Thank you, Kathy Dolson

Kathy Dolson first became involved with St. Louis Earth Day through volunteering at the St. Louis Earth Day Festival in 2010. Staff remember being impressed by Kathy’s energy, dedication to completing tasks quickly and with a high degree of quality, and her fun-loving attitude. It was only natural that when the organization needed support in planning the 2013 Festival that we looked to Kathy.

A life-long environmentalist, Kathy brings her passions for conservation and common sense to the many diverse projects with which she assists in the office, and within her community as a Cub Scout Leader and in her church. During the 2014 Lent season, Kathy worked with her church to institute recycling and composting at their weekly fish frys. Although she was met with many challenges along the way, St. Ann’s Catholic Church became, as far as we know, the first to institute a zero waste strategy for fish frys! Over 1,248 lbs of recyclables and 125 lbs of organic waste was kept out of area landfills through intentional sourcing of service ware, volunteer education, and signage.

A few words…

Kathy is truly one of a kind! She will be impossible to replace. Always bringing her colorful spirit to the office (literally and figuratively), we could count on Kathy to take care of everything in the background, allowing each of us to focus on our task at hand. Additionally, Kathy kept us in check on all environmental issues, and challenged us all to do even more.

Thank you Kathy for being my third hand and setting an amazing example of determination and integrity for us all.

– Jen Myerscough, Executive Director

 

Kathy makes the magic happen: those things that keep an office of program staff with the supplies and equipment they need, just magically appears. Whenever there was a mystery or problem to solve, Kathy had the time and ability to figure it out. There are few people I know with the level of commitment to sustainability and reducing her carbon footprint than Kathy. Just ask her how many BBQ restaurants she had to go to one night to find one that wouldn’t serve her dinner in styrofoam. Thank you, Kathy. I know you will continue to push your community to do better. I know I have because of you.

– Bob Henkel, Recycling On the Go Program Director

 

Kathy has been a breadth of knowledge not just institutionally, but of resources in the community as well. You can always go to her for problem-solving, or anecdotes from her latest adventure. I most love that Kathy is always willing to stand up for what she believes in and tell it like it is. She’s been such an asset to our team and this tie-dye clad woman will be missed around the office.

– Elizabeth Sabetta, Recycling On the Go Assistant Program Manager

 

Kathy Dolson has been an indispensable asset to the Green Dining Alliance and  earthday365. Her careful eye has edited hundreds of reports and blog posts, and she has come to my rescue during (many) computer and other technical crises. More importantly, she has kept us all honest; Kathy is a true-blue environmental advocate and activist who lives by the practices she preaches and expects the rest of staff to do the same. She always advocates for environmental responsibility, and has helped shape my program and our future priorities by speaking up about issues she cares about. I am eternally grateful to her for her hard work, devotion to the cause, and moral support. I will miss her so much.

– Jenn DeRose, Green Dining Alliance Program Manager

 

With being the latest addition to the earthday365 staff, Kathy has given me an immense amount of help in my transition into my role with the Green Dining Alliance. Her knowledge in our day-to-day duties as well as her enthusiasm for the environment has been extremely helpful. It will be sad to not have her in the office anymore, but I’m glad she wants to continue to support the GDA after her departure. She is truly a sustainable saint!

– Victoria Donaldson, Green Dining Alliance Assistant Program Manager

 

Kathy was known as our historian, magician, computer whisperer, and “glue” at earthday365. She was the original Purple One and we will miss her experience, knowledge, tie dye clothing, fierce defense of the environment and social justice, along with all of the cute stories about her grandson. We were the original “Team Lathy” in the Situation Room, where the Festival was hammered out each year and she was the first to utter this year’s phrase: “That’s so weird”. Kathy will be missed at earthday365 by staff, board members and Festival vendors.

– Laura Allers-Lowry, Event Manager

 

I so appreciate Kathy’s sense of adventure. Her willingness to throw herself down a mountain at high rates of speed. I want to thank her for my introduction to the wonderful goodness of cheddar bacon scones.  And I will miss our laugh out loud exchanges of family stories too rich not to share. I appreciate her love of the color purple, her distinctive tye-dye style, and her adorable laugh!! Not to mention her knowledgeable point of view on most topics. She will be sincerely missed!!

– Rachel Lynch, Festival Planning Assistant

 

In the short time that I have known Kathy Dolson, her impact on myself, other staff, and the organization has been inevitable. Her sheer generosity and determination in the workplace goes deeper than just professional. Kathy’s personality is quite contagious in a way that sparks inspiration amongst us all. Whether this be in our best times or during our struggles. I am thankful for the time that I have gotten to work with Kathy, as I have learned greatly from her. Thank you Kathy, for the long-standing impact you’re leaving on this organization.

– Courtney Casteel, Marketing & Communications Coordinator