MERAMEC HILLS CHAPTER MISSOURI NATURALISTS
FEBRUARY 2010 NEWSLETTER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
New
Chapter Meeting Space at United Methodist Church
The
chapter will continue to meet at the Methodist Church in Rolla, but, beginning
with the February meeting, our group will meet in a different space. We
will be meeting in the Fellowship Hall on the main floor.
You can
reach Fellowship Hall through two entrances:
1. Enter the double doors of the church off Main Street, go forward to the
hallway, turn right and walk to the end of the hallway. Fellowship Hall
is on the right.
2. A second entrance is the door on 9th Street which opens right into the
Fellowship Hall.
Volunteer
Option
With an
Advanced Training program, a knowledgeable member can help facilitate the
leader and receive volunteer hour(s) rather than Advanced Training hours.
The member must contact the person teaching the class to see if he/she
needs assistance, and, if so, to receive instructions as to how the member can
help. If you want to volunteer, please contact the leader well in advance
of the time the class will be taught.
Chapter
Board Meetings
Meetings
of the chapter board will be held quarterly. Interested members are
welcome to attend. Following is the schedule of board meetings for 2010
(They are all scheduled for Sunday evenings):
April 11 - 5:30 pm at Bray Conservation Area
July 11 - 5:30 pm at Bray Conservation Area
Oct. 10 - 5:30 pm at Bray Conservation Area
Healthy
Yards for Clear Streams (series of 3 free workshops sponsored by The City of Rolla's Public
Works Dept. and Phelps County Extension)
There
will be three sessions, all held at The Centre, 1200 N. Holloway in
Rolla. Attendees are encouraged to attend all three.
Session 1, Monday, March 1, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
The "Why" Connection - Where is
Your Watershed?
Maintaining Healthy Lawns While
Protecting Streams, Best Turf Varieties for Missouri and What to do about Pests
Session 2, Monday, March 8, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Building Healthy Soils that Hold and
Retain Moisture
Put the Right Plant in the Right Place
and Use Chemicals Safely
Session 3, Monday, March 15, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Native Plant Rain Gardens and Rain
Barrels: Using the Free Water from your Roof
Compost, Bokashi, and Worm farms: How to
Improve Soil and Keep Organic Waste out of the Landfill
For
more information, contact Susan Wrassman at swras@fidmail.com
To
register, contact Phelps County Extension Office at 573-458-6260.
Bonebrake
Facts for Radio Series
Bonebrake
Center needs short informational "blurbs" for radio announcements
(Ex: "Did you know that the wings of a hummingbird can flap ___ times a
minute?). These facts need to be accurate and creative. Try to
make a fact for each season. Facts should be related to Missouri.
Members can work at home on the facts. Participants will earn 1
volunteer hour for 5 facts. At the February meeting, members will share,
discuss, and decide on facts to submit.
For
more information, contact Neil Elfrink (nelfrink@embarqmail.com )
CoCoRaHS
(Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow network) - new approved volunteer
project
CoCoRaHS
is a non-profit, community-based network of volunteers who measure and map
precipitation.
This is
a project you can conduct in your own backyard, and it will count for 5-10
minutes a day.
To sign
up and for more information, go to http://www.cocorahs.org
FEBRUARY EVENTS
Caves
in Crisis - An
educational photo exhibit at the Runge Nature Center in Jefferson City will be
held through February 2010.
February
4 (Thursday) with a snow date: February 11
"Native
Plant Workshop", Bray Conservation Area, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
An
advanced training class led by Master Naturalist, Pat Perry, with fellow Master
Naturalists, Judith Dudley and Sandy Hubbard, assisting. The first hour
of the class will be an introduction to native plants; the second hour will be
spent planning the planting area at Bray CA and choosing plants to use.
Plans are for a planting day on Saturday, April 17, with a rain/snow date:
April 24.
This
qualifies for 2 hours advanced training. If you plan to attend, please
notify Connie Schmiedeskamp (Connie.Schmiedeskamp@mdc.mo.gov ) or call
Rolla MDC office: 573-368-2225 or Pat Perry (perrypineridge@embarqmail.com
) or call: 573-364-8440
February
4 and 5 (Thursday and Friday)
The
Missouri Natural Resources Conference will be held at Lake of the Ozarks.
Workshops at the conference present the latest research and current trends in
natural resource management. Deadline for registering is past, but you
can go to the website, http://www.mnrc.org,
for more information about attending. Qualifies for Advanced Training hrs.
Febuary
6 (Saturday) with snow/rain date: Saturday, February 13
Workday
at Tanager Trails, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, constructing a footbridge and improving
trail
This
project will involve building a rustic, cedar log footbridge across drainage on
the Glade Trail. Work will also be done on improving and relocating a
section of the Glade Trail bordering the glade, brushing out the trailhead and
marking the trailheads with new signage.
