STA members receive Presidential awards

Three members of the Sisters Trail Alliance (STA) were recently awarded The President's Volunteer Service Award. Gary Guttormsen, Ann Marland, and Patrick Eckford were recognized for volunteering hundreds of hours of volunteer service for their work in the development and enhancement of Sisters-area trails.

Marland and Eckford each received a Bronze Award for contributing over 150 hours of volunteer service, and Guttormsen received the Gold Award for putting in more than 500 hours! Each award was accompanied by a certificate, a commemorative pin, and a letter signed by President Barack Obama.

In 2014, STA volunteers reported a total of 2,295 volunteer hours on Forest Service lands. The Forest Service puts a value on volunteer hours; and, according to the STA, the Forest Service valued volunteer contributions as being in excess of $1,000,000, including those contributed by STA.

The President's Volunteer Service Award is a part of the "Points of Light" program initiated during the administration of President George H. W. Bush. As a result of President Bush's initiative in encouraging volunteer work, the Points of Light Foundation was created as an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization to encourage and empower the spirit of service.

President Obama's letter read, in part, "In my Inaugural Address, I stated that we need a new era of responsibility - a recognition on the part of every American that we have duties to ourselves, our Nation, and the world... Thank you for your devotion to service and for doing all you can to shape a better tomorrow for our great Nation."

As STA director of outreach, Marland is very enthusiastic about the work they do. "STA works closely with the Forest Service, as all of our Peterson Ridge trails are on Forest Service land," she said. "We provide good stewardship of the land we maintain where our trails are located." She felt that the recognition was not so much for the work of individual volunteers as for the overall contributions of STA.

"For STA, this means that our hard work in making the forest environment better is recognized and of value. Personally, I love what I do on and for the trails," she said. "I'm honored to have been given this recognition for my contribution, knowing that others will enjoy the time on our beautiful trails."

In accepting his award, Eckford bashfully observed, "Most of us are a bit embarrassed by these kinds of awards; but, I have to admit, it's kind of nice to know that at least someone is aware of the time and effort we've contributed. I'm sure Ann and Gary would agree that most volunteers are motivated much more by the personal sense of contribution and accomplishment they feel than by any possibility of public recognition."

Still, Eckford is no stranger to this kind of recognition. Earlier this year, he was honored as STA's Volunteer of the Year.

"Honestly, we get back more than we give," he said. "After completing a good project or work party, we feel we've done something tangible to support or improve our community and its recreational assets. It's also a big part of the Sisters culture that we love."

Eckford went on to say that, "We three got recognized, in part, because we had logged most of our volunteer time as requested by the Forest Service. However, we know that many, many volunteers from our own organization and others, sometimes neglect to record and report their volunteer time. So, there are many dedicated people out there that ... don't receive due credit. They deserve a huge thanks, too!

"I highly recommend volunteering in general - not just for what it does for others, but what it does for you. And if a person loves to hike, bike, ski, or ride horses, then volunteering for STA might be for them, as well!"

The Sisters Trail Alliance is a community volunteer organization dedicated to the planning, constructing and maintenance of walking, hiking, cycling, and equestrian trails in Sisters Country. The STA believes that trails are an indispensable ingredient for the quality of life and economic vibrancy in Sisters Country. Volunteer help and new members are always welcome.

For more information about STA, contact Ann Marland at 541-549-7006. Additional information can also be found on their website at www.sisterstrails.com.