Community Members Receive Conservation Awards

January 2nd, 2020

News

We proudly announced the recipients of our 2019 Methow Conservation Awards at our annual holiday social and program in a packed Winthrop Barn on December 6^th. Awards were given to Tuck Stebbins, Nancy and Dick Gode, and Cathy and Phil Davis.

Tuck Stebbins Receives Susie Stephens Award

Tuck Stebbins was presented with the Susie Stephens Award for his exceptional volunteer service over the past several years. This award has been given annually for 14 years in memory of Susie Stephens who served as the Methow Conservancy’s Development Director in the early 2000s. The award recognizes individuals who carry on Susie’s endless energy for helping others, and her strong belief that education about conservation can make a difference. Tuck has been to almost every volunteer opportunity the Conservancy has hosted since he moved to the Valley three years ago. This year in particular he really stepped up and showed his resourcefulness and can- do attitude. He took a leading role at Homestream Park where he oversaw the removal of ten tons of debris and hand-built two wonderful trails for river access. This past August, Tuck convinced his physicist colleague to drive cross-country with two homemade telescopes to help him co-lead a star gazing party up at Sun Mountain. “The best part about having Tuck as a volunteer is that he is game for anything,” says Daniel Senner Community Conservation Coordinator for the Methow Conservancy.

Dick and Nancy — Photo courtesy of Nancy and Dick Gode

Nancy and Dick Gode Honored with Ken White Award

Former Mazama residents Nancy and Dick Gode were named as this year’s Ken White Award winners. The award recognizes individuals or organizations with a long-standing history of inspiring conservation efforts in the Methow Valley. Ken White, long-known as the Methow’s naturalist shared his deep passion for appreciating this special Valley with anyone interested. The Methow Conservancy recognized Nancy and Dick for their life-long commitment to the Methow Valley and to the land. Nancy served as an early Board Member at the Methow Conservancy where her leadership inspired the organization to strive to meet the highest standards of professionalism. Nancy and Dick called Mazama home for many years, where they “walked the talk” in creating a permanent conservation easement on their own land near the Goat Wall in 2006, while also playing a visionary and leadership role in bringing a conservation vision to the iconic Mazama Corner. In 2019, the Godes built upon their open space legacy in Mazama through a gift that allowed the Methow Conservancy to expand the conservation outcome at the iconic Mazama Corner while also ensuring that the public will always have access to the river in the Mazama core by way of a new park space the Methow Conservancy hopes to begin developing in 2020.

Cathy and Phil Davis Recognized with the You Inspire Us Award

Cathy and Phil Davis earned the You Inspire Us Award for their visionary tenacity to create Homestream Park at the entrance to Winthrop. In just one year, Cathy and Phil went from idea to restoration to a beautiful public space dedicated to the rivers and fish of the Methow Valley and to the Native People, past and present, who have called this place home for thousands of years. “Cathy and Phil inspired us with their ability to see the potential in this property and then their ability to build a sense of community while building the park itself,” notes Associate Director Sarah Brooks. “They’ve created a powerful place to gather and reflect and a place that feels like it is made for and by the community. We know people will love Homestream Park for generations.” The Methow Conservancy initiated the You Inspire Us Award in 2014 to recognize people or organizations who have been inspirational to the organization, and who have, through their good work, inspired action and positive change in the whole community.

Inspiring people to care for the land of the Methow Valley since 1996.

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