George and Barbara Fell were founders of the Natural Land institute in 1958.  They committed their lives to fulfilling their vision of a statewide system of nature preserves and natural areas that would protect the precious few remaining examples of Illinois’ natural heritage from destruction – areas to be used for scientific research and ecological education and to maintain habitat for rare and endangered species of plants and animals.  George Fell died in 1994.

The Natural Land Institute is a not-for-profit land conservation organization that envisions a world in which people recognize that we are a part of nature and act with the knowledge that our future depends upon preserving the natural systems that support all life on Earth.

Since 1997, the Natural Land Institute has presented the George and Barbara Fell Award to individuals demonstrating a commitment to the preservation of natural lands in northern Illinois. 

 The George and Barbara Fell Award recognizes:

 1.  Accomplishments that have significantly advanced natural area preservation, protection, management and restoration in northern Illinois

 2.  Work in any area of activity (natural resource management, education, journalism, law, science) applied to stewardship of natural areas, restoration of natural areas, and the protection and understanding of natural diversity

3.  The best qualities of land conservationists – the qualities exemplified by George and Barbara Fell through their lifelong dedication to the protection of natural areas.

 This is an opportunity to give recognition to an individual who has demonstrated distinguished achievement during an entire career.  Please send nominations by January 19, 2008, to the Natural Land Institute, Jerry Paulson, Executive Director, 320 South Third Street, Rockford, Illinois 61104. 

 In your letter of nomination, please provide the following information:

 1.  Name of nominee, title, address, telephone, e-mail

 2.  Describe the achievements that form the basis for this nomination.

 3.  Describe the scope of the activity and the resources or issues addressed.

4.  Describe how creativity or leadership was demonstrated. 

5.  What other decisions or actions illustrate the nominee’s overall, long-term commitment to natural area preservation and activities designed to restore and/or preserve natural diversity of ecosystems?  How has this commitment been communicated to the public?

 6.  To what extent has the nominee’s accomplishments addressed resources preservation issues of widespread concern regionally or globally?

 7.  Name of the person(s) making the nomination, title, address, telephone, e-mail

Past recipients of the George and Barbara Fell Award:

 1997 - Barbara Fell (Rockford, Illinois)

1998 - Dorothy Wade (Oregon, Illinois)

1999 - Bruce Ross-Shannon (Rockford, Illinois)

2000 - Keith and Mary Blackmore (Forreston, Illinois)

2001 - Jack and Joyce Armstrong (Rockford, Illinois)

2002 - Mary B. Bushnell (Stillman Valley, Illinois)

2003 - Tim Keller (Sterling, Illinois)    

2004 - Mark Keister (Winslow, Illinois)        

2006 - Lee Johnson (Shirland, Illinois)

2007 - Dr. Richard Newsome (Beloit, Wisconsin)

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