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Texas Master Naturalist Program-
Panhandle Chapter
Orientation
Overvie=
w of
this Session
•Welcome & Orientation Presentation
=
•*Break*
•get to know who’s who here today
=
•Naturalists of Texas (a Historic sampling)
•*Break*
•Interpretive Skills
•Trail Walk/Hike
•Lunch
•OPTIONAL Volunteer Project: Black-tailed Prairie Dog Monitoring
Overvie=
w of
this Presentation
•The Big Picture
•Our Chapter
•State Program
•Nuts-and-Bolts of How this Whole Program
Works
Mission
•“To develop a corps of well-informed volunteers
to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to t=
he
beneficial management of natural resources and natural
areas within their communities”
Obvious=
Need
for Volunteers<=
/span>
•Operating parks, nature centers, and <=
/span>natural
areas
•Providing leadership in local natural =
resource
conservation efforts
•Implementing youth programs
•Collecting data as “citizen
scientists”
Program Goals
•To improve public understanding of the=
ecology
and management of natural areas
•To enhance existing natural resource <=
/span>education
and outreach activities
•To provide service which improves or <=
/span>maintains
local habitats
![](3D"master03_image004.gif")
A
Certified
Texas Master Natur= alist
Texas Master Natur= alist
•Has 40 hours of
combined classroom and field instruction (fulfilled by this
Training Course) (first
year only)
<=
span
class=3DBB style=3D'position:absolute;left:-3.7%'>•40 h=
ours
of volunteer service on approved projects (first year and
subsequent years)
Statewi=
de TMN
Program
•Has two State Agency SPONSORS:
•Texas Parks & Wildlife
=
•Texas AgriLife Extension
•These agencies provi=
de a
small amount of funding
Statewi=
de TMN
Program
•First of its type in the USA and in the
world
•Began in 1998 in San Antonio
•Currently has 36 chapters with more un=
der development
•Continues to help other states and eve=
n nations
to develop similar programs
•There’s more t=
o say,
but for now let’s focus on OUR chapter.
Panhandle Chapter
•Planning began in 2002.
•First training course in Fall 2003.=
3;
•Subsequent training courses in Fall 20=
04, Spring
2005, and Spring-thru-Fall 2007.
•Every schedule has b=
een
different.
•This is our
chapter’s fifth training course (and happens to be the me=
dian
size, for you statistical types).
Panhandle Chapter
•Current active
membership
<=
span
class=3DB1B style=3D'position:absolute;left:-3.44%'>–20
“old” members plus 11 “new” members
•Total of 45 voluntee=
rs
have taken training
•26 have completed
requirements to be Certified Texas Master Naturalists
=
Current Local Partners
•Wildcat Bluff Nature Center
•Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: <=
/span>Palo
Duro Canyon State Park
•Texas Cooperative
Extension: Potter and Randall Counties
•Native Plant Society=
of
Texas: Amarillo Chapter
•Partners in Palo Duro
Canyon
Current
“Almost” Partners
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:88%'>•WT
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:88%'>•Panhandle =
Bird
Club
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:88%'>•Cross Bar
Cooperative Management Area
=
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:88%'>•Playa Lakes
Joint Venture
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:88%'>•Texas Panh=
andle
Audubon Society
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:88%'>•AC
=
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:88%'>•Lake Mered=
ith
National Recreation Area
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:88%'>•Alibates
National Monument
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:88%'>•Caprock Ca=
nyons
State Park
Officers
•President: Helena Reed
•Vice President: Dave Zallar
•Secretary: Ginger Frazier
•Treasurer: Joanne Toler
Officers
•Nominating Committee submits a slate o=
f officers
•Elections take place at November
meeting
•Nominations also acc=
epted
from the floor
•One-year term begins=
in
January
Board
•Consists of Officers Plus <=
/b>Past President,=
Advisors, a=
nd Committee Chairs
<=
span
class=3DB1B style=3D'position:absolute;left:-3.49%'>–Website
“Committee” Chair: Troney Toler
<=
span
class=3DB1B style=3D'position:absolute;left:-3.23%'>–Training
Committee Chair: Susan Thompson
<=
/div>
Monthly
Chapter Meetings
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:88%'>•Default me=
eting
time is 7 p.m. on “Terminal Tuesdays” (Last Tuesday each month)…&=
#13;
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:88%'>•…but=
we do
sometimes change schedule to accommodate
our presenters, and for field trips.
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:88%'>•Most meeti=
ngs
have a guest presenter - (an advanced
training opportunity)
=
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:88%'>•Some are f=
ield
trips
=
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:88%'>•Some are
business meetings only
Getting Certified
•40 hours of combined classroom =
and
field instruction (fulfilled by this Training Course)
•40 hours of
volunteer service on pre-approved projects
•8 hours of ap=
proved
advanced training
New Members
<=
span
style=3D'mso-special-format:bullet;position:absolute;left:-3.89%'>•<=
/span>It
is possible to become certified as early as May 2, 2009
(date of our last training session).
<=
span
style=3D'mso-special-format:bullet;position:absolute;left:-4.43%'>•<=
/span>(But
that can easily be extended.)
If
you miss a training session=
…
•For the first time, we’ve built =
in
some wiggle room in the schedule.
