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Special Twenty-Year Service Award
Marilyn Voigt
Executive Director, AERE
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This is a very special (surprise) award that recognizes Marilyn’s twenty years of service to AERE. It is a desk set with a pen, picture frame, and clock. We’ve included a placeholder picture, to be replaced with one from today. The little clock symbolizes Marilyn’s ability to make sure everybody else fulfills their responsibilities to AERE—on time.
In addition to this clock/pen/and picture frame memento, Ian Parry (our outgoing Treasurer) contacted a huge number of the people who have depended on Marilyn in various capacities within AERE, in the past and now. Ian has assembled them and had them printed into a nice card. I don’t have time to read them because virtually everybody who was invited to say a few words came back almost immediately with their enthusiastic and extensive thanks to Marilyn.
One might add that since AERE hired a whole organization to take over a portion of Marilyn’s responsibilities a few years ago, we’ve done nothing but appreciate the marvel that she is.
With Marilyn’s permission, we’ll post transcripts of the various thank-yous she is receiving today on the Luncheon website. It is truly heartwarming to know that so many of my colleagues appreciate Marilyn so much! Thanks Marilyn….and PLEEAASE don’t leave us for a long, long time.
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Kudos for Marilyn:
Few AERE members can truly appreciate the debt we all owe Marilyn for her faithful and “beyond
the call of duty” service to AERE. For me (AERE’s Treasurer for way too many years) Marilyn’s
tireless dedication was made especially evident every November when she and I would engage
a professional account to help us reconcile and audit the AERE books. Year after year Marilyn
helped me through this excruciating task with her usual professionalism and kindheartedness.
Thanks Marilyn, it was a joy and honor to work side-by-side with you all those years.
- Ray Kopp
Marilyn you are the glue that holds AERE together between changes in officers, board members
and AERE Newsletter Editors! Among your many titles should be “Managing Editor” of the AERE
Newsletter. Those of us that served as the academic “Co-Editors” of the Newsletter merely obtain
and verify the raw ingredients for the Newsletter. You are the one that does the production and
packaging. Thanks so much for your 20 years of service, and great help to me as a Co-Editor of
the AERE Newsletter.
- John Loomis
Every organization has a “culture”. When a new one is formed it is especially important to get that
culture right. Marilyn Voigt surely did! AERE under Marilyn’s management is efficient, tireless in
its efforts to be responsive to its members, and is an association with a
smile. A new member meets her and immediately feels they have made a
special friend to make them feel at home.
- Kerry Smith
“I cannot imagine how anybody could survive in the job of AERE President without Marilyn in the
wings to explain everything and issue timely reminders about what has to be done, and by when. I
am extremely grateful for her careful attention to detail and the wealth of institutional knowledge
about AERE that she somehow manages to archive. Elected officers of AERE come and go, devoting
whatever intermittent attention we can to the significant and mundane tasks of running AERE.
Marilyn, however, has had the patience and good humor to put up with all of us--for two decades!
I doubt that the general membership of our organization fully appreciates the counterfactual of
how AERE might have muddled through, all this time, without Marilyn’s efforts on our collective
behalf. Thank you, Marilyn, for all your help.”
- Trudy Ann Cameron
I would like to thank you for all of your service to AERE. You are one of the most dedicated, professional
and courteous people I have interacted with in my career. Your assistance is always timely,
accurate and pleasantly delivered. AERE would not be the successful organization it is today without
your leadership!
- Kevin Boyle
Not long ago I saw an organizational chart that listed the standard officers, department heads, etc
and then at the top was a entry with the title “The Person who Actually Makes this Organization
Function”. Based upon my experience as President of AERE, in the AERE organizational chart that
entry describes Marilyn Voigt’s role perfectly. Remarkably efficient, unfailingly friendly and thoroughly
professional, Marilyn has been a treasure. Thank you, Marilyn, for all you have contributed
to AERE.
- Tom Tietenberg
Marilyn,
Thanks for all that you have done behind the scenes ... especially at www.aere.org.
- John Whitehead
Marilyn Many thanks for all your tireless efforts to make AERE a success. Best wishes.
