2010 Sierra Club Employee Recognition Awards
On the next-to-last day of April, Sierra Club staff gathered in the Yosemite Room at the Club's San Francisco headquarters for the 2010 staff awards.
Brand new Executive Director Michael Brune, above, opened the proceedings, and Adrian Cotter, below, winner of last year's Behind the Scenes Hero Award, was the master of ceremonies. Cotter began his remarks in a flawless Scottish brogue in honor of John Muir.
It was of course on everyone's mind that the BP oil disaster was unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico the same week the awards were presented. But the catastrophe does not diminish one iota the accomplishments of five Sierra Club employees whose exceptional work and dedication distinguished them over the past year.
The 2010 winners are:
Julian Fisher - Community Service Award
Glen Besa - Virginia Ferguson Award
Tim Guilfoile - Behind the Scenes Hero Award
Brittany McKee - Special Achievement Award
David Willett - Larry Mehlhaff Award for Excellence
Also honored were four 20-year Club employees: Barbara Josepher and James McCaffrey, who could not attend, and Yolanda Fortuna and Julia Reitan, below.
Read a full account of the award winners here.
Among the highlights of the ceremony was a musical presentation of Willett's award by Communications Director Bob Sipchen, Deputy Communications Director Orli Cotel, and Online Communications Manager Jim Bradbury.
They serenaded the Washington, D.C.-based Willett with mock lyrics to the Beatles' Let it Be, with the crowd joining in on rousing choruses of, "From DC / From DC / From DC / From DC / Willett's words of wisdom / From DC." Willett "attended" the ceremony via video hookup.
Marion Klaus, below, Utah Chapter Chair and widow of Larry Mehlhaff, also shared in the presentation of the award honoring her late husband.
Below, Sierra Club President Allison Chin with Tim Guilfoile and Glen Besa.
Communications Operations Manager Gary Reinecke, at right below, presents the Community Service Award to his close friend Julian Fisher.
And a splendid time was had by all.
All photos by Tom Valtin except David Willett photo with ukulele, taken by a guest at Dave's wedding.
