The board of the Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association (SVCA) showed its appreciation for the contributions of the organization's many volunteers Friday, Nov. 9 by serving them 10 different versions of chili prepared by its board, staff and event committee members.

Each attendee had a chance to try a small sample cup of all 10 chili varieties and then vote on their favorite. The clear winner was John Wenzel of Vassalboro, whose superb entry featured cut-up grilled steak and a variety of Wenzel's own home-grown vegetables. His chili proved the most popular, but all versions were tasty, and all drew at least one vote from the diners. 

Many thanks to all of the chili chefs as well as the following local businesses that donated to the dinner: Hannaford, Damariscotta, Hannaford, Augusta Cony, Yellowfront Grocery and Shaw’s of Wiscasset. 

SVCA offers members a wide range of volunteer choices, such as trail building and maintenance, water quality monitoring (a program now in its 18th year), preserve stewardship, maintaining the SVCA building, tending SVCA information displays at community events, building business relationships, supporting advocacy efforts, preparing press releases and posters, helping plan special events, or general office assistance. 

The office staff counted 2,000 hours of volunteer time logged during the past year, and believes there were many more uncounted hours. Individuals can contribute as many or as few hours as they wish.

Executive Director Maureen Hoffman said, “The SVCA is successful because the great quality and quantity of work by our volunteers multiplies tremendously the work we could do with just staff.”

SVCA Board President John Atwood said, “Volunteers are the backbone of SVCA's efforts to protect our watershed. And with our upcoming Sheepscot Family Festival, slated for September 8, 2013, and its many fun, family events, volunteers will be even more important to ensure a successful year of events.”