TMN-COT Chapter Receives Award at 2010 State TMN Meeting
NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS — October 25, 2010. The Cradle of Texas Chapter was recognized at the 2010 Texas Master Naturalists State Meeting for its efforts in support of the Chocolate Bayou Wildlife Education Program. The program was awarded Second Place by judges in competition with other TMN chapters throughout Texas. The Chocolate Bayou Wildlife Education Program is sponsored by INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA and supported by the Cradle of Texas Chapter. Field trips are targeted at elementary-school students, primarily from Angleton Intermediate School District. Field trips are hosted at the Chocolate Bayou Wildlife Conservation Center located at the INEOS Chocolate Bayou Chemicals Complex. TMN-COT member Marty Cornell organized the exhibit on behalf of the Chapter.
Marty Cornell with the exhibit
COT member Jerry Eppner wins Best of Show in Migration Celebration Photo Contest FREEPORT TEXAS — April 16, 2010. The Migration Celebration Photo Contest Chair has announced that Jerry Eppner, a member of the Cradle of Texas Chapter, received the Best of Show award for the 2010 Migration Celebration Photo Contest. Eppner’s entry, a photograph of a Cuban Tody titled Nature’s Palette, was judged Best of Show by Contest Judges Kathy Adams Clark and Larry Ditto. The award was presented at the Migration Celebration Kickoff Dinner held today at RiverPlace.
Eppner took the photo in February 2010 in the Cuban province of Camaguey while participating in Cuban bird survey sponsored by Gulf Coast Bird Observatory and licensed by the U.S. Department of State. The visit was organized by Connecticut-based Caribbean Conservation Trust.
Jim Renfro earns President’s Call to Service Award ANGLETON, TEXAS — April 12, 2010. The Texas Master Naturalists Cradle of Texas Chapter has announced that Jim Renfro, a founding member of the Chapter, has received a President’s Call to Service Award. This award is awarded annually by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation as a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service. Jim has accumulated a lifetime total exceeding 5000 hours.
From left: Dave Brandes, Chapter President; Jim Renfro
Jim Renfro recognized for 5000 volunteer service hours ANGLETON, TEXAS — December 9, 2009. The Texas Master Naturalists Cradle of Texas Chapter has announced that member Jim Renfro has been awarded the highest volunteer service award offered by the state-wide Texas Master Naturalists Program. He was recognized for contributing over 5000 hours of service to our community. Jim was a member of the Class of 2001, the first intern training class offered by our chapter. He qualified for certification in December 2001 and has recertified every year since.
Jim’s volunteer activities have included Chapter Training Chair (2002-03), team instructor of the “Birds & Birding” class at Brazosport College’s Adult Life and Learning Program (2006-09), team instructor of “Introduction to Ornithology & Bird Identification” for Chapter Interns (2006-09), and field trip leader and bird bander at Migration Celebration (1995-2009).
Jim has served as team leader for several data-collection projects including bird censuses for USFWS (collecting data used to determine wildlife populations in the Columbia Bottomlands), Breeding Bird Surveys (collecting data used by USGS and USFWS in determining North American bird population distribution), winter bird population surveys (measuring winter bird population dynamics), and several year-round bird banding studies on private properties.
Jim notes that:
Bird banding is a method of biological research where wild birds are trapped
and marked with a metal leg band having a unique 9-digit number. The band number and other identifying information are recorded and kept in a database
administered by the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Bird Banding Laboratory in Patuxent, Maryland. Subsequent encounters with previously banded birds provide data on population distributions, migration timing, breeding success, life span, health and other important information.
From left: Jerry Eppner, Membership Chair; Renfro; Dave Brandes, Chapter President
TMN-COT member Ruby Lewis holding the award certificate. TMN-COT Chapter Receives Award at 2009 State TMN Meeting HUNT, TEXAS — October 25, 2009. The Cradle of Texas Chapter was again recognized at the 2009 Texas Master Naturalists State Meeting. Our Summer Library Program, “Nature at the Libraries,” led by Ruby Lewis, was awarded Second Place by the judges in competition with other TMN chapters throughout Texas.
Our original TMN-COT library program was a modified version of a native reptile presentation offered by TMN-COT volunteers at the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge as part of the Discovery Environmental Education Program. It was so successful that other libraries requested that this program be offered to all libraries in the Brazoria County Library System. Our 2009 “Nature at the Library” program proved to be one of the most popular and well-attended of all Summer Reading Club offerings. Participants included children of all ages and accompanying adults.
TMN-COT plans to further expand our participation by developing and making available an interactive program about urban wildlife. This program will be made available to libraries by summer 2010.
