Awards

Austin Chapter 10 and its members have won numerous awards throughout our history as a chapter. The following is a list of our most recent awards and accomplishments.

Tobin Award 2009

Verneice Beckel won the Tobin Award in 2009. Verneice was Chapter 10's secretary from 2003 to 2008 and managed her responsibilities with grace and clarity. She is a constant volunteer for all of Chapter 10's fundraising events.

Thank You Verniece!

2009 Outstanding Service Organization of Mower County

Austin Chapter 10 was presented the 2009 Outstanding Service Organization of Mower County award at the “Pride of Mower” show at the Mower County Fair.

View press release for award.

Save-Our-Streams Award 2008

Chapter 10 president, Larry Dolphin, accepted the prestigious Save-Our-Streams Award from the National Organization of the Izaak Walton League of America. This award was given in recognition of Chapter 10 members' outstanding contributions to environmental education and citizen activism for clean water.

View Austin Daily Herald article on award.

Tobin Awards are given to the most dedicated member of an Izaak Walton League Chapter each year. The following is a list of past Austin Chapter 10 Tobin Award winners:

Tobin Award 2008

The 2008 Tobin Award was given to Gary and Diane Knudson.

Gary and Diane Knudson have worked side by side with great devotion, organization, and enthusiasm in fundraising for our chapter. Through their leadership and volunteer efforts, Austin Chapter 10 has raised over $25,000 since 1997 and invested those dollars in conservation.

Thank you Gary and Diane!

Tobin Award 2007

The 2007 Tobin Award was given to Dave Cole.

Dave worked on producing the chapter's website and led the effort to update Austin Chapter 10's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.

Thanks Dave!

Tobin Award 2006

Leon Johnson was awarded the Tobin Award in 2006.

Leon has been a member of the Austin Chapter for 50+ years. During that time he has participated in most of the clubs activities: fish stocking of local rivers, East Side Lake and the Skinner’s Hill pond; assisting young people in learning to fish; water quality of local waters; river and roadside cleanup; tree planting in rural areas for wildlife; school education plantings; fundraising; and has been club president and held other offices. He also coordinated the fish display and the water quality exhibits at the Mower County Fair for over 15 years. When the Ike’s Cabin burned in 1957 he assisted in both fundraising and building the new cabin.

Thanks Leon!

Minnesota Division Stewardship Award

The Minnesota Division Stewardship Award is given to Izaak Walton League members in Minnesota who have accomplished notable conservation work in Minnesota.

Austin Chapter 10 has two members, John Beckel (2005) and Larry Dolphin (2006) that have received this award for their exhaustive efforts in expanding the Hormel Nature Center in Austin, MN.

Terry Dorsey (right) presents Larry Dolphin (middle) with the 2006 MN Division Stewardship Award.

John Beckel receives the 2005 MN Division Stewardship Award.

Sigurd Olson Award

The Sigurd Olson Award is one of the oldest Minnesota Division Awards. It is given to a person "who has made an outstanding contribution to the preservation of our natural resources statewide."

Bev Nordby won the Sigurd Olson Award in 2005 for her dedicated efforts to bring the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program II (CREP II) to southeastern Minnesota. Bev has been the Mower County SWCD District Manager since 1987 and has worked diligently in bringing CREP to SE MN since 1999.

On April 22, 2005, Governor Pawlenty signed the CREP II agreement providing up to $250 million dollars to set aside 120,000 acres and protect water quality.