NNewsSpring 2003 5_14 - Keep America Beautiful

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SISSIPPI
ity of life across their states. With 67
pre-certified and certified affiliates,
KGB is, today, our largest state affiliate.
Congratulations and happy 25th
birthday, Keep Georgia Beautiful.
My thanks in particular to Governor
Purdue whose words at the Conference
confirmed his support. His leadership,
together with that of Commissioner
Meadows and the Department of
Community Affairs, exemplify the best
in a government partnership. My thanks
also to State Coordinator Lynn Cobb,
who is a great leader and whose experience
is so valued by our organization.
MISSISSIPPI
I was in Mississippi in late April, for
another birthday party celebrating
KAB’s 50th. Among the balloons
and festivity of the 11th annual
SOUTH CAROLINA
GEORGIA
Mississippi Awards luncheon, I saw
and felt KAB spirit again represented
at its best. Everyone in the room—
from the law enforcement officers to
our partners from the business world to
dedicated individuals—was an example
of how we are living the principles that
will help us fulfill and expand upon
our mission for another 50 years.
At the heart of everything we do
are the special individuals who are
the prime movers, the ones who take
personal responsibility for building
the KAB spirit. The “first lady” of
keeping Mississippi beautiful—Mrs.
Louise Godwin—was at the
Mississippi state luncheon. It was
because of her love of community, of
neighborhood beauty and cleanliness,
and of gardens, that Keep America
Beautiful got started in this state. I
TENNESSEE
had the privilege of thanking Mrs.
Godwin—a former Mrs. LBJ
winner— during the luncheon, as
well as recognizing other outstanding
Mississippians, including Mary Jo
Wentworth, another Mrs. LBJ winner,
and Barbara Dorr, a member of Keep
America Beautiful’s Board of
Directors. Barbara is truly on a
crusade to save Mississippi from the
pitfalls of a littered landscape and
to educate her state about core
principles of community improvement
and sustainability. I salute all of our
Mississippi teammates!
ARKANSAS
At the end of the month it was on to
Arkansas, where I was treated to the
world’s most unique and “trashy”
fashion show, as well as to a superb
state conference hosted by Keep
America Beautiful Executive Director
Rob Phelps and his team. I also participated
with Governor and Mrs. Mike
Huckabee in a presentation of the
“ARKeeper Award” to Charlotte
Nabholtz, from Keep Faulkner County
Beautiful. It was the first-ever presentation
of this award and we gave
Charlotte the “keys to a brand new
pickup”— a Yard Vac from MTD
Corporation. Carl Garner also attended
the Arkansas conference. Fifteen years
ago, Carl was the first winner of the
The Iron Eyes Cody Award. Carl is a
true environmental pioneer, a visionary
who launched the first public lands
day at Greers Ferry Lake. Take Pride in
America, a program of the 1980s and
1990s which was at the heart of Carl’s
public lands initiative, is back and
being reenergized by President George
W. Bush this year. When we awarded
Carl our Iron Eyes Cody Award we saw
the promise and vision of his work,
and we see the rewards of it still being
reaped today.
Across the country—no matter
where I travel—one message comes
through loud and clear. Keep America
Beautiful—our mission and the
individuals who live it—are more
important than ever to our country.
Our work is truly reaping results, and
our focus areas of litter abatement,
community improvement and beautification,
as well as waste reduction
are addressing vital national issues. I
am both proud and energized by the
work of our organization.
As we start shaping the next 50
years I know ours is the team that will
make it happen. It a privilege to work
with you all. See you in Kansas City!
keep america beautiful — NETWORK NEWS — spring 2003 page 5
Permission is hereby granted to reprint any article in whole or in part with the following credit line: Reprinted by permission of Keep America Beautiful, Inc. from Network News, Spring 2003 edition.