Nominations now open for land conservation award

The Natural Land Institute is now accepting nominations for the 2017 George and Barbara Fell Award. The deadline to submit a nomination for an individual with outstanding achievements in land conservation is Friday, Feb. 3.
The award is named for George and Barbara Fell who founded the Natural Land Institute in 1958 and devoted their lives to the protection of natural areas in Illinois. They were committed to protecting Illinois’ natural heritage so rare and endangered plant and animal species would be here for future generations.
The presentation of the land conservation award will be at the Natural Land Institute’s annual dinner on Tuesday, March 21, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Giovanni’s Restaurant and Convention Center, at 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Nominating guidelines
Nominees for the award should demonstrate creativity or leadership in the preservation or stewardship of natural areas, restoration of natural areas, or have a history of promoting an understanding of the natural world in this region.
They can work or volun-teer in any area of activity related to land conservation, such as natural resource management, education, journalism, law, or science. Nominees may have shown financial leadership that supports land conservation.
Priority will be given to nominees with distinguished lifetime accomplishments and impact made in the service area of Natural Land Institute. Current Trustees of Natural Land Institute are not eligible.
Submit a nomination by filling out the form available for download on the NLI website, http://www.naturalland.org/docs/Fell_Award_Nomination_Form_2017.pdf. Mail the nomination form and any optional supplemental materials and photos to Natural Land Institute, 320 S. Third St., Rockford, IL 61104 or email the nomination to [email protected].
To request a form or for more information call (815) 964-6666 or email: [email protected].
Past recipients of the George and Barbara Fell Award are: Barbara Fell, of Rockford, in 1997; Dorothy Wade, of Oregon, Ill., in 1998; Bruce Ross, of Rock-ford, in 1999; Keith and Mary Blackmore, of Forres-ton, Ill., in 2000; Jack and Joyce Armstrong, of Rock-ford, in 2001; Mary B. Bushnell, of Stillman Valley, Ill., in 2002; Tim Keller, of Sterling, Ill., in 2003; Mark Keister, of Winslow, Ill., in 2004; Lee Johnson, of Shirland, Ill., in 2006; Dr. Richard New-some, of Beloit, Wis., in 2007; Russell Johansson, of Rockford, in 2008; William Howenstine, of McHenry, in 2009; Nancy Hamill Winter, of Stockton, Ill., in 2010; Richard and Karen Gadke, of Capron, in 2011; Judy McCleary, of Roscoe, in 2012; Jerry Paulson, of Caledonia, in 2013; Dave and Nancy Voss, of Rockford, in 2014; Randy Nyboer, of Morrison, Ill., in 2015; and John (Jack) White, of Urbana, Ill., in 2016.
About the Natural
Land Institute
The Natural Land Institute is a 501(c) 3, non-profit land trust and conservation organization based in Rockford, Ill., which has protected more than 16,000 acres of natural land in Illinois since 1958.
NLI’s current service area covers 12 counties in north-ern Illinois. The President of the Board of Trustees is Mark Maffei.
NLI’s mission is to create an enduring legacy of natural land in northern Illinois for people, plants, and animals.
For more information and to donate, go to: www.NaturalLand.org.