Volunteer Vision Awards

During the Oil Region Alliance’s Annual Membership Meeting, the highest award presented by the Heritage Development Department is the “Volunteer Vision Award” which can recognize an individual or a group for their generous and productive assistance in carrying out the mission of the Oil Region Alliance.

Presented to Dale Black and Chris Wolfgong (recognized February 29, 2008)

The mission of the Oil Region Alliance is to increase the prosperity and population of the Oil Region, through preservation, promotion and development and support of destinations within the Oil Region, whether they are historical, educational, natural, recreational, commercial or industrial destinations, we must entice people to live, work, learn and play in “the Valley that changed the world.”

Since 1998 the Oil Heritage Region, Inc. has conducted fishing competitions which demonstrate good water quality and excellent recreational fishing opportunities in the area. In keeping with the recommendations of the OHR Management Action Plan as well as the 1998 Interpretive Plan, these tournaments are a great way to attract people to the region.

In 2006, a grant was filed with the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources by the Heritage Development Department, seeking $12,000 that would be used for competitive angling events. The grant asked for the funds to augment the prize money paid out to winners of the annual bass tournament, and perhaps more importantly, enable the return of the “Mr. Whiskers” catfish & carp fishing derby, which had not been held for two years. “Mr. Whiskers” is a family-friendly 36 hour fishing derby that welcomes anglers of all ages. The registration fee for Mr. Whiskers has always been kept low which enables entire families to enter. It is not unusual at all to see a grandfather fishing with his grandsons, or a mother and father fishing with their young offspring at the derby.

DCNR approved the grant in late 2006. A fishing committee was established and met to schedule the fishing tournaments for 2007. At the meeting, I asked for a volunteer to chair the Mr. Whiskers derby. Chris Wolfgong volunteered, and Dale Black was named co-chair. Help was needed to solicit sponsors for the fishing tournaments, so that the local matching funds required by the grant from DCNR, could be met. Dale Black took on the job, with Chris Wolfgong as his assistant.

Both Dale and Chris have full-time employment elsewhere. Each is married. Each loves to fish. So it’s not like they have nothing better to do than approach businesses about sponsoring a fishing tournament. Yet in 2007, they found six new sponsors for the Mr. Whiskers Catfish & Carp Fishing Derby, and five new sponsors for the Allegheny River Bass Fishing Tournaments. Their efforts enabled us to exceed the amount required by DCNR as local matching funds.

Dale and Chris didn’t stop when they had secured the sponsors for the fishing events. They recruited volunteers to assist at each of the tournaments, and throughout the summer they distributed applications for the events to the sponsors and to other locations throughout the region.

Because of their hard work, I am happy to see that they are being recognized for their accomplishments by receiving the Heritage Development Department’s “Volunteer Vision Award.”

The Recipient for 2006 (recognized on February 28, 2007)

James Holden, who resides in Sugarcreek Borough outside Franklin.  Jim partnered with the Heritage Development Department on numerous projects in 2006, which included bicycle trail construction from Rockland to Emlenton, conducting a Recreational Trail Utilization Study, performing a Greenways Peer Study, and producing additional interpretive panels to be installed on the southern portion of the Allegheny River Trail (Belmar to Emlenton).  He is an active member of the ORA Recreational Advisory Council as well as its ORA Heritage Advisory Council.  Mr. Holden is active in conservation and bicycling circles, especially as the President of the Allegheny Valley Trails Association.

The Recipient for 2005

Neil McElwee of Oil City, Pennsylvania.  Neil has been a featured guest speaker for the ongoing series of oil history workshops hosted by the Oil Heritage Region annually since 2000, as well as helping plan and being a presenter during the Victorian Architecture and Its Preservation Conferences administered by the Oil Region Alliance. He donates significant time helping draft and edit educational materials subsequently published by the Alliance.  He chairs the ORA Heritage Advisory Council and served as the initial Treasurer for the Oil Region Alliance.  He helps escort VIP guests on guided tours of the region, and assists with hospitality for special visitors.