Ron & Eva Stob Volunteer of the Year Award

In 2019, when AGLCA celebrated its 20th Anniversary, AGLCA staff felt it was appropriate to do something special for the Association's founders, Ron & Eva Stob. So, the inaugural Ron & Eva Stob Volunteer of the Year Award was created to honor their legacy and honor that same type of dedication in AGLCA members as the Association moves forward.  The AGLCA Home Port Crew takes into consideration the volunteer efforts of members over the course of a year and typically selects an annual winner.  The winner is usually presented with an award at the Fall Rendezvous each October. 

Tsali & Jacque Bentley
2024 Recipients

Jacque and Tsali Bentley have been AGLCA members for five years and they earned their platinum burgee as they crossed their wake for the second time at Joe Wheeler State Park during the 2024 Fall Rendezvous. That makes them accomplised Loopers, but this award is for the many ways they have volunteered to enhance cruising for their fellow Loopers and supported AGLCA.
 
In the short time they've been members, Jacque and Tsali have been ambassadors for the Great Loop everywhere they've traveled. They have:

*Presented frequently at our events, taken on more topics when requested, and become some of our top-rated speakers

*Contributed articles to The Great Loop Link e-Magazine

*Served as Harbor Hosts

*Been named Harbor Hosts of the Year

*Assisted with the "You Make the Call" daily Gulf crossing email, and will take the lead on that project this year

"Thanks" is not a big enough word to show our gratitude for all that Jacque and Tsali do for AGLCA and for their fellow Loopers. We can think of no one more deserving of this award and it was our absolute pleasure to present it to them at the 2024 Fall Rendezvous.

The Stein Family
2023 Recipients

Ben & Laura Stein, and their daughters, Maddy & Molly, completed the Great Loop in 2019. Since then they've continued to give back to their fellow Loopers.  Ben and Laura regularly present at AGLCA Rendezvous on topics like Lake Michigan, Galley Tips, and Marine Electronics. They serve as Harbor Hosts in Fort Myers, Florida and also serve as Family Ambassadors for those Looping with children aboard. Laura has contributed articles to the Great Loop Link e-Magazine, and Ben has been a guest on the Great Loop Radio podcast.  All of the Steins, including Molly & Maddy, volunteer to assist with things like set-up, breakdown, registration, and the ship's store at our events.  Last year, they joined us at the Fall Rendezvous and presented several seminars as scheduled, even though just days before, they lost their boat, which was also their home, to Hurricane Ian. In a community full of people willing to give back, the Steins are standouts. We are grateful for all they contribute to AGLCA.  Thank you, Ben, Laura, Molly & Maddy!

Dave & Claudia Fuller
2022 Recipients

Selecting Dave & Claudia as the 2022 winners was an easy choice for the Home Port Crew. Dave and Claudia consistently go way above and beyond to help AGLCA. They are frequent presenters and joined us to share their Great Loop knowledge at all three Rendezvous in 2022, as well as the Looper Lifestyle introductory seminar in Houston. They are also frequent contributors to the Great Loop Link e-magazine, and even wrote a last-minute piece at our request for the September 2022 issue. In addition, they assisted us with event logistics which were more complicated while AGLCA's director, Kim Russo, was on the Loop.  Dave & Claudia transported a set of A/V equipment (speakers, microphone, screen, projector, and more) from the Winter Rendezvous in Fort Myers to Houston where they stored it for us so it would be positioned for the Looper Lifestyle seminar, and then schlepped it from Houston to Spring Rendezvous in Norfolk.  Dave and Claudia have answered the call each and every time we’ve asked.  We are so grateful for their dedication to AGLCA and to their fellow Loopers!

Robert & Kay Creech
2021 Recipients

Robert & Kay were selected in recognition of the countless hours they spend helping others complete the Great Loop safely and with maximum enjoyment.  They have served for many years as Harbor Hosts in Southport, North Carolina where they have been known to hail passing Loopers on the VHF and invite them to their porch for a beverage, Looping advice, and tales from their Great Loop adventures.  They are the only Harbor Hosts to have twice been voted the True North Harbor Host of the Year winners by their fellow AGLCA members.

Robert & Kay are also frequent presenters at AGLCA events, including many Fall Rendezvous and several "Looper Lifestyle" seminars where they've shared their knowledge of the waterways and information about cruising as a couple, and have earned top ratings from attendees.

In addition to their one-on-one and group interactions with their fellow members, Robert & Kay serve on AGLCA's Advisory Council where they offer insight and advice to the Home Port Crew to help steer the Association in the right direction.

And if that weren't enough, Kay also serves as one of our Reluctant Partners Ambassadors, making herself available to answer questions from those who may have hesitations about taking on the Great Loop with their partner.

We can think of no more deserving recipients than Robert & Kay Creech and it was an honor to present them the award at the 2021 Fall Rendezvous. Thank you, Robert & Kay, for the many things you do on behalf of AGLCA and your fellow Loopers.  You exemplify the true spirit of Loopers!

Eddy & Linda Johnsen
2020 Recipients

Eddy & Linda have presented two 90-minute sessions at each of the last seven Fall Rendezvous to help their fellow Loopers safely cruise from Mobile to Tarpon Spring via the Big Bend Route or the Gulf Crossing. In addition, "Eddy's Weather WAG" provided daily information to Loopers during the Gulf crossing season for several years, helping hundreds of Loopers identify suitable weather windows. In addition to those services to the Looper community, Eddy & Linda have been an integral part of AGLCA's Advisory Council, serving as a sounding board for the Home Port Crew on difficult decisions related to membership benefits, events and more.

Ron & Eva Stob
2019 Recipients

The makings of AGLCA came together in 1999 when Ron & Eva presented on the Great Loop at their first TrawlerFest event and had a sign-up sheet for those who wanted to be part of a new organization and the rest as they say is history.  Their book, Honey, Let's Get a Boat, is the story that started it all and it's still the "go to" book for those interested in the Loop.  After many years of building the Association, they turned over the reins to KFR Services in 2007.  Today, they own Raven Cove Publishing which sells their books and Great Loop maps.  They remain active in the Association as AGLCA Sponsors and still attend Rendezvous events on occasion where they will gladly answer questions and sign books.