|
|
|
|
3rd Annual Membership Meeting
Saturday, November 1st, found at least half of the Headwaters Chapter membership attending all or parts of our Annual Meeting at Buck Hill Farm in Mt. Solon.
Gail Napora and Chris Bowlen shared engaging Monarch-centric presentations to get our Monarchs and More 2014/2015 Focus Project off to a rousing start. Gail addressed Monarch natural history while Chris provided information on Monarch supporting plants. Thanks to a host of graphics props from Gail, teams for our four proposed Monarch Waystations were able to work out more of their organization and plan details.
More Waystations are needed! You can still join a team or create your own! Contact Sandy.
 Click on the image at right to view Gail's beautiful video of Monarch metamorphosis.
David Mellor, the Virginia Master Naturalists Citizen Science Coordinator, offered insight into the rewards and methods behind his Collaborative Citizen Science online class and project. He succeeded in inspiring over a dozen of  us to sign on to take his class and add a component of citizen science to our Monarchs and More projects. The class comes with a bonus incentive of the possibility of some additional funding for our Monarch Project through a National Science Foundation grant. Contact David if you're not yet signed up and want to get involved.
Ann Murray introduced our recently selected President of our Board of Directors, Jerry Hopkins. He replaces Tom Long who resigned from the Chapter in August. See what Jerry has to say about his new position below under "Oysters 'R' in ..."
Jerry capably presided over a brief meeting to hear from each of the board members present. Scroll down to find access to report summaries and more!
Congratulations to HMNs Gretchen Achenbach, Kathy Romig, and Janet James who were each awarded Certificates designating them as Certified Master Naturalists!
Buck Hill Farm owner Sharon Horn gave us a brief history of her cattle farm and how it is transitioning to more sustainable and ecologically sound management practices.
 Next up was the feast! An overflowing table of colorful potluck dishes held something for everyone to prepare a satisfying dinner plate.
Meanwhile, throughout the afternoon, Sandy helped to coordinate Focus Project fundraising through sales of 50/50 raffle tickets, T-shirts, books, and bags of apples.
Chip Brown gave a very interesting final evening presentation about the moon ... why we only ever see the same side of the moon, what causes the phases of the moon, some "geography" of the moon, and more ...
Many thanks to Vice President and Program Chair (and acting President until this meeting) Ann Murray for a rich and pleasant gathering! This is from her:
 Annual meeting a success. $232.00 profit was made from seven T-shirts ($105) and bags of apples and books. Thanks for all the donations, especially the apples, RoxAnna, and the cool monarch T-shirts and bags, Gail.
I bet everyone is enjoying the books. I picked up a stack of "Virginia Wildlife" magazines and found a great article with photos on the Saw whet owl banding in the Piedmont. The Nature Nuts already cut pictures of wetland animals from some of the others.
 I think the presenters were awesome and we now have a project for the year (with possible funding!) Thanks so much to Chip, David, Chris, Gail, Sharon Horn and all the committees. It was fun being in a camp-like setting, with a fire going, and excellent food and the best of company. Jerry is going to make a great leader for this group.
- Ann Murray
Find briefs of our Board Members' reports here in addition to any complete versions.
*Find the Board Members' major asks of the membership in "Important Board Business for You!" below.
|
|
Oysters 'R' in . . .
from newly instated President of the Board Jerry Hopkins
 I have been appointed to fill the President's position for the term that will end in November 2015. I have met with many of the members since the appointment to get me 'in the curve.' I said at the Annual Meeting and will repeat it here, I marvel at the talent of the members of Headwaters Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalist. Each of you have your brand of experience and education that you bring to the Chapter. And it all comes together to make the Chapter a wonderful experience of Nature.
 Read more from Jerry here. You know you wanna know what he means about the oysters!
Thanks to Jerry for stepping up to fill the vacant Presidency. A member of Cohort I, Jerry is eminently qualified and respected! His selection came through a Nominating Committee and board vote at the October 16 board meeting.
|
|
Missed out on a T-shirt at the Annual Meeting? Gail's handprinted Monarch T-shirts are still for sale in green, yellow, and orange!
$15 each.
The money raised is going toward our Monarchs and More! project. Available sizes: S, L, and  XL. Contact Gail to snag one!
