LIHEAP Clearinghouse Wins NLIEC Achievement Award

June 17--The National Low Income Energy Consortium (NLIEC) has selected Kay Joslin and Sherry Vogel of NCAT’s LIHEAP Clearinghouse as winner of the Consortium’s 2010 Achievement Award. The award was presented June 16 at the National Energy and Utility Affordability Conference in San Antonio, Texas, which is  jointly sponsored by NLIEC and the National Fuel Funds Network.

 The NLIEC Achievement Award is given annually to an individual or organization that has demonstrated consistent leadership in championing low-income energy issues. Past honorees include U.S. Reps. Pat Williams and David Obey, U.S. Sens. Arlen Specter and Paul Wellstone, and organizations such as AARP, National Consumer Law Center and Community Action Partnership. The award statement read as follows:

“For many years the LIHEAP Clearinghouse has collected and provided energy assistance information to policy makers, program operators and people seeking assistance. Kay and Sherry have developed their organization into one of the critical sources of timely, accurate information in the country. Their unwavering support of LIHEAP and NLIEC are overdue for recognition.  Kay and Sherry through their countless hours of service, represent the highest example of professionalism in public service.”

Joslin has been director of the Clearinghouse since 1990 and Vogel has been program specialist since 1997.   In addition to their Clearinghouse work, they have developed and moderated  NEUAC workshops, helped with conference publications and outreach,  and otherwise contributed to the conference. 

Each year nominations are presented to the NLIEC board of directors, which votes on the nominations. The Consortium, founded in 1986, brings together organizations and individuals from the public, private and nonprofit sectors for the common purpose of increasing awareness of and eliminating residential energy and utility hardships and crises faced by low-income consumers. Through the National Energy and Utility Affordability Conference, NLIEC provides stakeholders with timely and accurate information that can be applied to their everyday work. It also provides attendees invaluable networking and training opportunities.