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Monday night's 80th-annual meeting and banquet held by the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District offered a chance to look back at the accomplishments of the past year, a glimpse at what lies ahead and the presentation of a couple of annual awards.
It also was a chance for the organization to recognize the work of Irene Moore, its longtime administrator who recently retired from her post.
"As I look around this room, the true winners here tonight are the landowners, stakeholders and officials of Jefferson County. The reason for this designation of all of us being winner is that we, the board and the staff, feel that it is due to the leadership of one person -- Irene Moore," Jodee Verhovec said.
An associate board member of the district, Verhovec told those who had gathered at the St. Florian Event Center in Wintersville that Moore always has been a true friend of landowners and the county itself.
Celebrating 80 Years of Supporting Resilient Lands Through Conservation was the theme of the evening. That number is significant, not just as a milestone for the organization, but because Moore had been employed with the district for nearly half of its existence -- 37 years, Verhovec said, adding it was a career that started after the retirement of her father, the late Gabe Rozsa, who had a long career in local agriculture and conservation efforts.
"She had big shoes to fill, and she certainly did that -- she outgrew those shoes, and she made the JSWCD the district we have today. she did that with the assistance of mentors, staff people and board members," Verhovec explained.
"In 2002, the district only had two full-time staff members. They had no health benefits and received low wages. The district now has five full-time staff people along with a part-time staffer, and it's hoping to employ one more full-time staffer in the near future. They now have health benefits and the wages have increased," Verhovec added.
Moore's work helped to expand awareness and conservation efforts across the county, Verhovec said.
That list of accomplishments includes Fernwood State Forest Field Days, a program involving fifth-graders from around the county; fourth-grade farm tours; working with the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce to conduct the popular farm-city tours; helping with the organization and development of the Yellow Creek Watershed Restoration Coalition; helping to coordinate the Steel Valley Loggers Chapter; and serving as a member of the Ohio Forestry Board of Directors.
Those efforts helped to cement Moore's reputation.
"I was lucky enough to to be on the soil and water conservation board for 15 years," Verhovec said. "During that time I attended local, state and, sometimes, national meetings. I would meet so many people, and when you meet new people, they will ask you, 'What district do you represent?' And I would proudly answer Jefferson, and nine times out of 10, they would stop and look at me and say, 'Oh, Irene's county.'"
Wendee Dodds, who has been with the district for more than 20 years, is replacing Moore as the district administrator. She is, as Andrew Morris, public relations chair for the board of supervisors explained, well-positioned to follow Moore.
"I think she has a very firm foundation of things that have worked well through all the years, and I think she has an opportunity to build on that as things change," he said.
Dodds is appreciative of the work Moore has done.
"All of the things I am capable of doing in my job are because of her," Dodds explained. "I started in 2001, and I was about as green as you could possibly imagine, and the board gave me a chance, Irene gave me a chance. As I said, I can't imagine going through these last 20 years without her as my mentor."
Several others were recognized during the evening -- Stephanie Vance was named the winner of this year's Distinguished Service Award and Chuck White of the Debray Farm was named Conservation Cooperator of the Year. Vance was honored for using her education, experience and love of natural resources to teach area young people about science, aquatic ecology and conservation. White earned his award for his work he and his late wife, Debra, played in managing their Knox Township land in a way that enhanced what nature already was working on.
Brent Nemeth was elected to the board of supervisors, joining the roster of more than 50 people who have served in that role during the past 80 years. Helen Grimm and Gary Bush were voted as the winners in the district's annual photo contest.
All of the awards and recognition were appropriate on a night when a longtime employee was honored
"Irene Moore's dedication to this county, state and nation as a whole is never matched by anybody on God's green Earth, because that's what she worked to do -- she worked to keep it green and to conserve our resources," Verhovec said.
(Gallabrese, a resident of Steubenville, is executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times)