Below are images from the 2024 Governor’s Awards. For full resolution images, please visit our Flickr gallery.
Please visit our Governor’s Awards page for more information.
Below are images from the 2024 Governor’s Awards. For full resolution images, please visit our Flickr gallery. Please visit our...
By LIZI ARBOGAST GWINManaging Editor, Tallapoosa Publishers Inc There’s people who are anti-littering, and then there’s John Thompson. Thompson has...
BY Jeff Helms, Chairman, Alabama PALS As we prepare to welcome the New Year, Alabama PALS is ushering in a...
“Honoring the Past While Embracing the Future” After 33 years in Old Alabama Town, Alabama PALS has moved to a...
Message from John Cooper – Director, Alabama Department of Transportation As we approach the end of the year, I want...
Message from Shay Grant – Clean Campus State Coordinator The Clean Campus Program had a busy year in 2024! Jamie...
Message from Christy Waddell – State Adopt-A-Mile Coordinator As we wrap up 2024, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude...
By Jamie Mitchell There is nothing quite like fall in Alabama when the hot days begin to yield to cooler...
Chambers County Commissioner Sam Bradford began the Clean Up Chambers County initiative in partnership with ALPALS in 2022 and challenged...
Below are images from the 2024 Governor’s Awards. For full resolution images, please visit our Flickr gallery.
Please visit our Governor’s Awards page for more information.
By LIZI ARBOGAST GWIN
Managing Editor, Tallapoosa Publishers Inc
There’s people who are anti-littering, and then there’s John Thompson. Thompson has been known as the anti-litter man around Lake Martin for many, many years and he was honored at the recent Alabama People Against A Littered State Governor’s Awards dinner.
Thompson is used to winning awards for his environmental efforts, but winning the Don Hines Memorial Award was on a whole new level.
Much like a lifetime achievement award, the Don Hines Memorial Award is the highest annual honor given by Alabama PALS every year.
“It’s really given to people who have been kind of lifelong stewards of the environment,” PALS executive director Jamie Mitchell said. “When you think of whoever is going to get this award, you think of longevity. You really think about somebody who’s given years of their life to this work, and John is exactly that.”
To win the award, Thompson had to be nominated, which was done by Alexander City Chamber of Commerce president and Tallapoosa County Commissioner Steve Robinson.
Robinson has been a longtime friend and supporter of Thompson and his environmental efforts. The two even teamed up for the second Saturday cleanup in Alexander City to start awarding prize money to nonprofit organizations that joined the cleanup.
In addition to his work for the second Saturday cleanup, Thompson was the longtime president of Lake Martin Resource Association where he helped LMRA get involved with Alabama Power’s Renew Our Rivers cleanup. That lake-wide cleanup celebrated 20 years in 2024 with LMRA’s partnership.
“Beyond just cleaning up, there’s environmental education that he’s been a part of and the clean water initiatives,” Robinson said. “He’s done that for decades.”
In addition to being a boots-on-the-ground volunteer, Thompson has also donated financially toward helping purchase cleanup materials and in getting a third Saturday cleanup started in Alex City in the minority community, according to Robinson.
Thompson’s time in anti-littering spans back to the 1970s with the Crying Indian ad, which was a public service announcement on TV discussing keeping America beautiful.
It wasn’t only the PSA that touched Thompson’s heart but a poster his son created in art class with a Crying Indian on it.
“It all went from there,” Thompson said. “I think both (my son) and I both have had this passion for just keeping our roadsides clean, and then when I moved to the lake, there were some areas that hadn’t been touched for 20 years. It just turned my stomach to the point where I said we cannot leave this stuff building up like this.”
Thompson started a small neighborhood cleanup near the Sturdivant area and just started, quite literally, tackling the trash. From there, that developed into larger cleanups and involvement in LMRA.
“I think what John has done has just been great,” Robinson said. “He is a very humble person, very focused, but he’s a leader. He’s helped engage many others. So the strength of what John has done is really a legacy thing. There are other people that he’s engaged that are now involved in doing what he’s done, and he really carries that torch.”
BY Jeff Helms, Chairman, Alabama PALS
As we prepare to welcome the New Year, Alabama PALS is ushering in a new era of stewardship under the leadership of Executive Director Jamie Mitchell. With a decade of experience as Clean Campus Coordinator, Jamie brings a passion for education to her new role as well as a deep appreciation for the volunteers who make our organization great. With the support of retired Executive Director and mentor Spencer Ryan, Jamie is positioning Alabama PALS for even greater impact in the future. We recently relocated the Alabama PALS office to a more energy-efficient space off Vaughn Road in east Montgomery. Jamie also is leading efforts to modernize accounting functions and develop more detailed budgets for PALS’ programs.
