Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 9:30 am at Coleto Creek Reservoir and Park. Twenty-four members attended:
|
Angerstein, Robert |
Hughes, Lynne |
Lang, Marty |
O'Connell, John |
|
Barnhart, Claire |
Kirkwood, Kris |
Lanoue, Fred |
Pletcher, Diane |
|
Bell, Marilee |
Kirkwood, Ray |
Lanoue, Linda |
Ross, Suzie |
|
Bell, Russ |
Klopshinske, Dick |
Meredith, Mary |
Threatt, Barb |
|
Fox, T.J. |
Klopshinske, Barb |
Meredith, Paul |
Turner, Hugh |
|
Hartman, Leslie |
Korth, Wilfred |
Muchmore, Joan |
Wilson, Brenda |
Business Meeting
Reports
President's Remarks
President Robert Angerstein welcomed members to Coleto Creek Park and announced that the nature trail at the parks exists largely due to the efforts of members Dick and Barb Klopshinske.
Vice-President
Larry Henneke was not present.
Secretary
Secretary Kris Kirkwood requested that minutes be approved as posted on the website, and apologized for the mix-up of meeting start time.
Treasurer
Treasurer Frankie Fox was not present due to illness. TJ Fox presented the Treasurer's report:
Membership
Chair Lynne Hughes deferred most of her report to the Old Business section of the business meeting. She suggested that members volunteer to produce displays about TMN and its benefits for placement in local businesses and libraries throughout our area. There was discussion of using the two sets of displays the Chapter owns, currently in the possession of TJ Fox and Robert Angerstein, but they were deemed too large for most sites.
Education & Training
Chair Joan Muchmore reported that the planning for the 2010 initial training is well underway, with six of the nine sessions scheduled.
Projects
Chair Paul Meredith reported that one project is pending approval. In addition, he read Norm Hirsch's report on the status of Formosa Plastic's Tejano Wetlands project based on the annual meeting of the Formosa-Tejano Wetlands Executive Board, 27 August 2009:
Robin Sonsel, Calhoun I.S.D., reported on the administrative and physical activities conducted from 2008 to 2009. This included supplying a full-time, on-site, experienced science teacher to conduct hands-on nature classes and accrue grants for on-site science laboratory equipment. The CISD maintenance department conducted many on-site work projects to develop the educational building facilities and field areas.
Debra Sonsel is the full-time, on-site science teacher responsible for the daily guidance/training in classroom and field expeditions. As of the date of this meeting, she has educated 1602 students and 15 teachers including some from South America who visited our Wetlands as a part of the Rotary-sponsored visits to the U.S. as well as many birdwatchers, including birders from Germany. She stated that 86 bird species has been identified on this site.
Bob Wallace of Formosa Plastics reported on the development of the site to an
established, well-equipped educational site. He stated that two issues are being
addressed:
1. Stopping leakage in one of the water retention cells
2. Installation of telephone and computer network communication to this site.
This educational facility is up and running at full speed. It is open to anyone 24/7 for nature observations for no cost. The educational facility is open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday thru Friday and visitors are welcome.
Submitted by Norman Hirsch, Certified Texas Master Naturalist and Formosa Wetlands-Tejano Executive Board Member.
Outreach
Chair Mary Meredith reported that she had spoken with two potential members, Jennifer Owen and Bill Yanta. Jennifer is a potential transfer from the Rio Grande Valley Chapter and as such needs only to provide a letter from her former Chapter stating that she is a member in good standing and giving the number of volunteer and training hours she has accrued. Jennifer has expressed interest in taking some of the training sessions not offered by RGV. Bill Yanta has other pressing commitments and is looking at applying for 2011 training.
The latest column Paul and Mary Meredith wrote for the Victoria Advocate details TMN membership and its benefits. Mary will provide the column for rewrite and use in other area newspapers. Merediths recently gave a presentation to Victoria Master Gardeners on PowerPoint, but used their Texas Master Naturalist recruiting presentation as an example, recruiting as they taught PowerPoint.
Mary requested that members from the several counties contact her to get involved with providing publicity for the Chapter through their local newspapers and community calendars.
Chapter Advisor
John O'Connell presented copies of the Texas Master Naturalist 10th Anniversary Program Report published by our State organization. He has copies available for members. John also recommended that Chapter members read the Policies and Procedures manual and be aware of its contents.
Old Business
Status of membership for Class of 2010
Lynne Hughes reports that we currently have six paid applicants. Four are from our Chapter area and two are part-time residents here. She is following up on 11 other prospects who have expressed interest but not turned in applications, including the two discussed by the Outreach chair. Two of them are from the South Texas Chapter area. Another prospect who has been in contact with John O'Connell is reported to have mailed his application. Claire Barnhart gave information about two more prospects and Lynne will contact them.
Members suggested that the Chapter offer a scholarship for applicants who cannot afford the application fee. After discussion, it was decided that procedures for applying and approving such a scholarship would need to be put in place, approved by the Executive Committee, and approved by the Chapter. Leslie Hartman was appointed chair of a committee to develop scholarship procedures.
Members expressed concern that applicants are waiting too long to learn whether they have been accepted into the class. The situation is partly due to the fact that applicants are accepted in a particular order, with priority given to full-time residents of our 7-county area. Residents of another area are not accepted until it is determined that the class is not filled with applicants from our area. It was agreed that applicants from within our area should be notified immediately when their application and fee is received, and others should be notified of their status. The Policies and Procedures manual contains sample letters for all situations that should be sent out to notify applicants and explain the order of acceptance.
