Bayou Foliage - Armand Bayou Nature Centerabncvols.org/foliage/2018_Feb_BayouFoliage.pdf ·...
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Volume 37, Issue 2 Bayou Foliage Armand Bayou Nature Center Volunteer Newsletter FEBRUARY 02 Prairie Friday 8:30 a.m. 03 Stewardship Saturday 8 a.m. 04 First Sunday 12 p.m. 08 Volunteer Meeting 7:00 p.m. 09 Prairie Friday 8:30 a.m. 10 2 nd Saturday Bird Count 7 a.m. Guided Canoe Trip 8 a.m. 15 Bayou Foliage deadline 16 Prairie Friday 8:30 a.m. 17 Stewardship Saturday 8 a.m. 18 Third Sunday 12 p.m. 23 Prairie Friday 8:30 a.m. 24 Guardians of the Gardens 8:30 a.m. Upcoming Events: March Fire Fly Fridays return April 21 Annual Gala TBA International Bird Migration Day Next Volunteer Meeting Thursday, February 8 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Yard Debbie Repatz is both a Texas Master Gardener (since 2003) and Texas Master Naturalist (since 2016). She is very successful in attracting hummingbirds to her yard, including rare ones for this area. Debbie is a retired teacher from an elementary school, San Jacinto College, and Houston Community College. She is also an avid photographer, has won numerous awards, including a First at FeatherFest and Master Naturalist First in state awards. She publishes many bird photographs on Facebook, under her maiden name (Debbie Stuck). She will be visiting Costa Rica in March for the 3 rd time. FYI (from wikipedia) Aztec indians wore hummingbird talismans, both artistic representations and fetishes. The god of war is often depicted as a hummingbird; it was believed that fallen warriors would return to earth as hummingbirds and butterflies. The Nahuatl word huitzil (hummingbird) is derived from the sounds of the wing-beats and zooming flight. Trinidad and Tobago, known as “The land of the hummingbird,” displays one on that nation’s coat of arms, 1-cent coin, and emblem of its national airline, Caribbean Airlines.
Transcript of Bayou Foliage - Armand Bayou Nature Centerabncvols.org/foliage/2018_Feb_BayouFoliage.pdf ·...
Volume 37, Issue 2
Bayou Foliage Armand Bayou Nature Center
Volunteer Newsletter
FEBRUARY
02 Prairie Friday 8:30 a.m.
03 Stewardship Saturday 8 a.m.
04 First Sunday 12 p.m.
08 Volunteer Meeting 7:00 p.m.
09 Prairie Friday 8:30 a.m.
10 2nd Saturday Bird Count 7 a.m.
Guided Canoe Trip 8 a.m.
15 Bayou Foliage deadline
16 Prairie Friday 8:30 a.m.
17 Stewardship Saturday 8 a.m.
18 Third Sunday 12 p.m.
23 Prairie Friday 8:30 a.m.
24 Guardians of the Gardens 8:30 a.m.
Upcoming Events:
March
Fire Fly Fridays return
April
21 Annual Gala
TBA International Bird Migration Day
Next Volunteer Meeting Thursday, February 8 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Yard
Debbie Repatz is both a Texas Master Gardener (since 2003) and Texas Master Naturalist (since 2016). She is very successful in attracting hummingbirds to her yard, including rare ones for this area.
Debbie is a retired teacher from an elementary school, San Jacinto College, and Houston Community College. She is also an avid photographer, has won numerous awards, including a First at FeatherFest and Master Naturalist First in state awards. She publishes many bird photographs on Facebook, under her maiden name (Debbie Stuck).
She will be visiting Costa Rica in March for the 3rd time.
FYI (from wikipedia)
Aztec indians wore hummingbird talismans, both artistic representations and fetishes. The god of war is often depicted as a hummingbird; it was believed that fallen warriors would return to earth as hummingbirds and butterflies.
The Nahuatl word huitzil (hummingbird) is derived from the sounds of the wing-beats and zooming flight.
Trinidad and Tobago, known as “The land of the hummingbird,” displays one on that nation’s coat of arms, 1-cent coin, and emblem of its national airline, Caribbean Airlines.
