John and Joanne Clevenger of ALF’s Cape Cod Chapter was presented with an ALF Len Hadley Volunteer Award during the American Lighthouse Foundation’s annual Lighthouse Gala, which was held at the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport, Maine, on April 28, 2019.
(L to R) ALF Executive Director Bob Trapani, Jr., Joanne Clevenger, Cape Cod Chapter Chairperson Gary Childs and John Clevenger.
John and Joanne Clevenger are the Cape Cod Chapter’s 2019 Len Hadley Volunteer Award recipients.
(Photo by Dominic Trapani)
During the summer of 2007, John and Joanne Clevenger stayed at Race Point Light Station as guests at the keeper’s house. A short two years later in 2009, they became keepers themselves. Keepers at Race Point act as the host for overnight guests that are staying at the keeper’s house or the whistle house. Both John and Joanne have warm and easy personalities. They easily grasped how to be a historian for those guests interested in the station, or alternatively, figured out those guests who were just seeking quiet solitude at our jewel at the end of Cape Cod, and gave them their personnel space.
Every time there was a work project from grunt work to preparing the Station for the next year, conducting lighthouse tours, and helping at Mariner’s Day when the Station is open to the public, John and Joanne were there. More recently they helped with the storm damage from two years ago where we sustained over $5,000 in materials damage due to three Nor’easters in a row, which included damage to the roof, and subsequently to sheetrock, electrical wiring, floor tile replacement and painting. They are willing to complete any task and roll with the punches that this dynamic “bed and breakfast” style setting throws at them while they are on station.
Race Point Lighthouse on Cape Cod, MA
(ALF Cape Cod Chapter Photo)
Most recently they have taken over the gift shop whose proceeds go to the ongoing preservation of the Race Point Light Station and other ALF projects. As we have moved into the electronic age at Race Point, John and Joanne have undertaken coordinating the iPad via wi-fi ShopKeep “register” to conduct sales. They have been involved in the recruiting of new keepers joining our forces. They also have taken over the Community Education Program where two nights, one in the fall and one in the spring, are offered to groups free of charge. These groups include girl scouts, boy scouts, young Marines, and similar organizations. John, with his engineering background, and Joanne with her computer programming skills, have organized these events without pause. Their easy demeanor and confident presences is well appreciated.
We are pleased to honor John and Joanne Clevenger with a 2019 Len Hadley Volunteer Award!
Congratulations to Joanne and John Clevenger!
(ALF Cape Cod Chapter Photo)
