Nine awards for regional achievement to be presented at November 8 event
Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, a non-profit, public policy research and planning institute, has awarded Hudson River Sloop Clearwater with the Conservation and Land Use Award for its “forward-thinking efforts to protect the environment, promote green infrastructure and vibrant communities, and educate future generations about the importance of the Hudson River.”
Clearwater’s Green Cities Initiative continues the legacy of the organization’s founder, Pete Seeger, by bringing environmental education, watershed awareness, and stewardship training to under-resourced communities, thereby using community power to create green power. Pete Seeger’s legacy of protecting and caring for the land and water, and reverence and respect for the natural environment is a key element of all Clearwater programming.
“Clearwater is working hard to contribute to new ‘Eco Economy’, critical to the future of the region,” said Jeff Rumpf, Clearwater Executive Director. “We know that a triple bottom line of improving our economy, environment, and our quality of life all together promise the best new plans and projects for our future. Pattern for Progress has embraced and supported our efforts, which has opened the door to the economic development community.”
“We are taking strong leadership role by helping to develop a groundbreaking Mid Hudson Regional Sustainability Plan, Rumpf continued, “and our award-winning Green Cities initiative is prioritizing smart green planning and educational projects that contribute to revitalizing our challenged River Cities.”
Clearwater works with partners and municipalities, school districts, and community stakeholders to facilitate positive green changes by promoting community organization at the grassroots. The result is the establishment of a model for sustainable and replicable green infrastructure solutions that drive green economic development that can be replicated across the nation.
Clearwater will be among nine 2012 Regional Leadership Award recipients recognized for their contributions to the region during Pattern for Progress’ annual awards reception taking place November 8 at Anthony’s Pier 9 in New Windsor. The event, which annually attracts 500 attendees, starts at 5:30 PM with a networking session and the awards ceremony at 7:00 PM.
Recipients of the 2012 Regional Leadership Awards also include:
• The Excelsior Award honoring an individual or organization whose regional leadership inspires others to serve will go to Steve Lant of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. Lent will be recognized for successfully running one of the Hudson Valley largest utilities, chairing new economic development initiatives, and exemplifying regionalism through leadership.
• The Economic Development Award will go to the marketing and branding campaign of NY BioHud Valley, for creating a collaborative environment in which the Hudson Valley’s biotech, pharmaceutical and life science companies can expand and create new jobs.
• The Regional Achievement Award will go to the volunteers serving on the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council, for serving on the state-appointed council and collaborating to create an economic development roadmap for the region over the past two years.
• The Tourism Award will go to Rocking Horse Ranch and SplashDown Beach, for their development of captivating tourism attractions that bring thousands of visitors annually to the Hudson Valley.
• The Healthcare Award will go to the Center for Discovery, for its innovative clinical, residential and social care of individuals with a range of disabilities and frailties, all while being the largest private employer in Sullivan County.
• The Improvement of Urban Areas Award will go to the city of Yonkers, for its efforts to bring the Saw Mill River back to daylight so it could be enjoyed by the public and used as a linchpin for economic revitalization.
• The Agriculture Award will go to Judith LaBelle of Glynwood, for her dedication to help communities save local farming and promote regional food systems.
• The Regional Fellows Award recognizing superior accomplishments among alumni of Pattern’s leadership program will go to Karen VanHouten-Minogue, executive director of The Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan, and a 2008 Pattern Fellows graduate, for her stewardship of charitable giving across the region.
• The Lifetime Achievement Award honoring a former Pattern for Progress board member who has consistently throughout his/her career had a significant impact on the vitality of the Hudson Valley will go to Arthur Weintraub. Weintraub, who for 23 years served as president of the Northern Metropolitan Hospital Association, will receive the award for his career of community outreach, hard work, integrity and giving.
Patterns for Progress was founded in 1965 by leaders from the public and private sectors, and now serves a nine-county region: Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester. Patterns for Progress is an innovative regional leadership program that aims to expand the horizons of those already acknowledged as leaders in their respective communities and disciplines, and evolve a more regional approach to their work. Visit www.Pattern-for-Progress.org for more information.
