The GEM Award
Dear GLCA member,
This is exciting and timely news.
GLCA’s Board of Directors approved the initiation of a special merit award, the Gem Award, to be given to an individual who is beloved and highly prized. Such a recipient, living or deceased, has made a significant, long-term contribution to the preservation of Garnet Lake through his/her personal effort and support of the GLCA, for the benefit of all users of the lake. This individual is/was a model of dependability and responsibility and an inspiration to all users and property owners at Garnet Lake.
The award will be presented for the first time at our 2024 annual meeting on July 27. All GLCA members in good standing are invited to make email nominations for the award by June 15th. Please send nominations to GLCA’s secretary, judythomson@garnetlake.org.
The winner(s) will be approved by the Board of Directors and announced at the Annual Meeting. This is a very special award, and it will not be routinely granted every single year.
May 24th, 2024
Proclamation
We, the Garnet Lake Conservation Association, bestow the 2024 GEM Award on Robert Manning (1935-2023) for his exemplary work on:
§ Testing and maintaining water quality in the lake
§ Working on a safe, affordable upgrade to the dam
§ Contributing photos and research to a history of the lake
§ Fighting invasive Japanese knotweed around Garnet Lake and in downstream areas
§ Keeping watch on the spillway
§ Buying and managing part of nearby Oven Mountain
§ Serving as president and long-time board member and a great overall contributor
§ With intelligence, humor and will, living as an exemplary neighbor and friend
We will greatly miss Bob Manning, and we send our sincere condolences to his widow, Tomoko; sons Carl, Ted, and Bill; daughters-in-law Nancy and Peggy; grandchildren; sister and brother. Thanks to him for his great contributions to life at Garnet Lake.
Manning Family
Proclamation
We, the Garnet Lake Conservation Association, bestow the 2024 GEM Award on Robert Vawter (1948-2024) for his exemplary work as he:
§ With great foresight, urged the GLCA to comply with state regulations related to the dam
§ Participated in selecting a professional engineering firm to perform an assessment of our dam
§ Developed and supervised the necessary Inspection and Maintenance Plan
§ Used his skills as a lawyer to get the Auxiliary Spillway property into GLCA ownership along with the Dam itself
§ Altogether, helped the lake community work with the state to keep Garnet Lake safe
§ Served as president and long-time board member and a great overall contributor
§ With intelligence, good nature, and extraordinary courage, lived as a great neighbor and friend
We will greatly miss Bob Vawter, and we send our sincere condolences to his widow, Mary; his children David and Teresa; his son-in-law Michael and daughter-in-law Megan; his grandchildren; and his two sisters. Thanks to him for his great contributions to life at Garnet Lake.
Mary Vawter with GLCA President Anne Bernat
