An equestrian volunteer group and two off-road bike volunteers who work with the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Land Resources Volunteer Program will receive the national President’s Call to Service Award for contributing more than 4,000 hours of service.
The President’s Call to Service Award is presented through the “Take Pride in Florida/Take Pride in America” program. This award is the highest honor given through the program.
The South Creek Equestrian Club and Jonathan and Sharon Noll from the Wilderness Trails Association are being honored by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.
These awards will be presented to the volunteers at the District’s Nov. 30 Governing Board meeting, which is being held at the Sarasota County Administration Center.
The South Creek Equestrian Club, which is based out of Dade City, helps maintain trails, campgrounds, picnic sites and public entrances in the District’s Upper and Lower Hillsborough Tracts. Last year the group received special recognition from the District for its contributions. The group accumulated 4,136 hours to receive the President’s Call to Service Award.
Jonathan and Sharon Noll are a married couple who were instrumental in the creation of the Wilderness Trails Association, a volunteer group dedicated to maintaining trails in the District’s Lower Hillsborough Tract. The Nolls have organized and chaired Wilderness Trails Association meetings, patrolled and maintained bike trails in the Flatwoods Park, and assisted with maintaining Trout Creek Park. The Nolls accumulated 4,070 hours of service to receive the President’s Call to Service Award.
There are approximately 300 volunteers involved with the District’s Land Resources Volunteer Program. These volunteers play an important role in maintaining the District’s many recreational trails and campgrounds.
“We have dedicated volunteers in the District’s Land Resources Volunteer Program and we greatly appreciate their hard work to improve and enhance recreation on District lands,” said Colleen Kruk, senior land use specialist.