Joining Jamie’s vision to strengthen Alabama PALS are Adopt-A-Mile Coordinator Christy Waddell and Clean Campus Coordinator Shay Grant. Christy’s attention to detail has improved audits, recordkeeping, and sign distribution for adopted miles. She has recently identified signs in need of replacement and is working with ALDOT to ensure these markers are a worthy representation of our volunteers’ work. Christy also has streamlined the shipping of signs. Meanwhile, Shay brings decades of classroom experience and a love for teaching to the Clean Campus program. She has already visited about 15 schools this fall, with more on the calendar for 2025.
The Board of Directors is excited about this trio’s vision for the future of Alabama PALS. As we work to equip the staff for success, we also are taking steps to strengthen the organization’s governance and continuity. In 2024, we updated the Alabama PALS bylaws to reflect programmatic and technology changes and to ensure our practices align with the PALS’ mission.
We also voted to add two longtime partners to the Board. In 2025, we are excited to welcome Andy Britton of Coca-Cola UNITED and Sharon Tinsley of the Alabama Broadcasters Association. Andy has been a vital link in expanding Alabama PALS’ recycling efforts and engaging the Alabama Community College System with the Clean Campus program. Meanwhile, Sharon has led the production and broadcast of the Alabama PALS public service announcement for more years than I can remember. We appreciate their ongoing contributions to the organization and willingness to serve in leadership roles. As you can see, great things are on the horizon for Alabama PALS. With your help, we can make 2025 our best year yet!
After 33 years in Old Alabama Town, Alabama PALS has moved to a new location! As you can imagine after 33 years in that building, there was a lot of sifting and sorting that needed to take place. We found original minutes from some of the first PALS board meetings; we found newspaper clippings from around the state advertising the “new” Adopt-A-Mile program; and we even found the original PALS stuffed animal mascot, “Seymour the Dinosaur!” We had some laughs going through those old documents. They are now all safely filed away in our new office if anyone would like some interesting reading material.
The one thing that seemed to be a constant in all the material we found was the passion, heart, and dedication to the mission that each of the founding members of PALS had for this organization. That dedication along with each volunteer that has bought into those ideals along the way has made this organization stronger and more vital each year. It is rare nowadays to see organizations have the sort of success and longevity PALS has had, and that is a credit to the founders for building it on a very solid foundation.
How can we possibly talk about PALS’ past without mentioning Spencer Ryan? With the steady leadership of Spencer Ryan for these past 38 years, this organization has stayed true to our mission of “Alabama Communities Working Together for a Cleaner and More Beautiful Alabama.” If you ever had the pleasure of working with Spencer, you know exactly why this organization has had the longevity and success it has had. In the 10 years I worked for Spencer, I watched him lead with a humble spirit but a firm belief that the work we do is important and that we are absolutely nothing without community connections and our amazing volunteers.
In this newsletter, you will see the new award we added to this year’s Governor’s awards in honor of Spencer. It
is called the “Spencer Ryan Community Connections” Award, and it is given to a county or community that has gone the “extra mile” to bring schools, city and county leaders, law enforcement, and local businesses together to create a community litter plan. We hope this award encourages other counties to set goals and get everyone on the same page when it comes to litter prevention and removal in their areas.
Speaking of the Governor’s Awards, we had a lovely luncheon this year and gave out 65 awards to deserving volunteers, schools, students, law enforcement officers, businesses, cities, and counties. We were thrilled to have a welcome video from Governor Ivey herself to thank the many volunteers that made 2024 such a success! Secretary of State Wes Allen gave our remarks, and Secretary Hal Taylor from ALEA helped hand out our Law Enforcement Awards again this year. Many of our amazing corporate sponsors and other partners were represented, as well. As you are planning your cleanups for 2025, notice any individuals, law enforcement officers, businesses or elected officials that are going above and beyond and nominate them for next year’s awards! It is a great way to recognize those that are doing such good work.
On September 21st, in conjunction with the ADCNR, 31 outstanding zone captains, over 2,000 volunteers, and the most supportive corporate sponsors including our Presenting Sponsor, the Poarch Creek Indians, we conducted another very successful Alabama Coastal Cleanup. It was one of the most beautiful days we have had in years for the Coastal Cleanup, as you will see in the pictures on the following pages. There was over 10,000 pounds of litter collected and over 200 pounds of recycling sorted by Osprey Initiative. The two most collected items were cigarette butts and plastic bottles, with over 1,000 of each of those being picked up. Go ahead and make plans to join us for the 2025 cleanup! It is always the 3rd Saturday in September.
