“Your successes… and so much to say”
Sometimes you just have to stop, think, review, and evaluate everything just to realize how truly remarkable your successes are for your families, your job, and the other efforts that you choose to invest your time in on a daily basis. As I take a close look at what YOU have achieved and review the many successes that you have made possible for our great state, it simply amazes me. Yes, Alabama PALS has and continues to be a conduit for these statewide efforts for your cities, counties, communities and volunteer efforts, but each of YOU through your stewardship, faithfulness, active involvement and support, continue to be the true and shining examples of what a “Success Story” looks like. Below are just a few of the many success stories that you have made possible.
The 2024 “Don’t Drop It On Alabama” Spring Cleanup grew and was one of the largest in the history of this statewide effort. While we are still tallying all of the final numbers for the 2024 cleanup, I want to share just a few examples of the growth in 2024. Mobile County participated in the statewide cleanup for the first time and totaled 126 tons of litter reported as picked up during the 2024 effort! The partnership between the Alabama Community College Systems, RC&D, Coca-Cola United (Title Sponsor for the DDIOA Spring Cleanup) and PALS resulted in over 18,000 pounds of litter being removed from ACCS campuses and roadways in conjunction with respective cities and communities. Success!
The 2024 Alabama Coastal Cleanup will be held on September 21, 2024. This will be the 37th Annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup. Thank you ADCNR/State Lands/Coastal Section for your partnership, support, and leadership during these 37 years, and thank you PCI for your devoted stewardship as Title Sponsor for this most successful coastal effort each year. I want to also thank each of the Corporate Sponsors that have made this annual effort possible. Your dedication is absolutely unmatched! Who would have ever thought that in 36 years 110,448 volunteers have participated, 6,939 miles of coastline have been cleaned, and 1,779,911 pounds of litter have been removed from our beautiful and most valuable Gulf Coast? Success!
As the Alabama Clean Campus has evolved and grown and has become a most integral piece of your organization, the far-fetching statewide results are just remarkable. Jamie has done such a wonderful job in building and growing this program and it will continue to reap dividends for Alabama for many years, as the children receiving this message will be our leaders of the future. During the past school year the Alabama Clean Campus message has been presented personally in approximately 50 schools, plus the schools that have benefited from the program being available with Zoom and YouTube. Success!
The Alabama Adopt-A-Mile Program continues to grow each year and 2024 is no different. To think that Alabama now has 922 adopted miles of State, Federal and County highways adopted is mind boggling, and during the past 12-month period there have been 91 new applications received in the PALS office! Thank you ALDOT for your support and confidence. Thank you, Christy and all participants. Success!
2024 has been a busy and productive year for Alabama PALS. Thank you for allowing us to serve your cities, counties and communities. Inside this issue of the PALS Prints you will find the Nomination Forms for the 2024 Alabama PALS Governors Awards Program, and the Nomination Forms for the Alabama Cleanup Campus Statewide competition. All winners will be recognized at the 2024 luncheon on November 12th at the Renaissance Convention Center in Montgomery. We look forward to seeing each of you and your winners! Take this opportunity to nominate those that have made a difference in your respective locations. We look forward to honoring them in November. More Successes!
Now for the part that will be hardest for me to write……
Last July, I informed the Executive Committee of Alabama PALS that I would be retiring as Executive Director of Alabama PALS on October 1, 2024. The entire board was informed at the board meeting in November prior to the 2023 Governors Awards luncheon. This has given us the opportunity to effectively plan and build for the future for PALS, and I know that PALS will continue to grow and be an even more effective organization in the future. There is a very strong foundation that has been built. Each of you have played such a valuable role that will not only see PALS into the future but will continue to grow this wonderful organization in ways that will make me proud. PALS is in wonderful hands.
Alabama PALS has been my “home” for almost 38 years, and there has not been a day that has passed that I have not loved serving, planning for, representing, and leading this wonderful organization on behalf of the Volunteers, Board, Staff, Corporate Sponsors and Partners. I have been the one that has been blessed! No leader of any business, organization or any other group has received more support, love, friendship and loyalty than I have had for 38 years. There will never be adequate words to express my deepest appreciation for the opportunity to play a small role in watching YOUR organization grow and make a difference for the state that we all love. It has been a true honor and privilege and I trust that I will have opportunities to thank you personally in the future. Thank you, and I love each one of you that has allowed us to invest in each other’s lives. It has been ONE HECK of a Ride.
– Spencer Ryan