“Nature at the Libraries” Exhibit
Denis Mudderman earns President’s Call to Service Award
ROCHERT, MINNESOTA — October 22, 2009. Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge has announced that volunteer Denis Mudderman has received a President’s Call to Service Award. This award was given on behalf of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. Denis has donated over 5000 hours to the refuge since 2005. He has been involved in many projects and activities over the years.Denis spends his winters in Brazoria County as an RV Volunteer at Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge. He is a certified member of the Cradle of Texas Chapter.
Mary Helen Israel earns President’s Call to Service Award LAKE JACKSON, January 26, 2009 — Sea Center Texas, a unit of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, has announced that volunteer Mary Helen Israel has received a President’s Call to Service Award. This award was presented at SCT’s annual volunteer recognition banquet, held today at the Center, on behalf of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.Mary Helen has donated over 5200 hours to SCT since 1995. She has served as tour guide, editor of the volunteer newsletter, a member of the Volunteer Advisory Board, and delegate to TPWD’s state-wide volunteer committee.
Mary Helen is a charter member of the Cradle of Texas Chapter and has served as editor of the Chapter’s Newsletter, Chapter News, since its inception. She has been an active participant in several of the Chapter’s volunteer activities including Migration Celebration, Xtreme Hummingbird Xtravaganza, and the Summer Library Program “Nature at the Libraries,” presented at branches of the Brazoria County Library System.
From left: Gene McCarty, TPWD; Mary Helen Israel; John Blaha, CCA-Texas;
Laura Ambrose, Texas Operations, Dow Chemical Company.
ANGLETON, TEXAS — November 12, 2008. The Texas Master Naturalists Cradle of Texas Chapter has announced that Phil Huxford, a founding member of the Chapter, has received a President’s Call to Service Award. This award is awarded annually by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation as a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service. Phil has accumulated a lifetime total exceeding 5000 hours.
Separately, Phil was awarded the highest volunteer service award offered by the state-wide Texas Master Naturalists Program. He was recognized for contributing over 5000 hours of service helping Brazoria County residents understand the local natural resources and how to use them wisely. A member of Texas Master Naturalists since 2001, Phil has contributed to our community with many citizen science projects, such as his Brazoria County Copperhead Study. He has been involved with many educational activities including bird banding, bird counts, butterfly counts, plant surveys, and guided tours. He has assisted with the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory’s annual “Xtreme Hummingbird Xtravaganza,” and has served as chairperson of the annual Migration Celebration for the past eight years. Phil has also served as Vice-President of the Cradle of Texas Chapter.
Linville Environmental Education Program (LEEP) Pilot Year Completed
By Tracie Teague, Certified Texas Master NaturalistOLD OCEAN, TEXAS — June 1, 2007. The first-year pilot program of the Linville Environmental Education Program (LEEP) at the Little Linnville Wetland and Wildlife Habitat has been completed. The program was developed for Sweeny Intermediate School District by Texas Master Naturalists from Mid-Coast and Cradle of Texas Chapters in conjunction with ConocoPhillips. Students ranged in age from 3 (Pre-K) to 5th grade.Pre-K through Fifth-grade programs were developed according to TEKS for each grade, and for each grade a completely different program was created. The focus was age-appropriate hands-on environmental education that reinforced classroom learning. Preliminary reports indicate the overall program was an outstanding success.
LEEP goals were reached with the help of Bryan Adams (USFWS Texas Mid-Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex), Keith Ramos (Refuge Complex), Sharon Hanzik (Brazos Bend State Park}, Mark Hanson (Director of Brazoria County Park Department), Carol Jones (Gulf Coast Bird Observatory), Cherie Allen (Gulf Coast Wildlife Rescue), and Ray Olachia (Native American). Cradle of Texas members Ed Barrios, Marty Cornell, Al Brushwood, Bob Schwebel, Kirby Rapstein, Roy Morgan, Anna Hay, Rainbo Johnson, Mary Helen Israel, Jerry Krampota, Jerry Eppner, Gerald Forest, Ruby Lewis, Rich Tillman, Mickey Dufilho, Tom Morris, Georgia Monnerat, Carl Dodson, and Phil Huxford were essential to the success of the program. Mid-Coast Chapter Members Tracie Teague, Paul and Mary Meredith and John O’Connell were especially vital to the project. Special thanks to Maurice Monie for his invaluable help as well as Johnny, Wilkie, and James from ConocoPhillips.
