September Volunteer of the Month Presented by Kokatat

American Whitewater would like to recognize Anne Connolly as our Volunteer of the Month. Anne was the mastermind behind the first annual Boater Chick Festival held on the Nantahala River at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Wesser, NC May 17 - 18, 2008.

Anne, along with the help of volunteers, orchestrated the entire Boater Chick Festival in only a few short months, putting insane amounts of time into planning and getting the support of sponsors who provided generous prizes and schwag. Anne weathered a lot of hiccups along the way, including a huge, painful personal loss, as well as criticism from people who did not share her vision for the festival. A volunteer working with Anne offered this remark "Anne just does not hesitate to give back; she loves investing in other boaters to help them advance and become more confident in their skills."

Thank you Anne for your integrity and focus on women and boating and for your support of AW through the proceeds from your first annual Boater Chick Festival. Good luck with your next festival! As our Volunteer of the Month Anne will receive an Outer Core shirt from Kokatat.