Every August, at our annual Stewardship Party, we recognize volunteers who have gone above and beyond to help MITA in its mission of protecting and stewarding the wild islands of coastal Maine. This year we were excited to unveil the Monitor Skipper Hall of Fame, a plaque celebrating the many years of service by our Skippers. These intrepid boaters dedicate more time than any other volunteers to the stewardship of the Trail, and this permanent shoutout is a long overdue tribute.
Each year we also give out a series of awards. This year’s award winners are:
Spirit of Stewardship: Paul Knight
Spirit of the Trail: Michael & Rebecca Daugherty
Spirit of Partnership: Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Margaret C. Emerson Spirit of Giving: Lindsay Hancock
Dave & Dorrie Getchell Spirit of MITA: Scotty Folger
More about our winners:
Paul Knight – Spirit of Stewardship: Paul is an Island Adopter extraordinaire – he has been part of the program since 2005 and is diligent in sending reports from “his” islands in the Western Rivers region (and other islands he visits as well). He’s led many MITA Meetup events this year and placed countless logbooks on islands, sometimes on the same trips. He was also the first member we know of to complete the 30-in-30 Challenge!
Michael & Rebecca Daugherty – Spirit of the Trail: This paddling duo possibly knows more about Trail islands than even many Monitor Skippers! They send in island reports from their personal trips and lead service projects for camp groups in their region. Last year they had more logbook entries than any other island visitor from every corner of the Trail. This year they gave a significant amount of time to MITA’s expansion of the Trail along the Bold Coast and wrote content for the region’s new section in the Guidebook.
Maine Coast Heritage Trust – Spirit of Partnership: MITA and MCHT have a lot in common – both work to ensure that islands along the Maine coast are protected and enjoyed responsibly – but there are distinct differences in approach and focus. In recent years the organizations have worked more closely and effectively together than ever before, finding new ways to help each distinct mission. These collaborations include joint work days improving trails, batting invasive species, and cleaning up marine debris; getting sites owned by MCHT listed on the Trail; conserving privately owned Trail sites in perpetuity; and partnering to use MCHT’s expertise to expand the Trail along the Bold Coast.
Lindsay Hancock – Spirit of Giving: Lindsay has served three full terms on the board, including 9 years on the development committee and 5 years as chair of the membership and marketing committee, and has brought exceptional grantwriting and fundraising event experience to MITA. She has also generously shared her extensive community connections, especially to the arts community. No one has more friends (or is more genuine and generous) than Lindsay, we think! She has been Chair of the board for the last 2 years and will continue to be involved in committee work.
Scotty Folger – Spirit of MITA: Scotty has been a member since 1988 (member #224!) and has NEVER missed a year. She has been a generous donor, has committed a planned gift, and shows up at almost every MITA event (even if she has to drive several hours from her home in Ellsworth!). She attends multiple cleanups each season and generally buoys the staff with her cheerful demeanor, generous support, and steadfast presence. This quote by Edward Abbey, which she once shared with MITA staff, embodies her spirit perfectly: “Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit.”
Many thanks to all of our 2018 awardees!
