More than 120 people were on hand as the Adopt-the-Shoreline organization at Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks held a recognition dinner, March 12, to kick off the 2009 Spring Shoreline Beautification Cleanup.
Program volunteer and Zone Coordinator Donn Nelson served as master of ceremonies for the event, which took place at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach. The cleanup begins March 15 and will continue through April 15.
AmerenUE sponsored the recognition dinner and presented gifts of appreciation to each member organization, as well as to supporting members. Adopt-the-Shoreline Advisory Board members were recognized for their efforts to monitor and improve the program. Recognition gifts also went to the zone coordinators who work with Adopt-the-Shoreline groups within their zones and coordinate trash removal with local sanitation companies.
The Outstanding Volunteer Award went to Dave and Ronnie Hanneken of Rocky Mount for their past dedication to the Adopt-the-Shoreline program. Dave has been a zone coordinator since the inception of the program in 1992 and, with his wife Ronnie, has adopted 14 miles of shoreline from the 2-mile marker to the 6-mile marker of the Gravois Arm of the Lake. Dave and Ronnie along with their volunteers have removed more than 30 tons of trash and debris.
In addition to the Outstanding Volunteer Award a new recognition was added to this year’s program---the Adopt-the-Shoreline Service Award. This award was established to recognize non-adopting members who significantly contribute to the Lake cleanup. Bill Boyd and Ken Welty were recognized for their efforts in supporting Zone 8 and 10 in their annual cleanups.
“Hundreds of volunteers work annually to protect the shoreline of the Lake of the Ozarks, and they all deserve to be recognized,” said Adopt-the-Shoreline Coordinator Jeff Green. “Our annual Adopt-the-Shoreline dinner allows us to honor our volunteers and kick off this year’s cleanup.”
AmerenUE sponsors, provides administrative support and pays for disposal of the trash and debris removed during cleanups, but the actual cleanup work is performed entirely by volunteers.
Beginning in 1992 with nine civic clubs adopting 89 miles of shoreline, Adopt-the-Shoreline has grown to include more than 100 businesses, organizations and individual property owners, with more than 600 miles of shoreline adopted between Bagnell Dam and Truman Dam. The groups expect to provide more than 600 volunteers for this year’s Spring Shoreline Beautification Cleanup, but Green says additional help is always welcome.
Anyone who would like to participate in the cleanup or join Adopt-the-Shoreline should call 573-365-9252.
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CONTACT: Bryan Vance, 573.365.9252, of AmerenUE