NCLC Executive Director Katie Voelke with Sou’Wester Garden Club past president Nancy Berry

The Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. has awarded the 2012 Ellen Ambuhl Conservation Award to North Coast Land Conservancy, in recognition of the organization’s 25 plus years of conservation work on Oregon’s North Coast.  The Conservation Award began in 1967, and is given to a member or non-member for outstanding activity in conservation.  

North Coast Land Conservancy was nominated for the award by the Sou’Wester Garden Club of Seaside.  “Katie Voelke, NCLC’s Executive Director, had given a presentation to our garden club back in 2010,” recalls Sou’Wester Garden Club member Marcia Kay Whitelock. “We were so inspired by the mission of the conservancy and their recognition of the importance of working closely with the community.” 

“The award was a complete surprise!” says Katie Voelke. “We were honored to receive recognition of our conservation work from the Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs.” Voelke travelled to the OSFGC state convention in Wilsonville to make a presentation to the convention and receive the award in person. “I have a much deeper appreciation for the common ground that land trusts and garden clubs share after this,” Voelke continues. “Connecting people and communities to nature, fostering a strong sense of place and encouraging civic responsibility for good land stewardship-our work is so compatible.”

“Katie’s presentation brought home to our statewide members that there is a land trust working diligently on the North Oregon Coast to protect, serve, and educate-work which goes hand-in-hand with our organization’s mission statement and conservation pledge.” Whitelock said.  “We were tremendously honored to have NCLC as our 2012 Conservation Award winner.”

The Oregon Roadside Council-a member of the Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. since 1932–also chose to honor the work of NCLC, making available a grant to assist with a project that would help beautify one or more of the lands under the protection of the conservancy. This is the first time the ORC has extended a grant to a Conservation Award winner.

Everyone at NCLC extends our heartfelt thanks to the Sou’Wester Garden Club for the nomination, and to the Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs, and the Oregon Roadside Council for their recognition of NCLC’s conservation work on Oregon’s North Coast!