Friends of the Sandia Mountains began bestowing it’s own award for outstanding volunteer service in 2024. The award is named for Sam Beard who epitomizes its basis. Sam cofounded FOSM in 1997 and still spends most days every week in dedicated service to its mission at an age when most have passed or retired to a comfortable chair.
The first Sam Beard Award was given to Tim Brown in recognition of this 15 years of dedicated service as FOSM treasurer.
In 2025, the FOSM board of directors approved a process for nominating and selecting future awardees on an annual basis, and cofounder Don Carnicom was selected as the second awardee.
A perpetual plaque that will be updated as new awards are presented is mounted in the conference room of the Sandia Ranger Station .
Bob and Sally Lowder Receive Sam Beard Achievement Awards
October 6, 2026 – FOSM president Mike Madden presented Sam Beard Achievement Award plaques to Bob and Sally Lowder for their many years of dedicated service.
This award is given to members of Friends of the Sandia Mountains in recognition of exceptional volunteer service to the Forest Service and our public lands. The award is named for Sam Beard who epitomizes the basis of the award. Sam cofounded FOSM in 1997 and still spends most days every week in dedicated service to its mission at an age when most have passed or retired to a comfortable chair.
Bob served very capably as FOSM president from 2004 through 2020. He has led the Monday trail maintenance crew for many years. He established the SWCP account that provides our FOSM and CTR email lists without which FOSM couldn’t operate, and he manages these lists to this day.
Sally served on the FOSM board from 2003 through 2022. She created and still manages the Trail Tree Report that enables the trail maintenance process to operate so effectively. She has managed our complex membership process for many years, and for many years she also managed the sawyer certification process.
Bob and Sally’s names join those of Tim Brown and Don Carnicom as award recipients on the perpetual plaque located in the Sandia Ranger District conference room.
FOSM Co-founder Don Carnicom Receives Sam Beard Award
October 7, 2025 – FOSM co-founder Don Carnicom was presented with the 2025 Sam Beard Achievement Award for his 28 years of service to Friends of the Sandia Mountains. Jamey Browning created and presented a beautiful wooden plaque commemorating Don’s devotion to maintenace of signage associated with the Sandia Crest National Scenic Byway Auto Tour Guide.
This award is given to FOSM members in recognition of exceptional volunteer service to the Forest Service and our public lands. Nominations for the award are solicited annually from the board of directors and weekly crew leaders, and awardees are selected from the nominees by the board.
The award is named for Sam Beard who epitomizes its basis. Sam and Don cofounded FOSM in 1997, and Sam still spends most days every week in dedicated service to its mission at an age when most have passed or retired to a comfortable chair.
Jamey and Silke Bletzer created a perpetual plaque recognizing winners of the award. The plaque will be on permanent display in the Sandia Ranger Station conference room.
Congratulations and thanks for your service, Don!
Tim Brown Receives First Sam Beard Award
October 1, 2024 – President Mike Madden presented the first Sam Beard Achievement Award, a plaque made by Jamey Browning, to Tim Brown commemorating his 15 years service as FOSM treasurer.
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