Johnson Creek Watershed Council event celebrates volunteers

Find out which volunteers gave how much to this East Portland nonprofit organization during this annual event, which honors those who’ve helped during the year …

Guests check in at the Johnson Creek Watershed Council’s annual “Volunteer and Community Appreciation Dinner”.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

The Parish Hall at All Saints Episcopal Church in Woodstock was filled with joy – as well as volunteers – as supporters gathered for the Johnson Creek Watershed Council (JCWC) annual celebration, the “Volunteer and Community Appreciation Dinner”, on November 13.

This venue was a convenient location for their party, because the JCWC’s offices are located inside the parish’s adjoining building, Keiter Hall.

Hosting the program is JCWC Volunteer Program Manager Marlee Eckman.

As the guests came in, JCWC’s Volunteer Program Manager Marlee Eckman welcomed the attendees as they perused items on the door prize tables.

Serving food is newly-minted JCWC Community Operations Specialist Sima Seumalo.

It wasn’t long until total of 65 guests were lined up for Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine by volunteers, served cafeteria style; after which they sat down to eat and converse with one another.

The winner of the first door prize package awarded – homemade wine and fruit Noah Jenkens – a is 40+ hour volunteer John Powers.

Guests hear about the successes the JCWC experienced this year.

As part of the formal meeting, Eckman gave a rundown of the organization’s success statistics:

1,071 volunteers committed 4,600 hours to planting, pulling, mulching, and picking up trash
43 stewardship events were held
4,855 native trees, shrubs, and forbs planted by volunteers, many during the Watershed-wide Event
8,200 sq ft of unwanted vegetation removed
6.4 tons of trash removed during the Annual Johnson Creek Clean-up

During the proceedings Eckman drew door prize tickets for the many prize packages that had been provided by members and the organization.

Next was the volunteer award presentations. JCWC honored:

14 volunteers who contributed 20-30 hours of service
8 volunteers who contributed 31-40 hours of service
7 volunteers who contributed 41-60 hours of service
4 volunteers who contributed 60-100 hours of service

Volunteers honored who contributed between 41-60 hours this year, Gail Chastain, John Powers, Bird Loukides, Gregory Schroeder, Jerry Schneider, Barry Eichenger is joined by “uber-volunteer” who gave more than 60 hours, Marianne Colgrove.

The JCWC Board of Directors also presents special awards to their Board Chair Shirley Craddick and Board Member and Secretary Tamra Dickinson.

The last main event of the evening was the screening of the award-winning video documentary, Follow The Water, introduced by JCWC Jurisdictional Board Member Roy Iwai.

JCWC is supported by the Mintkeski Family Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, PGE, City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, City of Gresham, East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District, Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District, Multnomah County, Clackamas Water Environment Services, the Templeton Foundation, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Clackamas County, and with additional private donations.

What are JCWC volunteers doing this week? Check their website to find out: CLICK HERE.

On our Front Page: Volunteers Carol and Barry Eichinger snatch T-Shirts from past JCWC events from the freebee table.

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