The National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils (NARC&DC) presented its 2014 Outstanding Council Member of the year to Ms. Harriet Powell of the Rhode Island RC&D Council (RIRC&D). The award was presented to Ms. Powell at NARC&DC’s national conference held in Mobile, Alabama June 1-4, 2014.
This award is presented annually to an RC&D council member that exemplifies the spirit of the RC&D by “Making Things Happen” in his/her council area.
Harriet Powell has been associated with the RI RC&D since 2003. She has served as a Council member since that time representing the Southern RI Conservation District. During her tenure with the Council he has served as its President for the past nine (9) years as well as participating on numerous subcommittees. She has participated in the development of all the Council’s Area and Annual Work Plans. Harriet’s quiet, steady enthusiasm for the RI RC&D program has helped to insure the success of the organization, recruiting new members and tirelessly advocating support of the Mission and Vision of RIRC&D. Some of RIRC&D’s recent projects include the Rhody Warm Blanket, update of the RI Erosion & Sediment Control Manual, the RI Stream Continuity project and the Rhode Island Woods website (rhodeislandwoods.uri.edu).
Harriet states that “All RC&D Councils are volunteer, are job creators, small-business supporters, water quality and quantity protectors and conservation-minded. Communities and citizens need them. We, in Rhode Island, certainly need ours.”
Harriet has a Master of Science Degree in Geology from URI. Currently, she serves on the North Kingstown Planning Commission, the NK Asset Management Commission, is President of the NK Groundwater Committee and serves on the State Conservation Commission. Harriet is also on the Board of Trustees of the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Museum and was instrumental in creating the Museum's Nature Walk. In her free time she paints.
For more information on Resource Conservation and Development Councils please visit http://www.rcdnet.org or www.rircd.org.