Volunteer of the Year by Tom Kartrude
February 2018
Armand Bayou Nature Center
Volunteer Board 2018
Proof reader: Vicki Atkins
Contributors:
Liz VanOrstrand Tom Kartrude Tom Scarsella
Joe Bryan Fred Swerdlin Mark Carter
Staff Roster
Chair Edward Craven 917-921-8290 [email protected]
Vice-Chair Karen Sutera 281-474-5087 [email protected]
Secretary Tom Scarsella 832-221-3752 [email protected]
Treasurer Joe Bryan 713-449-5550 [email protected]
Weekend DIGs * Zohre Amet 832-855-6100 [email protected]
Weekend Trails Leda Parker 713-560-1389 [email protected]
Weekday Edu. Edith Erfling 281-470-6824 [email protected]
Outreach Patty Trimmingham 409-770-3113 [email protected]
Facilities Scott Abel 281-486-4297 [email protected]
Stewardship Mark Carter 713-456-9919 [email protected]
Gardens Edda Scott 281-332-4170 [email protected]
Bayou Foliage Editor Polly Swerdlin 281-814-4606 [email protected]
Webmaster Shawn Gano 832-314-1608 [email protected]
* Demonstrators, Interpreters & Greeters
Main numbers: 281-474-2551 or 713-274-2688 Dial directly to each desk:
713-274-2663 Susan Millsap 713-274-2664 Liz VanOrstrand 713-274-2666 Tom Kartrude 713-274-2667 Heather Millar 713-274-2668 Kathy Gardner 713-274-2672 Mark Kramer 713-274-2676 Kristen Hill 713-274-2683 Mike Maglitto
713-274-2671 Facilities (no phone mail) Emails are firstname @ abnc.org i.e.: [email protected]
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The winner is … La La Land Oops … wrong envelope! The exceptional Volunteer for 2017 is … Well, you might have marveled at her hours count And you might have worked beside her at Harvest Festival And you might have been hit by a dirt clod she tossed aside at Prairie Friday And you might have sat next to her at a Volunteer Board meeting Or she might have served you coffee on a breakfast cruise And you might have seen her name on our letterhead listing of Trustees Or you might have gotten in her way as she was flapping out embers on the fire line And you might have a pantry at home filled with her jellies
The Exceptional Volunteer for 2017 is…Of course… Diane Humes! Always available …always capable …always exceptional. Like the eagles soaring above, Diane is an inspiration to all of us.
February 2018
VOLUNTEER MEETING MINUTES
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January 11, 2018 The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Liz VanOrstrand, ABNC Volunteer Coordinator. All were welcomed to the annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.
Liz thanked Jim Frantz for his four years as our Volunteer Facilities Coordinator. Scott Abel, Patty Trimingham, and Mark Carter were welcomed to the Volunteer Board. Ed Craven will stay on as volunteer chair and Mark Carter will take on the job of stewardship coordination. The other members of the Volunteer Board were thanked for their service in 2017 and for their willingness to continue on in 2018.
Liz talked about the BIG program that began in 2017. Two training sessions, and one quarterly, have taken place to date. The pdf of those training classes are available for everyone on-line under documents on the ABNC web pages. The goal of the BIG program is to build better volunteer skill sets to make a better ABNC with a long-term focus of increasing visitor returns and membership.
An ABNC Animals Meet and Greet class is scheduled for January 27. Canoe and trail classes will both be held this spring.
Tom Kartrude spoke to the volunteers about Bald Eagles. They have been absent from the region for 70 years, now being firmly re-established on the Gulf Coast and on the Armand Bayou watershed. Bringing eagles back was a long-term project; an investment in the future along with efforts in conservation. ABNC invests in its future in exactly that fashion and the volunteers are instrumental to that effort.
Heather said that teen volunteers put in 1,000 hours in 2017. One teen logged 238.5 of those hours which was impressive. Heather thanked all the volunteers who helped with classes in 2017, and then led the volunteers in singing Happy Birthday to Kathy Gardner.
Susan thanked the volunteers who worked volunteer services for her last year. Vicki Atkins, Dewanna Norris, Julie Brandt, and Dottie Evans were all thanked for their regular relief details.
Liz thanked the Prairie Friday, Stewardship Saturday, and Facilities crews for Mark Kramer who was unable to attend. The Facilities crews were a treasure as Liz put it. Things just get done as if by magic and it was truly wonderful to have a volunteer crew so willing to do whatever was required to get ABNC ready for events, clean up afterwards, and keep everything working.
