FOSM and Several Members Receive Forest Service Awards During 2025 Volunteer Appreciation Event
May 16, 2025 – FOSM President Mike Madden writes:
About 60 people attended Tuesday’s SRD All Volunteer Appreciation Event. Special thanks goes to Aryn LaBrake of Public Lands Interpretive Association (PLIA) for having the food catered.
Ken Born, Sandia District Ranger, presented FOSM with a SW Region Volunteer and Service Award, ‘in recognition of volunteer contributions in LEADERSHIP in fiscal year 2024, to conserve and manage natural and cultural resources for the SW Region of the Forest Service.’
Julie Padilla and Jen Medina-Gray presented individual awards to the following:
- Bob Lowder and Byron Garner for leading the Monday Crew – “Outstanding Leadership”
- Sam Beard for leading the Wednesday Crew (and for working on the district almost every day) – “Enduring Service”
- Laura Leon for leading the Thursday Crew – “Outstanding Leadership”
- Joelle Hertel for leading Special Projects – “The Visionary”
- Lou Romero for leading Youth Programs and Donation Wood – “Community Service”
- Jamey Browning for GPS, maps, kiosk and trail signs – “The Extraordinaire”
- Luis Cuadros for his community engagement and a deep interest in improving his trail building expertise
Click on any image to enlarge.
FOSM Briefs Forest Service Volunteer Program Coordinators
FOSM was honored to be invited to brief the 3rd annual meeting of Forest Service volunteer program coordinators as a model friends organization. Mike Madden, Sam Beard, and Lou Romero presented the adjacent 15-slide overview of FOSM during a nationwide virtual meeting on January 30. Among the 30 participants were Sandia District Ranger Ken Born and Recreation Staff Officer Julie Padilla. Ken made the following observations afterwards:
Awesome job today, gentleman! We greatly appreciate you carving out time to share your experiences and know-how with the national volunteer group. This kind of information sharing and engagement is so helpful for other forests and national program managers to be part of – and makes me really proud to call FOSM our partner.
Thanks again for all you do in service to the public and the Sandia mountains.
Sandia Ranger District Hosts 2023 Volunteer Recognition Event
October 19, 2023 – Sandia Ranger District (SRD) hosted its annual Volunteer Recognition Event. FOSM was recognized repeatedly by Forest Service officials Crystal Powell, Julie Padilla, Russell Berman, and Sandra Coambs. Several FOSM members including Sam Beard, Joelle Hertel, Jamey Browning, Lou Romero, and Mike Madden were recognized individually.
Jenny Blackmore received special recognition for her leadership of the Challenge Trail extension project.
2022 Sandia Ranger District Volunteer Appreciation Event
Sandia Ranger District (SRD) held a volunteer recognition event at the Oak Flat Picnic Area on October 21, 2022. FOSM and several of our members were among the volunteer organizations and individuals recognized. District Ranger Crystal Powell began the ceremonies by saying, “FOSM is awesome.” Thanks for the recognition, SRD!
FOSM Recognized with National Award
May 31, 2018 – The Friends of the Sandia Mountains have been recognized by the USDA Forest Service with the National Award for Enduring Service. For more than 22 years, they have helped maintain and paint facilities, fell hazard trees, build and maintain trails, serve at the Sandia Crest Information Center, and restore historical buildings.
“So many volunteers contribute endless hours of time and energy to the success of our mission and we appreciate each and every one of them,” said Steve Hattenbach, Forest Supervisor.
(To read the complete news release, click here.)