At the 2010 Annual Meeting in Whitefield, New Hampshire, ECOS recognized former member Bob Varney for his contributions to the organization with a Founders Award.
Bob was one of the nation’s longest-serving state environmental commissioners. As Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services for 12 years, he was appointed by three governors of both political parties. Bob was an active member of ECOS for many years. He served as ECOS president, vice-president and secretary-treasurer during the late 1990s and has attended ECOS meetings as a state commissioner and an alumni member. He has testified in Congress on behalf of NGA and ECOS. Along with Bob Shinn of New Jersey, Bob successfully proposed the first climate change resolution at an ECOS meeting in the mid-1990’s. He also helped organize the first national meeting bringing together state commissioners and environmental justice leaders in an effort to improve communication and coordination on EJ issues throughout the country.
