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Borrego Springs, CA

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Barack Obama recognized me today!

No, I wasn’t in Tucson or Washington DC, but right here, as usual, at Anahuac NWR.  At noon, refuge staff and fellow volunteers met at a local restaurant for my farewell lunch.  I thought that the best part of this luncheon was going to be that I didn’t have to pay for my lunch.  :)  I was wrong, though.  After we finished eating, Stephanie got up to officially thank me for my work here this year.

IMG_8507 Since I’m in between thousand hour milestones with the National Wildlife Refuge system,  I only expected a card and a thank you.  But there was more;  a nice insulated stainless steel mug for my ice water, and…

IMG_8511a letter, pin, and certificate from the President of the United States of America!   I have been awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award.  I thank you, Mr. President, on behalf of all of us volunteers out here on the road, for recognizing the importance of what we try to do.

 

I am very proud of my almost 3,500 volunteer hours with the National Wildlife Refuges of my country.  I’ve had various accomplishments in my life, but this one ranks right up there near the top, and has a place very close to my heart.  I’m thinking I may even wear that pin on my pj’s tonight!  :)  Hoowah!!

 

Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later,  Judy

38 comments:

  1. Congratulations, Judy. You really have contributed a huge amount of hours! Volunteers save the taxpayers a whole lot of money, and keep the parks, forests, refuges open for the public. As a member of the taxpaying public and as a fellow volunteer, I appreciate your service!

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  2. Wow~ that's an amazing accomplishment, congratulations!

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  3. Congratulations! What a wonderful achievement and so nice to be recognized with a letter from the President of the United States. What a keepsake!!

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  4. Congratulations ... without volunteers the wildlife refuges and national parks would not be the same.

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  5. Congratulations and I am glad to see you have been recognized for all of your hours of service. Wear your pin proudly, and THANK YOU for your service.

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  6. congratulations Judy!..quite the accomplishment and a letter from the White House to go along with it!!..good for you...way to go!!!

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  7. Congratulations. It's a great feeling to volunteer, but it's always nice to be thanked. And by the President of the United States, no less. Wow!

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  8. Bravo! Well done and well deserved.

    Thank you for all of us too!!!

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  9. Oh Boy, just a few days ago you were trudging through soil units rubbing shoulders with Killdeer & Great Blue Herons & today you are being recognized by the President of The United States. Quite an accomplisment I would say....Congrats:))

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  10. How nice is that? I volunteer, also, at a local charity, and I so appreciate the little things done to thank us for our work. It's so important to be noticed.

    Congratulations!

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  11. Congratulation Judy, that is a real accomplishment. I hope you will be able to volunteer for a long time to come. Good job!!

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  12. Judy, that is such a really great recognition for a volunteer who really deserves it. Congrats, girl.

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  13. A very heartfelt congratulations! Well done!

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  14. Wow Judy, that's wonderful. You've also been a great bird teacher on your blog and the pictures...oh, the pictures.

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  15. Judy, Congratulatons. You not only have made a difference at the sites you have volunteered but also in the lives of all your readers who follow along on your journeys .

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  16. Judy, this is a wonderful acknowledgement of your service to our country. Congratulations!

    John
    relaxedrush.blogspot.com

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  17. Wow, Double wow, I was floored when I got something signed by the Governor of Mo. Congratulations on what is a significant honor, 3500 hours is quite a chunk. and the pin is beautiful. Glad to see you were recognized for a job well done.

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  18. Ohhh you hit the big time now! Nice to be appreciated....

    We got a Christmas card from the White House for Steve (he is union president of the NE section of Wisconsin for the state employees. It was signed by Barack, Michelle, Maliah, Sasha and even BO with a tiny paw print! (of course photocopied from an orignal and reprinted on the cards) That is a KEEPER!

    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    Karen and Steve
    (Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/

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  19. Congrats Judy. I wish I could see your pin on your PJ's . We are in a really nice spot out in the desert you would love it here. Hope to see you here next year.

    Brenda Brown

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  20. A delightful honor, for a woman who delightfully has earned that honor! Ain't it great to be recognized for doing something you enjoy doing! Those who spend so many hours doing volunteer work make it good for the rest of us, and certainly cut down costs, as the work you do would have to be paid for or go undone without you! Thank you for your contribution to the greater good!

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  21. You deserve it! Congratulations!

    Kerri in AL :-)

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  22. Congratulations Judy! That's a lot of hours you have put in. Thank you.
    --Rod

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  23. Absolutely fabulous - an achievement to be proud of!

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  24. Now that's some reconization!

    My daughter got a Presidential Award for Academic Achievement back in elementary school six years ago, but sadly to say the certification wasn't signed by Mr. Obama!

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  25. What a thrill getting a letter of recognition from the President of the United States!! The stuff I do, I try NOT to be recognized!!! Seriously (as I can be) Congrats, Judy..you soooo deserve it...Did Emma hear from Beau??

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  26. What a great honor Judy. You should be very proud of yourself. Once in a lifetime thing. Congrats!!

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  27. That is a lot of hours. congratulations and THANKS for your service!

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  28. Wow. You is famous!!! Congrats. And thank you for doing such a great job. Your work and your efforts help the rest of us and the animals/ birds associated with all the refuges where you volunteer. John and Ann

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  29. Congratulations on putting in so many volunteer hours and for being recognized with the President's Volunteer Service Award. Hip hip hurray for Judy!

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  30. You deserve to be recognized! Can you send him a bird picture?

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  31. That is really great! I had no idea you had volunteered so many hours! Congratulations on notice taken of a very worthwhile endeavor! And as Merikay said, it is certainly too bad that he can't have a moment or two to appreciate your wonderful photography as well!!!

    I hope the pin didn't stick you in the middle of the night..... =/

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  32. You rock, Judy!!! I'm SOOOO proud of you! It's people like you who help make our country a great place to live. Keep it up, girl!!

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  33. Congratulations! That's quite an accomplishment. The parks wouldn't be what they are without your service. Thank You.

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