The New River Conservancy was pleased to honor several individuals with the Wallace and Peggy Carroll Vigilance Awards, which honor the spirit, dedication, and perseverance that former Winston-Salem Journal publisher and editor, Wallace Carroll, brought to the battle to save the New River. His journalism experience and his nationwide connections convinced newspaper editors all over the country to join with the Committee for the New in its successful efforts to prevent the damming of the River. The resulting nationwide support convinced the Committee to evolve into the National Committee for the New River.In the more than thirty years since these events, many additional organizations and supporters have been instrumental in protecting, revering, and restoring the New River. These awards have been established to recognize the efforts of the many individuals and groups that have kept, and continue to keep, the New River like it is. New River Conservancy staff elect and vote on the honorees. All of the following were unanimous.
We are pleased to award Charlie Mullins our Lifetime Achievement Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes steadfast, continuous support of the River through years of active, unwavering vigilance. This award recognizes efforts that have resulted in any or all of the following: victories in River protection through advocacy; sustaining financial support that enhances the mission of River protection; continuous, committed efforts to bring attention to River issues and service through volunteer participation and financial support. Charlie Mullins, Community Service Coordinator at Giles County, has exemplified these traits throughout his career. Whether it is wrangling 500 volunteers for ReNew the New, setting the flow rate of the river for that event, or working with landowners along the New for boat landings, Mullins is a vital asset to the ReNew the New Committee, and to the New River itself.
Our Advocacy Group of the Year was awarded to Keep Ashe Beautiful, with John Pence accepting. The Advocacy Group of the Year recognizes a group of individuals bound together with a common purpose. The Volunteer of the Year recognizes an individual who, within the past year, has participated in a significant way to preserve, protect, and restore the River.Our Virginia Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Jesse Kelly, with our North Carolina Volunteer Year of the Year going to Jonathan Biebesheimer. West Virginia Volunteer of the Year went to Jason Gill
The Doug Blatny Service Award went to Sam Sweeney, Park Manager of New River Trail State Park. Ranger Doug Blatny was a New River State Park Ranger, tireless warrior for the natural world, community educator, explorer, and mostly, a very good friend to New River Conservancy. New River Conservancy created this award in loving remembrance of Doug Blatny whose energy, love, and commitment to the natural world has inspired countless others to pick up the torch.
New River Conservancy is grateful to all our award winners, and all our volunteers.
Charlie Mullins accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award from NRC Executive Director, Andrew Downs.
John Pence, ED of Keep Ashe Beautiful accepts the Advocacy Group of the Year from Andrew Downs
