Volunteer? Gabriel Jabbour Does the Right Thing. Again.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”  – Margaret Mead

For the second consecutive year, Orono resident, marina owner and former Orono Mayor Gabriel Jabbour has been recognized for his dedication to the environment and community by The North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) with a national award for” Leadership and Service Volunteer.”

He was nominated by Matthew Barbour, from the USGS– UMESC, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, who, among other attributes cited Jabbour’ s collaborative approach to problem solving and his powerful voice in the boating industry, including “changing boat design to reduce the spread of AIS resulting in changes to the recommended standards for boat manufacturers.”

Barbour also noted in his nomination that Jabbour “has also used his networking to facilitate meetings between various stakeholder groups including private business, large corporations, resource managers, and researchers from academia and government agencies” (SEE NOMINATION BULLET POINTS BELOW).

Jabbour has a long history of helping the community, primarily with his annual clean-up efforts around  and on Big Island, including his latest act of leading the post-July 4 holiday sweep to rid the waters and island of trash. It did not go unnoticed by the Star Tribune on July 8, 2022,, which wrote in a detailed article:

“In years past, the post-holiday group could fill 30 to 40 bags to the brim, said marina owner and lake environmental activist Gabriel Jabbour of Orono, who started the post-holiday trash pickup on his own about 20 years ago and now leads the annual expedition….

“Also helping is that residents of Big Island have formed a sort of ‘neighborhood watch’ to keep the area clear of debris, said Jabbour, who has made numerous efforts to protect the lake's water quality (and been recognized for them by entities including the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC), the Department of Natural Resources and former Gov. Mark Dayton, who declared Aug. 11, 2017, "Gabriel Jabbour Day").”

But he’s also been acknowledged in the past for his volunteer work with area veterans, according to online histories: “Gabriel Jabbour, former mayor of the city of Orono, and the V4V organization have partnered to preserve the history of the role Big Island plays in the quality of life of MN veterans by providing history tours of the Island as well as Lake Minnetonka via Mr. Jabbour’s boat. Gabriel is recognized in the Lake Minnetonka community as a volunteer caretaker of the island.”

His tireless dedication to community and to protecting the Lake Minnetonka environment just doesn’t start and stop with the western edge of the metro, however. And it calls to mind that timeless Winston Churchill’s adage, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” He always seems to the do the right thing. Time and again.

 Generous Efforts Include Even Hosting Research Teams at His Home and Docks

The newly announced NALMS  slate of awards will be given out during an awards reception at the Mill City Museum in downtown Minneapolis from 6-8 pm on Wednesday, November 16th, with an open reception with drinks and hors d’oeuvres. The event is part of a longer NALMS conference being held downtown from November 14-17.

Jabbour received a similar honor last year from The Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center at the University of Minnesota with a “ MAISRC Research Partnership Awards.” Those awards  recognize individuals, groups, and organizations who have gone above and beyond to contribute to MAISRC's mission of developing aquatic invasive species (AIS) solutions, reducing the impacts of AIS in Minnesota, and inspiring action by others.

Recent trash clean up on Lake Minnetonka (credit Star Tribune)

 “I am honored to be recognized for my contributions of time and resources to the betterment of the environment and our community,” Jabbour said in statement. “Fortunately, I have been able to give back to both in the ways that I can, which hopefully benefits the greater good into the future.”  A modest statement from a man who many years ago, came to this country as an immigrant with nothing.

To date, Jabbour also has actively supported broader university studies that have advanced promising new, statewide AIS mitigation methods and the evolving wave and wake guidelines to reduce impacts from Wake boasting to shoreline, other boaters, and overall lake ecology. More than once he has hosted teams of researchers in his own home and at his docks!

·         Gabriel Jabbour is an invaluable ally to aquatic invasive species (AIS) research and lake management. He has been a long-time partner to the University of Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Research Center providing financial support and serving as an advisory board member. He has played a critical role in supporting research on Lake Minnetonka (Hennepin County, MN) through his generous donation of time, equipment, and facilities – to include his private residence.

 ·         He has been instrumental in facilitating zebra mussel research to evaluate various control methods, anti-fouling coatings, and risks of residual water in watercraft. He has supported numerous zebra mussel research projects conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey and University of Minnesota.

 ·         He has also used his networking to facilitate meetings between various stakeholder groups including private business, large corporations, resource managers, and researchers from academia and government agencies.

 ·         He is an active voice in the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, Minnetonka Lake Association, Lake Minnetonka Conservation District, and other local organizations interested in the management of Lake Minnetonka and other Minnesota lakes.

 ·         He advocated to the American Boat and Yacht Council to rethink boat design to reduce the spread of AIS resulting in changes to the recommended standards for boat manufacturers.

 ·         In his own words, Gabriel recognizes that “It takes more than one entity to solve the problem of invasive species.” and truly embraces a duty to leave our resources better than they are.

 ·         Without Gabriel's continuous involvement, support, and advocacy the scope of AIS research on Lake Minnetonka and Minnesota would not be what it is today.

 ·         Gabriel Jabbour is a true steward of our water resources and fully embodies the mission of NALMS "to forge partnerships among citizens, scientists, and professionals to foster the management and protection of lakes and reservoirs for today and tomorrow."

Role Models seem sorely lacking these days in city government. But here’s one ex-city official who is still walking the walk and talking the talk. Would that there were 20 more like him.