AUBURN – Scott Williams, executive director of the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program, will speak on water testing/water quality at Lake Auburn at the Auburn Art Club meeting at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, at the High Street Congregational Church.

The talk will be of special interest to club members as the late Barbara Brackett, longtime art club member, donated her Lake Auburn home to be headquarters of the program. It is now known as the Brackett Center.

The statewide nonprofit organization is dedicated to monitoring Maine’s lakes and ponds through the acquisition of scientific data and information. Williams has been with the program since its inception. Training is done at the Brackett Center.

It was announced recently that the program received the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. Gov. John Baldacci recognized the program’s commitment to environmental stewardship through its mission of training some 1,800 citizen volunteers.

Williams said, “The Governor’s Award is a fitting tribute to their dedication and commitment, as volunteer monitors are at the very core of Maine’s effort to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the clear, clean waters of our lakes.”

Williams has been an aquatic biologist for more than 25 years. He is a member and officer in several organizations and has received awards for his work.

Chairwoman for the special program committee is Barbara Randall. Serving with her are Verona Crafts, Helen Levesque and Beverly Preble.