Harlequin Duck—Photo: John Gussman

OPAS Harlequin Award

2026 Harlequin Award Recipient: Joyce Volmut

Each year, past Harlequin Award recipients who remain active OPAS leaders solicit nominations from our board and membership. The award honors members who have made outstanding and generous contributions of time, talent, and effort toward the conservation of birds and bird habitat on the Olympic Peninsula.

Our Harlequin Award was presented to Joyce Volmut at our June 17, 2026 meeting in recognition of her leadership and the significant conservation and community impacts of her work with OPAS.

Dee Renee presenting the 2026 Harlequin Award to Joyce. Photo by Kristy Henderson

From left, past Harlequin Award winners: Dee Renee Ericks, Shirley Anderson, Marion Rutledge, Enid Phreaner, Joyce Volmut (holding award), Audrey Gift, Bob Phreaner, Clare Hatler, Bob Boekelheide, Annette Hanson, and Ken Wiersema. Photo by Kristy Henderson

Highlights of Joyce’s contributions:

  • Joyce has been an active member of the OPAS Conservation Committee for more than a decade, and since 2020 she has served as Co‑Chair of the committee.

  • She launched the OPAS Climate Watch program in 2015, working with National Audubon to coordinate the biannual census of four target species. Joyce also organizes data collection from OPAS observers and private landowners who monitor Western Bluebird (WEBL) nest boxes, the original species of interest for Climate Watch.

  •  Since 2014, Joyce has loyally attended many ACOW, WSACC and Regional Chapter meetings. She serves as co-representative for OPAS on the Audubon WA Puget Sound Conservation Committee.

  • Joyce has been the “Advocate General” for OPAS to have the City Councils of Port Angeles and Sequim pass proclamations to recognize Migratory Bird protection in 2025 and 2026. Joyce successfully petitioned Sequim City Parks to relocate the July 4th fireworks display in Carrie Blake Park that was a threat to nesting eagles.

  • She is one of OPAS’s leading advocates for Lights Out, DarkSky proclamations, and habitat‑protection initiatives.

  • Joyce is an award‑winning woodcarver, and her bird carvings appear in local art galleries.

Harlequin Award

Background: The OPAS Board established the Harlequin Award on June 10, 1982 to recognize members for their “outstanding and generous contributions of time, talent and effort toward the conservation of birds and birding habitat on the Olympic Peninsula through scientific, educational and advocacy endeavors.”

Purpose:  The award honors OPAS members whose sustained accomplishments advance the protection and understanding of the Olympic Peninsula’s environment through science, education, and bird advocacy.

Selection Process:

Each February, the OPAS Board appoints a selection panel chair, who must be a past Harlequin Award recipient.

  1. The chair invites active past recipients to serve on the panel.

  2. Panel members solicit nominations from the OPAS Board and membership.

  3. Nominations must include the nominee’s name and a description of their accomplishments.

  4. The chair compiles the slate of nominees and distributes it to the panel for voting.

  5. Panel members may refine or expand nominee descriptions.

  6. Once selected, the chair arranges for the Harlequin Duck award to be retrieved from the previous recipient and for the plaque to be engraved.

OPAS Harlequin Award Recipients 1981 - present

(Listed in reverse‑chronological order)

2025 Dee Renee Ericks—Learn more

2024 Marie Grad—Learn more

2023 Dow Lambert—Learn more

2022 Enid and Bob Phreaner—Learn more

2021 Not awarded during pandemic

2020 Not awarded during pandemic

2019 Marion Rutledge—Learn more

2018 Tom Montgomery—Learn more

2017 Nancy Bargar—Learn more

2016 Mary Porter-Solberg—Learn more

2015 Ken and Janie Leuthold—Learn more

2014 Jim & Audrey Gift—Learn more

2013 Judith Mullally—Learn more

2012 Kendra Donelson—Learn more

2011 Clare Manis Hatler—Learn more

2010 Robert Hutchison—Learn more

2009 Dave & Julie Jackson

2008 Shirley Anderson

2007 Bob Iddins

2006 Eftin Strong—Learn more

2005 Claude & Edna Ritze—Learn more

2004 Sue Chickman

2003 Stuart & Pat MacRobbie

2002 Bob Boekelheide

2001  Ken Wiersema

1999  Pat & John Willits

1998 Pat & Jack Fletcher

1997  Dr. Bob Norton

1996  Les Jones

1994 Gene Kridler—Learn more

1993 Dory & Stan Smith—Learn more

1991 Welden & Virginia Clark—Learn more

1990 Annette Hanson—Learn more

1987 Henry & Jodie Hoekstra—Learn more

1986 Robert Knox—Learn more

1985 Homer Frazier—Learn more

1984 Harvey & Eloise Kailin—Learn more

1983 Gunnar Fagerlund—Learn more

1982 The Clawson Family—Learn more

1981 Karl Greubel—Learn more