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Conservationists Honored at Heritage Conservancy's Annual Garden Party

Bob Byers (right) and the Honorable William Hart Rufe III

Heritage Conservancy hosted its annual member appreciation and donor recognition event on Thursday, June 5. As part of the event, Heritage Conservancy also presented its Heritage Partnership Awards to eleven organizations and individuals who have shown extraordinary commitment to conservation of our natural, historic, and cultural heritage.

“The commitment of our members and donors is the true measure of our success. These people support us in so many ways—by volunteering, by helping us reach out to residents and community leaders, by working with us to preserve land, and by donating needed funds so that our staff can do their vitally important work,” said Clifford C. David Jr., Heritage Conservancy President. “This event is our chance to say 'Thanks' and to publicly acknowledge the important contributions that they make to the mission we all share of preserving our region's natural and historic heritage.”

John and Barbara Fisher Receiving Award from Jeffrey L. Marshall, Vice President of Resource Protection

During his opening remarks, the Honorable William Hart Rufe III, the Chair of Heritage Conservancy's Board of Directors, announced that the Conservancy, in conjunction with celebrating its 50th Anniversary, has launched a Green Path Forward strategic planning process to take an in-depth look at the way the Conservancy does business and how it can best protect resources for future generations. As part of this process, Judge Rufe encouraged the approximately 200 guests to contribute their ideas by participating in a quick, 5-question survey on the organization's website at www.heritageconservancy.org.

Honorable William Hart Rufe III (right) congratulating Malcolm Crooks, recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award

Every year, at the Garden Party, Heritage Conservancy also presents the Heritage Partnership Awards to members of the community and community organizations that have shown extraordinary commitment to heritage conservation. This year, the Conservancy's 2008 Heritage Partnership Awards were presented to the following recipients:

• HISTORIC PRESERVATION AWARD to the County of Bucks for its continuing commitment to preserving Bucks County's historic heritage.
  
  
• LAND CONSERVATION AWARD to Sidney T. Yates for preserving 138.9 acres of his farm in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County
  
  
• WATERSHED PROTECTION AWARD to J. Glenn Eugster for his outstanding career in watershed protection with the Environmental Protection Agency and National Park Service
  
  
• CONSERVATION PHILANTHROPIST AWARDS to Robert L. Byers for his generous commitment to Heritage Conservancy over many years and John and Barbara Fisher for donating a conservation easement on their 197 acre farm in Patton Township, Centre County, PA
  
  
• COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP/GRASSROOTS PARTNERSHIPS to Warren County Freeholders Gardner, DiMaio,Chamberlain and Land Preservation Administrator, Robert Resker for providing assistance and funding to Heritage Conservancy to purchase the 5.6 acre Cliffdale Park property in Warren County, NJ that will provide needed public access and recreational activities on the Musconetcong River.
  
  
• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT to Malcolm Crooks for his lifelong commitment to conservation in Bucks County and for personally donating approximately 50 acres of land and also donating conservation easements on an additional 50 acres of his family's Tuckamony Farm in Solebury Township, to Heritage Conservancy.

The award presentations were concluded with special recognition being given to PA Representative David J. Steil for his many years of leadership in promoting sustainable land use in Pennsylvania.