Mid-Coast Chapter Class of 2008
Texas Master Naturalists Recognized
Mid-Year Chapter Status Update
Executive Committee Meeting News
Mid-Coast Chapter Policies and Procedures Manual Approved
At the general membership meeting February 16, 2008, members present approved the adoption of the operating manual that has been in work since the fall of 2007. If you have not received your copy of the final version of the document, contact Kris Kirkwood at 758-6827 or kris_kirkwood@wildblue.net.
Mid-Coast Chapter Class of 2008
The class had its first training session Saturday, February 9 at the library and Green Acres in Rockport.
Left to right: Mike Mullenweg, Linda & Fred Lanoue, Craig McIntyre, Anne Williams, Andy Smith, Barbara Threatt, Richard Conger, Marilee & Russ Bell, Rick & Mary Spencer, Jim Elder, Larry Henneke, and Gary & Macushla Hayden.
Mid-Coast Chapter Officers for 2008
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President—Robert Angerstein |
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Vice-President—Kris Kirkwood |
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Secretary—Tracie Teague |
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Treasurer—Frankie Fox |
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TMN State Convention 2007
State convention in San Antonio had some great training and events. Chapter members attending were Paul and Mary Meredith, Tracie Teague, Frankie and TJ Fox, and Ray and Kris Kirkwood.
TJ and Ray put together a great display of our Matagorda Turtle Patrol project, complete with sand, beach debris, a "nest," turtle documentation kit, photos, and an egg recovery box.
Quarterly Chapter Meeting August 11, 2007
The Mid-Coast Chapter held its summer meeting Saturday August 11 at Matagorda Beach Nature Park Pavilion in Matagorda, TX. Linda Serrill lead a beachcombing walk at 9:00 and taught us about ghost shrimp and other denizens of the beach. Following the walk, Linda gave her presentation on Mollusks of the Texas Gulf Coast. The business meeting, presentation of awards, and lunch followed the training.
Texas Master Naturalists Recognized By the Wildlife Habitat Council
The Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) is a nonprofit, nonlobbying 501(c) (3) group of corporations, conservation organizations, and individuals dedicated to restoring and enhancing wildlife habitat. Created in 1988, WHC helps large landowners, particularly corporations, manage their unused lands in an ecologically sensitive manner for the benefit of wildlife. More than 2 million acres in 48 states, Puerto Rico, and 16 other countries are managed for wildlife through WHC-assisted projects.
In 2006, Texas Master Naturalists, Carolyn May-Monie (Cradle of Texas) and Tracie Teague (Mid-Coast Chapter) were nominated by ConocoPhillips Sweeny Refinery for the Community Partner of the Year Award at the WHC’s 18th Annual Symposium. The Texas Master Naturalists were one of four partners recognized at the event; Sweeny Refinery’s Little Linville Wildlife Habitat also received recognition as a Certified/ Internationally Accredited Corporate Lands for Learning Site.
Sweeny Elementary Pre-K through 5th grade students attended environmental education programs developed by Texas Master Naturalists Carolyn May-Monie and Tracie Teague based on needs expressed by Sweeny teachers. After meeting with each grade level, Carolyn and Tracie carefully developed specific programs to meet TEKS requirements and reinforce classroom lessons while emphasizing age appropriate hands on learning. The Sweeny Employee Excellence Team acted as hosts and chaperones at the Little Linville Wildlife Habitat Corporate Lands for Learning Site.
Texas Master Naturalist’s members from Cradle of Texas and Mid-Coast Chapter, along with special guests from Brazoria County Parks Department, USF&W, TPWD, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, and Gulf Coast Wildlife Rescue, taught classes for more than one thousand students, ranging in age from 3 years old up to 12 years.
ConocoPhillips Sweeny Refinery was proud to nominate Texas Master Naturalists, Carolyn May-Monie and Tracie Teague, for their hard work and dedication in creating a high quality educational program that kept students engaged and impressed teachers with the knowledge students retained.
