City Seeks Nominations for 6th Annual Ellen Pickering Award

FROM THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA:

Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission and Alexandria Renew Enterprises Seek Nominees for the Sixth Annual Ellen Pickering Award

For immediate Release: January 27, 2014

The City of Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission and Alexandria Renew Enterprises (formerly the Alexandria Sanitation Authority) are seeking nominees for the Sixth Annual Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award. The award honors and recognizes those who demonstrate a commitment to protecting the natural environment and keeping the City “green.”

The award will be presented during the Alexandria Earth Day 2014 celebration at Ben Brenman Park, (4800 Brenman Park Dr.) on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. A tree will be planted in honor of the recipient of this year’s Award. The event will include numerous educational exhibits, demonstrations, hands-on activities for children, a tree sale and more to emphasize this year’s theme: Are You An Eco-Citizen?

The Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award is named in honor of Frances Ellen Pickering, a former Board member of the Alexandria Sanitation Authority, who was dedicated to preservation and conservation in the City throughout her life.  She helped create the Mount Vernon Trail between Alexandria and Washington.  Pickering was committed to preserving and enhancing the City’s waterfront and urged the adoption of the City’s Open Space Plan lobbying to preserve Founder’s Park and protect it from high-rise development. She also implemented the planting of 1,000 citizen-donated cherry trees during her tenure as Chair of the Alexandria Beautification Commission.

Pickering served on a number of City Boards and Commissions, and was elected to City Council as an independent for one term between 1976 and 1979.

Qualifications: Residents, groups, clubs, organizations or corporations may be nominated.  To be eligible, nominees must live within the City of Alexandria and corporations, organizations and other groups must operate within the City of Alexandria. The actions of the nominees must have a direct impact on protecting the natural environment and natural resources within the City of Alexandria.

Selection: Selection will be made by a special committee composed of representatives from Alexandria Renew Enterprises, the Environmental Policy Commission, and members of Mrs. Pickering’s family.

Applicable Topics: Subject matter applicable to the award criteria include natural resource preservation, energy conservation, education outreach regarding environmental sustainability, water preservation, water conservation, waste reduction and/or materials reuse/recycling, and promotion of clean air.

Nomination Requirements:

Submissions must include the following:

• The nominee’s name, address, and telephone number, or the key individual to contact if a nominee is an organization.
• The name, address, and telephone number of the person nominating the candidate must be included.
• A brief description (not to exceed one page) of the nominee’s accomplishments and qualifications for the Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award.

Nominations may be submitted in several ways:

• Online Nominations: http://alexearthday.org/award.html
• Mailed or delivered to:
  The Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission
  Alexandria City Hall,
  T &ES, Office of Environmental Quality
  301 King Street, Room 3000
  Alexandria, VA 22314
• Nominations must be received by March 14.

Those making nominations may also refer to the Alexandria’s Eco-City Charter, adopted in 2008, and the Environmental Action Plan 2030, adopted in in 2009. Both documents define the guiding principles of environmental sustainability.

Visit the Eco-City Alexandria page for more information.