There is something special about the Arboretum in the fall: the quality of the light, the changing colors of the foliage – and the annual gathering of volunteers. As Board President Jim Paley pointed out in his welcoming remarks, the Volunteer Recognition luncheon is an event which gives the Board of Trustees an opportunity “to show a modicum of its appreciation for the immense amount of work” done by its volunteers.
About 50 volunteers came together at the Meeting House for a pot luck luncheon – lentil soup to venison chili to carrot cake, and a whole lot of other dishes -- all contributed by the Arboretum Board and coordinated by volunteer Wendy Kass.
Executive Director Fred Breglia presented the Volunteer of the Year Award to Jodi Gregory to recognize her role as the new manager of the Arboretum’s book store, continuing and expanding the legacy of Ken and Marian Hotopp and Sue Tricario.
It is a distinction to be recognized with a single volunteer award, but Ann and Shawn Bevins garnered their second award at the luncheon. Previously given the Volunteer of the Year Award, they were presented with Landis’ Great Oak Award, awarded to volunteers for their long-term service to the Arboretum. Fred pointed out that the Bevins family has had a long history of volunteering at the Arboretum – predating his now 28 years at Landis. He characterized them as “the couple that has never said no” over his tenure at Landis.
This year, the Arboretum initiated a Youth Volunteer of the Year Award to recognize the next generation of volunteers who support Landis’ environmental mission. Freddy (15) and Mikey Breglia (10) were given this award. Susan Strangia, Volunteer Coordinator, remarked that the boys’ presence at the Arboretum, where their father is executive director and mother Landis gardener, evolved from drawing and playing video games while on the site to taking a more active role in “Landis Grown” propagation and the plant sales.
A visitor to Landis would be hard pressed not to remark on the visible improvements to the Arboretum’s buildings and grounds. There isn’t a single building at the Arboretum – the Meeting House, the Farmhouse, the Propagation Room, the Greenhouse and Library, the Barn, and most recently, the Meeting House Pavilion -- that hasn’t been transformed through the planning and the active involvement of Board President Jim Paley. In recognition of his role in these several projects, he was presented with the Lape Award for Excellence for his work on buildings and grounds. The award, initiated last year, is given to a volunteer in a particular field of expertise. Last year, Chandra Burkhart was the award’s first recipient for her work in the field of graphic arts. In accepting the award, Jim characterized himself as a “jack of all trades and master of none” but able “to orchestrate the incredible talent in the volunteer base.” Jim was also instrumental in securing several generous grants from the Nicholas Juried Foundation to make these significant infrastructure projects possible.
Fred Breglia described Landis’ volunteers as “the lifeblood of the Arboretum.” And this year’s Volunteer Recognition affirmed just that. The Arboretum’s pulse seemed as right, as alive and as vital as an archetypically beautiful fall day , a bountiful table, and a coming together of friends.
Click below to read other newsletter articles about some of our awardees.
Landis Portraits: Jodi Gregory
Landis Portraits: A Series About the People Behind the Plants at the Arboretum - Shawn Bevins