Bob Mione Named “2013 Volunteer of the Year”
ALLEN — The Connemara Conservancy recently honored two outstanding volunteers with a reception in the Pecan Grove of the Connemara Meadow Nature Preserve on the border of Allen and Plano.
The “2013 Volunteer of the Year” award was presented to Bob Mione, who serves as Connemara’s Volunteer Meadow Manager. His peers nominated him to receive the award in honor of his tireless and tenacious dedication to the 72-acre Meadow Preserve.
“At the heart of every non-profit are the volunteers, without whose support much of an organization’s work would not be possible,” said Connemara Executive Director Sandra Greenway. “That is especially true of Bob. His love of The Meadow and his commitment to it has enabled us to do things that we would not have been able to do without his help.”
Greenway also recognized Chandler Burke, a graduate of St. Mark’s High School in Dallas who currently attends Rice University. Burke’s “Save the Blackland Prairie” projects at the Meadow Preserve earned him the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s prestigious “Presidential Environmental Youth Award" for exceptional environmental stewardship. He was one of only 10 recipients of the award.
Burke spearheaded four conservation projects at the Meadow Preserve, totaling more than 1,000 hours and involving more than 100 volunteers.
An Eagle Scout who earned all 130 Boy Scout Merit Badges, Burke also received the “William T. Hornaday Silver Medal” for his projects and was one of only 18 people nationwide to receive the “2013 Nestle Very Best In Youth Award,” recognizing exceptional young people across America who not only excel academically, but also support the community. In addition, he was recognized as the “Texas Eagle Scout of the Year” by both the Texas Society for the Sons of the American Revolution and the American Legion.
“Connemara is thrilled to be able to acknowledge both Bob and Chandler at the same time since it was Bob’s dedication that provided our organization the capacity to support some of Chandler’s conservation work in The Meadow,” Greenway said. “They represent a heart-warming legacy of loving land through volunteerism. It is an honor to recognize these two extraordinary volunteers and celebrate all our volunteers who do so much throughout the year in the Meadow Preserve.”
More information about the Connemara Conservancy is available at connemaraconservancy.org or by calling 469-200-4085.
About The Connemara Conservancy
The Connemara Conservancy Foundation (CCF) was created in 1981 as one of the state’s first land conservancies. Connemara works closely with farmers, ranchers and other landowners as well as forward-thinking developers and local governments to protect and conserve important tracts of open space. Today, Connemara protects over 5,000 acres throughout North Texas.
In addition, Connemara provides educational programs on the role that open space plays in a community’s quality of life.
Connemara is an active member of the National Land Trust Alliance, the Texas Land Trust Alliance and the Center for Nonprofit Management.
More information on the Connemara Conservancy Foundation is available at www.connemaraconservancy.org.