As we look to the future of PALS in a new location and under new leadership, we will continue to honor the past and stay true to the mission that has gotten us this far. We will maintain the wonderful partnerships with ALDOT, ADECA, ADCNR, ACCA, ACCS and more. We will continue to foster relationships with the communities in our state that desire to have a cleaner and more beautiful community. We will continue to be grateful for each member, volunteer and corporate sponsor of PALS. There are only three of us here in the PALS office, so it really is YOU that makes this place so special and will continue to for many years to come.
In closing, we look forward to working with each of you in 2025. Let’s make the 2025 “Don’t Drop It on Alabama” Spring Cleanup in April the largest and most effective statewide cleanup ever. Let us know how we can best assist your cities, counties, groups and communities in preparing for the 2025 statewide cleanup. We also want to extend our thanks to Coca-Cola UNITED for once again serving as Title Sponsor for the event. Thank you for all you have done in 2024, and let’s make 2025 our best year yet!
— Jamie Mitchell
As we approach the end of the year, I want to thank Alabama PALS and its dedicated volunteers for their commitment to keeping our state beautiful. Through your efforts, we are making tangible differences in our communities, ensuring that Alabama’s roadways and public spaces remain clean and inviting for everyone.
This season of giving is also a time of increased travel, as families and friends come together to celebrate the holidays. At the Alabama Department of Transportation, we are keenly aware of the importance of safe and pleasant journeys for everyone who uses our roads. A clean roadway reflects the pride we take in our state.
Alabama PALS plays a vital role in ensuring our roadsides are litter free and that all Alabamians can take pride in their state. Your contributions to the “Don’t Drop It On Alabama” Spring Cleanup and other initiatives directly support ALDOT’s mission to provide a transportation system that serves motorists while preserving the natural beauty of our state.
As we enter the new year, I encourage everyone to carry forward the PALS mission by being mindful of litter, protecting our natural resources and promoting a clean Alabama. On behalf of ALDOT, I thank Alabama PALS for our partnership and continuing to inspire stewardship across our state. Your dedication is a gift to Alabamians and everyone traveling on our roadways.
Message from Shay Grant – Clean Campus State Coordinator
The Clean Campus Program had a busy year in 2024! Jamie Mitchell moved from the Clean Campus State Coordinator to the Executive Director of Alabama PALS. She completed the school year with many visits to schools across the state, helped with the Spring Clean-up, as well as oversaw the poster and recycled art contests in 2024. I joined the PALS team in September as the new Clean Campus State Coordinator and am thrilled to have this new opportunity to go into schools and spread the anti-litter message to students. I retired from the classroom in June after 33 years of teaching and can’t wait to work with teachers to come up with ways to implement the Clean Campus Program.
With spring just around the corner, I hope that you will consider adding cleanups or campus beautification projects into your routine. If you need any help with ideas for this, do not hesitate to contact me. If you have not already had an in-person visit from me, I would love to schedule a time to come speak with your students. Our poster and recycled art contests are a fantastic way to get students excited about keeping our state clean! The theme for this year’s poster contest is “Help Alabama Thrive! Clean Up in 2025!” Please have your own school contest first, then send in only your top three posters for statewide judging. Also, note the judging guidelines that will help your students when planning their posters and for judging at the local level. Be sure to have your winners include ALL contact information requested on the backside of their posters. Entries are due April 16, 2025.
There is no set theme for the Recycled Art Contest, so be CREATIVE!! 2-D and 3-D projects will be accepted. The project should be made entirely from recycled materials other than a small amount of fastening materials. Please only send your top three winners from your school. You may either deliver the pieces or enter digitally if it is too heavy or cumbersome to transport for judging. If sending a digital entry and chosen as a winner, that piece will need to be delivered to the PALS office as soon as possible after notification. Be sure to include ALL contact information requested attached to the artwork entry. Entries are due April 16, 2025.
The PALS office will notify each winner, school, and PALS county contact by May 8, 2025. Winners will be recognized and presented with their respective awards at the Annual Governor’s Awards Luncheon in November 2025.
I would like to thank all of you for committing to keeping your campus and community clean. Thank you to each school that is a part of the Clean Campus Program. Thank you to each student that is learning to be better stewards of the environment, participating in regular campus and community clean ups, contests and spreading the word about litter. It takes all of us to keep Alabama the Beautiful!
It is not too late to enroll in the Clean Campus Program. If you are not currently enrolled, please visit www.alpals.org to sign up. The program is FREE to all Alabama schools thanks to the generosity of Coca-Cola UNITED, Vulcan, ALFA, and the Alabama Farmers Cooperative. Please call or email me with any questions about the program or our contests at (334) 263-7737 or [email protected].
As we wrap up 2024, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our incredible volunteers who have contributed to our success this year.
We’ve ordered over 85 new signs, what an achievement!
