The Mountaineers Service Award is given annually to one volunteer in the entire organization who has contributed to the mission of The Mountaineers in a way that exceeds all expectations. Learn about our 2016 winner Eric Linxweiler.
Eric has been a Mountaineers member since 2002 and has served the organization at a level rarely achieved by a single volunteer. In 14 years, he has served as a member, an activity participant, climbing committee member, field trip leader, mentored trip leader, Board Director, President of the Board, Interim Executive Director, Vice President of Publishing, volunteer author, and most recently as the Chair of the Freedom 9 committee.
In his volunteer leadership roles, Eric has displayed transformational leadership. These are just a few highlights of his achievements:
Mountaineers President
- Advocate and key driver for the move to Magnuson Park
- Primary driver that initiates and executes plan for difficult, but critical, life-saving organizational changes
- Interim executive director (always as a volunteer)
- Instrumental on team to hire Martinique Grigg on as Executive Director
- Supported the first living strategic plan in the organization’s history
- Encouraged and supported staff reinvigoration
- Initiated strategic board recruitment and engagement
Vice President of Publishing
- Laid the foundation for successful alignment of Programs and Publishing under a CEO and more supportive and efficient organizational structure.
- Freedom 9 co-chair—singularly responsible (although he will deny it) for keeping Freedom 9 running smoothly and on schedule. Already thinking of ideas for Freedom 10!
- A proponent for eLearning—one of the most critical forward-looking initiatives and opportunities to sustain Mountaineers role as leaders in outdoor education.
- Brought greater recognition and critical resources to Mountaineers Books for their accomplishments, and their ambitions.
“Just a volunteer”
- Provided leadership for Tech 2.0, the revitalization of our website – Working with Jeff Johnston, Gene Yore and others, Eric championed the follow-on work and actual web-site transition we made
- Authored a crevasse-rescue quick reference guide for Mountaineers Books.
When I think of the many contributions to The Mountaineers by Eric Linxweiler—there are specific leadership qualities that come to mind:
- Passion and ambition for our mission
- Encourages and supports leadership development and opportunities for others
- Innovative, forward-thinking
- Straight-talking, self-effacing: he listens, he builds trust and coalitions
- Shares success
- Takes, encourages and supports calculated risks
- Bravery—initiates and nurtures change with sensitivity
- Takes on and takes charge of challenging situations with thoroughness and compassion
- Does not shy away from hard choices, and difficult choices—when it leads to making The Mountaineers better
Please join me in thanking Eric for his 14+ years of dedication to The Mountaineers. He is truly a deserving recipient of the 2016 Service Award!