Each year SCVAS staff members have the tough job of picking a select few volunteers to honor for their inspiring work to support our chapter. We owe our success to these and many more incredible volunteers, and we are honored to work with all of them. Thank you!

These are the Volunteers recognized in 2019.

Lifetime Achievement Award - Chuck Wade

Chuck Wade is one of those volunteers who could run his program blindfolded and with both hands tied behind his back. Though we wouldn’t want it that way because blindfolds and drills aren’t necessarily the safest combination.

Chuck has been a supporter of SCVAS for many years. He has helped hundreds of children build habitat in the form of nest boxes so that they can discover the wonder of birds in their own backyards. What may seem a heart warming arts and crafts activity is actually an empowering experience for budding young naturalists. Children are not often not given the chance to make such a direct impact on the environment. This rare opportunity, accompanied by the experience of watching birds inhabit the newly constructed nest box, is unforgettable for many students. At local outreach festivals I have had many families tell me about the feathered families that inhabit their nest boxes. These memories are impactful, and are likely some of the memories that inspired many of you to be here today. We have Chuck to thank for many of the future environmentalists of Santa Clara county. His dedication to inspiring environmental stewardship in the next generation is nothing short of inspiring.

But Chuck doesn’t just help children build nest boxes. Each year he applies for the IBM Community Grant to acquire funds for the nest box materials. He then recruits his own army of volunteers to help construct the nest box kits and carry out the educational programs. Chuck runs the show at Wildlife & Harvest Day and we could not pull it off without him. I learned so much from him during my time with SCVAS and appreciated his patience in answering all of my questions. He is a pleasure to work with and I am honored to nominate him for the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society Lifetime Achievement Award. Thank you, Chuck!

Education Volunteer - Barbara Millin

Barbara joined SCVAS’s Wetlands Discovery Program last year, and we’ve been incredibly grateful for her company ever since. Barbara meets every field trip with enthusiasm and good spirits, and she has become an incredibly reliable volunteer integral to the smooth running of our longest running education program. Barbara is a relatively recent newcomer to birding, but she says that birding has made her, “much more curious about everything in the world around me.” A sentiment that all of us in the education branch of SCVAS can support and appreciate!

When she isn’t volunteering with Audubon, Barbara can be found donating her time to the Red Cross, and leading nature and bird walks with the local Veterans Affairs hospital. From joining Egret Office Hours to our other educational programs, to organizing and running the VA walks for disabled veterans, Barbara’s support is always welcome and greatly appreciated, and we want to thank her for choosing SCVAS as an organization she supports. We’re a better place because of her, and every other volunteer that decides to devote their time to our work.

Read more at Outreach to a New Population.

Advocacy Volunteer - Dashiel Leeds

We first met Dashiell two years ago, a public meeting of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors where he joined SCVAS staff and Environmental Action Committee volunteers to speak publicly against a destructive bike park development set to take place close to where he lives in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Dash’s passion for protecting ecosystems was a natural fit with our conservation mission, and he soon after began to regularly volunteer his time. As an advocate, researcher, and writer for Audubon, Dash has fought to protect habitats across the region, from the Santa Cruz Mountains to the Guadalupe River. Some of his many efforts include advocating for Bird-Safe Design and Dark Sky Policies (to reduce light pollution) in Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Mountain View, and San Jose. You can find his writing in the Avocet, where he has written articles on Coyote Valley and light pollution.

We are always glad when young advocates join us in advocating for bird and nature in our county and beyond, and are happy to award Dash the Environmental Advocacy Volunteer award.

Nature Shop Volunteer - Mary Ann Robertson

Over the past year, Mary Ann has been an invaluable volunteer in our Nature Shop on Thursdays. She is reliable, organized, and willing to take on mundane tasks with a cheerful attitude. Before she retired, Mary Ann spent 13 years doing research at SRI (Stanford Research Institute) International and over 16 years at Silicon Valley companies and consulting firms. In retirement, she pursued her photography hobby and then discovered birding and the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society. You’ll also find Mary Ann leading nature walks at McClellan Ranch and helping out with special events like Wildlife & Harvest Day and the annual rummage sale. Mary Ann is enthusiastic, multi-talented, and we’re so grateful she’s with us!

Outreach Volunteer - Eve Meier

Eve Meier is one of the most ambitious and dedicated people I have ever met. Not long after becoming a volunteer, she quickly took on multiple roles within the organization, starting with becoming a field trip leader. As a leader she was always easy to work with and eager to lead more trips to introduce diverse audiences to the joy of birding. She soon joined the Outreach Committee and brought incredible energy and a collaborative mindset to the group.

When we found ourselves without a field trip coordinator, Eve happily stepped up to the plate so that our field trips would continue without missing a beat. She even helped found the Field Trip Committee to make SCVAS field trip protocols more fun and effective for both trip leaders and participants.

Eve always brings a positive attitude and open mind to every project. She is fun to be around, and turns everyone she meets into a birder. We are thankful to have her on our team. Thank you for your support, Eve!