- Ray Prince
...I worked very closely for years with Marilyn
when I was the director of QE at RFF, and I regularly thanked fate or fortune or whatever that she
was my administrative assistant. We learned together how to deal with the RFF budget system,
particularly the peculiarities of accounting for “overhead”. ...She was never other than a joy to work with, and
I missed her sorely when I moved to Vanderbilt and the running of the Institute for Public Policy
Studies there. Hope you can pass this on, whether it makes it into the AERE tribute or not.
- Cliff Russell
Dear Marilyn,
Thank for you for your two decades of services of to AERE. I first became aware of your stewardship
of AERE 15 years ago as a Ph.D. student. Now as a Board member I can even more fully appreciate
the tremendous value of your service.
Although not often stated AERE, seeks to make the world a better place through the scholarship of
its members. Please know that you have made our organization so much more successful than it
would have otherwise been.
Thank you.
- J.R. DeShazo
As one who has been around from AERE’s start, I know very well what an important role Marilyn
Voigt has played in its growth and success. I’d suggest making her an “Honorary Environmental
Economist,” but I’m not sure she’d appreciate that! So just let me just say, “Thanks, Marilyn, for a
job well done!”
- Paul Portney
Marilyn has been involved in AERE for many years. Although she may have been executive director
for 20 years, I know from my own personal involvement in AERE that she was heavily involved
well before that. She has been a great asset to the organization having given tirelessly of her time
and having provided a large portion of the energy that has been necessary for the success of AERE.
Thank you Marilyn.
- Roger Sedjo
Marilyn: congratulations for your long service to AERE. Being president of AERE was a treat with
you as director because you were so efficient and attentive to details, and of course, very loyal to
AERE. And it always seemed to me, you were good natured under all circumstances.
Best,
- Ted McConnell
Marilyn: Such a pleasure to work with you behind the scenes at AERE! You’ve been the backbone
of the administrative side of the organization, and it wouldn’t be the same without you. Thanks
so much for your dedication and many contributions over the past 20 years (has it really been that
long???).
- Kathy Segerson
I first got to know Marilyn electronically when I was AERE president. We had a many interactions
regarding AERE, including renegotiating the JEEM contract with Elsevier and developing longterm
arrangements for the day-to-day management of AERE. I felt I got to know her very well.
So well in fact that when I finally did meet her, we both gave each other a big hug as old friends.
Marilyn has been a tremendous asset to AERE and I congratulate her on her two decades with us
and thank her very much.
- Charlie Kolstad
Thank you Marilyn for your many years of service to AERE. We are very fortunate to have someone
as capable, helpful and pleasant to work with as you!
Best Wishes,
- Terry Dinan
As a member of AERE over the last 20 years, I have seen Presidents and Board members come and
go and yet the organization and coordination of AERE remains a constant. I can only attribute
that to a mysterious force behind it all that gets things done. In honor of you, that force, I give you
my thanks for all
you have done.
- Robert Mendelsohn
Marilyn, I first encountered you over small things, like my forgetting the password for membersonly
parts of the website; your responses were always friendly and helpful. On the board, I’ve seen
the same competence and professionalism in far more significant duties. You’re both the human
face of AERE and the power behind the throne. Thank you for your skills in both management
and personal relations.
- Gloria Helfand
Dear Marilyn,
As a former Board member of AERE, as editor of the Review of Environmental Economics and
Policy, as a representative of a university member of AERE, and simply as an individual member,
I have relied upon you more times than I can even recall. I cannot imagine our organization having
operated without you (and I certainly hope it does not have to in the future!). Thank you for
everything.
Best wishes,
- Rob Stavins
Marilyn,
Working with you when I was secretary of AERE was always a pleasure. You were and are always
so organized and conscientious and that made my job much easier. In fact everything you did,
much of which was behind the scenes, made the whole organization function well. You also really
care about the organization, its officers and its members and that comes through in everything you
do. Without you AERE wouldn’t be the great and successful organization that it is today. Thanks
so much for your twenty years of service to AERE. You are the heart and soul of AERE and I hope
that you will continue in that role for many years to come.
- Karen Palmer
Dear Marilyn,
It’s been a great pleasure to work with you over the last several years, or rather, for you to do all the
work and for me to just to agree, or sign where appropriate!
