The 2009 Muckrakers Ball
Well, the Muckrakers Ball was a blast! Spouse and I arrived at 7:00 and Rumrunners was already filling up. We were greeted by the wonderful people at Cook Inletkeeper who welcomed us and guided us to the back room where a huge spread of food awaited. I was a bit nervous, but decided in the interest of not keeling over (since I hadn’t had lunch) I’d have some food and a pomegranate martini – for medicinal purposes only, of course.
I had such a great time mingling and meeting people. The house was packed. There were environmental people, political people, bloggers, friends from my pre-blogging life, and everyone was in high spirits. There was a big table with lots of literature about Cook Inletkeeper, and a board member explained to me that every $150 donation would receive matching grants from a variety of sources and CI would end up receiving a total of $600 by the time it was all done. I thought that was pretty amazing. I grabbed an envelope and am going to make sure that my magic growing donation of ($150—>POOF!—>$600) goes out this week. If you’d like to do the same, or join Cook Inletkeeper and support their important work of protecting the Cook Inlet watershed at any level, click HERE!
At about 8:30, the time came to give my speech. I had been really nervous for the past couple days. I don’t mind public speaking, but this is the first time I’d ever received an award, nevermind from an organization that I have so long admired.
~Your emcee for the evening, Shannyn Moore
Shannyn Moore gave me an incredible introduction. Then, right as I stepped up on stage, they handed me the most amazing, gorgeous, awesome award I have ever seen in my life. It was a little golden RAKE! There was a brass plaque on top, and the whole thing was mounted on a slab of granite. How cool is THAT?! I felt like a little kid at Christmas, and my well rehearsed opening lines that I assure you were full of pithy insight and deep gravitas, turned into a giddy, “Wow! I got a golden RAKE!”
~Shannyn and I examine the Golden Rake
I found out later that the rake maker is Mako Haggerty of Mako’s Water Taxi service in Homer, who was at the event, and I got to tell him in person how awesome I thought it was.
I ended up talking about the power of blogs, and social media, and how we are really in the middle of a communication revolution. I talked about how each of us now has the tools to reach out via blogs, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and a host of other means to make sure that the issues we care about are shared, and understood. Environmentally speaking, we want to save what we love. And we love what we know and understand, and we only understand and know when people explain to us and share their own knowledge. So, how amazing is it that every single person has the ability to do that all on their own – to speak in their own voice, as their own editor, and send it out to the universe.
I also mentioned that my 8-year old after hearing me on the phone the other day said, “Mom, did you win an award?” and I said, “Yes, I won Muckraker of the Year!” and knowing my screen name he said, “Well of course. That’s your name.” I explained that I’d be performing a little experiment to test this new theory. Now that I’ve won the most coveted prize of all, I was thinking about chaging my name to AKPulitzer. Or perhaps AKLotterywinner. Hey, you never know.
Then, the speech out of the way, Phil Munger at Progressive Alaska kindly bought me pomegranate martini #2, which I very much needed at that point.
Then tickets were pulled out of the bowl, and the giving of prizes began. Mudflatters will be pleased to know that our very own WfAK (Writing from Alaska) won the “split the pot” drawing!
She walked out of the event with more green than she came with! Congratulations!
More mingling, dancing, eating, and general merriment. I got back up on the stage and asked everyone to wave to all of you who weren’t there. Shannyn said, “You’re going around the globe!” So this is a big Mudflats greeting to YOU!
This morning, I slept in. Buf the dog and I have the house to ourselves, and I’m sitting with a cup of coffee watching the amazing sunrise over the Chugach mountains, turning the snow a luminous shade of pink, and thinking how lucky I am. Thanks to everyone who was at the event in person or in spirit, all of you who make Mudflats what it is and have supported me in various ways over the last year and a half, and thank you to the Board of Directors at Cook Inletkeeper for honoring me and Mudflats with such a great event.
And, I have a GOLDEN RAKE!
~Me, the Golden Rake, and Bob Shavelson, Executive Director of Cook Inletkeeper
Virtual EEEEEEYYYYYY—–HAAAAAAAAA
HA HA HA HA!! I had just a few minutes before I had to leave for a a party myself, so thought I’d get caught up on the doin’s on the Flats. Was reading fast, and in the paragraph under the picture of Writing From Alaska counting her $$$, I misread your sentence to read: “This morning I slept in the buf”, and I thought TMI. Then re-read it and burst out laughing. This is how rumors get started! Still chuckling.
