The day was long, but also fun and exciting. Escorted by SWMLC Executive Director Mike Larson and stewardship staff Mitch Lettow and Dave Brown, volunteer Stan Rajnak trekked from Kalamazoo to the Detroit Opera House last Thursday to receive the Community Impact Award on behalf of ALL the Weekly Stewardship Volunteers who devote their valuable time and energy to SWMLC. Stan movingly summed up the day, “It was really inspiring!”

Mike and Stan met Michigan’s famous governor Gretchen Whitmer and got to schmooze with other award recipients at the Governor’s Service Award Ceremony. The volunteers came from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds and were passionate about a diverse spectrum of causes and, like SWMLC’s volunteers, were being honored for their selfless gifts of wisdom, expertise, and hard work.

About 22 years ago, Stan (soon joined by another long-time volunteer, Kristi Chapman) started the Wednesday Warrior weekly stewardship group which, over time, has spun off into the Monday Privateers and Seed Collectors/Pluggers. For years, these dedicated folks have donated long hours in all kinds of weather to restoring habitat on our preserves. SWMLC is wildly lucky to have them.

< < <  Watch this short video we made, based on the photos and footage that Mike and Mitch recorded during the ceremony! It looks best on YouTube, so be sure to click the YouTube logo that appears at the bottom of the frame after you’ve started the video.

Watch the official event video by clicking here. SWMLC’s Weekly Stewardship Volunteers are introduced at 1:28:56 minutes into the video (please note the number of hours served is inaccurately portrayed – they actually donated 2,881 hours in 2023!). The honorees take the stage at 1:30, then there are some technical difficulties that will straighten out. Stick with it to see Stan receive the award from Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist at 1:30:48.