Did We Mention How Great Our Volunteers Are?
Last Friday Evergreen threw its 2015 Volunteer Appreciation Party for approximately 150 volunteers, and we couldn’t have been happier. Sure, we had a few tech problems, but fittingly, several volunteers jumped up to give us a hand!
As staff, one of our favorite parts of the job is working with—and recognizing—all our hardworking community members. We truly wouldn’t be able to build, educate, or maintain without you!
With pizza (we made sure to get enough this year!), beer from Two Beers Brewing Co., cider from Seattle Cider Company, and mountain bike movies from Freehub and Brandon Semenuk, volunteers, staff, and board members spent the evening catching up, talking trails, and making plans for the coming year.
The night allowed Evergreen board and staff to thank the volunteers who are the engine behind Evergreen.
“I’ve been here less than a month and I’m already amazed” said Executive Director Yvonne Kraus “with this level of dedication we’re able to expand our projects at a truly unprecedented rate. It’s all of our work together that lets us be such a force for mountain biking in Washington.”
Mike Westra (Trails Director) and Mike Sidwell (Education and Volunteer Manager) recognized several volunteers who went “consistently above and beyond the call of duty”:
Awards & Recognitions
Education Program Instructors:
Alison Angione
Thomas Hargrave
Tracy Clapp
Penny Schwinn (from Evergreen East)
For always being the first to help out when there was a gap to fill.
Trail
Len Francis
Matt Rose
Jay Gore
For their awesome chainsaw skills, steadfast work ethic, and commitment so strong that the own most of their own equipment (including Matt with his excavator!)
Behind the Scenes
Pavel Dolezel
For tirelessly building, testing, and honing the Evergreen website, and regularly pulling Communication Manager Bryan Rivard out of the fire.
Ryan Kilm
For countless hours and stellar GIS work to help improve the map data on our statewide site.
The evening wrapped up with a huge raffle (and mediocre prize-throwing) with great prizes from REI, Platypus, Hydration, Gregg’s Cycle, and Trek Store of South Center!
Thank you to all the volunteers who were able to join us—and to those who were not able to make it this time.
Special event thanks to REI for providing the venue, Platypus and REI for the fantastic raffle items, Two Beers Brewing and Seattle Cider Cof or the wonderful beverages, and Freehub Magazine, the Trek Bicycle, and Gregg's Cycle for the all the generous volunteer recognition gifts!