As we look ahead to 2025, we want to continue expanding our adopted miles and streams. Our goal is to order 100 new signs this year, but we can’t do it without your support. Please encourage your neighbors, local schools, churches, and civic organizations to join us in the fight against litter. It’s our responsibility as stewards of the great state of Alabama to keep it beautiful.
And don’t forget to share your cleanup photos with us. We love to showcase the incredible work our volunteers are doing. Every effort, no matter how small, should be recognized. We would love to celebrate your hard work on Facebook and Instagram!
Thank you again for all that you are doing to make Alabama truly “Alabama the Beautiful”. I continue to be amazed by the dedication and enthusiasm of all the groups that I have the pleasure of working with on a daily basis. Please contact me if I can answer any questions or if I can provide you with any additional information.
By Jamie Mitchell
There is nothing quite like fall in Alabama when the hot days begin to yield to cooler nights and football becomes everyone’s favorite topic of conversation! We certainly love fall here at Alabama PALS when the Clean Campus Program kicks into full swing and the Coastal Cleanup means thousands of residents and visitors will help pick up those last pieces of debris left over from summer fun. We hope as you enjoy the cooler weather to come, you will make some time in your calendar to join a local cleanup or consider signing up for the Adopt-A-Mile program. It is also our hope that as schools get back into their routines, they will join the Clean Campus Program and be more mindful of litter on their campus and in the community.
Over the summer, we had a chance to participate in some learning events to spread the anti-litter message to students in Montgomery and Autauga Counties. In Montgomery County, we were happy to partner with the Alabama River Foundation to speak at the 2nd Annual Riverfront Rendezvous. This event brought in 160 students from Montgomery Community Centers and Boys & Girls Clubs to give them an opportunity to learn more about keeping our rivers clean, river safety and river wildlife. Each child also had the opportunity to ride on the “Sip and Cycle” Pedal Cruise, which was the first time many of these children had ever been on a boat!
We were also honored to partner with Autauga County 4H to speak at a special “Under the Sea” summer camp held at Daniel Pratt Elementary School. This was another opportunity to speak about keeping our Alabama waters clean and how our trash affects Alabama wildlife. The students were given pencils made from recycled newspaper as well as Clean Campus coloring books to help reinforce our message.
As we look to close out 2024, please contact us if we can help with cleanups in your community or to sign up for any of our programs. We can be reached at (334) 263-7737 or at [email protected]. You may also find us online at www.alpals.org.
Chambers County Commissioner Sam Bradford began the Clean Up Chambers County initiative in partnership with ALPALS in 2022 and challenged all local schools to participate in the Clean Campus Program. The Chambers County Commission incentivized participation by providing $250 to each organization that cleaned up a designated mile in the county. This was the perfect opportunity for Valley High School’s newly formed Ecology Club and was the financial boost needed to get started! What started as a way to provide funding for the club turned into a chance to teach and remind students that pulling together for a common purpose as a group can be rewarding and fun.
The goal of the club was to lead the charge in bringing environmental awareness to others at Valley High, so students decided the best way to incorporate the mission of getting more students on board was to host Lunch-n-Learn library programs during the students’ normal lunch waves. The ticketed event, hosted by Jamie Mitchell for the last two years, was attended by approximately 130 students each year. Interested students were invited to sign up and eat lunch in the library while the program focused on statewide efforts to keep “Alabama the Beautiful” was presented. Through this annual program, students learn the importance of recycling and are encouraged to participate in the recycled art contest in the spring. This year’s “Love Your Earth” Lunch-n-Learn is planned for February 13th and we look forward to having Shay Grant as our presenter.
Members often come up with fun ways to recycle and we try to schedule activities each month to keep students interested. Some favorite past projects include:
Anyone with a passion for making our school, city, state and nation a better place to live is invited to join The Ecology Club. We often work with the Chambers County 4-H leaders to seek opportunities for leadership development and activities. The club does not require service hours but provides an opportunity for students to accumulate them through many of our activities. Students have learned that participating in meaningful activities and having fun together can be very rewarding as we strive to make our school, city, and county a better place to live.
Being visible and bringing awareness has seemed to make students think twice before throwing trash on the ground. Change has to start somewhere, and these students are enthusiastic about seeing change. We are very thankful to have ALPALS visit our schools each year, lighting a fire in these students, and for providing the framework to help bring about change in our community. Thanks to Sam Bradford, the Chambers County Commission, and the City of Valley, these high school students have had many opportunities to help build pride in our community. The feedback received and opportunities that continue to come our way lets us know that others value what we are trying to accomplish. If students are seen on the side of the road picking up litter, it is our hope that many adults will soon follow their example and hold onto their trash until they find a waste basket.