Lance Evans and Janet Brownell were awarded the Michael and Penny Sharp-Sky Award for Voluntary Service that Builds and Sustains Community and Mary Blackstone was selected to receive the Peter Fisher Award for Dedication to the Cause of Fair Housing at OPAL Community Land Trust’s recent annual meeting.

OPAL president Helen Bee presented the award to Evans and Brownell. She reminded the audience of the many activities each of the couple participate in and volunteer for, including organizations that benefit children such as coaching girls’ middle school basketball, serving as an EMT, and as board members of the medical center, OICF, OIEF, Children’s House, Orcas Rec, school board and more.

Blackstone was lauded by Kari Van Gelder who spoke of Blackstone’s nine years of service with OPAL, beginning as a volunteer, serving on the board and as an officer, including three years as president. Blackstone led OPAL’s fundraising efforts through major campaigns to create the Reddick property, Oberon Wood, Lahari Ridge and Wild Rose Meadow. Van Gelder noted that OPAL active board members are not eligible for awards, so as soon as Blackstone completed her term-limited service in 2009, the board selected her for this honor.

In addition, several retiring OPAL board members were honored: Patty Johnson, Phil Weatherspoon and Michael Whellams, who served on the OPAL board for nine years, the maximum allowed by OPAL’s bylaws. He was president of the board in 2006, secretary of the board in 2005 and vice president in 2007. He served on the resident’s committee most of the years he was on the board. Weatherspoon joined the board in 2008. He worked on the finance and building committees, focused particularly on the water system at the Owl Lane property. Johnson, an OPAL resident in Lahari Ridge, came on the board in 2005 when her home was built. She was an outstanding chair for OPAL’s annual pie booth at the library fair for several years. Her faithful Jack Russell terrier, Maclay, seemed to have honorary board status during Johnson’s tenure.

During the annual meeting, elections were held to fill openings or to elect those who were filling out a term of service. Rollie Sauer was reelected to the board and asked to continue as treasurer of the organization. Newly elected board members include Midge Kraetzer, Vicki Brems, Suzanne Smith Olson and Luann Pamatian.

OPAL stands for “Of People and Land,” representing a commitment to protecting natural resources while providing permanently affordable homes for people who are vital to the Orcas Island community. Incorporated in 1989, OPAL now provides homes for 86 households on Orcas Island, and continues to accept applications from people who are not able to purchase a home on the open market. For more information, go to: www.opalclt.org