At the recent Governor’s Volunteer Awards ceremony, the Friends of Lake Darling received the award for Large Group Project of the Year. It was the second time the group has received the award, the first time was in 2008. Dr. Faye Vittetoe was at the ceremony and said the governor gave an impromptu speech where he complimented the work they had done and encouraged everyone in the audience to visit Lake Darling. The speech came as a welcome surprise to the board members in attendance.

The Governor’s Volunteer Awards honors individuals and groups for volunteer work around the state, and Friends of Lake Darling was nominated for the award by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The Friends of Lake Darling is a volunteer organization that helps the park by seeking funds and grants for park enhancements, and also acting as a liaison between park management and users.