Always striving to balance environmental protection with economic development, the late O.B. Eustis was widely respected as an industrialist, an environmentalist, and a nature columnist. Since 1995, Huron Pines has been a proud partner with the Community Foundation of Northeast Michigan (CFNEM) and the O.B. Eustis Award Committee to recognize the legacy he left. Huron Pines is now accepting nominations through December 31, 2009 for the awards given in his honor.

Winners (individuals, organizations or businesses) are recognized based on their application of balancing resource conservation and development. Through a CFNEM grant administered by Huron Pines, each winner selected will be able to designate a $500 award to an environmental project in Northeast Michigan.

One of last year’s recipients of the O.B. Eustis Award was Jim Supina, recognized for his many years of dedication to conservation and protecting and enhancing fish and wildlife habitat, demonstrated through his service to conservation and wildlife organizations, promoting respect for natural resources, and encouraging land stewardship throughout the community. His award was used to support HeadWaters Land Conservancy in their efforts as part of the Pigeon River Habitat Initiative.
 
Another winner was the Negwegon, Rockport and Thompson’s Harbor Advisory Committee, which developed plans for three public properties (Negwegon, Rockport and Thompson’s Harbor) by conceptually treating them as one inter-related unit. The Committee has designated its award to help defray the costs of placing interpretive signs that were designed by Alcona High School students at the Negwegon State Park.

The nominees for the O.B. Eustis Award may come from the eleven-county service area of Huron Pines, which includes the counties of Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle and Roscommon. The winners will be recognized at the Annual Meeting of Huron Pines on February 6, 2010.

Nomination forms, along with the criteria by which the applicants are judged, can be obtained by contacting:

Huron Pines
501 Norway St.
Grayling, MI  49738
Phone: (989) 344-0753 x21
Email: jill@huronpines.org

Nomination Forms are due by December 31, 2009. Anyone with questions may call Jill Scarzo at the Huron Pines office, extension 21.

Huron Pines is a non-profit organization whose goal is to conserve the forests, lakes and streams in Northeast Michigan. The organization creates partnerships between the private and public sectors in order to complete hands-on conservation projects. More information is available at www.huronpines.org.