MERAMEC HILLS CHAPTER MISSOURI NATURALISTS

NOVEMBER 2009 NEWSLETTER

ANNOUNCEMENTS

This year's training class will graduate on Thursday, November 19th.  All members are invited to take part in the social part of the evening which begins at 7:00 pm, Bray Conservation Area.  Cake and punch will be provided.  Please come out to meet and congratulate our new members.  Fro more information, contact Carol Mahan (Carol.Mahan@mdc.mo.gov  )

Change of meeting place for chapter monthly meetings

Beginning in November, monthly meetings will now be held in room 351 at the Methodist Family Life Center on Main Street across from the Methodist Church building where we have been meeting previously. Enter through the double glass doors and either take the elevator (located on the right) or go to the hallway and turn right to use the stairs.

Go to the third floor (one flight up).  When you enter the hallway, either from the stairs or elevator, turn left (North) and walk to the end of the hall.  Room 351 is located there.

Christmas Social

As has been our tradition since the inception of the chapter, we will hold our annual Christmas social at the home of Janet McKean, 618 Salem Avenue, Rolla.  This year the event will be held on Sunday, December 13, from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm, but come whenever you can and stay as long as you can.  Please bring spouses or significant others.  Chapter members are asked to bring an appetizer or finger food to share.  Janet will provide coffee, tea, mulled tea, and mulled wine.   Please feel free to bring wine or beverage of your choice.  To have an idea of how many will be attending, please RSVP to Janet :573-364-7809 (h) or 573-465-0405 (c) or e-mail: jmckean@fidnet.com .

There will be no regular monthly meeting of the chapter in December.

Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Missouri State Museum

Starting on October 2, the museum will offer behind-the-scenes tours at 2:00 pm on the first Friday of each month.  The museum is located on the first floor of the State Capitol.  Tours are free and open to the public.  The museum is open to the public free of charge from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm seven days a week.  For more information, call the museum office at 573-751-2854 or call DNR at 800-334-Class 5: Core Training Class, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Webster University, Rolla

    History of Missouri's Natural Communities - Paul Nelson, USFS

NOVEMBER EVENTS

November 3 (Tuesday)

Family Night at Bray Conservation Area, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, for 7-years-old or older.

Program:   Nature Prepares for Winter  - There are many ways nature prepares for winter.  Come learn about it while we build a feeder to help out.

November 5 (Thursday)

Class 9: Core Training Class, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Webster University, Rolla

    Woodland Management - Lee Hughes, MDC

November 7 (Saturday)

Kids Family Work Day at Truman Elementary, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon

Volunteer opportunity to work at the Truman Outdoor Classroom, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon.

We will clear grass, vines, and honeysuckle and plant 6' tall trees.  Tools will be provided.  The Outdoor Kids Club and their parents wiill be doing general clean-up of the outdoor classroom.  For more information, contact Bob Perry at 364-8440 or perrypineridge@embarqmail.com

November 7 (Saturday)

Volunteer opportunity to help with preparation work for the new Glade Trail, Tanager Trails, the Audubon Nature Reserve.  Bring your own tools and don't forget work gloves, long sleeves and boots.  For more information, contact Connie Roberts at unicorn1@fidnet.com or go to the website: http://www.rollanet.org/~audubon/

November 12 (Thursday)

"Deer-Resistant" Native Landscaping, 1:00 pm - 3:000 pm, Shaw Nature Reserve, Gray Summit

Fee is $12.00.  Call 636-451-3521 or go to the website: www.shawnature.org

(2 hrs. advanced training credit)

November 12 (Thursday)

Class 10: Core Training Class, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Webster University, Rolla

    Missouri Geology and Soils - Neil Elfrink, DNR

November 19 (Thursday)

Class 11: Core Training Class, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Bray Conservation Area

Education and Interpretation - Carol Mahan, MDC

    Graduation - All members are invited to come at 7:00 pm for social part of the evening.  This a wonderful opportunity to meet and to congratulate the new members.  Cake and punch will be provided.

November 23 (Monday)

Regular monthly meeting of Meramec Hills Chapter Missouri Naturalists

Program (6:00 pm - 7:00 pm): Leisa Stilley, Intercounty Electric Cooperative, will be the guest speaker.  Her topic is "Energy Conservation and Home Audits."

Business meeting (7:00 - 8:00 pm) - We will be electing officers for the 2010-2011 term.  A slate of officers will be emailed/mailed to each of the members prior to the monthly meeting.

Note: New meeting room at Methodist Family Life Center.  Details under Announcements

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November 24 (Tuesday)

Nature Adventure program for children ages 3-7 with an adult, 10:30 am - 11:30 am and 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm.

Program: Nature Prepares for Winter: What keeps you warm in the winter?

                Animals know how to stay warm and find food, but we'll help them with a special outside feeder that youg children can build                     without a hammer.

For more information, contact Connie at Connie.Schmiedeskamp@mdc.mo.gov  or call MDC Rolla office: 573-368-2225

DECEMBER EVENTS

December 1 (Tuesday)

Family Night for kids ages 7 and above, Bray Conservation Area, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Program: Bald Eagles - Discover the history of the Bald Eagle in Missouri and where you can see one this winter.

For more information, contact Connie at Connie.Schmiedeskamp@mcd.mo.gov  or call MDC Rolla office - 573-368-2225

December 13 (Sunday)

Chapter Christmas Social at the home of Janet McKean, 618 Salem Ave., Rolla, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm or whenever you can make it.  Details under announcements.  Further notice will be sent in December with directions to McKean home.

Note: There will be no chapter monthly meeting in December.

December 15 (Tuesday)

Nature Adventure, Bray Conservation Area, 10:30 am - 11:30 am and 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm, for children 3-7 with an adult

Program: Bald Eagles

    Have you ever seen a bald eagle?  Do you know how big an eagle's nest is?  Come learn all about Missouri's "big bird."  Children can climb  into an "eagle's nest" and have their picture taken.  Parents, please bring your own camera.

For more information, contact Connie at Connie.Schmiedeskamp@mdc.mo.gov or call MDC Rolla office - 573-368-2225.

CHAPTER COMMITTEES and NEW 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 - Audubon

        Bob 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 - Pamela Barnabee  coordinator

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!