Dr. Maria A. Leza - 2011 Service Award

From your Webmaster: In 2000, then President M.K. Clark asked me if I would like to create a web site for SBDN and become its webmaster. During this time, I've had a virtual seat from which it has been enjoyable to observe SBDN mature as an organization. My heartfelt thanks for the award; it has been a pleasure to serve the SBDN community.

Ms. Mary Kay Clark - 2010 Service Award

In 1996 the Fifth Colloquium on the Conservation of Mammals in the Southeastern United States met jointly with the newly formed Southeastern Bat Diversity Network. This first SBDN meeting was "chaired" by Mary Kay Clark who had been the driving force to create this new organization devoted to the study and conservation of bats in the Southeast. Due to the informal nature of the organization Mary Kay was fondly named "Dictator for Life", a position she held for many years until SBDN required more formal structure.

Since those days, Mary Kay has continued to devote much time and energy to SBDN while serving on various committees and in numerous positions including Steering Committee Chair, SBDN President, Board Member and Bat Blitz Committee Chair. Mary Kay was a member of the local committee that organized and hosted the 2004 North Carolina SBDN Bat Blitz and has participated as a team leader in every Blitz hosted by SBDN. She also helped organize the Big-eared Bat Group within SBDN which resulted in the Big-eared Bat Symposium held at the University of Georgia in March 2010. A graduate of Campbell University (BS) and North Carolina State University (MS) Mary Kay worked for 28 years as Curator of Mammals at the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences. She also served as the Southeastern Bat Conservation Director, a position jointly sponsored by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and SBDN.

Mary Kay was presented a Service Award by President Darren Miller (see photo) on February 18, 2010 during SBDN's 15th annual meeting held in Asheville, North Carolina. The award reads "For your role as the founding force behind SBDN and your continued dedication and contributions to the organization." Appropriately, the award features a beautiful photograph of Rafinesque's big-eared bat (mouse over for a larger view of the award).

Mr. Chester O. Martin - 2008 Certificate Of Appreciation

Chester O. Martin, Senior Wildlife Biologist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, Mississippi, was presented an SBDN Certificate of Appreciation in late January 2008 upon the occasion of his retirement after 37 years of federal service. The Certificate, presented before a large gathering of family, colleagues and friends at the Engineer Research and Development Center, cited Chester's many contributions to bat conservation, education and management including mentoring students and professionals, acting as an advocate for bats on Corps and military installation lands, serving as President of the National Military Wildlife Association, and as founder of the Mississippi Bat Working Group. SBDN members in attendance included Mary Kay Clark, Alison McCartney, Darren Miller, and David Saugey.

Photo - left to right: Mary Kay Clark, Southeastern Bat Conservation Director, Chester Martin, and SBDN member and MSBWG Vice-Chair Alison McCartney.

Dr. Timothy Carter - 2007 Service Award

On February 17, 2007, the previous year's award winner, Dr. Darren A. Miller, (Southern Wildlife Project Manager for Weyerhaeuser Company) presented the 2007 Service Award to Dr. Tim Carter (Ball State University). This was the second such award to be given to a member or supporter of the SBDN. The award was created to recognize outstanding service and contributions to the organization. Tim has been an active SBDN member since its inception and has facilitated the group's efforts in many ways, including serving on the Board of Directors, as Treasurer, and a member of multiple committees. The award was a beautiful framed color photograph of an Indiana bat, (Myotis sodalis) with a dated plate on the frame describing the service award.

Photo - left to right: Matina Kalcounis-Rüppell (UNC-Greensboro), Darren Miller, Tim Carter, Troy Best (Auburn U.).

Dr. Darren Miller - 2006 Service Award

On February 16, 2006 the SBDN President, Dr. Troy Best (Auburn University) presented a Service Award to Dr. Darren A. Miller (left), Southern Wildlife Project Manager for Weyerhaeuser Company. Darren has been an active SBDN member for many years and has facilitated the group's efforts in many ways, including providing conference call service for various SBDN committees over the years and funding student participation at bat blitzes.

This was the first such award to be given to a member or supporter of the SBDN. The award was created to recognize outstanding service and contributions to the organization. The award was a beautiful framed color photograph of a red bat, (Lasiurus borealis) with a dated bronze plate on the frame describing the service award.