FARMINGTON – Written nominations are being accepted from the public for the King Cummings Leadership Award and the Jane deFrees Youth Rural Leaders Award.

Biennially Western Mountains Alliance recognizes the work of an exemplary organization from Western Maine that is making positive strides toward economic sustainability in the region balanced with the preservation of rural heritage and natural resources by awarding the King Cummings Leadership Award.

On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the alliance will also award the new Jane deFrees Youth Rural Leaders Award to a youth-led social action group that is making a significant contribution to western Maine’s future.

The leadership award winners must demonstrate a commitment to work energetically and collaboratively to improve the quality of life for people in western Maine, strengthen western Maine’s identity and civic leadership, preserve rural values and cultural heritage, promote the sustainable use of natural resources, and/or support sustainable economic development.

They must be from Somerset, Franklin, northern Androscoggin, Piscataquis or Oxford counties.

The award has been named in honor of the late Jane deFrees, a resident of Rumford Center and a founding member of the alliance. deFrees taught public school, operated an alternative summer school for youth, established Beacon House in Rumford and was instrumental in bringing Tri-County Mental Health services to Oxford and Franklin counties. She served on numerous boards and committees, including president of the state Board of Education and chairwoman of the Maine Task Force on Mental Health.

Cummings was instrumental in the founding of the alliance. In 1987 he brought together business and community leaders to talk about economic and community development in western Maine.

Cummings was a native of western Maine and was among those who cut the first trails at Sugarloaf/USA. He served on numerous boards, including the Maine Community Foundation and the Nature Conservancy.

The Awards Committee will select two recipients to each receive $500 and a plaque to be presented at the celebration of the Western Mountains Alliance’s 20th anniversary on Nov. 1 in Kingfield.

Tickets are on sale for the local harvest dinner and program with a silent art auction, family musical group, Zevulon from Dexter, and keynote speaker, Joel Haskard of St. Paul, Minn. Haskard is co-coordinator of the Clean Energy Resource Teams project and will speak about the power of regional networks to assist Maine people to determine their energy future – a future built with clean renewable energy solutions.

The nomination form may be downloaded from www.westernmountainsalliance.org. For more information, the nomination form or to register for the anniversary dinner, call Kathleen Beauregard at Western Mountains Alliance at 778-3885.