The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) and guests celebrated three honorees during its 12th annual President’s Reception, Thursday, August 21. Jeff Brozyna received the Henry M. Rowan Conservation Award, and Apperson Society medals were awarded to Peg Olsen and George Singer, posthumously. The event, which is underwritten by Lora and Craig Treiber, was hosted by the family of Harold and Elizabeth Bixby, and attended by the LGLC’s top donors and supporters of 2025.
The LGLC’s Rowan Award is given annually to recognize exemplary individuals for their conservation efforts around Lake George, following the spirit of its namesake, Henry M. Rowan. Rowan’s daughter, Ginny Rowan Smith, who is also a member of the LGLC Advisory Board and director emeritus, presented the evening’s award to this year’s honoree, Jeff Brozyna.
After donating land to the LGLC in 2011, Brozyna was inspired to serve on the LGLC Board of Directors, which he did for 12 years, including as Vice President of Development (2012-2022), and President (2022-2023). He continues to serve as a member of the LGLC Advisory Board. In 2021, Brozyna volunteered as interim executive director, bringing a steady hand to the organization at a time of great change. Brozyna and his wife, Patti, were inducted into the LGLC Apperson Society in 2011 in recognition of their gift of land, and have supported the organization ever since.
LGLC Executive Director Mike Horn expressed, “Jeff embodies the spirit of the Rowan Award with unwavering commitment to our mission to protect the land that protects the lake. The cumulative impact of his guidance and support over the last 15 years is a fundamental component of our success as an organization.”
Following the Rowan Award presentation, LGLC President Paul Bell introduced this year’s Apperson Society inductees, Peg Olsen and George Singer, each of whom exemplified John Apperson’s passionate land conservation efforts through the donation of leadership gifts valuing $100,000 or greater to support land conservation in the Lake George watershed.
Peg Olsen has supported the LGLC since its founding and is a lifelong Lake Georger, with multi-generational roots to the lake. In the late 1980’s, Olsen’s work as an environmental consultant led her to work directly with landowners to conserve land around Lake George. Over the past 37 years, Olsen has continued to lend her support and expertise, as an LGLC board member and through multiple land acquisitions. Most recently, the Anthony's Nose-to-Sucker Brook Connector project in Glenburnie was made possible in part due to her leadership and generosity.
When George Singer passed away in March of 2024, he left a legacy of conservation and a love of Lake George that is being carried forward by his children and grandchildren. His son, Rob Singer, accepted the Apperson Society medal on his behalf, along with George’s daughter, Meg Huffman, and several of his grandchildren.
Since his first visit to Lake George as a teenager in 1941, George Singer spent time at the lake every year of his life. His love and appreciation for the lake led him to serve as an LGLC board member from 1997 through 2004, and with his wife, Gloria, supported many LGLC successes, including countless land acquisition projects. In 2022, Singer funded the establishment of the George C. Singer Educational Fund, along with the gracious support of his family. A legacy gift further contributed to the Fund, getting it to a level that supports two summer internships and will do so on an ongoing basis.
