Volunteer Award at the group's annual member recognition dinner, which serves as the official kickoff for its Spring Shoreline Cleanup. More than 130 people attended the March 10 dinner at the Tan-Tar-A Resort.
Each year, the award is given prior to the start of the spring cleanup. This is the 24th consecutive year of the cleanup, which runs from March 14 through April 13. Since its inception, approximately 5.5 million pounds of trash and debris have been removed from along the Lake of the Ozarks shoreline.
Adopt-the-Shoreline is sponsored by Ameren Missouri, which provides administrative support, supplies trash bags and pays for disposal of debris and trash. The program is part of Ameren Missouri's continuing commitment to serving as a responsible steward of the Lake and its surrounding environment. Cleanups are performed entirely by volunteers, who clean within 12 geographic zones along the Lake.
Alan Sullivan, who coordinates Zone 1, said Page was an obvious choice to receive the 2015 outstanding volunteer award.
“Mike has been an adopting member in Zone 1 since 1999,” Sullivan said. “His adopted area starts at Bagnell Dam and moves up the main channel for one mile. This lower Lake setting tends to collect a lot of debris that washes down from the upstream areas. This has resulted in Mike and his volunteers removing an almost unbelievable 42 tons of trash and debris during their 16 cleanups."
"We can’t thank Mike enough for his support of our great volunteer effort and commitment to making the Lake a better place,” Sullivan added.
In addition, volunteers who participate annually with an adopting group received Adopt-the-Shoreline Service Awards. Louie Sandbothe and Jack Hurst, both of Rocky Mount, Mo., were recognized for their support of the Rocky Mount Lions Club and Jolly Roger Grub & Grog cleanups in Zone 2.
“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 kick off the annual Spring Shoreline Cleanup by showing appreciation to our 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 700 miles of shoreline between Bagnell Dam and Truman Dam.
Vance expects more than 600 volunteers, representing the majority of the Adopt-the-Shoreline member groups, to participate in this year’s event. To participate in the cleanup or join Adopt-the-Shoreline, call the Adopt-the-Shoreline office at 1.573.365.9252.
###
Ameren Missouri has been providing electric and gas service for more than 100 years, and the company's electric rates are among the lowest in the nation. Ameren Missouri's mission is to power the quality of life for its 1.2 million electric and 127,000 natural gas customers in central and eastern Missouri. The company's service area covers 64 counties and more than 500 communities including the greater St. Louis area. For more information please visit AmerenMissouri.com or follow Ameren Missouri on Facebook or Twitter.