AERE is an extremely important organization for helping to spread ideas and key research findings
among our profession and students, and ultimately to the policy community. We can see the
ideas of AERE economists improving the environment and therefore the quality of people’s lives
throughout the world, particularly in helping to balance environmental, health and economic interests,
and through the increasing use of effective, market-based approaches to environmental
protection. Thank you for all your dedicated service in helping to run this great, and extremely
valuable, organization over the last two decades.
- Ian Parry
Dear Marilyn:
AERE is lucky to have you. It owes you a lot: you have been a real rock, someone the organization
could always rely on. For you this isn’t just a job but a commitment. People who bring this intensity
to their work are rare and valuable. Thanks,
- Geoff Heal
Marilyn, thank you for 20 years of faithful service as the glue that holds AERE together. As a past
president, I know better than most how often, in ways large and small, you help us keep this wonderful
organization on track. All best wishes,
- Rich Bishop
Marilyn is the braintrust for AERE. She knows the bylaws and the history, which means that she
reminds the Board of AERE’s memory and objectives. She knows the process and the calendar for
important AERE activities, which means that she keeps the Board on task and makes sure paperwork
and decisions are made on time. She negotiates and protects AERE’s interests whether it
be through revisiting contracts or arranging the annual luncheon. What is most amazing about
Marilyn, however, is that she takes on each task - however big or small - with great enthusiasm and
dedication. I cannot imagine AERE being nearly as successful without her. Thanks for serving so
well for so many years, Marilyn. It is truly appreciated.
- Anne Wolverton
Marilyn Voigt has been the heart and soul of AERE for as long as I can remember. Our profession
owes her a huge “thank you” as one of those key people who have provided so much support for
so many people for so long.
- Cathy Kling
Dear Marilyn,
Without your energy, organizational skill and selfless dedication, AERE would not be the organization
it is today. We all owe you a huge debt of gratitude.
With my appreciation and best wishes,
- Bob Deacon
Thanks so much for your work on behalf of AERE and its members. It’s been wonderful for all of
us to have your skillful and friendly support! AERE has been successful in large part because of
your efforts.
Thanks!
- Hilary Sigman
Dear Marilyn.
Thanks very much for your help with AERE over the years. It was a pleasure being on the board
and working with you and it’s always nice to see you at the meetings and conferences. You’ve been
an important part of the foundation of the organization - and it’s the people like you who make
the difference. Thanks again for all of your time and energy.
All the best,
- Vic Adamowicz
I’ve known Marilyn since I was fresh out of undergrad working as a research assistant at RFF (longer
ago than we both care to specify). I’ve had the pleasure of working with her as the VP of AERE
for the past two years. Marilyn always goes the extra mile for AERE and the organization owes her
a big debt of gratitude. She does all this while being incredibly nice to everyone from research
assistant to President of AERE. Thanks Marilyn for all your efforts and good cheer.
- Steve Polasky
Marilyn,
My heartfelt thanks for all your services to the association and to JEEM over these many years. I
don’t think the journal would be anywhere near as successful without your help all these years.
With best wishes,
- Chuck Mason
Marilyn:
I know first-hand all the work you do for AERE and all the incredible hassles you have endured.
Were it not for your patience, diligence, attention to detail, and persistence, all done with good
cheer, I can’t imagine the mess our organization would be in! So thanks for keeping us all afloat.
Indeed, with your help this organization has prospered and become a wonderful and welcoming
institution.
Thanks so much,
- Alan Krupnick
Marilyn - Thank you for all your efforts on behalf of AERE over the past twenty years, providing
the Association with both a friendly face and a much needed continuity across the changing Boards
and Editorial staffs. I know I particularly appreciated your help while I was Managing Editor for
JEEM. I’m glad AERE has taken this opportunity to acknowledge your many contributions.
- Joe Herriges
Marilyn:
You were an efficient and ever-helpful smiling face when I was at RFF, and the AERE membership
has been fortunate to have you holding things together for all this time in the same way. Congratulations
on your success, thanks for your help, and best wishes for the future!
- Milton Russell
Marilyn,
Thank you so much for all your efforts on behalf of AERE. Whatever was accomplished during
my time in office and on the board would not have been possible without you. I look forward to
the next 20 years!
- Tony Fisher
* Ikuho Kochi and Haitao Yin generously volunteered to take snapshots at this year's luncheon.
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