KADB picks up national recognition

ALBANY, Ga. — Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful’s environmental education program has been named its parent’s top affiliate in the nation in its size category, officials said Monday.

Speaking to the Dougherty County Commission Monday, KADB Executive Director Judy Bowles said the Albany-Dougherty affiliate had been named the national affiliate program award winner for organizations in the 50,000 to 150,000 population category.

Currently, there are more than 650 affiliates around the country, organized into groups based on the size of the communities in which they serve.

“Your constituents have done a magnificent job,” Bowles told the commission. “More than 73,000 participated in events over the last 12 months.”

That number can be a bit confusing, given that there are only slightly more than 90,000 men, women and children in the whole of Dougherty County, according to the latest U.S. Census numbers.

But Bowles said they count the total number of participants at any given event, not unique participants.

“In most cases, we have people participating in multiple events each year, so they may be counted two or three times over the year,” Bowles said.

The commission was no less impressed.

“As a commissioner in this community, we see a lot of stuff that people just shouldn’t be doing,” Chairman Jeff Sinyard said. “Here’s a group that is doing something positive and is getting the right kind of attention. We’re thankful to have KADB.”