Pomham Rocks’ Lisa Dias is Honored with a ALF Volunteer Award

Lisa Dias of ALF’s Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse was presented with a 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.

The effort to completely restore the exterior and interior of the 1871 Pomham Rocks Lighthouse, all the while working to bring public attention to the immense historic value of this Rhode Island treasure, has been quite a fifteen year journey for the Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse.

All along the way, many dedicated individuals have volunteered their time, talent and treasure to achieve the preservation of Pomham Rocks. One of these special volunteers is Lisa Dias.

Lisa started off with the Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse (FPRL) in 2015 as a member of the events committee – a committee she continues to serve on.

When Lisa is not helping plan engaging community events, she is lending a hand to maintenance projects on the island and in the lighthouse. Whether it is helping to clean up around the property, sweeping up the dirt and grime inside the historic structure, helping paint or weeding the garden areas on the island and planting new flowers, Lisa can be relied upon to be part of a team effort.

In 2018, Lisa chaired the chapter’s membership committee and was one of five Celebration Committee members who created, organized and executed the grand opening event for the restored Pomham Rocks Lighthouse.

The event was called “Celebration on the Rocks.” As a committee member, Lisa was responsible for helping create and coordinate this high profile event, which was held at Squantum Association with over 200 guests in attendance. Lisa spearheaded the invitation process, and subsequent tracking of responses and checks. She also provided accurate data for the event’s projected budget, obtained stemless wine glasses with the logo of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse as favors for the guests; scheduled people on the Save the Bay boats for transportation from Squantum Association to tour Pomham Rocks Lighthouse, along with other duties that were necessary for a successful celebratory event.

Dennis Tardiff, Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse chairperson, has noted, “I am also the Membership chair now, taking over from Lisa, and have found out just how labor intensive it can be keeping track of the many FPRL members. One must take account of who has or has not paid their dues, send out acknowledgement letters and membership cards, and second notice letters when necessary.”

The duties also include picking up the member correspondence at the post office, listing the membership checks on a spreadsheet, scanning the checks and deposit slips to email our treasurer, and finally going to the bank to deposit the checks. Lisa set up this streamlined system with our treasurer’s assistance.

In regards to the “Celebration on the Rocks” event and Lisa’s vital role in its success, FPRL chairperson Dennis Tardiff concluded, “I can confidently tell you as the last U.S. Coast Guard Officer-in-Charge of Pomham Rocks Light Station, that the “Celebration on the Rocks” was one of the most significant events in Pomham Rocks recent history – right up there with the decommissioning of the station in 1974, the exterior restoration in 2005-2006, and the relighting ceremony in 2006. Lisa Dias’ attention to detail and her coordination efforts was instrumental in this very successful celebration.”

We are pleased to honor Lisa Dias with a 2019 Len Hadley Volunteer Award!