Wish I could have been at that party – you guys know how to have fun!
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Congratulations AKM, and I hope to see a Pulitzer in your near future. You probably saved the world from $P, so you get a huge award from me that is yet to be suitably named. Until then, thank you.
(Oh, and congratulations to you also, too, WfAK!)
It’s a golden RAKE! That is so appropriate.
Congratulations again
Fabulous! Hear, hear to MonaLisa @3.
(although I love pomegranate, I cannot stand the fruit mixed with anything; now, rum is another story.)
Just lovely. And you are a darned sight prettier than the Witch from Wasilla.
Also too, a big hello to WfAK.
Congratulations!! All your hard work is definitely worth it. Among many others, I appreciate all that you have done. As you continue, please know how much your efforts mean to so many.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
How wonderful and deserved! Please repeat MonaLisa’s #3, applause it is.
Wow that is a fabulous Golden Rake! Waving back at everyone (a little belatedly) from NY. Next stop on the blogging train – Pulitzer prize!
You are an amazing and wonderful woman! I’m so proud to be a Mudpuppy.
#4 nswfm CA – if she stops SP, then I vote for the Nobel Peace Prize!
Though you don’t need an award (or a title either, some would say!) to make a difference, you are certainly deserving of this one and more. What I like most about your blog is that you NEVER resort to name-calling; you don’t have to. You write about the facts – with conviction – which is way more powerful than labeling someone with derogatory adjectives. Kudos to you!
@Far From Fenway Fan. I agree.
Repeating Mona @3 !!!
A truly well deserved award and received so graciously. You’ve positively impacted Alaska and beyond – and your good efforts came back to kiss you smack on the cheek with a smile and a “thank you”
WfAK – WooHoo! Next time you’re in the treehouse/chat , the drinks are on you!
And a wonderful repeat of the “round of applause” from Mona, above, from me!
Love the golden rake… makes me sing the Willie Wonka song, “I’ve got a golden ticket!” Except of course, it’s a rake in the real story…
Applause and Cheers!
Congratulations AKM.
Well deserved. Congratulations. Your blog is powerful. Read and revered internationally by intelligent, diverse peoples of all political persuasion. Next up: Pulitzer and Nobel!
Huzzah and Hurrah ! ! Vamanos a la Get Down ! !
Congrats and kudos.
Congrats AKM! And, thank you for making a difference.
Congratulations! I just got Rumrunners on Goggle Earth. Pretty cool looking place.
Finally, there you are AKM. Well worth the wait.
Congratulations and thank you for the wonderful account of your evening. Way to go, Writing!
You both look lovely, also too.
Too cool! Many congratulations.
Congratulations! Looks like a warm celebration. Well deserved!
$P needs to be completely stopped for that Nobel Peace Prize. Separation of church and state is important to this country’s well being and leadership role.
So well deserved, AKM. You are getting some of the appreciation you so richly deserve. I can’t get thru my day with checking Mudflats, and then I know that we are in good hands and our best interests are being protected by the very brave and intelligent AKM.
Thanks loads.
AKM… I concur with everyone else here.
We appreciate all of your talents and your great wring on the Mudflats blog. The award is WELL deserved and through you, You inspire us and others to not
‘ sit-on-the-bench ‘ and to take an active role and to get involved.
THAT in is a major accomplishment unto itself. WE are very proud of You.
AND… I am sure that Your Family ( Hubby and Kids ) is VERY proud of you as well. You are a true role model for them and an inspiration.
And with all of your posts you have done…. I think this might be only the 2nd time you have ever mentioned your kids in a story at all. We don’t read about them in your stories.
Respect for your kids privacy and not ‘ using ‘ them for props/tools to push/sell a story with some agenda…. what a concept. Respect is earned… NOT bought. It’s ‘ Priceless’… just like your Golden Rake.
All of Sarah’s $$$$$$ can never buy THAT from her family.
Congratulations, It’s definitely well deserved. You do an outstanding job with your blog and I love the pictures.
that is a fine award for a truly special person. congratulations to you and to the fantastic group of people that recognized your efforts.
All of Illisouri is sparkling tonight with lights just for you! Some people might think they are Christmas only, but we multi-task around here. Congratulations!
