Date: October 3, 2007
National Heritage Corridor Commission Recognizes Blackstone
Valley Paddle Club with Star Award The John H. Chafee
Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission
presented its Corridor Star Award to the Blackstone Valley Paddle
Club on September 20, 2007, at their Commission meeting held at the
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM)
headquarters.
The Blackstone Valley Paddle Club was recognized for its twelve
Volunteer Team Leaders who stepped forward during the past two years
to help take the Paddle Club to a new level, improving the quality
if the programs it offers and allowing the Corridor to increase the
number of Club participants.
In 2002, the Paddle Club was a program sponsored by the Corridor
Commission and its staff. By 2005, the club was in danger of being
discontinued because of budget and staffing changes. At the same
time, the popularity of the program surged and the average
attendance at Paddle Club outings more than doubled. Realizing the
integrity and safety of the program was at risk, the Volunteer Team
Leaders stepped forward again, creating a second night of Paddle
Club activities each week through the summer, making the program
much more manageable. For the 2006 season, the club partnered with
the Rhode Island Canoe and Kayak Association (RICKA), Great Canadian
Canoe & Kayak Co., and the Heritage Corridor and the Volunteer Team
Leaders successfully evolved the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club into
an independent and sustainable program.
Volunteer Team Leaders Mary Lou Anderson, Millville; Elaine
Andrews, Julie, Steve and Jason, Riendeau all of Uxbridge; Kent
Cameron, Cheryl Thompson Cameron and Benn Thompson of Glocester;
Lisa DeHaan, Whitinsville; Erik Eckilson, Woonsocket; Linda
Konvalinka, Milford; Melanine Lamoureux and Jeann Mcinerney of
Worcester; Wayne Leary, North Smithfield; Bob Martin, Cumberland;
Burt Nowell, North Attleboro; Lee Parham, Norton; Louise Price,
Upton; and Mike Rock of Boylston) all stepped up to take over the
logistics of the club so that it has continued to meet weekly from
May through August to explore the waterways of the Blackstone River
Valley.
The Volunteer Team Leaders are all experienced paddlers who were
previous members of the Paddle Club or of RICKA. According to Ranger
Suzanne Buchanan who helped present the award, “The Blackstone
Valley Paddle Club is not only a popular program, but an excellent
way for the Heritage Corridor to build constituency for one of its
key missions-the restoration of the Blackstone River. The Volunteer
Team Leaders play an integral part in helping build constituency and
stewardship toward the river through the Paddle Club and they have
proven to be instrumental in clearing the River of obstacles,
scouting for trips and ensuring safety for all visitors during
Paddle Club trips.”
In the 2007 season, the all-volunteer Blackstone Valley Paddle
Club program volunteered 1,570 hours and helped created more
stewards of the Blackstone River and heightened public awareness
that the Blackstone River is a premier recreational resource.