Work: 540-568-7845 or Home: 540-901-9297
|
|
|
Upcoming ...
 Trout Unlimited Water Monitor Training, Saturday, November 8, 9:15AM-4:15PM, Staunton Public Library,
1 Churchville Ave., Staunton. Hosted by Wild Virginia for monitoring throughout Marcellus Shale regions in Virginia’s national forests. This class is full!
 HMN Projects Committee Meeting, Thursday, November 13, 11:00AM-2:00PM. Sandy's house, Mt. Sydney. All welcome to contribute to further organizing our Monarchs and More! 2014/2015 focus project, among other agenda items. Contact Sandy.
 Saw-whet Owl banding with Clair Mellinger, Friday, November 14, 6-10:00PM. Highland Retreat Camp, Bergton. Contact Ann Murray. This trip is full to overflowing. An additional evening is being scheduled. Stay tuned!
 Call of the Wild Conference, November 14-16, 9AM-5PM, Best Western Inn, Waynesboro. Sponsored by The Wildlife Center of Virginia and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Registration required. Information here.
|
|
|
|
More events on our website calendar! Know of others? Contact Adrie.
|
|
Training Committee work on our 2015 Basic Training Class "is looking good and we are energized and encouraged! If you know of anyone you think would be a good candidate, send them our way ..." Read more from Training Committee Chair RoxAnna here.
|
|
 Presenting your passion ... with Gail Napora. Check out RoxAnna's enthusiastic review of Gail's training class about effectively sharing things that excite you, here.
If we can talk Gail into doing this again for Headwaters, you all need to take this trip!
|
|
You! ... are needed.
- Tell us what you're doing.
- Send us a photo or two.
We'd love to share your projects on the HMN website and in this eNewsletter.
Contact Adrie.
|
|
|
|
Headwaters Master Naturalist and Augusta Bird Club President Penny Warren Talks Turkey here. Get to know more about your Thanksgiving bird.
|
|
|
Rooting Out Garden Invasives
Harrisonburg's Purcell Park has a rain garden among its growing ecologically prudent features. Art Vasy, Kathy Byers and I recently spent a  couple of hours ridding this garden of invasive grasses, Siberian elm, Bradford pear and .... tennis balls!
- Adrie
|
|
Also at Purcell Park:
 The beginnings of a Monarchs and More! 2014/2015 focus project pollinator garden took shape on October 30 with the help of Chris Bowlen and Bea Woody (both pictured at right), Art Vasy, Kathy Byers, Josie Kinkade, and Carl Droms.
Trey Jarrels, Harrisonburg Stream Health Coordinator, helped us get the permission to use this Blacks Run streamside property which is already supporting some healthy riparian buffer plantings. Additionally, Trey found us free wood chip mulch and delivered a truckbed-full to our site.
|
|
 Why I Work So Hard For Headwaters from RoxAnna
My belief in the Virginia Master Naturalist Program and in Headwaters Chapter is true and deep. I believe in the difference we can make for the earth and creatures we love. I believe we can do great good together whether we work individually or as teams. More here.
|
|
 View the VMN October continuing education webinar on Virginia's Vernal Pools here if you missed the live presentation.
Vernal pools are critical breeding grounds for certain salamander and frog species, as well as unique aquatic invertebrates. Recognizing, monitoring, and selectively protecting these seasonal wetlands is key to maintaining a healthy ecological balance in Virginia woodlands.
|
|
|
|
Our state program has issued its first eNewsletter. Click above to find it online. Subscribe to get future issues, if you haven't already done so.
|
|
* Important Board Business for You!
- Many people still owe dues. Contact HMN Treasurer Kathy.
- It is very important to update your volunteer and advanced training hours on the VMN VMS website; this information is needed for our annual report. If you need help with this, feel free to contact RoxAnna or Adrie.
- We are looking for non-board members to be on the ad hoc bylaws committee. Contact HMN Vice President Ann.
|
|
Headwaters Chapter Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, November 20, Noon- 2 PM
 @ Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Office
517 Lee Highway, Verona, on odd months
Click on image at right to find directions through Google maps.
An informal bag lunch at 11:30 will precede the meeting.
All members welcome!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
