Press release from the National Audubon Society:
Audubon North Carolina (ANC) announced its 2013 award winners during the annual meeting held in early June. Recipients were honored as outstanding stewards of bird conservation throughout the state, and for furthering the mission of Audubon.
· BIRD LORE CONSERVATION EDUCATION AWARD – John Connors (Raleigh, NC). This award pays tribute to an individual’s exceptional efforts to educate the public about birds, their habitats, and inspiring conservation of the special landscapes we share with all wildlife. John boasts a lifetime of dedication to bird-education advocacy and programming. He has educated tens of thousands of individuals through his work as the Coordinator of the Naturalist Center for the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, from which he recently retired, as well as his continued participation with ANC and Wake Audubon Society’s conservation efforts and special programs. jconnorsbird@gmail.com
· T. GILBERT PEARSON AWARD – Bon Parker (Asheville, NC). This award pays tribute to an individual’s deep commitment to and sustaining leadership support of Audubon’s historic conservation mission in North Carolina. Bon has brought her extensive background in nonprofit management to ANC through her many leadership roles. She serves on the Board of Trustees, Development Committee, Campaign Planning Committee and is active in the Elijah Mitchell Audubon Society chapter. bonasheville@gmail.com
· HONORARY WARDEN – Mark Johns (Cary, NC). This award appoints an Honorary Warden for exemplary service in protection of our state’s most important habitats and sanctuaries. Former Partners in Flight coordinator and current program specialist at the Stevens Nature Center at Hemlock Bluffs, Mark was chosen due to his extensive career moving bird conservation forward in North Carolina. His work has included habitat management, environmental education and helping to establish the NC Birding Trail, coordinating on-the-ground partnerships and agreements with private industrial forest owners. mark.johns@townofcary.org
· VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR – Kim Brand (Winston-Salem, NC). Kim was chosen for her energy and passion driving successful programs for her Audubon chapter. She has helped to establish the Lights Out program in Winston-Salem, organized and implemented the Bird Friendly Communities program, and serves on the ANC board of trustees. kimbbrand@gmail.com“Audubon North Carolina is pleased to honor the 2013 award recipients as champions of conservation, education and advocacy for birds throughout the state,” said Heather Starck, Audubon North Carolina Executive Director. “Conservation is a long game, where wins are measured by years of time. These individuals have dedicated countless personal and professional hours to the preservation of North Carolina’s beautiful natural resources through the protection of birds and their habitats.”
All winners were honored at the Audubon North Carolina Annual Meeting from May 31 through June 2, 2013 in Raleigh, NC.
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