REDWOOD NEEDLES

Presented by the Sierra Club Redwood Chapter Newsletter,
The REDWOOD NEEDLES

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Sonoma Group Member
Receives Environmental Award

Long-time Sonoma Group member and activist Len Swenson received the Sonoma County Conservation Council's Ernestine ("Ernie") I. Smith Award this past February 22, at the combined SCCC/Sierra Club Environmental Awards Dinner.

First made in 1994, the award recognizes an individual for his or her long-term commitment to environmental protection and enhancement. What is different about it is that the recipient not only receives a memento, but also gets an assignment: to select during the ensuing year a Sonoma County teacher's environmental education program to support with a cash grant from a fund dedicated for this purpose. A lifetime of effort is thus linked to the training of future generations.

So far, eight different teachers have been granted a total of $2,000 under the auspices of the Ernie Smith Award. Among the highlights at the February Dinner were presentations made by students, including a third-grader from Kenwood Elementary, that had been in programs supported by the previous year's cash grants.

As many of you know, the number of committees, subcommittees, projects and events that Len has been involved with is literally too long to list here. Because of his keen interest in amplifying the environmental voice, Len also helped found and has energetically supported the SCCC federation, with whom Sierra Club has shared office space for over a dozen years.

Congratulations, Len!

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