Celebrating Our Volunteer’s Hard Work

-->On June 22^nd, Salmon Protection and Watershed Network held a party in appreciation of our hard working volunteers, supporters, and friends. With great music and delicious food, the event came into full swing. Food donations were made by Lagunitas Brewing Company, Frey Wineyards, Sweet Things, Safeway, Palace Market, Flour Chylde, Lagunitas Groceries & Deli, Bovine Bakery and a special thanks to Brooks Painter from Coho Wine for attending our event and donating your fantastic Coho Red!

There were a variety of activities available to guests and staff, like new nursery tours, flood plain talks, and a slide show presentation that showcased SPAWN’s hard work, projects, staff, and volunteers. Saxophonist Brian Campbell and guitarist Alex Markels gave a great performance at the event. Executive Director Todd Steiner, Watershed Scientists Melinda Barnes and Aaron Fairbrook thanked key volunteers and supporters.

Six longtime supporters who were in attendence received personalized and heartfelt awards:

Laura Chariton – Watershed Wizardess Award for all her work and recent outreach and advocacy;

Mitch Todd and Julie Vogt – King and Queen of Herbarium Award in thanks for their years of help and for permitting SPAWN to use their property for our nursery;

Nancy Hanson – Native Plant Queen Award for championing native plants and removing invasives where ever they are found!

Melvyn Wright –Green Thumb Award for his outstanding work to nurture SPAWN’s 5,000 native plants grown each year and manage our nursery operations.  

SPAWN's Aaron Fairbrook, Melinda Barnes, 

and Todd Steiner present Mel Wright with his award

Mel is shown receiving his award in the adjacent photo. Mel stated, “…I want to thank everyone for the warmth, recognition, and togetherness experienced at Saturday's Volunteer Appreciation Day.  As I said in response to my award, all of you have inspired me to do the work I've done since 2006.”

William Teufel, an another longtime supporter for our nursery work who couldn’t join us received the Doc Botany Award.

Also, awards were given to Dan Brockman, Jim Zahradka, Jeff McCullough, and Stephen Meyer

We would like to thank again all of these wonderful individuals and their hard work these past years. We would have not reached this level of success without your support.

This event brought together great people and generated new memories of a beautiful day. We look forward to our new and old volunteers joining us for more restoration projects, future creek walks, and preserving the salmon population – and another party next year!

Guests and staff thanking our great intern Stephanie Hernandez who helped organize the event, but couldn’t be there.