CREEKKEEPER nominated for Outstanding Environmental Journalist

CREEKKEEPER nominated for Outstanding Environmental Journalist
Thank goodness for SouthWings who flew me over the BP Slick disaster many times. They are the real award winners!

Shooting the Gulf disaster, photo by Pam Batson

Dear John,

I am thrilled to notify and congratulate you for being nominated for a 2011 Roosevelt-Ashe Society Conservation Award.  We received nominations from all over the Southeast (AL, NC, SC, TN, KY, VA) and the Awards Selection Committee took on the difficult task of narrowing the fields. You were nominated by Nelson Brooke for your outstanding work to shed a continuous light on the BP oil spill damage to the Alabama Gulf Coast, and in his words, "A man that gives so much so that the less fortunate and less aware can have a voice and be heard deserves to be recognized as an Outstanding Environmental Journalist!".
Our Awards Selection Committee agrees, John.

You have been selected as a Finalist Nominee by this year's Award Selection Committee for
Outstanding Journalist in Conservation !

Wild South’s Roosevelt-Ashe Society is a select group of individuals and businesses committed to sustaining the protection of the South’s wild places by contributing significant resources to support Wild South programs. For three years now the Society has honored people and businesses whose contributions to outstanding environmental stewardship distinguish them as role models for the community.  This year the Society will present seven awards at our annual Green Tie Gala on March 25. These awards are:

Outstanding Youth:  Individual who stands out as the future of conservation
Outstanding Educator:  Individual who inspires the next generation of conservationists
Outstanding Volunteer-Advocate:  Individual who contributes time, energy, and passion to supporting environmental conservation.
Outstanding Business:  Business that operates under a commitment to environmental stewardship.
Outstanding Philanthropist: Individual who makes financial investments in positively impacting the environment.
Outstanding Environmental Journalist: Individual who has made significant contributions to raising awareness of environmental issues affecting the South through his/her writing.
Outstanding Conservationist: This individual deserves recognition for their leadership and outstanding contribution to environmental conservation.

What's next:

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release – February 24, 2011

Contacts:
Benjamin Colvin: 828-258-2667 ben.colvin@wildsouth.org
Tracy Davids: 828-258-2667 tracy@wildsouth.org

Local Group Announces 2011 Conservation Awards Nominees

ASHEVILLE, NC – Regional conservation nonprofit Wild South announced today the Nominee Finalists for the 2011 Roosevelt-Ashe Society Conservation Awards. The awards honor outstanding conservation work in the South and recognize heroes for their work to protect the Southeast’s wild places.
“These awards exist for people who believe they can move a mountain,” said Randy Talley, co- owner of The Green Sage Coffeehouse and Cafe. “The award winners are champions for all of
us to believe we can change this world, we can change our destructive behaviors, we can make a difference.”

Outstanding Business in Conservation
Earth Fare (Roger Derroughs, Founder)
Higher Ground Roasters (Alex Varner, co-owner) Higher Ground Solutions (Ben Saylor, co-owner)

Outstanding Volunteer-Advocate in Conservation
Virginia Dollar (Community Foundation of Western North Carolina- NC) Hap Endler (SouthWings, Inc. - NC)
Jay Leutze (Southern Highlands Land Conservancy-NC)

Outstanding Philanthropist in Conservation
Philip Blumenthal (Blumenthal Foundation)

Outstanding Journalist in Conservation
Susan Andrew (Mountain Xpress – NC)
Pat Byington (Bama Environmental News- AL) Bill Finch (The Nature Conservancy – AL)
Don Hendershot (Smoky Mountain News – NC)
Silas House &Jason Howard (“Something’s Rising: Apalachains Fighting Mtn Top Removal” – KY) John Wathen (Friends of Hurricane Creek – AL)

Outstanding Educator in Conservation
Pete Bates (Western Carolina University- NC)
  Mark Case (Southern Guilford High Sch.-NC)
Greta Ceisla (Vance Elementary School – NC)
Terry Deal (Evergreen Community Charter School –NC)
Hilary Hargrove (Riverdale High School, TN Env. Educ. Assoc. –TN)

Outstanding Youth in Conservation
Nico Boekschoten (Evergreen Community Charter School – NC) Micah Case (Randleman Middle School – NC)
Cole Rasenberger (Davidson Elementary School –NC)

Outstanding Conservationist
Hume Davenport (SouthWings, Inc. - NC)
Jim Felder (Alabama Scenic River Trail - AL) Mike LaVoie (Wildlife Biologist, Cherokee, NC) Courtney Wait (National Council for The New River-NC)
David Whiteside (TN Riverkeeper)
Brad Wyche (Upstate Forever –SC)


"Conservation groups know that we cannot realize our vision with staff and volunteers alone,” said Tracy Davids, Wild South Executive Director. "Success requires the support of each citizen who believes in the power of a Southeast with healthy, intact ecosystems.”


2011 Green Tie Gala Event and Reception sponsors include HandMade in America, Pisgah Brewing Co., Blackbird Frame & Art, Beth Young (Cahaba River Publishing), French Broad Brewing Co., Green Sage Coffeehouse and Cafe (with Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Luella’s Bar-B-Que and Blue Water Seafood), Greenlife Grocery, Empire Distributors, Inc, Firestorm Café and Books, Homegrown Restaurant, French Broad Chocolate Lounge, and other friends of forests.


Wild South is a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire people to enjoy, value and protect the wild character and natural legacy of the South.