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TMN State Guidelines: “In order to attain certification, a Texas Master Naturalist trainee must complete a minimum of 40 volunteer service hours (and 8 hours of advanced training) within one year of the initial training series. In order to retain the title of Texas Master Naturalist, a volunteer must complete another 40 hours in every subsequent year. A trained volunteer, no matter how little or how much volunteer service they are providing the chapter within a given year, is always considered a Master Naturalist volunteer. Master Naturalist volunteers in any given year are either ‘Certified’ or working towards certification for that given year. “ Note: Volunteers who do not complete the requirements in a subsequent year are not eligible to receive the year-pin awards for that year.
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Volunteer work must be of a type that furthers our TMN mission statement: “To provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within our communities.” Example: Volunteers may plant, label, and maintain a native plant garden at a non-profit or public-owned facility, but a rose garden - even at such a facility - does not further our mission. This mission includes educating the public on natural resources, but it also includes managing, maintaining, and improving the environment for the benefit of wildlife and the public.
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Volunteer work must be performed as a Texas Master Naturalist rather than as a member of another organization. Example: A member of both the Aransas Bird and Nature Club and TMN can get volunteer credit by presenting a TMN program to the bird club, but a TMN member who is also the secretary of the bird club cannot get TMN credit for hours doing that secretarial job, because it directly benefits that club and does not further the TMN mission.
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Volunteers who belong to two organizations that both require volunteer service as part of membership may not count the same work hours twice, getting credit from both organizations.
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Volunteer work that results in a profit to another organization cannot be approved:
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Volunteers may not count volunteer work for a for-profit organization. |
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Volunteers may not count work for a nonprofit organization that results in the organization earning money for its own programs. Example: growing native plants for a Master Gardener plant sale would not be allowed, but helping them grow native plants for free distribution to promote native-plant use would be acceptable. |
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Volunteer work in approved Mid-Coast Chapter fund-raising efforts can be counted.
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Paid work cannot be counted for Volunteer credit. Many Chapter members do very valuable work that meets the TMN mission statement criterion, but cannot count the hours because it is part of their job. Examples:
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Reporters cannot get credit for writing an environment story for which they are paid |
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Teachers cannot get credit for working with
students on a nature program they are required by their |
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Paid nature-tour announcers cannot get credit for hours spent on their tours |
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All volunteer work must be approved before a Volunteer can get credit for it.
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Specific projects published through the Chapter are already approved. |
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Volunteer efforts for any of our Partners are approved if they provide educational or environmental benefits toward meeting the TMN mission. Current Partners: |
Ø Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Ø Animal Rehabilitation Keep (ARK)
Ø Aransas First
Ø Bird Rehabilitation—Victoria Area
Ø Bird Rehabilitation—Bay City Area
Ø Coleto Creek Park & Reservoir
Ø Goose Island State Park
Ø Lake Texana State Park
Ø Linville Environmental Education Program/Conoco-Phillips
Ø Nature Conservancy of Texas: Mad Island Marsh Preserve
Ø Padre Island National Seashore Turtle Patrol
Ø Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation
Ø R/V Karma
Ø Texas State Aquarium
Ø Texas Zoo
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Other volunteer efforts may be approved by: |
Ø Projects Committee
Ø Chapter President or Advisor, in the absence of the Projects Chair
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All volunteer work is to be reported using one of the forms provided. If an effort has not already been approved, the member can complete the Request for Approval form and submit it to the Projects Committee for consideration. For an effort requiring more than one member and/or funding, the Chapter Project Plan form must be completed. Once volunteer work has been approved, the Volunteer uses the Monthly Report form to quickly and briefly report volunteer work.
Request for Approval of an Individual Volunteer Activity
Chapter Project Plan Approval Form
Volunteer Hours Report Form
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Volunteer hours credit is earned for time spent preparing a volunteer presentation as well as for making the actual presentation. Travel time to and from any volunteer activity earns volunteer credit.
If you have questions about these Guidelines, contact Earl Matthew, Projects Chairman, or John O'Connell, sponsor representative.