Alligator River/Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge P. O. Box 1969 Manteo, North Carolina 27954 Contact: Bonnie Strawser - 252-473-1131 Back to News Home Page

News Release

Recently, at the Refuge Volunteer Awards Banquet, 2006 volunteers for Alligator River and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuges were presented awards for cumulative volunteer service. Refuge Manager Mike Bryant presented the awards. During the ceremony, he thanked the group for the dedication to national wildlife refuges and to the resources they were created to protect, stating, "On local refuges, almost 25% of the work force is volunteers, Without your dedication and hard work, I?d hate to think where we would be?"

Volunteers who had reached a career total of 100 hours received certificates. Some volunteers reached and passed several award levels during 2006 and, therefore, received multiple awards. Receiving certificates were:

Ken Wynne, Bill Slayton, Claudia Fifer, Colleen Anderson, John Coates, Len Howell, Marcus Lashley, Marsha Coates, Mike Johnson, Patrick Duggan, Julie Truhlar, Rich Burke, Sandy Semans, Win Jacques, Diane McFarlane, Tom McFarlane, Colin Benell, Ryan Nordsven, Brian Kidd, Brenna Walker,Gavin Holt, Lehnanne Kidd, Brad Cramer,
Jan Larson, Jim Smith, Rocky Larson,Paul Stumbo, Dottie Stumbo, Debbie Mauney, Scott Lloyd-Jones, Virginia Lloyd-Jones and Mike Scajuk.


Volunteers who had reached a 250 hour career total received Volunteer pins:
Ken Wynne, Brian Kidd, Gavin Holt, Jan Larson, Jim Smith, Julie Truhlar, Rocky Larson, Ron Scovell, Colin Benell, Brenna Walker, Jane Gilbert, Jim Gilbert, and Brad Cramer.


Volunteers who reached a career total of 500 hours received a Volunteer pin with 500-hour rocker:

Brad Cramer, Debbie Mauney, Dottie Stumbo, Jane Gilbert, Jim Gilbert, John Gilson, Laura Gilson, Paul Stumbo, Ryan Nordsven, Scott Lloyd-Jones, Virginia Lloyd-Jones, and Brenna Walker.

Two volunteers reached 1,000-hour career totals: Larry Hardman and Neal Moore. One volunteer reached the 1,500-hour level: Chad Beemiller.

An engraved plaque was presented to Virginia Lloyd-Jones for having the highest Gross Sales for Pea Island Visitor Center during 2006.

Each year, one or two names are added to the "Outstanding Refuge Volunteers Plaque". Bryant explained, "This is a one-in-a-lifetime award. Once they're on this list, they're a life-time member of a very elite group!" The 2006 Volunteer of the Year awards were presented to Angie Brady-Daniels and Sue Carroll- both employees of the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce. Bryant commended both the two ladies and the organization they represent, "Our partnership with the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce has provided immeasureable benefit for these local refuges. But, the Angie and Sue's personal dedication to refuges rises above the call-of-duty. They've become outstanding ambassadors for the Fish and Wildlife Service in eastern North Carolina."

Bryant also reminded the group and reminds the public that refuges continue to need help. "With the current refuge budget situations, times are looking tough?and we need all the help we can get." The refuge's non-profit group, Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society, is having its annual membership meeting on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 7:30 P.M. at the Dare County Library 400 Mustian Street in Kill Devil Hills, N.C. Refuge Manager, Mike Bryant, will be speaking about the current National Wildlife Refuge System predicament and offering suggestions about how concerned citizens can help. Tom White, Jr., president for the Society, invites everyone to attend. "It's time to rally support for our local refuges!"

For more information about the annual meeting or volunteering on a local national wildlife reuge, contact Abbey Reibel at 252-987-1118 or abbey_reibel@fws.gov