Bring work gloves, shovels, saws,
limb clippers, garden rakes, leaf blower, etc.
For
more information, contact Connie Roberts (unicorn1@fidnet.com ) or call 573-426-5616.
Qualifies for volunteer hours.
February
12 - 15 (Friday through Monday)
Great
Back Yard Bird Count: Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes ( or
more!) on one or more days of the count. Count birds in as many
places and on as many days as you like. Submit a separate checklist for
each day. For more information, go to:
http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc
Qualifies for volunteer hours.
February
13 (Saturday)
"Honeysuckle
- Love It to Death!" - a workday at Bray Conservation Area, 1:00 pm - 4:00
pm. to remove, attempt to eradicate invasive honeysuckle. Come at
noon and bring a dish to share if you want to have lunch together. Bring
work gloves, lopers and trimmers if you have them. There will also be
tools at Bray, so don't buy anything. Dress approriately for the weather.
Contact
Connie Schmiedeskamp (Connie.Schmiedeskamp@mdc.mo.gov ) or call
Rolla MDC office: 573-368-2225 or contact Pat Perry (perrypineridge@embarqmail.com
) or call 573-364-8440. Qualifies for volunteer hours.
February
22 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of chapter at Bray Conservation Area, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Program: Training on Frog Call Identification (also prep for frog project),
Carol Mahan, MDC - qualifies for 1 hour advanced training.
Refreshments:
Emily Brown
Elaine Grover
February
22- 25 (Monday through Thursday)
Region
VI Conference Association of Missouri Interpreters (AMI) , St. Louis
For
information, go to: http://www.nairegions.org/6/documents/2010%20St.%20Louis/Conference_index.htm
MARCH EVENTS
March
1 (Monday)
Healthy
Yards for Clear Streams, Session 1, The Centre in Rolla, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm.
Qulaifies
for Advanced Training hours. For details, go to Announcements.
March
8 (Monday)
Healthy
yards for Clear Streams, Session 2, The Centre in Rolla, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm.
Qualifies
for Advanced Training hours. For details, go to Announcements.
March
12 (Friday)
8-hour
introductory level Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring workshop, sponsored by
the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, at Ft. Leonard Wood.
For more details or to register, go to: http://www.mostreamteam.org/online_intro.htm .
Must register by March 3rd.
March
13 (Saturday)
Prescribed
Burning Workshop for Landowners, sponsored by the Missouri Department of
Conservation, Sarah Egly, Private Land Conservationist with MDC. For more
information and to register: call Rolla MDC office - 573-364-6202, ext. 109 or
e-mail Sarah at sarah.egly@mdc.mo.gov
Qualifies for Advanced Training hours.
March
20 (Saturday)
8-hour
introductory level Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring workshop, sponsored by
the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, in Rolla at Eugene Northern
Community Hall. For more details or to register, go to: http://mostreamteam.org/online_intro.htm
Must
register by March 10th. Qualifies for Advanced Training hours.
March
22 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of the chapter, United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 6:00
pm - 8:00 pm
Program: History of Deer Management in Missouri, Lonnie Hansen, MDC - qualifies
for 1 hour Advanced Training.
Refreshments:
Judith Dudley
Susan Wrasmann
March
27 (Saturday)
"Build
an Eagle Nest," - workday at Bray Conservation Area from 12:00 noon to
4:00 pm. Project - to build a permanent eagle nest in the
pre-school zone area. Plans are to use cedar saplings for the framework
tied together with rope. Branches, grapevine, honeysuckle, and wisteria
will be interwoven to fill out the rest. A gap will be left in the back
for kids of all ages to climb in and out. Wear work gloves and dress
appropriately for the weather. If you plan to attend, please contact
Connie Schmiedeskamp (Connie.Schmiedeskamp@mdc.mo.gov ) or call
Rolla MDC office: 573-368-2225 or Pat Perry (perrypineridge@embarqmail.com
) or call: 573-364-8440.
March
27 (Saturday)
6th
Annual Native Plant Sale, Runge Nature Center, Jefferson City, 10:00 am - 3:00
pm.
March
27 (Saturday)
Open
House and Tour of Onandaga Cave, Onandaga State Park. Volunteers are needed to
help with cave tours. If you are interested, plan to attend the open
house. More details in March newsletter.
APRIL EVENTS
April
3 (Saturday) with rain/snow date of April 10
Monitoring
Water Quality, Big Piney River, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Stream
team #3481 monitors 4 sites along a 7-mile stretch of the Big Piney River, near
Duke, MO. This project will be sampling for macro invertebrates as well
as testing water samples for turbidity, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen,
nitrates, and ammonia.
To sign
up or for more information, contact Pamela Barnabee (pamela.barnabee@gmail.com
) or call 417-458-3099 by March 20th.
