Sheri Ewing of Lake Ozark received the Adopt-the-Shoreline Outstanding Volunteer Award as the organization held its annual member recognition dinner, March 3, to kick off the 2011 Spring Shoreline Beautification Cleanup. More than 120 people attended the event, which was sponsored by Ameren Missouri and held at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach, Mo. The cleanup, itself, begins March 19, and will continue through April 17.
Ewing was presented with the award in recognition of her 17-year commitment to the program. She was nominated by Zone 5 Coordinator Rick King for her organizational skills and never missing a spring cleanup. Her group of volunteers from the Ozark Coast Kiwanis Club has removed more than 20 tons of debris from the Grand Glaize Arm of the lake.
“Sheri’s commitment to the cleanup every year is what makes the program so great, and she is most deserving of special recognition for helping to make the lake a better place,” says Adopt-the-Shoreline Coordinator Bryan Vance.
In addition to the Outstanding Volunteer Award, the Adopt-the-Shoreline Service Award was presented to Jerry Hamman of Roach for his efforts in supporting Linda O’Hair’s Zone 9 group—the Clean Mean 40’s Machines. This award goes to members who have not adopted sections of shoreline themselves, but contribute significantly to the annual cleanup.
Further recognition was given to the four civic clubs and zone coordinators that are still with Adopt-the-Shoreline 17 years after its founding. They include the Ozark Coast Kiwanis Club, the Rocky Mount and Gravois Arm Lions Clubs, Ozark Community Elks Lodge #2705, and zone coordinators Bruce Thomson, Bruce Mitchell, Barry Campbell and Johnie Ray.
“We are very fortunate to still have these organizations and coordinators in the program, and we’re proud that their hard work has paid off in a cleaner lake today than when they started,” Vance says.
Special awards were also presented to Dan and Colleen Jarvis and Donn Nelson. The Jarvis’ received the ceremonial “last piece of white Styrofoam from the lake” for their efforts in starting and organizing Adopt-the-Shoreline, and laying the foundation for the success it is today. Nelson was honored for his annual commitment to the cleanup and for serving as master of ceremonies for the recognition dinner.
“Hundreds of volunteers work annually to protect the Lake of the Ozarks shoreline, and they all deserve to be recognized. “Our annual recognition dinner enables us to do that, as well as kick off the annual spring cleanup,” Vance adds.
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.
Beginning in 1994 with nine civic clubs adopting 89 miles of shoreline, Adopt-the-Shoreline has grown to include more than 90 businesses, organizations and individual property owners, with more than 650 miles of shoreline adopted between Bagnell Dam and Truman Dam. Vance says the groups expect to provide more than 700 volunteers for this year’s spring cleanup, but 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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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 57 counties and 500 towns, including the greater St. Louis area. For more information, visit AmerenMissouri.com.