Bill, Debbie Bowling honored for efforts

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A Waterloo-area couple has been named as “volunteers of the year” for the Linn County Small Woodlands Association.
Bill and Debbie Bowling were named June 10 by chapter President Lee Peterman as the year’s top volunteers.
The couple will be recognized at the Oregon Small Woodlands Association annual meeting June 20-22 in Corvallis, said OSWA Executive Director Jim James.
Bill Bowling has just completed two terms as the group’s president. During his terms he was also chair of the Robert Mealey Endowment committee. The chapter also started its own website, linncountyswa.org during his chapter.
The couple live near Berlin Road on their tree farm and operate a hand-crafted wooden gifts business — Artisan Light Works — from the farm.
The Bowlings were lauded by Peterman for “outstanding achievement”  in the past year as the local chapter has taken over the statewide OSWA Merchandise and products sales.
Their effort is generating funds for chapter activities and providing opportunities for volunteers, Peterman said.
“Without their efforts, there would literally be no coherent stock control or efficient sales practices,” said Peterman. “They removed the chaos.”

“I am most proud that our board has decide to begin to fulfill Bob Mealey’s vision,” said Bill Bowling.  “Debbie and I are committed to helping support a group of likeminded tree farmers working together in making our tree farms the best they can be.”

Bill and Debbie Bowling are the Linn County Small Woodlands Association volunteers of the year.

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