Nearly 80 local sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts rose to their feet Friday, April 11, at the annual Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs Awards Banquet to honor Stephen Wowelko, who was presented the Honeywell Hometown Heroes Award. The award is given to individuals who improve the lives of others and make their hometowns better places to live and work through long-term dedication, compassion, and the desire to do the right work, right now.
“We, as sportsmen, have a responsibility to teach the next generation about the importance of conservation,” said Wolwelko. “If we don’t, who will?”
Wolwelko is the immediate past president of the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and a member and past chairman of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 7 Fish and Wildlife Management board.
“It gives us great pleasure to recognize a man who has an outstanding commitment to habitat and conservation,” said Tom Buckmaster, president of Honeywell Hometown Solutions. “For decades Steve has been working with the community in hands-on conservation activities, helping to raise awareness of the importance of protecting our natural resources. Thousands of community members now attend Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook, the annual celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day, because of his leadership.”
Collaboration among Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company’s citizenship initiative; Wowelko; and the Sportsmen’s Clubs began when Honeywell stepped in to support Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook as the organization was losing its major sponsor in 2009. Under Wowelko’s leadership, Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook grew from 400 participants to more than 6,000 in 2013.
Wowelko also has been instrumental in leading efforts to restore the fish hatchery. The hatchery stocks up to 100,000 trout annually in more than 100 miles of Central New York rivers and streams, and hosts hundreds of youths and community members.
“Steve has provided opportunities through the Sportsmen’s Clubs that would not have been available to my children without his hard work and input,” said Chris Nutter, a member of the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs.
As president of the federation from 2007 to 2014, Wowelko oversaw 40 different sportsmen’s clubs with memberships reaching more than 5,000. He was inducted into the New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame in 2010 and was awarded The Post-Standard Heroes of Conservation award in 2009. Wowelko has also served on the DEC Region 7 Citizen Task Force for Deer Management. Honeywell Hometown Solutions is one of the most recognized corporate social responsibility initiatives in the world, receiving more than 80 awards for its community outreach efforts.
Also during the awards banquet, Bill Lansley, Onondaga County Parks commissioner, was recognized by the federation as Conservationist of the Year. Onondaga County Parks has been an important partner and supporter of Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook. South Shore Association of Oneida Lake was named Club of the Year and Nancy Canavan received the President’s Award.
For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, please visit www.lakecleanup.com.