Conservationists Honored at SVT Annual Meeting

Davnet Conway addresses the gathering at SVT's 2025 Annual Meeting

On the evening of October 7, 2025, SVT was pleased to welcome members, supporters, and friends to the Framingham Village Hall, where we celebrated another year of conservation at our 72nd Annual Meeting.

During the meeting, we elected Members and Officers of the Board of Directors, and Executive Director Davnet Conway (pictured) provided a recap of SVT projects from 2024-2025.

The evening concluded with the presentation of our Annual Conservation Awards, which recognize SVT volunteers, regional conservationists, public officials, and others who care for the environment and strive to increase access to nature. We were pleased to present the following awards:

Steward of the Land

SVT named Jim Shelhamer of Acton our 2025 Steward of the Land for his efforts to improves the visitor experience at SVT properties.

Jim volunteers his time and skills to build bridges and kiosks for SVT trails, and he has also designed and built accessible picnic tables for the new All Persons’ Trail at SVT’s Wolbach Farm in Sudbury.

“If you’ve seen a recent photo of volunteers working to fix or build bridges, kiosks, or picnic tables, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve seen an example of Jim offering his time and skills at one of SVT’s properties," said Dan Stimson, SVT Director of Land Management. "Jim is a careful and skilled woodworker who has used his skills and experience to make a lot of our projects better. He is enthusiastic about doing good work for the people who enjoy our trails, and is always enjoyable to work with.”

Morgan Volunteer of the Year

Roland “Boot” Boutwell of Winchester received SVT’s 2025 Morgan Volunteer of the Year Award. Named for SVT co-founders Allen and Alice Morgan, the award recognizes volunteers who give unselfishly of their time in support of SVT’s work. The Morgans' son David (at left in photo) was on hand to present the award to Boot.

Dana Baxter, SVT Assistant Director of Development, explained that Boot regularly donates his time to lead free SVT nature walks where he shares his in-depth knowledge of the natural world. She commented that Boot is a highly regarded naturalist who “has been a beloved presence in the SVT community for many years. Through the countless nature walks he’s led, he has introduced people to the beauty of our region’s natural landscapes.”

Another SVT volunteer, Jeff Adams, spoke about how Boot inspired him to learn more about nature and to begin leading his own nature walks. “For anyone who’s taken a walk with Boot, they will never walk through the natural world the same way again,” he said. “His passion is obvious from the beginning to end of his programs…His walks ‘sell out’ faster than a Springsteen concert.”

Lewis Conservation Award

SVT was delighted to present Giancarla Kalpas of Chelmsford with our 2025 Lewis Conservation Award. The award, which is named for SVT co-founder George Lewis, recognizes people who are dedicated to conservation in our region and who also encourage others to care for the earth.

A leader in the Bumble Bee Project of the Metrowest Conservation Alliance, Giancarla (at left in photo) was praised for going “above and beyond” in helping others create habitat for declining species of native pollinators. She has made videos, given public presentations, visited and helped others with their pollination gardens, led winter sow workshops, and hosted garden events.

“Giancarla is one of those amazing people who applies her passion to make pivotal change for environmental good, positively influencing both people and nature,” said Laura Mattei, SVT Director of Conservation, who presented the award to Giancarla. “Giancarla has provided charming and persuasive leadership to teach others about how to create Pollinator Preservation Gardens and habitat that supports our declining native species of pollinators.”

Cecil Hynds-Riddle presents the inaugural Trailblazer Award to Susan Brown, co-founder and Vice President of SMILE Mass.

Trailblazer for Inclusion in the Outdoors

SVT presented our first-ever Trailblazer in the Outdoors Award to SMILE Mass, a Sudbury-based nonprofit that helps those with disabilities live happy, healthy lives through education, recreation, and vacation experiences. SVT created the Trailblazer Award to recognize those who have made a profound impact on expanding inclusion in the outdoors.

In announcing SMILE Mass as the recipient, Cecil Hynds-Riddle, SVT Director of Development, noted several of the organization’s many accomplishment. SMILE Mass created the first fully accessible playground in Sudbury, launched an Adaptive Equipment Loaner Program that offers free access to beach wheelchairs and adaptive bikes, donated 180 beach wheelchairs to public beaches throughout New England, and purchased and renovated two accessible vacation homes on Cape Cod that provide barrier-free beach access for hundreds of families each year.

“SVT has admired your work from afar,” commented Cecil, as she presented the award to Susan Brown, co-founder and Vice President of SMILE Mass (at right in photo).

Distinguished Public Service

A heartfelt expression of gratitude goes to U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Worcester), to whom we awarded our Distinguished Public Service Award.

Cecil Hynds-Riddle, SVT Director of Development, commented that Rep. McGovern’s environmental leadership has advanced the work SVT does every day—protecting land and water, restoring wildlife habitat, and opening the outdoors to everyone. “He has championed the Land and Water Conservation Fund and supported the Great American Outdoors Act—critical tools that keep local parks, trails, and open spaces thriving in Massachusetts and across the country.”

Cecil added that Rep. McGovern has co-led national legislation to “save the bees” and is also a great friend to local farmers, as evidenced by his annual farm tour to hear directly from farmers about the challenges they face and the resources they need.

Rep. McGovern was unable to be in attendance, but SVT thanks him for his leadership and partnership in conserving the lands and waters that sustain us all.

Steve Correia, Molly Beard, John Beard, and Davnet Conway

Lifetime Achievement

Three cheers for a lifelong commitment to conservation! SVT presented our 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award to John and Molly Beard of Wayland.

As his first official act as SVT's new Board President, Steve Correia made the presentation to his fellow Wayland residents. Steve explained that in addition to protecting their own land through donations and conservation restrictions, John and Molly have served on many Town committees and boards to help protect land throughout Wayland. They have also played a role in strengthening SVT over the decades through their volunteer service on numerous committees and the Board of Directors, where their legal, financial, and organizational expertise have proven invaluable.

“Through their donations, purchases, and volunteered time," said Steve, "the Beards have helped protect hundreds of acres of land in the region and are known for their conservation generosity from Maine to the coast of Dartmouth.”

John and Molly are proud great-grandparents and clearly understand how land conservation is going to make this place livable for future generations. Steve concluded, “John will tell you that nothing makes them happier than ‘letting kids of the current generation—and definitely into the future—do the stuff that we loved to do when we were kids. And Molly has said, ‘What we’re doing at SVT and elsewhere is vital. It teaches others about the value of land, and open land in particular.’”

SVT thanks John and Molly for being lifetime champions for conservation and longtime supporters of our work.

Davnet Conway, Tom McGowan, Sherri Cline

Life Members

To conclude the Awards Ceremony and the Annual Meeting, Davnet Conway returned to the podium to thank and recognize several people who have been named Life Members by the SVT Board of Directors for their extraordinary support of SVT's work:

Steve and Judy Kaye
Sherri Cline and Thomas McGowan (pictured, with Davnet Conway)
Bill and Karen Sample
Kevin and Tamara Toto
Joy Viola

SVT thanks all of our new Life Members for your generosity and your commitment to the SVT mission.

And thank you to everyone who made our 2025 Annual Meeting a success!