MERAMEC HILLS CHAPTER MISSOURI NATURALISTS

AUGUST NEWSLETTER

08/09/08

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Chapter Monthly Meeting Change

On the recommendation of the Board of Meramec Hills Chapter of Missouri Naturalists, monthly meetings will now take place in Rolla.  The Rolla location was chosen to provide an ongoing meeting place where facilities are available for guest speakers. 

We will be holding our monthly meetings at the First United Methodist Church, 800 N. Main in Rolla.

Directions to the First United Methodist Church:

    1. From Highway 63, turn East onto 8th Street.  Go 3 blocks and the church building will be on your left.

    2. There is a parking lot to the right at the intersection of 8th and Main.

    3. Go through the main church doors (double oak doors).  Do not go to the Methodist Family Life Center which is across the street.

    4. In the lobby, go left into the first entrance and take the stairs to the second floor.  Follow signs to Room 300 (Seekers' Room).

        If you prefer the elevator, go to the second hallway on the left.  Follow the signs to Room 300.

    5. If you cannot climb the main stairs in front, go to the door on Park Street, and someone will be there until 6:00 pm to let you in.

The First United Methodist Church was chosen as the meeting place because we can reserve the room on an ongoing basis.  The Phelps County Courthouse could not guarantee that their meeting  room would always be available.

Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities at Tanager Trails Ozark Nature Reserve

Following are a variety of ongoing projects at Tanager Trails.  If you want more information, please contact Lynda Richards at 573-364-8567 or e-mail: grinrich@rollanet.org

    1. Weed-whip and/or spray parking lot.

    2. Kill invasive exotic plants

        It is best to spray these plants October-March during the dormant season for native plants.  During summer, these plants can be eradicated by cutting off stems and applying Roundup to the cut surface.  Japanese honeysuckle and small oriental bittersweet can be pulled out anytime!

    3. Spray poison ivy along trails.

    4. Pick up trash ANYTIME!  Bring your own trash bags.

    5. Trail maintenance

    6. Maintain parking-lot wildflower bed - February is the best time for this.  Cut and gather dead stalks (with seed heads), toss them over the fence or burn the wildflowers outside the fence.

    7. Label trees, plants, geological formations, cultural artifacts.

        Contact Jerry Decker at 573-368-2806 or e-mail: jadnd@rollanet.org

Possible New Project: Middle Meramec COA, Dry Fork Watershed

Activities include planting trees in areas where they can't get a tractor and sampling water and invertebrates in the stream.

For more information, contact Adam Boman, Fisheries Biologist, MDC, at 573-468-3335 ext 229 or e-mail: adam.boman@mdc.mo.gov.

Salem City Park

Mulch trees after planting

For more information, contact Nancy Reed at nancy_reedm@hotmail.com

AUGUST EVENTS

Advanced Training Opportunities

August  15-16 (Friday and Saturday)

Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative (MoBC) 2008 Annual Conference, Columbia, MO

Sessions will count as Advanced Training hours

For more information, go to www.mobci.org

Volunteer Opportunities

Through August 16 (Saturday)

Ozark Cultural and Natural Resource Center, Salem

Exhibit,"Our Natural Resources," highlighting photos of nature scenes from the Ozarks

Docents needed.  Call 573-729-0029 for more information.

August 25 (Monday)

Regular monthly meeting of Meramec Chapter Missouri Naturalists, United Methodist Church, Rolla, 6:00 pm

Refreshments:

         Pat Perry

        Robin Higley

UPCOMING EVENTS

Advanced Training

September 15 - 18 (Monday - Thursday)

Association of Missouri Interpreters 2008 Conference

Conference includes field trips, field studies, and concurrent sessions.

Registration deadline: September 2, 2008

For more information, contact Committee Chair, Borin Grumm. at 573-526-5544 ext. 3405

October 2 (Thursday)

Advanced Training Workshop - Ozark Archeology.  Presenter - Richard Edging

Phelps County Courthouse, Rolla, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm.

Contact Emily Brown if you wish to attend - tel: 573-762-2727 or e-mail: nature97@socket.net

Volunteer Opportunities

September 5 and 6 (Friday and Saturday)

St. James Grape & Fall Festival .  Help staff the booth which will showcase MDC and Master Naturalists programs and projects.  For more information or to volunteer, contact Carol Mahan at 573-368-2590 ext. 29 or e-mail: carol.mahan@mdc.mo.gov

September 22 (Monday)

Regular monthly meeting of Meramec Chapter Missouri Naturalists, United Methodist Church, Rolla, 6:00 pm

Refreshments:

        Sue Hubbard

        Kathy Walker