 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Stacey Sutherland
Phone:
407-905-1914
U.S.
Congressman Tom Feeney Presents Governor’s Points of Light
Award to The Regal Swan® at Orange Lake Resort & Country
Club
ORLANDO, FLORIDA—April, 11, 2006— U.S. Congressman Tom
Feeney presented the prestigious Florida Governor’s Points
of Light Award to The Regal Swan®, today in a ceremony hosted
by Orange Lake Resort & Country Club, the world’s largest
single-site timeshare resort. The Regal Swan is a team of swan researchers
who pioneered the use of a cattle vaccine against botulism and an
equine West Nile Virus vaccine in swans. Florida Governor Jeb Bush
recognized the team for its contribution to education.
Don Harrill, Orange Lake’s President and CEO, set the stage
as Congressman Feeney honored the 27-member team, comprised of veterinarians,
swan keepers, educators, photographers, writers and other professionals
with the Governor’s Award, number 328. The team was recognized
statewide this week for its efforts. Congressman Feeney presented
the award for Governor Bush and represents the 24th District of
Florida, which covers portions of Brevard, Orange, Seminole, and
Volusia counties. Congressman Feeney, elected in 2002, was previously
Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
Dignitaries attending the ceremony included: British Vice-Consul,
Rebecca Budgen, British Consulate, Orlando; Justine Florez, Central
Florida Field Director, Florida State Department of Education; Kay
Kammell, Senior Vice President of Programs, Governor’s Points
of Light Award, Joanne Cotterman, District Sales Manager, Royal
Caribbean Cruise Lines; Tonnie Wybensinger, Legislative Director,
U.S. House of Representatives, Robert, Maxine and Don Krieger, Krieger
Publishing; Bill Tinsley and Roy Southerland, representing the City
of Lakeland, Florida; Mark McHugh, chairman, Orlando Convention
and Visitors Bureau and CEO, Gatorland®; Jim Murphy, Chairman,
Osceola County Tourist Development Council, Larry White, Public
Relations Director, Kissimmee Convention & Visitors Bureau,
Tom Ingle, Senior Sales Manager, Walt Disney World® Parks &
Resorts; Kelli Henshilwood, Sales Representative, Universal Orlando®;
Sanya Spivey, Tourism Sales Manager and Christi Williams, Sales
Associate, SeaWorld Orlando®; Tim Williams, Dean of Alligator
Wrestling; Michelle Harris, Director of Sales and Marketing; and
Bret Chism, Director of Corporate Sales, Gatorland®.
The Governor’s Points of Light Award, sponsored by Royal Caribbean
International® and Celebrity Cruises®, recognizes a Florida
resident or organization that demonstrates exemplary service to
the community. Award recipients are announced weekly. A panel of
judges comprised of leaders in the areas of volunteerism and service
evaluate all nominations and make recommendations to Governor Bush.
The Volunteer Florida Foundation manages the program. For more information,
please visit: www.VolunteerFloridaFoundation.org.
Orange Lake was founded in 1982 by Kemmons Wilson, the legendary
business entrepreneur who built the successful Holiday Inn®
hotel chain. Orange Lake is one of Walt Disney World’s®
closest neighbors, encompassing more than 1,250 acres of pristine
surroundings and hosting 2,000 villas, suite and studio accommodations
that serve as the vacation “home-away-from-home” to
more than 100,000 owners from all 50 U.S. states and more than 120
countries. For more information, visit www.orangelake.com.
The Regal Swan,® Inc. is based in Orlando, Florida and is committed
to the humane treatment and veterinary medical care of captive swans.
The researchers have authored a book on the care of captive swans,
titled: Swan Keeper’s Handbook: A Guide to the Care of Captive
Swans by Krieger Publishing released in 2003. For more information,
visit www.theregalswan.com.
On Monday, November 14, 2005, at Orange Lake, the researchers received
a U.S. Daily Point of Light Award, number 3,072, presented by the
Points of Light Foundation in Washington, D.C. and are featured
on the Foundation’s website: www.PointsofLight.org.
The U.S. Daily Point of Light award is the nation's top volunteer
award.
You
can also visit the Brittish Government website, www.britainusa.com
to view photos.
###
back
to newsroom
|
|
OrangeLake.com >