Tom said that 177 ABNC volunteers had logged a record 19,263.25 hours in 2017, which was the equivalent of 10 full-time employees, and as many hours as were worked by the staff. Volunteer hours are valued at $25.14 which made the volunteer contribution in labor for 2017 worth $484,000. That total does not include another 597 hours of logged continuing education. ABNC exists because of the commitment of its volunteers, for which he was truly grateful. The volunteer hour totals were read off and individual volunteers were recognized for their hours.
Tom Kartrude described the selection process for volunteer of the year, which entailed staff from all departments submitting names and making pitches for individuals. One name showed up at the top of every list. This volunteer sits on the ABNC Board of Trustees, helps with the pontoon boat, Prairie Fridays, has worked prairie burns, made 400 jars of jelly for sale at the fall Festival and worked the jelly sales again this year. Diane Humes was honored as the ABNC volunteer of the year for 2017. Diane was presented with an engraved glass keepsake and a very “stylish” hat shaped like a Bald Eagle.
Tom concluded the evening by discussing the search for a new Executive Director begun by the BOT last year. Candidate interviews have been taking place. Tom said that many of the volunteers present were here when he arrived at ABNC, and will be here after he’s gone. The names of many of those volunteers here this evening appear on the plaques on the wall opposite, which recognize exceptional service, some of you more than once, it is an exceptional group and we thank you for all you do for ABNC.
We were told to return to our aeries and adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
February 2018
TRAINING DATES and EVENTS for your calendar Email the leader or sign up on clipboards in the Volunteer Office
Treasurer’s Report December 2017 Meeting Snacks & Drinks
The social portions of our meetings are enhanced with
finger food snacks and beverages; please sign up for
one month, either one.
SNACKS DRINKS
FEBRUARY Tom & Hilary Madeleine Barnes
MARCH __ Polly Swerdlin
APRIL __ __
MAY (pot luck picnic)
AUGUST Eleanor Stanley __
SEPTEMBER __ __
OCTOBER Polly Swerdlin __
NOVEMBER __ __
DECEMBER (pot luck supper)
JANUARY (appreciation dinner)
Signup is on a clipboard in the Volunteer Office
Beginning Balance $4365.98
Expenditures:
Ham & Cake $73.04 $4292.94
Total Expenditures $73.04 $4292.94
Income:
Total Income $0 $4292.94
Current Balance $4292.94
Saturdays, February 10 or 17 New Volunteer Orientation Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Auditorium Leader: Liz VanOrstrand [email protected] Friday, February 2 Creepy Crawlers Committee Time: 1:00 p.m. Classroom 3 Leader: Polly Swerdlin [email protected] Friday, February 9 Martyn Farm Harvest Festival Committee Time: 10:00 a.m. Classroom 3 Leader: Liz VanOrstrand [email protected]
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Saturday, March 10 Trail Training Time: 9 a.m. to noon Auditorium Leader: Leda Parker [email protected] Saturday, April 14 Raptor ID Time: 10 a.m. to noon Auditorium Leader: Dennis Jones Saturday, May 5 Canoe Training Time: 9 a.m. to noon Auditorium Leader: Mark Kramer [email protected]
April - TBA International Bird Migration Day
April 21 Annual Gala
February 2018
Education Department Page Leaders and Helpers needed for these events
Contact Heather 713-274-2667
First and Third Sundays Raquel Lewis in Education is the POC for these projects
February: Owls March: Butterflies April: Earth Appreciation May: Turtles June: Outdoor Safety July: Pond Life August: Alligators September: Raccoons October: Squirrels November: Bison December: Bird Migration
https://www.kroger.com/communityrewards
http://www.randalls.com/ShopStores/Good-Neighbor.page
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Armand-Bayou-Nature-Center-Official-Page/301870883076?ref=ts
https://twitter.com/armandbayou
Easy and continuous ways to help ABNC are to go shopping, friend us, and tweet. Help us get the word out.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ABNCvols/
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-7403757
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Leaders and Helpers needed for these events Contact Heather 713-274-2667
February 1 10:00 - 12:00 Reptiles and Trails 2nd grade 7- 8 year olds **68 children February 13 9:30 - 1:00 EcoConnections St. George Place 5th grade 10- 11 year olds **125 children February 15 10:00 - 12:00 Hands-on History Home Shield Home School mixed ages 10 - 30 people February 25 TBA Reptiles and Trails Mixed ages 45 to 70 people
February 2018
ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING
