Local Residents Honored for Volunteer Service by American Lighthouse Foundation

Riverside resident Adam Dias and Barrington resident Judianne Point were recently honored with the American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF) Len Hadley Volunteer Award at the Foundation’s annual gala in Kennebunkport, Maine in November. This year’s event honored volunteers for 2022 and 2023.

Adam received the 2023 award. He joined Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse in 2014, while still a teenager. An active member of the work party crew, he took responsibility for maintaining the grounds outside the perimeter fence, and helped with routine maintenance, removing debris, mowing the lawn and painting. In 2020 he took over as editor of the volunteer group’s newsletter, Pomham Glow. Two years later he became a First Mate for the Friends’ passenger launch, Lady Pomham II. He also serves as a museum docent for lighthouse tours and cashier in the lighthouse gift shop.

In 2023, Adam was voted a Member-at-Large of the Friends’ Board of Directors. An accountant with a recent bachelor’s degree in economics and minor in business, he stepped in as assistant treasurer of Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse when needed, and has since been elected treasurer.

Barrington resident Judianne Point received the 2022 American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF) Len Hadley Volunteer Award. Her first contact with Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse was attendance at their 2018 Celebration on the Rocks, an event to mark the completion of the restoration of the interior of the 1871 light station. Her boat trip to the lighthouse that day prompted her to join the volunteer group to continue to maintain and preserve the historical landmark.

Judianne chaired the 150th Anniversary Committee, planning and overseeing a year-long series of events to pay tribute to the establishment of the lighthouse and its role in maintaining maritime safety in upper Narragansett Bay. She has chaired the 5K/10K Pomham Rocks Lighthouse Run for three years and organized a day trip to Block Island for a graveside service for Pomham’s third keeper, Nathaniel Dodge.

In 2022, she arranged for an online booking company to register guests for public tours to the island lighthouse. Judianne serves as tour director, events coordinator and as a museum docent. She was instrumental in facilitating credit card sales for both in-person events and online sales.

Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse is a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation.