2023 Lawson Cary, Jr. Conservation Award

(Following is the presentation by Glenn Place, President of Rhode Island TU, of the 2023 Lawson Cary, Jr. Conservation Award at the Chapter’s Annual Fundraising Banquet on April 6, 2024 with 100+ attendees at the Quonset “O” Club)

The Lawson Cary Conservation Jr. Conservation Award is presented to an individual for their contributions of time, energies and knowledge that have greatly aided the Chapter in achieving mission goals and milestones.

Some of the criteria for the award are as follows:

1) Focus on achieving Rhode Island TU’s Vision and executing its Mission.

2) Respected as an example and role model for Rhode Island TU members and its communities in the areas of completing Mission-based goals.

3) Promoting an atmosphere of cooperation and camaraderie among members and partnerships among like organizations.

4) Providing experience that enhances the accomplishment of established programs, projects, and activities.

5) Leading and/or participating in a wide variety of the Chapter’s and associated partner’s education, conservation, and clean-up programs, projects, and activities.

6) Respected for effectively balancing the conservation needs of the Chapter with the recreational needs of all members, partners, and friends.

Some things about this year’s recipient:

I first met him when he had just been hired and was trying to become familiar with all the “Alphabet” organizations he would be working with.

He has adopted an “If first you don’t succeed…” type of approach than produces usable deliverables for watershed initiatives.

His boundless energy and knowledge have been a driving force for Rhode Island TU’s conservation projects.

His command of computer models would surely be the envy of any strategic mind inside the corporate world.

His easy going demeaner is just a cover. He is fully dedicated to any cause or initiative that he is involved in or promotes.

He has a “Fire In His Heart” that manifests itself by hopping around the country saving countless acres of forest.

He can be found, any time of the year, on his tricked-out kayak at any one of his secret locations.

He has brought words and phrases like stream morphology, revetment, woody debris, GIS, and HOBO loggers to the members of this chapter who now know what they mean.

During his current tenure, he has mentored many young interns in the art of conservation and habitat assessment.

Although he is in this room today, you might not recognize him without his baseball cap on. His flowing locks of hair, the newer generation would say “flowing locks of lettuce”, would definitely put him in the ranks of “Fabio” in those old “I can’t believe it is not butter” commercials

The Rhode Island Chapter of Trout Unlimited would like to present Corey Pelletier with the 2023 Lawson Cary Jr Conservation Award.