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In case you didn’t get a chance to attend, here’s notes from Tom Kartrude: On Saturday, January 20, 2018 the ABNC auditorium filled with members, including a number of volunteers, ABNC trustees and Foundation board members, to hear the 2017 Annual Report and conduct some corporate business. The membership elected fourteen (14) additional trustees to serve on our governing board. President Linda Retherford reviewed the board goals for 2017 and cited a list of board accomplishments for the year. Executive Director Tom Kartrude then discussed the nature center’s operations and finances for the past twelve (12) months. Treasurer Barry McMahan presented the draft budget for 2018 and the President concluded the meeting by outlining the ABNC Board of Trustee outlook for this year. The accomplishments and the value of the volunteers were repeatedly stressed by both the President and Executive Director in their presentations. 2017 Exceptional Volunteer Diane Humes was recognized as was HAVA Hanlon Award winner Volunteer Coordinator Liz VanOrstrand. The members applauded the new hours record set by volunteers in 2017, and were awed by the $484,471 value of work performed by the volunteers. Kartrude reported that even though 2017 income fell short of budget, expenses were controlled enough to actually beat our net income goals. The hashtag #DiscoverArmandBayou was introduced as the Visitor Services theme for 2018 and goals were set for increasing admissions and growing membership. Education was recognized for its solid financial performance, and Stewardship’s new role in community outreach and collaborative media partnerships was highlighted. The review stressed the positive impact of volunteers in each program area along with administration and fundraising. President Retherford looked forward by discussing the recruitment of a new Executive Director by mid- year, as well as adding donor development, marketing and visitor service staffing to support the new ED. She highlighted the progress towards developing a new Interpretive Plan for ABNC, and both a membership drive and corporate sponsor campaign proposed by the trustees. And the Treasurer’s budget reflected that aggressive approach to fundraising and staff capacity additions. ABNC is forecasting its first $1,000,000+ budget. Following the Annual Membership Meeting, the new Trustees joined current board members and board members from the ABNC Foundation for their first meetings of the New Year. BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING Among other items of business, the Board of Trustees elected new officers and adopted the 2018 budget. 2018 officers include President Garry McMahan, 1st Vice President Laurel Williamson, 2nd Vice President Randy Ashby, Secretary Nicole Hausler, Treasurer Peter Zollers, Advisor Bill Parker and Advisor Cathy Culpepper. The budget calls for $1,122,500 income and $969,573 expense for a net income of $152,927. President McMahan called for the organization of standing and ad hoc committees, and encouraged any members, volunteers and community members with an interest in the various committee duties to join and participate.
February 2018
FYI
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Joe Bryan – Treasurer – New job for me for 2018 In very recent years, I have been the officer who secured program speakers. I have now taken on a new role of treasurer. The volunteers do not maintain their own bank account, but their funds are tracked by the staff in a larger account. The role of the treasurer is to balance a report for expenses and income with the staff’s records. I receive a report from Eloise monthly and update the volunteer spreadsheet. I have years of experience using Excel and other spreadsheet programs. Before I retired, I was not an accountant, but worked in public administration. I have some experience in governmental accounting.
SPECIAL FACILITIES REQUEST for DONATED SHOP SUPPLIES Do you have leftover unused project material sitting in your garage or closet? Facilities will put it to good use. Multiple Items are needed for Automotive, Carpentry, Electrical, Irrigation, Painting, Plumbing, and Roofing to maintain ABNC Facilities. Please see page 6 of the January 2017 Bayou Foliage for an expanded list of ideas: http://www.abncvols.org/foliage/2017_Jan_BayouFoliage.pdf Please bring your unused project material to the Maintenance Yard and place it on the table outside and to the right of the Maintenance Barn for sorting and storage for future use. If you have questions or cannot transport the material, email [email protected] with your name and phone number and we will contact you.
