Thanks to Kristin for sharing this with us.

AWF Honors Carol Griffee

At Their 75th Anniversary Banquet & Will Auction A Youth Elk Hunting Permit

Little Rock – Arkansas Wildlife Federation (AWF), the oldest non-profit conservation organization in the state of Arkansas, is proud to announce that they will be honoring journalist Carol Griffee at this year’s annual banquet as they celebrate 75 years. Mrs. Griffee reported and/or edited for many publications over her long career. These publications included the Arkansas Gazette, Washington Star, Northern Virginia Sun, and AWF’s bi-monthly newspaper Arkansas Out-of-Doors. She was also AWF’s 1985 Conservationist of the Year.

She was also a member of many professional organizations such as The Society of Professional Journalists, which gave her a Lifetime Achievement Award, and was an active member of the Arkansas Professional Chapter of the National Federation of Press Women. At the time of her death on January 24, 2011, Mrs. Griffee was the current parliamentarian and former president of the Arkansas Press Association.

In honor of Mrs. Griffee’s outstanding writing, numerous awards and illustrious career, AWF obtained permission from her nephew Jon Griffee, III of Marion, AR, to rename their annual Conservation Communicator of the Year Award in Mrs. Griffeee’s name. AWF’s board voted unanimously in late June to change the name to the Carol Griffee Conservation Communicator of the Year Award.

The winner of this year’s award is Amy L. Wilson, Director of Public Affairs for Beaver Water District, the primary drinking water provider for Northwest Arkansas. She “…counts the late Carol Griffee a friend and mentor who influenced her writing and taught her about integrity and the importance of getting the facts straight. For more than a decade following Amy’s journalism career, which ended with the closing of the Arkansas Gazette (she served as that paper’s last Home section editor and last Books editor), she worked for the Arkansas Environmental Federation, as well as Government Solutions, with her dear friend Randy Thurman of Little Rock. In late 2004, she returned “home” to Fayetteville to join the Beaver Water District as the District’s first Director of Public Affairs, where she spends her days promoting the importance of clean drinking water and safeguarding the watershed that drains to Beaver Lake.

Other activities happening at this year’s event include a Free Kid’s Fishing Derby for children ages 12 and under; a vendor and educational expo which will include the AGFC Stream Team, AGFC Aquarium, Smoky Bear, U of A Division of Agriculture, turkey & duck calling demonstrations & elk bugling demonstrations, long-bow making and other activities; an awards banquet with keynote speaker Attorney General Dustin McDaniel and Master-of-Ceremonies John Philpot of AETN’s Arkansas Outdoors; the live auction of a Youth Elk Hunting permit. On August 17, 2011, Governor Mike Beebe officially claimed August 27th, 2011, as Arkansas Wildlife Federation Day.

The dinner will include fried quail, Cornish hen, game meats, non-meat dishes and dessert. In addition to the live auction there will be a silent auction which includes some nice art prints, conga drums, miscellaneous items and some very nice getaway packages for various resorts and locations around Arkansas.

All monies raised at the banquet by AWF, a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization, stay within the state of Arkansas and will be used for conservation and/or educational purposes.

AWF 75th Annual Conservation Awards Banquet

  • Fishing Derby 8am – 10am
  • Public Events 11am – 4pm
  • Banquet Doors open/Silent Auction begins 5:30 pm
  • Dinner Served 6:00 pm
  • Awards Ceremony 7:00 pm
  • Live Auction – Youth Elk Hunting Permit

 

Location: The Center of Bryant

(located @ Bishop Park)

6401 Boone Road

Bryant, Arkansas

CONTACT: Ethan Nahté for questions or to set up an interview with Arkansas Wildlife Federation president Wayne Shewmake

501-224-9200 or arkwf@sbcglobal.net