County Executive's Outstanding Environmental Volunteer Award
In 1998 Rockland County established the County Executive Outstanding Environmental Volunteer Award to recognize individuals for their contributions & achievements in preserving the County’s natural resources.
The County Executive's Outstanding Environmental Volunteer Award recognizes environmental volunteers who care for our parks, champion our watershed programs, encourage waste reduction, and enhance the beauty of Rockland's natural environment.
To be eligible to receive the award an individual must be at least 18 years of age and a Rockland County resident. Individuals who have been nominated in the past, but not chosen, are eligible to be re-nominated.
2020 Outstanding Environmental Volunteer Award Winner
The Rockland County Division of Environmental Resources, County Executive's Office and Award Review Committee are pleased to announce Tim Sanders as the 23rd County Executive's Environmental Volunteer Award recipient.
Mr. Sanders has dedicated his time to working with youth and encouraging outdoor experiences for all. By trade Tim is a Project Coordinator for the Division of Family and Youth Services at the Haverstraw Center. His volunteer work includes the NYS DEC sponsored American eel Citizen Science Project at Minisceongo Creek, coordinating community cleanups, connecting with environmental art non profits, and more.
"...he leads by example. If you have seen him, dressed in waders - in the middle of the Minisceongo Creek then you know what I'm talking about. The is a powerful example for youth in Haverstraw and North Rockland. Establishing this connection between local kids and the natural environment instills a type of community pride that is long lasting and has will affect the rest of their lives," said County Executive Day.
During his acceptance speech Tim Sanders said, "it is through these different adventures and exposures that I have been blessed to work with these wonderful kids. I feel that I'm not too old to learn, and they're not too young to teach and I try to keep that spirit with me every day. This is not just for me; I plan to bring these kids back here to see our tree."
Legislator Harriet Cornell, Chairwoman of the Environmental Committee of the Rockland County Legislature spoke during the ceremony, "to really understand why Tim Sanders has been selected as this year's Outstanding Environmental Volunteer, treat yourself to the sight of young children in waders counting and releasing young eels in the Hudson. Their happy faces reveal what their time with Tim means to them. He has involved children from the Haverstraw Center in this DEC project for many years, as well as getting them involved in park clean-ups and Rockland's Planning Land Use program. Not only are these children learning about environmental protection, they are becoming stewards of their community and their world, thanks to Tim."
"Tim consistently goes above and beyond his duties as the Project Coordinator for the Division of Youth and Family Services at the Haverstraw Center. He is an innovator – always willing to find a new way to get young people involved and instill in them pride in their community," concluded County Executive Day.
Photos of the ceremony are available upon request. Video of the ceremony is available on the Rockland County Government Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rocklandgov and has been posted for viewing to the Rockland County Government YouTube page: https://bit.ly/3bmUSAw
Examples of activities performed by previous winners:
- Creating place-based art and science programming
- Keeping roadways and parks free of litter and trash
- Creating and expanding parks and preserves
- Protecting environmentally sensitive wetlands and woods
- Researching and advocating for water quality
- Bridging diverse points of view on environmental issues
- Promoting sustainability
- Advancing reduction, reuse, and recycling
- Founding and leading environmental action committees and coalitions
- Reducing school bus idling to protect young lungs
- Developing an integrated pest management program
- Serving on the County’s Environmental Management Council
Previous Winners
| 1998 Diane Gruskin |
2007 Jean and Robert Nelson |
2016 Martus Granire |
| 1999 Geoffrey Welch |
2008 Catherine Dodge |
2017 John LaPlaca |
| 2000 George Zoebelein |
2009 Alberto Baruffi |
2018 Laurie Seeman |
| 2001 Colleen and Harold Leidy |
2010 Patsy Wooters |
2019 Margie Turrin |
| 2002 Zipporah Fleisher |
2011 Bill Baker |
2020 |
| 2003 Betty Hedges |
2012 George Potanovic, Jr. |
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| 2004 Charles Schwep |
2013 Peggy Kurtz |
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| 2005 Dr. Constantine Gletsos |
2014 Deborah Munitz |
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| 2006 S.Hazard Gillespie |
2015 Grace Meyer |