The Betty Lou Fegely Emerald Cornerstone Award

2006 - Patrick McHugh

2008 - Betty Lou Fegely

POMA Emerald Cornerstone Award Presented and Renamed

AUGUST 18, 2008, JOHNSTOWN, PA — Veteran outdoor journalist Betty Lou Fegely of Walnutport, Penna. received the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) Emerald Cornerstone Award for extraordinary volunteer service. In addition, the prestigious award was renamed the Betty Lou Fegely Emerald Cornerstone Award.

Fegely was honored during an emotional presentation by POMA Chairman Judd Cooney during POMA’s Third Annual Business Conference. Fegely is a founding board member of POMA and served as the organization’s first chairman and president.

"Without Betty Lou , POMA would not exist," Cooney said with tears in his eyes. He added that the board of directors voted unanimously to change the name of the award to the Betty Lou Fegely Emerald Cornerstone Award.

“This is a tremendous honor,” Fegely said. “However, building this organization took the work of many and our industry should be proud and thankful for the thousands of hours of volunteer work that brought POMA into being and has ensured her strength. Today, the outdoor industry has a professional organization focused wholly on the traditional outdoor sports, the journalists who tell the story and the Corporate Partners who keep the industry going.”

The Betty Lou Fegely Emerald Cornerstone Award is not presented on a regular basis. It’s presented only to members who harbor a passion and dedication to the organization that result in selfless service to POMA that is truly extraordinary.
 

Patrick McHugh Honored withPOMA Emerald Cornerstone Award

SEPTEMBER 1, 2006, JOHNSTOWN, PA -- He’s The Terminator of volunteers. He’s 100-percent dedicated to the task at hand, determined to succeed, and willing to give all he has to get the job done. He’s Pat McHugh, president of MPI Outdoors and the recipient of the Professional Outdoor Media Association’s (POMA) first Emerald Cornerstone Award, presented for “Extraordinary Volunteer Effort”.

“This is not an award that POMA gives lightly or that POMA will present on a regular basis,” explained POMA Chairman, Betty Lou Fegely, as she presented the award to McHugh at POMA’s First Annual Business Conference at Springfield, Missouri. “The Emerald Cornerstone Award will honor those whose selfless service to our organization is truly extraordinary, those who harbor the passion for our organization and dedication that Pat McHugh has displayed.”

McHugh was a member of the founding board of directors of POMA, serving as the organization’s first Corporate Partner director until last week. When the elected board asked Pat to serve as the director who would represent the voice of POMA’s Corporate Partner member, he immediately agreed. When POMA was founded and needed financial assistance just to send mailings announcing the group’s launch, McHugh was there to do more than just pay the tab. He pulled the communications together, printed and mailed them. He initiated, designed and delivered POMA’s Corporate Partner newsletter, Focus. McHugh served tirelessly on the Business Conference Committee, giving hundreds of hours of his time to ensure the success of POMA’s inaugural event in Springfield and was the architect of the Field Day event at the conference.

“McHugh truly is a cornerstone in POMA’s foundation,” said J. Wayne Fears, POMA’s president. “The benefits of Pat’s dedication to this organization are indefinable. Extraordinary – that’s Pat McHugh.”