![]() Awards and Achevements |
![]() Will Smolenski Photo by: Jeff Trahan THE FIRST LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD Is Presented To BIRD STUDY GROUP Shreveport Society for Nature Study, Inc. On December 10, 2002 |
While I realize that there are other members that have given a lifetime of service to our Bird Study Group, I strongly feel that Will Smolenski is worthy of the nomination of the Bird Study Group's first Lifetime Achievement Award. |
![]() Mac Hardy Photo by: Jeff Trahan THE WILL SMOLENSKI LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD Is Presented To BIRD STUDY GROUP Shreveport Society for Nature Study, Inc. On December 14, 2004 ![]() Mac Hardy (left) with Will Smolenski (right) Photo by: Jeff Trahan |
I have only been a member of the BSG since about 1989 - hardly from the
beginning. During this time there have been many members who "gave
it their all." Among those are Pat Lonnecker, Shirley Huss (who served
as membership chair since the beginning and introduced me to Christmas Bird
Counts), Will Smolenski (who received the award 2 years ago), Betty Mason
(who was treasurer since forever), Larry Raymond, Hubert Hervey (who taught
me most of what I know about birding), Bill Wood, and Mac Hardy. There are
surely others that I've left off of the list. I nominate Mac Hardy for the Lifetime Service award. Mac has been a BSG member since the beginning. He encompasses everything that the BSG is. I cannot think of the BSG without thinking of Mac. He has served the group as President, Board member, trip leader, Hot Spots editor, and Bird Records coordinator. Mac also does the countless other jobs that are always done, without being asked to do them. The task of maintaining and compiling the bird records is a function that alone deserves recognition. The BSG database has over a 100,000 records. This makes ours a highly valuable scientific resource that Mac takes very seriously as a function of the BSG and as a contribution to science. If you can think of a BSG event, job, or function that Mac hasn't done I bet he would readily volunteer to do it. That is the kind of service that Mac gives the BSG. Mac is an excellent birder and has always acted with the best intent to promote birding and the BSG. I have been fortunate to come into birding with Mac as my mentor. I have birded with him on field trips, on bird counts, in foreign countries, and even while pulling through the fast food drive through. It is from him that I have learned to love birding and the BSG. He is always a teacher. It may be that he is teaching a new birder about birds, an experienced birder about a bird's natural history, or teaching the rest of us by example. He does things for the BSG that know one knows about or notices. He does them for the good of the group, without a thought as to thanks. Lets hope that we all learn this from him. I believe that Mac Hardy should be awarded our Lifetime Service Award for his commitment and service to the BSG. Sincerely, Amanda Crnkovic |
![]() Hubert Hervey Photo by: Jeff Trahan PRESIDENT'S AWARD Is Presented To HUBERT HERVEY By The BIRD STUDY GROUP Shreveport Society for Nature Study, Inc. On December 14, 2004 |
I nominate Hubert Hervey for the BSG's President's award. I believe that
Hubert has promoted the BSG and birding in Northwest Louisiana. He has served
the BSG as officer, board member, trip leader, count coordinator, and auctioneer.
Anyone who has ever been on a birding outing with Hubert knows that he is
not only an excellent birder, but for the rest of us, he adds much to the
birding experience. What kind of Christmas auction would we have without
Hubert raking in the money with his keen wit and charm? Hubert deserves
to receive the President's award not only because of his service to the
BSG but also his commitment to saving the Interior Least Tern. His dedication
to monitoring this species plight on the Red River should serve as an inspiration
to the rest of us. He has motored up and down the Red River in the hottest
part of the year and still found the motivation to face the bureaucracy
that control's the tern's survival. I think the BSG is a better organization
by having Hubert as a member and I think we should recognize his efforts
with this year's BSG President's Award. |