Thank you for your service!

Two very distinguished volunteers are stepping down from their Board of Director positions, so a huge thank you goes to Debbie Seabrook, this year's recipient of the Carl Cole Service Award, and Bill Reehl, Membership Chair.

Debbie Seabrook graduated from the 2015 Charleston Master Naturalist Program and has been a HUGE asset ever since. It is no surprise that her name in Latin – translates loosely to EVENT COORDINATOR!

Debbie has been outstanding in helping the CMNA offer consistent high-quality experiences month after month, year after year. She was president of the CMNA from 2017-2019 and she made sure to START and END on time 😊

I attempted to count the events Debbie has assisted with and/or planned over the years and it was too daunting a task. So I will highlight a few – and I mean only a few…

Debbie spearheaded the “Fall into the Lowcountry” retreat September 13-15, 2019. The Retreat featured Dana Beach, founder of the Coastal Conservation League. There were dozens of great speakers and field trip opportunities. Over twenty hours of Advanced Training in the Coastal Region will be open to all South Carolina Master Naturalists. My personal favorite was experiences hands-on mist netting for bats with SCDNR.

“It was really fantastic! Kudos and thanks to everyone on the committee, especially Debbie Seabrook for bringing in great speakers and keeping everyone heading in the right direction. I only saw happy, smiling faces for 3 days and heard only positive comments.” -Pam Wilson

Debbie has planned and executed many Think and Drinks / Walks and Talks with incredible speakers on topics ranging from alligators to community hydrology to eagles and so much more.

TRULY!!!!! Thank you, Debbie, for all your incredible energy and spirit. You made the 'work' of this FUN! You have carried this group to new heights and we would not be where we are today without your solid efforts. You tell it like it is – which I am very thankful for. You crave the connection the this tribe provides when the setting is right and we are just rambling in a park or staring at a moss bench for an hour! You have afforded our group nearly countless opportunities to get together and be us! We cannot really thank you enough, but we are going to try.

Margaret Meade said Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. With a person like Debbie Seabrook on your side- change WILL HAPPEN!

Bill Rheel – We want to thank him for his service as Membership Chair! He is detail oriented and took on the role with ease. Bill kept distribution lists straight- no easy task! Managed membership mailouts – tracked membership like a champ – working alongside the CMNA treasurer to keep records and finances aligned. He visited the classes while they were in session to introduce the CMNA and welcome them to the tribe. He has good taste in cupcakes too! We are so thankful to have gotten to know Bill better through his volunteer service to the CMNA and we hope to continue to see him at events and are very thankful for his service to grow and advance the membership position of the CMNA and beyond.