On Thursday, April 17th, Southern Maryland RC&D held its annual Award Dinner and Board Meeting at Café Des Artistes in Leonardtown. The dinner gave Board Members and RC&D supporters an opportunity to celebrate a year of successful project work and commemorate outgoing Chair Ron Black’s contributions to Southern Maryland. Thursday was not only Black’s last Board Meeting as Chair, but also his last night as a member of the RC&D Board of Directors. After a long and distinguished career volunteering with RC&D, Black has decided to move on and spend more time with his family.
Before passing over the reigns to incoming Chair Pat Pinnell, of St. Mary’s County, Black told the audience that his time at Southern Maryland RC&D was the best of his life. According to Black, RC&D is perhaps the best kept secret in Maryland, working hard behind the scenes to bring diverse partners together to accomplish great good in our communities. Black has truly enjoyed working with a group more interested in making things happen than in self promotion.
When he was first asked to join the RC&D Board of Directors in 1997, Black had never before heard of RC&D. But from his first Board Meeting he was hooked and would continue to work hard supporting RC&D’s many projects. Black would eventually become Chair in 2002 and serve two full terms.
Pinnell’s first official action as RC&D Chair was to recognize Luis Dieguez as Board Member of the Year. Luis first became a Board Member in 2004. Since then he has shown tremendous leadership on a great many projects, including efforts by the RC&D and Charles Soil Conservation District to stabilize severely eroding shoreline along NSF Indian Head’s Potomac shore. Dieguez’ hard work in Southern Maryland is much appreciated.
Present to commemorate Black’s and Dieguez’ work with RC&D was Board of County Commissioners President Jack Russell and Commissioners Tom Mattingly and Dan Raley. Also present were Dick Meyers, Special Assistant to Senator Barbara Mikulski; Hammid Matin, from Senator Cardin’s office; and Susan Lawrence, Assistant to State Senator Middleton. Other guests included NRCS Assistant State Conservationist Mark Rose and RC&D Coordinator Jeremy West.
For information about the next Annual Award Dinner, please contact us.
RC&D Board Members and supporters sharing ideas before the Award Dinner. The entire restaurant was reserved in order to accommodate all the guests.
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Dick Meyers, Special Assistant to Senator Mikulski, presenting outgoing Chair Ron Black with a citation recognizing Black's service to Southern Maryland. In the background (from left to right) incoming Chair Pat Pinnell and Office Associate Denitra Brawner.
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RC&D Chair Pat Pinnell presenting the Board Member of the Year award to RC&D Board Member Luis Dieguez.
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