Mid-Year Chapter Status Update
By Tracie Teague, Certified Texas Master Naturalist and Recording Secretary
Current Membership Status
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Members—71 |
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Members actively volunteering—58 |
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Members recertified during the first half of 2007—16 |
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Members reaching Milestones in 2007—7 (3 bronze, 2 silver, 2 gold) |
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Class of 2007—20 members; 17 graduated and 3 actively pursuing completion |
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2007 Class members already Certified Texas Master Naturalists—7 |
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2007 Class members actively volunteering—16 |
Volunteering
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Sea Turtle Patrol, various sites |
18 |
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Texas State Aquarium |
4 |
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Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network |
7 |
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Aransas National Wildlife Refuge |
16 |
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Mad Island Marsh Preserve |
6 |
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Matagorda Nature Park |
2 |
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Welder Wildlife Foundation |
5 |
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Texas Zoo |
5 |
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Connie Hagar Cottage Sanctuary |
1 |
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Goose Island State Park |
3 |
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Coleto Creek Park and Reservoir |
1 |
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Matagorda County Birding and Nature Center |
5 |
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Lake Texana State Park |
1 |
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Bird Surveys/Banding, various sites |
5 |
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Newspaper/nature articles/publicity |
7 |
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Presentations/Trainings – adult, various sites |
25 |
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Environmental Education – youth, various sites |
17 |
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Phytoplankton Monitoring Network, various sites |
6 |
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Cactus Moth Monitoring, various sites |
2 |
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Riparian Study, various sites |
3 |
In addition, members are working with local community issues that meet our Texas Master Naturalist mission, Chapter business, and other activities.
Executive Committee Meeting News
The Executive Committee met Saturday, July 14, 2007. Topics of general interest included the need to raise training fees to cover costs, the need for a Policies and Procedures Manual to capture Chapter operating guidelines, approval of a change to hours-reporting procedures, a demonstration of the new projector available for use by Chapter members doing TMN-mission-connected presentations, possible changes to responsibilities of several committees, and nomination of officers for 2008.
The subject of fees and reasons for increases will be presented to the general membership for a vote at the next Chapter meeting in August. The 13 potential trainees currently on the waiting list will be apprised of possible changes.
TJ and Frankie Fox and Ray and Kris Kirkwood have agreed to serve as a committee to compile the Policies and Procedures Manual based on the bylaws and lessons learned since Chapter inception in 2000. The Executive Committee directed changes and clarification of committee duties for Membership, Publicity, and a newly formed Hospitality committee to be chaired by John O'Connell. This committee requests input from all Chapter members.
The Executive Committee approved a change to the monthly report form that will allow members to report advanced training along with volunteer hours on same form, doing away with the need to fill out a separate training form. To ensure that both training and volunteer projects are well documented, chairs of the Projects and Education & Training committees will maintain a file of approval forms detailing all information about the project or training. The new monthly report form is available on the website or from Kris Kirkwood by email to kris_kirkwood@wildblue.net.
Six newly scheduled advanced training sessions were presented to the Executive Committee and have been posted to the Training Opportunities page. The August and November Chapter meetings have been scheduled and appear on the Calendar.
At the suggestion of Earl Matthew, Projects chair, a new page will be added to the Resources section of the website to show resources available to the membership. This page will show contact information to check out the new projector and screen or Chapter display boards, as well as members of the Chapter who are willing to help other members with various topics. Volunteers will be solicited.
The Nominations Committee is
preparing to recruit candidates for the election of officers in November.
Members interested in running for office or recommending someone should contact
a member of the committee:
Sherrie Krause—361-552-5023 or
krauses@calcoisd.org
Linda Serrill—979-240-5166 or
cattails2rails@yahoo.com
John O'Connell—361-729-4514 or
j-oconnell@tamu.edu
Members interested in working on a particular committee should contact the committee chair:
Membership—Mary Meredith: 361-570-3679 or paulmary0211@sbcglobal.net
Projects—Earl Matthew: 361-790-9579 or earlmatthew@hotmail.com
Education & Training—Joan Muchmore: 361-972-6619 or jhmuchmore@aol.com
Publicity—President Paul Meredith: 361-570-3679 or paulmary0211@sbcglobal.net
Hospitality—John O'Connell: 361-729-4514 or j-oconnell@tamu.edu
Archives
See Archives for earlier Chapter news.