Outstanding Individuals Honored

At its 2002 Conference at San Simeon, CALPA presented awards to several deserving individuals. These included the Legislator of the Year Award, as well as life membership awards to individuals who have made significant contributions to CALPA.

Senator Jack O'Connell was honored as Legislator of the Year. He has supported park bond propositions, spoken out in favor of parks in budget deliberations, and provided assistance to specific parks. He is well deserving of this honor.

The League also recognized four individuals for their many years of contributions to CALPA and granted them life membership.

Among those honored was William Dillinger, retired State Parks Cooperating Association coordinator , one of the League founders, past Executive Director, and past newsletter editor. Past League Vice-President and President, Betsy Strand was similarly recognized. Mary Ellen Young, who was the League's first President, and remains as a current board member was also recognized as was immediate Past President, Patricia Greenstein.

Without the dedication and hard work of these individuals, the League would not be where it is today.

Associations of The Year Awards

At the October conference, CALPA recognized and presented awards to outstanding associations in several areas.

In the category of Outstanding Website, Prelado de los Tesoros La Purisima Mission took top honors. The independent consultant who rated the websites called it compelling.

Tesoros Awards Chair, Kare Hislop, presents a winning certificate to Genevieve Hutchinson from Prelado de los Tesoros.

Poppy Reserve Mojave Desert Interpretive Association received the award for the Best Publication Costing Less Than Three Dollars. Their beautiful color brochure was outstanding in its color impact, readability, and amount of information.

Friends of Santa Cruz produced outstanding plastic maps of Wilder Ranch State Park to take top honors in the category of Publications Costing More Than $3.00.

In the category of The Most Unique Contribution by an Association, The Old Monterey Preservation Society was recognized as the winner for Christmas in the Adobes, an annual project involving 20 decorated buildings and contributions of time from over 200 volunteers.

Each winning association was presented a framed certificate in recognition of its achievement.