20 Years of Standing Our Ground

	OVEC co-directors Janet Keating and Dianne Bady talk about the ups and downs of two decades of environmental activism.

The evening of October 27, 2007, OVEC members new and old converged on Camp Mad Anthony Wayne near Huntington to celebrate 20 years of standing our ground.

The atmosphere was festive: We festooned the hall with Dianne and Rick Badys 20-year collection of environmentally-themed T-shirts. Tables groaned with all the delicious food OVEC members brought to share. Tonya Adkins and Ron Bond, and Big Rock and the CandyA** Mountain Boys provided the music. Janet Keating assembled a moving half-hour slide show featuring photos of OVECs actions over the years, ending with a tribute to OVECs Laura Forman, deceased.

Congratulations to Glen Daniel resident Chuck Nelson, who received OVECs Outstanding Volunteer In Defense of Mother Earth Award, and to attorney Joe Lovett of the Appalachian Center for The Economy and the Environment, who received our Laura Forman Passion for Justice Award. Chuck has been tireless in his volunteer organizing efforts and Joe has, for years, proven that he has both the passion to work for justice and the skill, brilliance and fortitude needed to bring about the change we seek.

Congrats also to OVECs mentor and dare we say mother, Dianne Bady. She co-founded OVEC and serves as OVECs co-director now. Thankfully, Dianne had the vision to begin OVEC. 

Check the "Thank You" pages for the volunteers and staff who organized this event. Our biggest thanks go to each and every one of you who is a member of OVEC or who has volunteered to help. Its all the amazing volunteers weve had over the years who have made our victories and milestone possible. OVEC highlights begin on page 4.