Mon Forest Towns Director Josh Nease (left) and AFNHA AmeriCorps member Sam Kniery (right)
Congratulations to Sam Kniery, an AFNHA AmeriCorps member who served with the Mon Forest Towns Partnership in the 2023-2024 program year and is now employed with that organization. Sam is receiving the 2024 Outstanding AmeriCorps Member Award from Volunteer West Virginia.
Kniery received the award due to his “dedication to his role, and the creative ways he boosted his program's social media presence and improved relations with local towns,” according to Cameron Waggoner, Volunteer West Virginia’s AmeriCorps Program Officer. “This decision was not an easy one as we had submissions from all over the state.” He will be recognized in a ceremony at Volunteer West Virginia’s annual Fall Conference in Flatwoods on October 18th.
Sam’s service was exemplary and strongly reflected the goals of our National Heritage Area, which include connecting partners that support tourism and economic development to benefit rural communities. Our AmeriCorps members help amplify the capacity of their host organizations like Mon Forest Towns, and his enthusiasm helped grow their engagement in our region.
Thank you for your service!
A note from Sam Kniery
Ever since childhood, many of us are told “do something you love and you will never work a day in your life,” however, this past year, I have encountered an even deeper truth- surround yourself with passionate people, and you will never find something not to love. Every day, I have had the distinct honor of working alongside countless community members and AmeriCorps committed to making a difference across the Mon Forest Towns Partnership, Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area, and the world. From spiny mussels to square dances, discovering the endless wellspring of passion for all of life’s wonders, big and small, constantly inspires and empowers me to climb higher, reach farther, and love more deeply.
As an anthropologist, I study the relationship between people and place- how we shape the landscape, how the landscape shapes us, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that West Virginia is special. I swear time moves slower on country roads, that the shadows curling around a rhododendron’s leaves in the forest’s understory are deeper, that the night skies are filled with an impossible number of stars. Its communities, likewise, are filled with an immeasurable spirit- their music a little richer than one might think physics would permit, their deep connection to history untethered from the clock’s hands, their compassion seemingly greater than a heart can hold. A community member in Richwood, West Virginia, once told me, “The mountains here are like a warm hug, they hold you tight,” I have found the folks here are no different.
The forest’s story may be one of loss, a tale of fire and flood, of forgotten towns and railroad ghosts- but it is also a tale of triumph against the odds, perseverance in the face of disaster, and relentless, burning desire to build a better tomorrow. Out in the woods, you can find old signposts embraced by lichen and moss that remember the volunteers whose saplings now stand as towering trees around you; out in the woods, you can find fresh-faced volunteers with saplings of their own. Due to the ceaseless dedication of passionate people to protect what they love, the future of the Mon Forest Towns Partnership, Appalachian Forest Heritage Area, and West Virginia is bright- I would encourage everyone to come along for the ride.
Lastly, I would like to offer a special thanks to my supervisors Josh Nease and Jack Tribble, the Appalachian Forest Heritage Area staff, my fellow AmeriCorps, and our Mon Forest Towns representatives for supporting me during my journey—I could not have done it without you.
Best Wishes & Many Thanks,
Sam Kniery
A note from Mon Forest Towns Director Josh Nease:
Sam came to Mon Forest Towns Partnership (MFT) as our AmeriCorps member in September 2023. His diverse skillset and his desire and willingness to engage with and serve our communities is what made his work so impactful.
He took on our social media presence, further developed our brand, created beautiful artwork and informative graphics that are getting the attention of our friends and partners across the region. Through his work, MFT acquired over 1000 new Facebook followers and over 800 new followers on Instagram. Sam is well known in our 12 towns, as he left his mark in many of them.
Sam's service advanced important initiatives in most towns. A few specific examples include: he supported community organization and planning in Durbin, helped to revitalize the pollinator garden in Marlinton, designed and assisted in printing of new Mon Forest Towns banners in Richwood, and organized a very successful community engagement event in Elkins. This was all on top of the professional quality work he was doing to build our new Mon Forest Towns organization.
Sam excelled in everything he took on, in the sense that if Sam didn’t know how to do something, he took it upon himself to learn. So, if something needed done he would figure out how to do it and then make it happen.
Sam goes above and beyond in everything that he does. His desire to serve is unmatched and his love of the Monongahela National Forest and each one of our unique towns is evident in everything that he does. I knew early on that Sam is a tremendous asset to our organization and region and we have been able to secure funding to bring Sam on as our second Mon Forest Towns employee starting on October 1. One year later, our organization is much better connected to our towns and to the region than we would have been without him.
