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What a pleasure to welcome you to the 36th Annual 2025 Environmentalist of the Year Awards and Celebration!

It's the time of year when we gather for good food and drink, socialization, and to celebrate those working to protect the environment in Northwest lower Michigan. This is always a special event filled with joy and community. We can't wait to see you there!

SCHEDULE
5:30 - 6:50 PM: Reception at Dennos Museum Atrium - food and beverages
7:00 - 8:00 PM: Program at Milliken Auditorium
7:00 - 9:30 PM: Award Presentations

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It was in the 1980s that I first became aware of the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council (NMEAC) and sent in my membership to help with their mission of “education and action” on behalf of the earth.

In 1985/1986 MDOT wanted to clear-cut M-72. Phil Thiel convinced Jim Olsen and me and some others to oppose them. In addition to Jim’s Complaint, each of us adopted a tree and vowed to protect it. We pretty much won, saved a lot of the trees. Clarence Kroupa, the man who invented trees, was our expert. This is the tree I adopted.

Yes, the rumors are true, NMEAC really did begin with a conversation between 4 women sitting around a kitchen table in 1980. Back then, one of the hot issues was nuclear power, so when we learned that a request had been filed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to increase the capacity of the spent fuel rod tanks by placing the used fuel rods closer together, the environmental community had concerns. The management of the plant insisted that it would be safe; however, others who knew about this sort of thing were wary.