Hummer/Bird Celebration Chapter Outreach at TPWD Booth
Paul & Mary Meredith manned the booth almost full time and spoke with hundreds of people about TMN membership and benefits. They expressed appreciation to all members who helped in the booth.
Hummer/Bird Celebration Native Plant Sale
Kris Kirkwood reported that the native plant sale went very well and the $781 profit was the least of its benefits. All members who staffed the booth felt that they were forwarding TMN's educational mission by providing information about native plants and how they benefit native wildlife. She expressed thanks for all the help with plants and with staffing the booth and recommended that we continue to do the plant sale at next year's Hummer/Bird Celebration and used lessons learned this year to make it even better.
Meredith's will also need help with manning the TPWD booth, where we will also have Mid-Coast Chapter recruiting materials. ANWR will also need help manning their booth.
Welder Gardens and Rainwater Harvesting Projects
Russ Bell reported on the projects he & Marilee are heading up at Welder Wildlife Foundation. A Welder grass demonstration garden is planned that will be watered with a demonstration rainwater-harvesting system. In addition, a native garden with wildflowers for birds and butterflies is planned at the CONE (Collaborative Observatory for Natural Environments) site at Welder to augment the feeders there. Aransas-San Patricio Master Gardeners have provided the funds to build the beds and designated the sites as MG demonstration gardens so that their members can volunteer time to maintain the gardens. Russ moved and Paul Meredith seconded that the Mid-Coast Chapter provide the $325 funding needed to have guttering installed to connect to the rainwater system. Motion passed.
Members are invited to assist with building the required beds on November 18, 20, and 21.
Barb Threatt moved and Claire Barnhart seconded that we also pay for signage up to $200 as required to indicate our contribution. Motion passed. Since MG is already planning signage, Russ will contact them to make arrangements to participate.
ANWR Van Tours
Van Tour Coordinator Hugh Turner reported that training for the coming season has been carried out and requested that trained members sign up as guides for the tours. Members who would like to serve but have not had the training can contact Hugh and receive on-the-job training by going along on tours until they feel competent to lead.
New Business
Proposed Policies and Procedures Changes
Kris Kirkwood presented the change as
approved by the Executive Committee to set the date for #22 under Education &
Training chair's Initial Training Operating Procedures. That procedure currently
reads:
22: Analyze initial training class costs and recommend needed fee changes to the
Executive Committee.
The proposed change is to add "at the July EC meeting" to the end of the
sentence.
Kris Kirkwood moved we accept the change and Linda Lanoue seconded. After discussion about the time frame and wording, the motion passed. Members were urged to propose any needed changes to Policies and Procedures to the P&P committee for presentation to the Executive Committee.
Election of Officers
Nominations committee Paul Meredith (Chair), Dick Klopshinske, and Leslie Hartman presented the slate of candidates for election as officers for 2010:
For President—Ray Kirkwood
For Vice-President—Larry Henneke
For Recording Secretary—Kris Kirkwood
For Treasurer—Frankie Fox.
There were no nominations from the floor.
Members voted and ballots were counted. Kris Kirkwood reported that four absentee ballots had been received; all voted for the slate of candidates. Results were announced: the slate was elected.
Announcements
TPWD's Texas Nature Trackers (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/texas_nature_trackers/) has several opportunities for volunteers to contribute date to projects. The newest is Hummingbird Roundup: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/texas_nature_trackers/hummingbird_roundup/
The newest version of the Texas Wildscapes book—Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife, Texas A&M Nature Guides Edition is now available through Texas A&M Press Web site (http://www.tamupress.com) or by phone at (800) 826-8911. Make sure to order the Nature Guide edition if you order from another bookseller.
Presentation of Certificates and Awards
Recertification
Recertification year pins were presented to Russ Bell, Marilee Bell, Dick Klopshinske, Mary Meredith, and Paul Meredith. TJ Fox agreed to take pins to Ernie Edmundson and Earl Matthew. Marilee Bell took pins for Drew Jacobs and Shirley Windhorst. John O'Connell took Linda Serrill's pin and Barb Threatt took Julianne Thompson's pins for 2008 and 2009. Joan Muchmore took 2008 and 2009 pins for Allan and Brigid Berger. Lynne Hughes will deliver pins to Bill Farnsworth. Members not present to receive year pins: Gay Hejtmancik, Mike Burnett, Sam Burnett, Mike Mauldin, Ronald Sawyer, Andy Smith, and Les Sorenson
Milestone Pins
Russ and Marilee Bell received their bronze dragonfly pins for 250 hours of service. TJ Fox agreed to deliver Earl Matthew's silver dragonfly (500) hour pin, and Joan Muchmore will deliver Brigid Berger's silver dragonfly. Kris Kirkwood received the platinum dragonfly pin for 2,500 hours of service. Members not present to receive milestone pins: Richard Conger and Mike Mauldin
Business Meeting Adjournment
The business meeting was adjourned at 11:16 am.
Members had a brown-bag lunch and stayed for advanced training in nature photography, offered by the Victoria Photographic Club, and to assist member and Park Ranger Wilfred Korth with nature-trail maintenance and other projects.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kris Kirkwood, Recording Secretary