Kalkaska Conservation District volunteers honored at State Conference
Two Kalkaska Conservation District volunteers were honored for their outstanding service at the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) Fall Convention held at Shanty Creek Resort on December 5, 6, and 7th.
Mark Gilson with this ‘Friend of Conservation’ award proceeding the Awards Banquet.
Mark Gilson received the MACD outstanding volunteer award for his readiness to take on any task to promote conservation. He especially likes planting and tending to trees, from assisting with the annual seedling sale to planting hundreds of seedlings for reforestation, and watering the scores of shade trees planted along the KART pathway and village streets. Mark is also active in the Friends of Conservation group that supports district activities, and he encourages others to join him. He was also very instrumental in the very recent successful filing of the Friends 501c3 status!
Left to right at the awards luncheon: Jerry Miller MACD State Council President, Mark Randolph Kalkaska CD Manager, Carol Hart Outstanding Director of the year, and Gary Boersen State Council Region 7 Representative.
Carol Hart earned the MACD outstanding board member award for her work as the Kalkaska Conservation District’s secretary/treasurer role. Carol has also served on the MACD State Council for a number of years representing Region 3 which encompasses Northwest Michigan. Carol takes extra time between board meetings to review all financial transactions in her role as treasurer. Her natural attention to detail gives the board confidence in the integrity and accuracy of the district’s financial reports.
“It is an honor to have two of our volunteers recognized at the state level,” said Mark Randolph, Kalkaska Conservation District’s manager. “It takes good people to run good programs, and great people to run great programs. Mark and Carol have demonstrated Kalkaska has the kind of engaged community people to do great things.”