Thank You Fred Swerdlin
Facilities Group
Polly Swerdlin – Newsletter Editor – continuing saga The fun of being an editor is pulling together information, which includes from the full gamut of the volunteer board, staff, and the troops: pictures, data, stories, and ideas. One of the suggestions I propose for this year is to hear from all your officers and coordinators so you have a better idea what it takes to support one of our favorite places in the Houston Bay Area. If you have anything to contribute, please feel free to drop it into my physical mail basket in the Volunteer Office, zip an email to [email protected], or give me a ring 281-814-4606. Just keep in mind the deadline for submissions is the third Thursday of each month.
February 2018
Stewardship
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Past activities for Stewardship Saturday (first and third) have included a broad range of tasks designed to maintain and improve the nature center habitats. These tasks involve planting various native plant species in the forest, prairie, and wetlands; identification and removal of invasive non-native plant species; trails maintenance; trails and wetlands cleanup; and support for various festivals and events. Attendance at Stewardship Saturday has declined significantly in recent months. We are looking for input from our stewardship volunteers to better understand the cause of this decline and any ideas that can help us reestablish the enthusiastic attendance we have experienced in past years on this valuable team. Please direct any and all thoughts and suggestions to our new Volunteer Board member for Stewardship, Mark Carter, at his email, [email protected]. Planning for 2018 is in work now and your ideas will be greatly appreciated. By The Way from Laura Bradley’s data: Gallon pots planted in the ABNC prairies for 2017: Switchgrass 755 Eastern Gamma Grass 1,655 Yellow Indian Grass 755 Other misc. grasses 820 Total grasses 3,985 Total Forbs (prairie flowers) 7,600 Total All 11,585
Prairie
Flower of
the Month
February 2018
If you have to cancel, please do your best to find your own replacement. If you
cannot, please notify your coordinator AND the Front Desk. If you can cover
for any open slots, please call the coordinator for that event. When you arrive
at ABNC for your duty, please check in at the Front Desk.
Except where noted, activities are 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
ABNC Volunteer Duty Schedule – February Weekends
DATE
10:00 Trails
Leda Parker
713-560-1389
2:00 Trails
Leda Parker
713-560-1389
Greeters
(Sundays 12-4)
Zohre Amet
832-855-6100
Natural History
Demos
Zohre Amet
832-855-6100
Farm House
Interpreters
Zohre Amet
832-855-6100
Farm Life
Demos
Zohre Amet
832-855-6100
02-03 Charles Buren Karen Sutera
Susan Hesley
Yarn Dolls
First
Sunday
02-04 Mark Carter Ken Russell
Education
Owls Polly Swerdlin
BAWS on site
Tom Scarsella
Blacksmithing
02-10 Greg Nenninger
Karen Sutera Kathie Stocker
HABA on site
Nancy Saint
TBD
Sheryl
Crow
1962
02-11 Charles Buren
Eleanor Stanley
Reptiles Jill Macomber
02-17 Greg Nenninger Charles Buren Edith Erfling
Margaret Frick
Snakes Karen Hazen
Third
Sunday
02-18
Mark Carter Joe Bryan
Education
Owls Zohre Amet
02-24
Leda Parker Charles Buren Zohre Amet
Jane Bingel
Birds Edith Erfling
Tom Scarsella
Wood Shop
Tea Leoni
1966
02-25
Randy Olsen Polly Swerdlin
Margaret Frick
Snakes Eleanor Stanley
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February 2018
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 58828
Houston, TX 77258
Location:
8500 Bay Area Boulevard
Pasadena, TX 77507
Phone: 281-474-2551
Web: www.abnc.org
Volunteer Web Page:
www.abncvols.org
Middle Bayou School
Bayou Foliage deadline: 3rd Thursday of each month.
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Hand-Me-Down Shirts with ABNC logo:
2 men’s short sleeves (L) Behind the door of the Volunteer Office.
If it fits, it’s yours. If you wish to pass one down, this is where to leave it.
If you buy a khaki shirt of your own to have the ABNC logo added:
Leave it, your name, phone # and $8 at the front desk. One of the volunteer board members will take it in, and give you a call when it returns.
Or you can take it yourself – Third Coast Graphics has our design in stock. 301 W Edgewood Dr. #16 Friendswood 281-992-6600
2018: the Year of the Bird In 1918, the Migratory Bird Treaty became law, so we’re celebrating 100 years since. Migratory birds can not be harmed, killed, or sold, including their nests and eggs.