Cheers to you AKM, hugs and congratulations! The event looks like it was a good time.
Congratulations AKM – Jeanne – your award is so well-deserved, we are popping our buttons with pride in our fearless leader. Huzzah!
Well done, you!
We are proud of you and appreciate your creation of this community of mudflatters. The Mudflats inspires us to do the work that must continually ‘yet be done.’ Thanks and congratulations on your well-deserved Golden Rake Award!
As mentioned, you were an easy selection for the Cook Inletkeeper Board of Directors because you are AKMUCKRAKER! And a fine acceptance speech wrapped up a wonderful evening! Thank you for the inspiration!
Bob Shavelson
Cook Inletkeeper
Well done, AKM. It’s really nice to see you receive such nice recognition for your good works.
Hmmm – Pulitzerwinner or Lotterywinner… I suggest Lotterywinner first, then go for the Pulitzer.
An abundance of concurring here also too on all the above.
Just wish I’d come across Mudflats much earlier than last June. I enjoy the writing every day.
The award itself left me wondering something.
“How many rakes can a rakemaker make for a muckraker who rakes muck?”
Congratulations! Looks like a good time was had by all.
Congratulations on the golden rake! You earned it, and I’m happy dancin here in FL for you!
WfAK, happy as can be for your win too!
Ah – too bad – I see our dancing pictures didn’t make the cut ! At least we won’t have our ‘katie couric’ on the dance floor moment!
Yes, drinks in the treehouse – By the way – I had donated to the kids reading program at the women’s prison that day after the concert, and made a purchase there to support the orchestra, stopped at the Native Heritage Center and bought a gift and a couple of things I was looking for so I could support artists instead of retailers, then on to the muckrakers ball – where I bought a bunch of tickets for the pot – all the time thinking – wow, I have really used up a lot of funds today with donations and supporting artists. Would you believe, my share of the pot came out to the dollar exactly what I spent the rest of the day? I am contemplating giving this money away again and see if another amount shows up to pass on to my next favorite charity – the Heifer Project. Do you know how many chickens we could buy – wow!
Congratulations, AKM, for your well deserved Golden Rake!
…And applause to Bob Shavelson for his excellent work as Executive Director of Cook Inletkeeper.
Congrats, AKM! Sounds like it was a great evening. And how appropriate that the award is a golden rake. (It’s good that they cleaned it off first, though.)
A hearty Congratulations to you AKM! You certainly deserve that Golden Rake. It looks like it was a wonderful evening and fun was had by all. BTW, I am a big fan of pommegranite martinis!
Thanks everyone for your nice words and congratulations. I felt like you were all there sharing the evening, even from afar.
I am out of state and missed the awards event, but it all looked like it went well and everyone had a good time. Congratulations to AKM for receiving a well-deserved award, and also to Writing from Alaska for her charitable giving that ended up with some very good karma coming her way. Keep it going, both of you!
Awesome! Congrats!
I am wondering if AKM would consider posting the speech from the awards ceremony for those of us who missed it? The Progressive Alaska blog commented that it was quite inspiring in many ways, and I would like to read it, as I bet many other Mudflats fans would as well. AKM?
What a wonderful Rake! It is enormous…. (guess it has to be).
Waving back to the merry round at the wonderful venue.
And congrats to AKM again and to WritingfA.
AKM – so nice to see a picture of you! (but she looks so harmless…. ;-D
Heartiest congratulations AKM – well deserved most certainly! Hope your holiday season and merry and bright and may the new year bring continued success, health, happiness and prosperity.
Wow AKM you are such a grateful,inspiring human being and a wonderful role model for us all. Congratulations ! I’m also proud to be a mudpuppy.
Congratulations! We are so proud of you!
I’d like to mention that there are TWO WaterKeeper organizations in Alaska now. (Both a part of the National WaterKeeper Alliance) For those of you who appreciate the other side of the Kenai as well, Prince William Soundkeeper got off the ground about 5 years ago. Cook Inlet Keeper as been a great mentor and guide for us, helping us get our feet wet, so to speak, setting up our organization and beginning to tackle the water quality issues of the Sound. Please check out our organization at: http://www.pwsoundkeeper.org
CONGRATULATIONS!
xoxoxo
Love, Laffy
A very well deserved award. Congratulations again and I hope this makes up for some of the troubling times you’ve experienced while writing this blog.