•We really want you to
attend every session…
•But you could actual=
ly
miss 2 evening sessions OR 1 Saturday session a=
nd
still get the required 40 hours.
If
you miss a training session=
…
•If you miss so many sessions that you =
have
less than 40 total hours of training course time…
<=
/span>
•Your training will n=
ot be
complete until you “make up” the necessary missed
session
•There are three ways=
to
“make up” a missed session
Making up =
missed
training
<=
span
style=3D'mso-special-format:bullet;position:absolute;left:-3.77%'>•<=
/span>Option
1: Attend that same session during the 2010 Training
Course
<=
span
style=3D'mso-special-format:bullet;position:absolute;left:-3.88%'>•<=
/span>Option
3: (The only “NO WAIT” option…)
Making up =
missed
training
=
<=
span
style=3D'mso-special-format:bullet;position:absolute;left:-3.98%'>•<=
/span>Example:
Missed Entomology – present advanced training on
harvester ants
Can
the training sessions be put =
on
video
for make-up purposes?
for make-up purposes?
•We are open to the idea.
•We would need one or more people to step
forward to make it happen.
•Could be difficult to
truly “capture” our training, especially
hands-on stuff and field trips.
Volunte=
er
Service Projects
•You may volunteer on projects that are=
already
approved. (without further
ado)
•If you want to work o=
n a
project that is not yet on the approved list, you need to
tell the board about the project (an email is fine)
and get approval.
•In the latter case, =
you
must get approval before counting the time.
Volunteer
Service –
Main Categories
Main Categories
•Educational Outreach
•Habitat Restoration
•Monitoring & Research
<=
/div>
•Administrative Activities
Volunteer
Project Standards
•MUST somehow contribute to the =
beneficial
management of natural resources in Texas
•Should utilize natur=
alist
skills and knowledge
•Ideally should also
educate the public, benefit one or more of our partners=
, increase
visibility of the chapter, etc.
Volunteer
Project Standards
<=
span
style=3D'mso-special-format:bullet;position:absolute;left:-3.87%'>•<=
/span>Most
proposed projects have quickly and easily been approved
=
;
<=
span
style=3D'mso-special-format:bullet;position:absolute;left:-4.43%'>•<=
/span>Examples
not approved:
<=
span
style=3D'mso-special-format:bullet;position:absolute;left:-3.82%'>•<=
/span>Laying
Bermuda grass sod at a non-profit
<=
span
style=3D'mso-special-format:bullet;position:absolute;left:-4.08%'>•<=
/span>Working
on “Red River Wars” museum display
=
<=
span
style=3D'mso-special-format:bullet;position:absolute;left:-4.21%'>•<=
/span>Planting
shade trees (non-native) and cleaning cages at an exotic wildlif=
e sanctuary
Volunteer
Service – Keeping
Records
•Fill out and turn in “Volunteer =
Hour
Sheets” (to Ginger)
•Travel time counts!
•Planning & Prepa=
ration
time counts!
•Time spent in chapter
leadership, coordination, and administrative work <=
span
style=3D'position:absolute;top:67.85%;left:4.08%;width:92.04%;height:32.14=
%'>counts!
•Please, please, Puh-=
LEEZE
keep track!
Volunteer
Service – What Doesn&#=
8217;t
Count?
•You cannot count any time for which yo=
u are
paid.
•You cannot count any=
time
that is simultaneously being counted toward another
Master Volunteer or other volunteer program. “No Double-Dipping.”<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> (It’s okay if anot=
her
program just wants to track your hours for their own
records.)
Advanced Training
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:88%'>•8 hours re=
quired
annually for certification
=
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:88%'>•Featured
programs at most chapter meetings
=
• Can get al=
l 8
hours at Statewide Annual Meeting
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:88%'>•Can obtain=
by
attending programs for other organizations
(Panhandle Bird Club, The Wildlife Society,
Native Plant Society, Audubon Society….)
<=
span
style=3D'font-size:88%'>•Watch for =
emails
on these opportunities; if you are
the one to hear of a potential opportunity, tell Ginger or me so we can get the word out.
Advanced
Training Standards
•Promote continued learning and =
development
of naturalist skills
•Provide knowledge and
skills specific to certain volunteer efforts
•Provide an opportuni=
ty to
focus interests in one or a few specific topics
•Build on core curric=
ulum
initially provided
•Be applicable to/in =
Texas
Advanced
Training – Keeping
Records
•Fill out and turn in hours in the corr=
ect column
on the “Volunteer Hour Sheet.”
•Travel time does NOT=
count
toward Advanced Training hours.
If your
certification lapses
•You always have the option to “p=
ick
up where you left off” and pursue certification <=
span
style=3D'position:absolute;top:66.66%;left:3.64%;width:82.14%;height:32.14=
%'>again
for any year down the road.
•Your Panhandle Chapter
membership will be considered active for as long as you pay
dues, whether you are certified or not.
To
Keep Your Certification Current
•Complete 40 hours of volunteer service=
and
8 hours of advanced training annually
•(And turn in the rec=
ords!)
Certification Pins
•Pins are a fun way for the State and l=
ocal
chapter to recognize member involvement and
a neat TMN “symbol” to display.
•Upon certification f=
or the
first year, a volunteer is presented with a certificate and
a color dragonfly pin.
First Year
Certification Pin
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