Awards Of Excellence of the International Maple Syrup Institute

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NOMINATION &  SELECTION

​THE LYNN REYNOLDS MEMORIAL LEADERSHIP & GOLDEN MAPLE LEAF AWARD
 
Eligibility: Any individual, group or firm who has been active in the maple syrup industry within at least the past 5 years and has demonstrated the qualities pertinent to either of these awards may be nominated. The nominee must be nominated by at least one paid member of IMSI.
 
Selection committee:  Selection of the winning nominations will be done by the IMSI’s Executive Committee based on the criteria for the written award submission listed below.
 
Criteria for the written nomination letter are: 1) clarity of application, 2) persuasiveness of the rationale 3) magnitude and significance of the achievement on the maple industry and the people who work in the industry.
 
Instruction for nominations:  Forward a written submission to IMSI’s Executive Director by the deadline stated in the invitation to submit a nomination. 

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PRESIDENT'S AWARD

The President’s Award was initiated in 2017 to recognize individuals and groups for ongoing contributions to advancing the maple syrup industry and the IMSI. The recipients are chosen solely by the executive committee. The award is given to individuals, groups or companies that are active members or collaborators of the IMSI and have contributed significantly towards the IMSI’s goals.

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GOLDEN MAPLE LEAF AWARD - ACHIEVEMENT & INNOVATION -

• Frequency: Awarded every year at the Maple Convention in October.
• Purpose of the Award:  To recognize outstanding achievement in supporting and advancing the maple syrup industry at the North American or International levels.
• Theme of the Award:  Achievement and/or innovation of significant benefit to the North American and/or International Maple Syrup Industry.

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LYNN REYNOLDS MEMORIAL LEADERSHIP AWARD  ​- LEADERSHIP -

• Frequency: Awarded every year at the Maple Convention in October.
• Purpose of the Award:  To recognize outstanding leadership of individuals in the International Maple Syrup Industry.
• Theme of the Award:  Leadership that benefitted the North American and/or International Maple Syrup Industry.

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About Lynn Reynolds & the Award   
   Lynn Reynolds of Wisconsin volunteered many hours to the IMSI, serving as President in 1992 and 1993 and as Executive Secretary since 1995, until a heart attack took him away from us on August 30, 1998. In his honor, the IMSI established a yearly award to recognize an IMSI member who has been an active leader on an International level within the previous 5 years.
   Gary Gaudette was the first to receive this award, at the 1999 Annual Meeting in Maine. Gary is from St. Albans, Vermont and has been Treasurer of the IMSI for many years. He is also the President of Leader Evaporator Co. Inc. of St. Albans, VT.
    At the 2000 annual meeting held in Burlington, VT, the Lynn Reynolds award went to Wilson “Bill” Clark of Wells, VT. Bill has been active with both the IMSI and NAMSC in addition to serving as President of the Vermont Sugarmakers Association for countless years.
    Minnesota was the host State in 2001. Paul Richards of Richards Maple Products in Chardon, Ohio was given the honor. Paul and Lynn had been best of friends, having driven together from the Midwest to the Eastern States and Canada to a variety of maple meetings.
    At the 2002 meeting in New Hampshire, Luc Lussier was the surprised honoree. Luc is General Manager of the Citadelle Maple Syrup Cooperative located in Plessisville, Quebec. Luc is a past president of the IMSI.