Annual Meeting 2005

PLAQUE PRESENTED TO LUIS CALVO

Past President Keith Siebers presents Outgoing President Luis Calvo with a plaque that contains the following message:

 The Membership and the Board of Directors

Thank You for Your Unique and Special

Contributions Made to Madera Canyon.

Posterity May Never Know Your Name, However

They Will Benefit from Your Concerns, Care and

Love for This Riparian Area in a Sky Island.

Friends of Madera Canyon

October 29, 2005

 

Luis was elected Vice-President in October 2004 and took over the presidency upon the passing of President Bud Gode. The Board and members of FOMC greatly appreciate the time and effort that Luis gave as president during a difficult stage in our organizations life. His bountiful ideas and enthusiasm for the Canyon and Friends we know will continue long into the future.

Keith Siebers and Luis Calvo

PLAQUE PRESENTED TO TIM HULL

Outgoing President Luis Calvo presents a plaque thanking Tim Hull, reporter and section editor of the Green Valley News and Sun for his work to publicize the activities of the Friends of Madera Canyon. Tim is on the scene every time we have a special event or activity and usually brings along a photographer to document the action. He and the newspaper have done a lot for us over the past year and we are pleased to recognize his efforts on our behalf.

Luis Calvo and Tim Hull

PHIL ENGLISH ELECTED TO EMERITUS STATUS ON FOMC BOARD (By Luis Calvo)

Long time FOMC member Phil English was elected as an Emeritus Board Member in October. Over the past decade Phil has chaired a number of committees and served as an elected officer of the Board. The Board recognized Phil's past contributions to FOMC and concluded that his experience could benefit future projects. Our By-Laws preclude Emeritus Board Members from voting, but not from contributing their valuable insight to the discussion.

Phil English was introduced to FOMC through a neighbor, Howard "Howie" Zirkel. It seems that Howie recruited Phil to take his place at the Welcome Station while he was away on vacation. The rest is history. Phil has volunteered to work on just about every project during his tenure as an FOMC member. He has served as Board Secretary, helped to restore the Kent Spring Center, and shuttled members to events. As the Chairman of the Video Committee, Phil spearheaded FOMC’s efforts to create educational videos about Madera Canyon. His first video project was "A CANYON AMONG FRIENDS" and his second, "THE FIVE SEASONS OF MADERA CANYON" won the prestigious Telly Award. He also produced the third video "THE EXPERTS LOOK AT MADERA CANYON." These educational videos have been distributed to local schools, service organizations, our members, and visitors to Madera Canyon. As an accomplished artist, you can see some of Phil's work when you view the "timeline" and compass rose at the Proctor Parking Lot. He also helped to eliminate public art (graffitee) from the Canyon. As you can see, Phil loves the Canyon.

Over the years, Phil has made many new "friends" through his volunteer efforts at FOMC. He observed that: "In almost every FOMC activity, I was joined by other volunteers, and that is one of the treasures that being an active FOMC member brings." Madera Canyon truly is a canyon among friends.

Phil English joins Lew Denny, Ken Hawley, and Mackie Munsie as an Emeritus Board Member.

 

Luis Calvo and Phil English

ALLEN J. TOZIER RECOGNIZED AS VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR (by Luis Calvo)

FOMC's Board named Allen Tozier as the first recipient of the newly established Bud Gode Volunteer of the Year award. Bud's wife, Mary, was at the Annual Meeting on October 29, 2005 and presented the award to Al, as his wife and fellow FOMC docent, Bonnie looked on.

 

The Bud Gode Volunteer of the Year award was established this year by vote of the Board. The Board recognized that FOMC is an organization of volunteers committed to the conservation of Madera Canyon through education. Bud Gode's passing this year caused the Board to reflect on the important role that one volunteer can make to FOMC. This annual Award serves to honor Bud Gode's spirit of volunteerism while recognizing FOMC volunteer excellence.

 

The inaugural Bud Gode Volunteer of the Year award was bestowed on Allen J. Tozier in recognition of his commitment to FOMC programs. Al and Bonnie joined the Friends shortly after they moved to Green Valley and began volunteering at the Welcome Station on weekends. As their interest in the Canyon grew they joined the Docent Program. Soon they were trained and leading school children on FOMC sponsored nature walks through Madera Canyon. In fact, Al and Bonnie led a school group at all seven docent walks scheduled in 2004.

 

In early 2003, FOMC's Board initiated a Bat House Research Program in Madera Canyon. A committee was formed and Al was asked to help get the Program up and running. Al volunteered to design the bat houses for FOMC. Working with Bat Conservation International he was able to modify their bat house designs to fit FOMC's needs. Building the bat houses was no easy task. Working in his woodshop, Al built 16 bat houses with help from other dedicated FOMC volunteers. These state-of-the-art bat houses feature interior temperature data loggers and superior construction that will provide valuable data for decades to come. Locations for the bat houses were selected and Al volunteered to spearhead FOMC’s efforts to install the houses. Erecting 16 bat houses at six different sites required numerous volunteer hours and Al was there for each installation. After everything was said and done, Al volunteered to maintain the data loggers and records, collect the stored data, and send the results to Bat Conservation International.

 

Like Bud Gode, a volunteer named Al Tozier believed that he could make a difference in Madera Canyon. More importantly, he too is willing to prove it. FOMC congratulates Al Tozier and thanks him for his past and future commitment to the Canyon.

Mary Gode and Al Tozier

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