NEWS
Corps Foundation Enduring Service Award Presentations
Posted October 2024
The Corps Foundation’s Enduring Service Volunteer Award honors the long-term service and outstanding accomplishments of volunteer individuals and families. Each year the Corps Foundation presents the award to two individuals or families who display exceptional voluntary leadership, and have made or are making a positive difference in Corps lakes, waterways and the communities they serve. The Corps Foundation announced the 2023 “Enduring Service” awardees last June in a Summer E-Blast.
This year’s award winners were:
- Edward Reining, the individual award winner with 20 years of dedicated service at Soo Locks Visitor Center, Michigan
- Al and Tina Carpenter, the family award winner with 10 years of dedicated service at J Strom Thurmond Dam and Lake, South Carolina
The Enduring Service Award was established in 2016 by the Corps Foundation as a method of recognizing volunteers, who are essential to the operation of recreation areas at Corps lakes around the country. The Corps Foundation is the only nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to supporting Corps operated lakes and waterways around the country. The awards were presented at the lake projects where the awardees volunteer and we would like to share some photos taken during the presentations.
The Corps Foundation presented the 2023 Individual Enduring Service Award to Ed Reining of the Soo Locks Visitor Center Association at their annual meeting on June 27, 2004, in Ste. St. Marie, Michigan. Sam Wagner, a member of the Board of Directors, represented the Corps Foundation and made the presentation in front of a crowd of over 100 of Ed’s co-workers, friends, Detroit District leadership, and family as part of Engineer Day 2024, when the public is permitted to walk across the locks. In recognition of Ed’s outstanding volunteer efforts over the past 20 years, the Corps Foundation presented Ed a plaque, ‘new’ Corps Foundation coin, and check for $250.
Al and Tina Carpenter, volunteers at Strom Thurmond Lake, are presented the 2023 Corps Foundation Enduring Service Award at the lake’s Volunteer Village on June 26, 2024. Ms. Avis Kennedy, member of the Board of Directors of the Corps Foundation, presented Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter with a plaque recognizing them for their 10 years of excellent volunteer service at Strom Thurmond Lake. In addition, Al and Tina were the first recipients of the newest edition of the Corps Foundation coins. The Carpenters also received a check for $250 from the Corps Foundation. They were selected from an impressive group of individuals nominated for their continued service and accomplishments at Corps of Engineers lakes, lands, and waterways throughout the United States. The presentation was attended by about 15 of their fellow volunteers at the lake, which is located on the Georgia/South Carolina state line, as well as Operations Project Manager Scott Hyatt, rangers and other Natural Resources staff from the lake.
“Enduring Service Volunteer Award” Nominations
The Corps Foundation “Enduring Service Volunteer Award” is an annual award honoring long term service and outstanding accomplishments by individual and families of volunteers at Corps lakes and waterways; and who have achieved results in such areas as conservation, education, recreation, safety and community engagement. Additionally, these volunteer efforts should contribute to the advancement of:
- The mission of the Corps Foundation: “The Corps Foundation engages the public to ensure the environmental health and recreational enjoyment of our nation’s lakes, lands, and waterways administered by the US Army Corps of Engineers”.
- Positive relationships between the Corps management, the visitors and the local community.
- Public knowledge of and involvement in the Corps natural resources management program.
- Partnerships and collaboration with other community organizations locally, regionally or nationally.
Application forms, which are accepted each year between September 15 and February 15, can be found HERE.
The Corps Stories Anthology is for Sale!
The Corps Foundation is proud to announce that the Premier Edition of the anthology, Park Ranger Stories from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers: A Collection of Stories, Interviews, and Memories from Corps Park Rangers and Other Natural Resources Management Professionals is now for sale.
More than 70 contributors combined to create this enormous 656-page volume of institutional memories, stories, interviews, and captioned photos.
Two versions are available. The Premier Edition paperback is an 8×10 inch 656-page volume ($87.91) and is great addition to any bookshelf. A more portable and affordable e-book edition ($12.95) is also available.
Order the paperback
Order the e-book
“Life Jackets Worn…Nobody Mourns” Boating and Water Safety Campaign
The Corps Foundation developed this new campaign through a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Foundation administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. Campaign materials are available at PleaseWearIt.com and will be promoted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to save lives on our nation’s lakes and rivers.
CURRENT CORPS FOUNDATION NEWSLETTERS | ARCHIVE OF PAST NEWSLETTERS
CORPS FOUNDATION VOLUNTEER EXCELLENCE COIN
The Corps Foundation is the proud sponsor of the Volunteer Excellence coin which recognizes exceptional volunteers and draws attention to their vast skills and contributions. They play an invaluable role in helping the Corps implement its programs. Annually the work of more than 48,000 total volunteers equate to approximately 27% of the Corps’ workforce. It is hoped that such recognition will broaden awareness of the positive impact of volunteer initiatives and strengthen volunteer appreciation.
The Corps Foundation’s Volunteer Excellence coin is presented for outstanding volunteer service at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes and waterways. As our nation’s official non-profit organization supporting Corps Lakes and Waterways, the Corps Foundation recognizes the vital role volunteers play in sustaining these lakes and waterways. One of the Corps Foundation’s overarching goals is to encourage a well-informed and involved public that contributes to the stewardship of Corps lakes and waterways. In today’s tight financial environment, volunteers are a prime example of how a concerned public is helping the Corps to achieve its recreation and environmental stewardship missions and public responsibility in caring for Corps lands, facilities and resources.
Natural Resource Management Strategic Plan
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Natural Resources Management(NRM) Strategic Plan provides a framework for the future of the NRM program and ensures wise management of public access to USACE lands and waters in a manner that protects all project purposes and mission areas through responsible outdoor recreation, environmental conservation and land use management. The plan continues an already strong program, and emphasizes the need for a focused vision to make smart, well-informed, and consistent decisions while partnering with communities to serve the American people. USACE is committed to continuous improvement and partner engagement under these strategic goals.