TMN COT Chapter Receives Award at 2006 State TMN Meeting
Project leader Jerry Krampota and COT member Jeri Stanton recording plant identification data. HUNT, TEXAS — October 22, 2006.
The Cradle of Texas’ project display was awarded third place in the Exemplary Project Display contest at the Texas Master Naturalist Program 7th Annual State Meeting & Advanced Training at Mo-Ranch Conference Center. Our entry featured our plant identification project at the Loblolly Loop Trail at Camp Mohawk County Park. Our project team, led by Jerry Krampota, identified plant species along the trail, placed markers at significant plants, and prepared a trail guide keyed to the markers.COT was presented with a certificate, and a cash award of $150, at the awards meeting on Sunday. The award was presented by Michelle M. Haggerty, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s State Coordinator for the Master Naturalist Program.
This project represents the work of over 30 of our members, working over a three-year period, and totals over 500 hours of volunteer time. The Brazoria County Parks Department estimates that 20,000 people visit the park each year. Our chapter was represented at Mo Ranch by Roy Morgan, Justina Dent, Tom Morris, Rich Tillman, Carolyn May-Monie, Barbara and Ellis Burkhardt, and Chapter President Ed Barrios.
Front row: Barbara Burkhardt; Justina Dent. Back row: Carolyn May-Monie; Roy Morgan;
Ed Barrios; Rich Tillman; Tom Collins; Ellis BurkhardtCLUTE TEXAS, August 26, 2006 — A team of four COT members has won the 2006 Scholastic Bowl, a fundraiser held today to benefit the Brazosport Planetarium and The Center for the Arts and Sciences. COT members Jerry Eppner, Katherine Laney, Carol Jones, and Barbara Burkhardt answered general-knowledge questions on subjects such as science, the arts, history, geography, current events and local interest. According to Scholastic Bowl chairman James Heller, the questions were presented in three rounds and answered on paper.The event was sponsored by Texas Dow Employees Credit Union, with additional support provided by BASF (sponsor of the Egghead team) and The Facts (sponsor of the Brainiac team).
From left: Carol Jones, Barbara Burkhardt, Jerry Eppner, Katherine Laney
COT member Jerry Eppner wins Best of Show at TMN Fair CLUTE TEXAS — July 29, 2006. “Be the Change You Wish to See in the World” was the theme for the fifth annual Southeast Texas Master Naturalist Regional Fair, held today at The Center for the Arts and Sciences. Several TMN COT members entered the photo contest, and some received awards. COT member Jerry Eppner received the “Best of Show” award for his photograph of a Violet-tailed Sylph hummingbird, “Dressed for the Ball,” taken in Ecuador in March, 2006.
COT members join Tom and Sherry Collins for “Going-Away-Bash” LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS — April 17, 2006. Members of the Cradle of Texas Chapter joined numerous friends and associates at Sea Center Texas for a “Going-Away Bash” for Tom Collins and his wife Sherry. The Collins are moving to Center Point, Texas in the Hill Country. Tom was one of the founding members of the chapter, and served as our first president.
Exemplary Project Books Awarded to BNWR ANGLETON, TEXAS — December 14, 2005. Members of the Chapter officially turned the award books over to Bryan Adams at its December meeting at the Texas Cooperative Extension (now known as Texas AgriLife Extension) building. Adams is the Education Specialist at Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge. The award was presented by Ed Barrios, 2006 President of the Chapter; Carl Dodson, 2005 President of the Chapter; and Carolyn May-Monie, Chair of Chapter’s Exemplary Project Committee.
From left: Barrios, Dodson, Adams, and May-Monie
TMN COT Chapter Receives Award at 2005 State TMN Meeting
HUNT, TEXAS — October 23, 2005. The Cradle of Texas’ project display was awarded second place in the Exemplary Project Display contest at the Texas Master Naturalist Program 6th Annual State Meeting & Advanced Training at Mo-Ranch Conference Center. The display included photographs, sample docent training manuals, handout descriptions of the project, and a handout CD. The award was presented at the closing session of the meeting.ExxonMobil donated $500 to distribute to the first-, second-, and third-place winners. COT was presented with a certificate, and a cash award of $150, at the awards meeting on Sunday. The award was presented by Michelle M. Haggerty, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s State Coordinator for the Master Naturalist Program.
COT has used the award money to purchase a set of books for use by volunteer instructors participating in the Discovery Environmental Education Program (DEEP) at Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge.
© 2012 Cradle of Texas Chapter Brazoria County. Most Rights Reserved.
The Texas Master Naturalist program is coordinated by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife. Texas Master Naturalist programs serve all people without regard to socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin.
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