Gratitude - Happy Volunteer Appreciation Month!
Did you know that April is National Volunteer Month? During the month of April, we celebrate the work that volunteers like you do year-round to help the American Tree Farm System, and the landowners we all serve, achieve our goals of delivering measurable, positive impacts on clean water, abundant wildlife habitat, and wood supplies.
As an ATFS Inspector, we want to thank you for the many acts you do to engage with landowners and support their forest stewardship. We applaud you for your efforts and appreciate all of your contributions to the success of the Tree Farm program.
Thank you to inspectors like Michael Hughey of Mississippi, the 2017 Southern Region Outstanding Inspector of the Year who certified 104 new Tree Farms in 2016 by seeking out new landowners and not waiting for them to be assigned.
Thank you to inspectors like Christine Walroth of Wisconsin, the 2017 North Central Region Outstanding Inspector of the Year who has been involved in the Tree Farm program since 1977 and has been actively promoting ATFS throughout her career.
Thank you to inspectors like Derek Albers of Maryland, the 2017 North East Region Outstanding Inspector of the Year who had the highest number of new Tree Farm enrollments in 2016 for all of Maryland’s inspectors.
Thank you to Tom Westergreen of Washington the 2017 Western Region Outstanding Inspector of the Year and 2017 National Outstanding Inspector of the Year who gives his energy and expertise to Tree Farm because it allows him to do what he loves most: talking to, sharing with, and learning from his fellow Tree Farmers.
ATFS Inspectors like you are the backbone of our organization. In 2017 and beyond, let’s continue laying a strong foundation for ATFS as together we take significant steps towards even greater impact on water, wildlife and wood supplies.
With gratitude,
Sarah, Vicki, Nephtali, Sara, and Kristina
The ATFS Staff
