Aviation Hall of Fame: When leaders of the USS Saratoga Museum Foundation launched the Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame in December 2003, some skeptics warned: “You’ll run out of candidates in a few years.”

Little did those skeptics know just how many skilled and talented contributors to the aerial age have been born here, were educated here, lived here for a portion of their lives or performed some great aviation-related act or service in Rhode Island.

“Over four years, we have inducted 25 individuals, one entire family [the Allen family of balloonists/aeronauts] and given 12 special recognition awards,” said Frank Lennon, the hall’s founder.

If you know of someone who has made a contribution to aviation and would like to nominate him or her for recognition, call Lennon at (401) 831-8696, or send e-mail to savesara@aol.com. Deadline for public submissions is Aug. 31.

A dinner and induction will take place the weekend of Oct. 27 at the Varnum Armory in East Greenwich.

Coastal Tally: The Audubon Society of Rhode Island will sponsor the 23rd annual Coastal Tally on Saturday, Sept. 15. More than 1,500 volunteers will count each piece of trash picked up from the shores of the state.

Each year the cleanup focuses on one aspect of the connection between marine debris and its impact. This year the right whale has been chosen because only an estimated 396 remain in the North Atlantic. In addition to being struck by ships and entangled in lobster gear, right whales can inadvertently consume plastic debris floating among the small shrimp they target as food.

The Audubon Society of Rhode Island has led the International Coastal Cleanup for Rhode Island since 1985, beginning with five sites.

This year, 80 people have volunteered to “captain” a site, to find volunteers and manage the local cleanup. Audubon organizes and educates the volunteers, provides T-shirts, manages the data gathered by the volunteers, and coordinates with The Ocean Conservancy, the international director for the project. For more information, call (401) 949-5454.

Preservation awards: Each year, Preserve Rhode Island honors outstanding historic preservation projects, programs and achievements by individuals and groups who exemplify sound historic preservation practices and support Preserve Rhode Island’s mission to protect Rhode Island’s historic structures and unique places.

The Preservation Merit Awards will be announced at Preserve Rhode Island’s 2007 annual meeting scheduled for Oct. 23. Preservation Merit Awards are given in four categories:

• Preservation Education and Advocacy — recognizing individuals, municipalities and/or nonprofit groups which have worked to save historic treasures, educate citizens about heritage preservation, or otherwise have helped to further the cause of historic preservation and maintain the beauty and quality of life in Rhode Island.

• Landscape Preservation — recognizing projects that restore historic landscapes, create new landscapes in keeping with and highlighting the historic character of a place, or efforts to maintain significant historic landscapes.

• Residential Restoration and Rehabilitation — recognizing projects by owners of historic houses that make exceptional efforts to restore or preserve the historic character of the house and contribute to the vitality of the neighborhood.

• Commercial Restoration and Rehabilitation — recognizing projects that rehabilitate or otherwise improve commercial or public historic sites and structures and positively affect the surrounding communities.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, Aug. 31. For a nomination form and guidelines, call Susanna Prull at (401) 272-5101.

Women’s weekend: Women’s Wilderness Weekend of RI, a nonprofit organization formed to provide weekend getaway opportunities for women, is offering a Women’s Wilderness Weekend retreat Oct. 19 to 21.

Classes, such as hiking, orienteering, canoeing, archery, yoga, kayaking, stargazing, poetry and crafts, will be offered.

The mission of the organization is to provide safe, noncompetitive programs to adult women in a pristine setting so participants can learn about and reflect upon their connections with themselves, their environment and society.

The retreat takes place at the W. Alton Jones Campus of the University of Rhode Island. The 2,300-acre campus contains trails, lakes and farmlands in addition to the Environmental Education Center. The campus is wheelchair accessible, has a lodge with fireplace and several meeting/class rooms.

The cabins are heated, have showers and camp-style bunk beds. Meals are buffet style and vegetarian options are available.

All retreats include a service project. Private services, such as massage, reflexology and facials are available from certified practitioners for a fee. On Saturday, a raffle will be held to raise money for a scholarship program.

The fee is $185, and includes all meals, lodging and workshops. Some workshops may require a materials fee. Scholarships are available on a limited basis.

For more information, call Kathy at (401) 647-5561 or visit Web site www.womenswildernessri.com.

Goodwill Industries auction: Goodwill Industries of Rhode Island has been awarded a grant from the Citizens Bank foundation for the “Power of Work” auction on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Squantum Association Bake House, 947 Veterans Memorial Parkway, East Providence.

The evening will feature a cocktail reception, live entertainment and silent and live auctions.

Goodwill Industries provides education, job training and employment services to adults and youth with disabilities and other barriers to employment to enhance their capacity for independent living and increased quality of life and work.

A variety of sponsorship levels are available for both business and individuals, which include free advertising and admission to the event. Auction items will also be accepted.

For more information, call Christine Yankee at (401) 861-2080, ext. 119.