KOR 2008 CONFERENCE

KOR’s 2008 Conference was held September 24-25 at the Holiday Inn and Convention Center in Salina, Kansas. 122 participants gathered to discuss Kansas recycling, listen to information presentations, and network with 16 Sponsors/Exhibitors.

Speakers presented information covering business waste reduction, e-waste collection status in Kansas, disaster recycling planning and disaster recycling implementation. Bill Bider of KDHE BWM presented the State of Kansas Recycling, and the keynote speaker was KDHE Secretary Roderick Bremby.

Presentations are provided below as attachments.

KOR LEADERSHIP AWARD

Governor Kathleen Sebelius was present via video to receive the KOR Leadership Award for her Executive Order directing that all State offices implement recycling programs. The Governor commended KOR for our partnership with KDHE BWM to create and maintain the kansasrecycles.org website, helping all Kansans to be “good stewards of the State”.

KOR SAM AWARD

L.O. “Sam” Samuelson of Sharon Springs is the first recipient of the KOR SAM AWARD (Service-Achievement-Mentoring). The award was presented to Sam at the Conference by KOR Treasurer Barb Poore (Rooks County), who noted Sam is a founding member of KOR and has developed and sustained recycling in Sharon Springs through his volunteer efforts. Sam’s recycling efforts in 2007 produced 121 tons of materials collected—that’s for a town with a population of 680 people and a county population of only 1,557!

A week after the receiving the award, KOR ED Debra Hoepner spoke with Sam, who again expressed his appreciation for the honor of being the first recipient of the Award. Sam said “It means a lot to me; I’ve never gotten an award.”

KOR will choose future SAM award recipients from member nominations, the criteria for which will be announced to the membership prior to the 2009 Conference.