Bill Baker Named Rockland's Outstanding Environmental Volunteer

On Wednesday morning, Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef dedicated a Serviceberry Tree at Kennedy-Dells County Park in New City in honor of Bill Baker as the Outstanding Environmental Volunteer of 2011.

Baker, a Suffern resident, served as a member of the county’s Environmental Management Council for 18 years and as its chairperson for 14 of those years.

Vanderhoef described Baker as a “quiet leader,” who was getting a well-deserved honor for his role in the EMC, with the Cornell Cooperative Extension and as a professor at Rockland Community College.

“In his many roles throughout the county, Bill Baker gave above and beyond his official duties, with the future of our youth a top priority,” said Vanderhoef.  “His dedication and commitment to the quality of our environment here in Rockland is highly commendable. On behalf of all Rocklanders we thank Bill for his tremendous efforts.”

Baker thanked the County Legislature and administration of RCC for their support over the years. He said, “I’ve also been fortunate to have so many role models and a mentor, (previous award-winner) Charlie Schwep.”

Baker considers his personal accomplishments to include the integrated pest management program for the county to teach landscapers the proper way to apply pesticides, a proposal for not having school buses idle in front of buildings and starting the first horticulture program for professional landscapers at the college. For the future he hopes to see the Cornell Cooperative Extension open on RCC’s main campus in Ramapo.

Under Baker’s leadership, the Environmental Management Council received awards from the New York State Association of Environmental Management Councils and National Association of Counties. He is a board member of the Cornell Cooperative Extension and liaison to the Professional Landscape Association of Rockland County.

Various speakers described Baker as an environmental advocate and a voice of reason.

Natalie Patasaw who followed Baker as Environmental Management Council chairperson, nominated him for the award saying, “There are some people that care that will go to any length to preserve the environment.”

County Legislative Chairwoman Harriet Cornell, D-West Nyack, noted Baker’s name was added to a plaque that “listed a who’s who of people in our county who are leaders of the environment.” She said Baker’s combination of dedication to education and the environment was deserving of the distinguished service award.

Praise for Baker also came from RCC President Cliff Wood, “He’s really an outstanding member of the RCC community. He teaches students the importance of the environment. The ultimate compliment to Bill is to have a tree planted.”

While an RCC professor of science, Baker helped establish a Horticulture Science degree and student club, obtain funds for a greenhouse and assist with the first environmentally-friendly chemical lab.

Executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Paul Trader summed up Baker’s approach, “His attitude was always ‘can do’.”

Baker is the 14th recipient of the county’s Outstanding Environmental Volunteer award which has been given annually since 1998. The presentation drew past recipients of the award including Diane Gruskin, Patsy Wooters, Catherine Dodge and Geoffrey Welch.