April
9 (Friday)
"Evening
with Wildlife", 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm, The Centre in Rolla. The chapter
will have a display. Volunteers are needed to help with this
project. If you are interested, contact one of the following members
who will coordinate: Virginia Applegate (jdgate35@gmail.com
), Ann and John Murphey (murphey@fidnet.com , and Janet
McKean (jmckean@fidnet.com
)
April
11 (Sunday)
Chapter
Board meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm, Bray Conservation Area. All interested
members are urged to attend. Bring a dish to share.
April
18 - 24 (Sunday through Saturday)
Passport
in Time (PIT) project: Volunteers are needed to help stablilize two
historic structures in the Eleven Point Ranger District, Mark Twain National
Forest. The structures include the Falling Spring Mill and homestead,
both located northwest of the Irish Wilderness. Volunteers will be housed
in a national forest bunk house with all amenities or volunteers can tent or RV
camp at nearby Greer campground. One must commit to work at least 4 days.
Visit
the Passport In Time website for more information and to download and submit an
application: http://www.passportintime.com
. Application deadline is February 14. This project qualifies for
volunteer hours.
April
15 or before - Date to be announced
Prescribed
burn at Tanager Trails, 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm - burning the glade and grassland
areas of the nature reserve.
The
date cannot be fixed due to requirements on burning and getting permission from
the Rolla City Fire Department and also weather conditions. Details and
date will be announced later.
Level 1
Prescribed Burn class is strongly recommended, but not required to assist with
a prescribed burn. A class will be held on a Saturday in April.
April
15 (Thursday)
Native
Plant School - "Native Small Flowering Trees & Schrubs," Shaw
Nature Reserve, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. This is the second in a three-part
series: January 14, April 15, and October 14. To register or for more
information, call (636) 451-3512 or go to the website: www.shawnature.org
April
17 (Saturday) with rain/snow date: April 24
Beginning
at 9:00 am, planting native plants and mulching the pond bank at Bray
Conservation Area.
There
will be a potluck lunch following the planting, with dessert provided.
For
more information, contact Connie Schmiedeskamp (connie.schmiedeskamp@mdc.mo.gov )
April
26 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of chapter, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Location to be announced.
Program: Prairie Plants and Plant ID, presented by the Thomas's.
Qualifies for 1.5 hr. advanced training.
Refreshments:
Lynda Richards
We need another volunteer to bring refreshments
UPCOMING EVENTS
May
-
Field
trip to Prairie State Park near Joplin. This will be an all-day trip, on
a Saturday. (5.5 advanced hours estimate).
For
more information, contact Pat Perry at 573-364-8440.
May
24 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of the chapter, United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, Rolla,
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Program: Climatology and Climate Change, Pat Guinan Qualifies for 1 hour
advanced training.
Refreshments:
?????
June
28 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of the chapter, Tanager Trails, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Program: Projects at Tanager Trails, presented by Connie Roberts
Refreshments:
??????
July
26 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of the chapter, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm- location and program to be
announced.
August
23 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of the chapter, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Camp Brimshire
Program: Bats of the Ozarks and Bat ID, Carol Mahan Qualifies for 1 advanced
training or 1 volunteer hour.
September
-
Field
trip on a Saturday to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, near Columbia
Program: Wetlands management and Bird Identification, Tim James (qualifies for
5.5 advanced training hours)
September
22 (Monday)
Regular
monthly meeting of the chapter, United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, Rolla,
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Program: Karst Topography and Karst Features in the Meramec Hills Chapter area,
Neil Elfrink
Qualifies for 1 hr. Advanced Training
October
14 (Thursday)
Native
Plant School - "Native Small Flowering Trees and Schrubs, Shaw Nature
Reserve, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. This is the third in a series of workshop:
January 14, April 15, and October 14. Focus will be on native small
trees and schrubs for home landscaping. For more information or to
register: call (636) 451-3512 or go to: www.shawnature.org
CHAPTER COMMITTEES and COORDINATORS
Volunteer
Opportunities Committee - Neil Elfrink and Ineke Vander Meulen Co-Chair this
committee
The following members will be liaisons with centers, projects, and programs with
which we are working (The plan is for them to bring to the committee and the
membership information about volunteer work at these places):
Rich Hashagen - Camp Brimshire, St. James
Nancy Moenster - Bonebrake Center of Nature and History,
Salem, and Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center, Salem
Connie
Roberts - Tanager Trails
Pat Perry - Bray Conservation Area, Rolla
Bob Perry - Truman Elementary School, Rolla
Publicity
Committee - Sue
Goodman chair
Advanced
Training Committee- Emily
Brown chair
Core
Training Committee - We
need a chair. Anyone interested please contact Pamela Barnabee.
Newsletter
- Janet McKean
Website
- Jerry Barnabee
Note: If anyone is interested in
working with any of these committees, please contact the chair. We want
everyone in the chapter to be involved!