Texas Master Naturalist 10th Annual Meeting & Advanced Training
Friday, October 23, 2009 1:00 PM -
Sunday, October 25, 2009 1:00 PM (Central Time)
Mo Ranch
1-800-460-4401
2229 FM 1340
Hunt, Texas 78024
USA
 Map and Directions
Prior to registering, you will want to print out the:
Conference Agenda and Advanced Training Descriptions
-- See those tabs above--
******************************************************************************
Welcome Texas Master Naturalists!
New and Continuing favorite features of our meeting
We are pleased to extend an invitation to ALL Master Naturalist participants to attend our 10th Annual Texas Master Naturalist Meeting and Advanced Training. All Master Naturalist affiliates are invited to attend. This includes those Certified, in training, administrators and advisors of local chapters, and your local chapter partners, sponsors, or special guests.
The 2009 Annual Meeting and Advanced Training will offer new opportunities and incorporates many of your suggestions and ideas provided during our previous events. This year’s gathering has several chapter enhancement and Advanced Training topics to choose from. Our social and chapter project fair showcase and roundtable discussions will offer great opportunities to meet your fellow Master Naturalist peers from our 40 Chapters across the state and share new ideas from the past year. Hear what projects your peers are contributing their volunteer time towards and make new acquaintances all at the same time. The Master Naturalist Store and other surprises are also on the agenda. So, come out for a weekend filled with fun, fellowship, and learning in a beautiful October, Hill Country setting.
Returning this year--"Super-Saver Bunkhouse Lodging Special"
Save money with style of accommodations and registration this year! The Super-Saver Bunkhouse Special" is for those looking to cut costs. The SSB Special includes your meeting registration with accommodations in one of the bunk houses at a reduced registration rate. Bunkhouses are same sex occupancy with attached bathroom facilities within each bunkhouse. Check-in early for your choice of bed in this location! J
Scholarships:
We will again be able to offer one small grant/partial scholarship available to each Chapter to help offset the registration cost associated with the Annual Meeting & Advanced Training for an attending member. This year’s scholarships are available in part by the assistance of the North Texas Chapter’s hosting the Silent Auction at last year’s meeting and they are the largest scholarships we have been able to offer to date! The scholarship recipient must be selected and pre-approved by the local Chapter with notification given to the contact listed here. Scholarship winners shall contact Sonny Arnold for further instructions before registering as they will need a special code to do so. All scholarship recipients must register prior to the deadline. For more details, contact Sonny Arnold at 979-458-1099 or sarnold@ag.tamu.edu Sorry, scholarships are not refundable or transferable and cannot be honored after the deadline.
The Master Naturalist Store:
While at the Annual Meeting and Advanced Training, be sure to stop by the Master Naturalist store where there will be vendors featuring naturalist inspired books, crafts and our Master Naturalist clothing collection.
Returning this year... Presidents, Past President’s and Charter Members Breakfast:
This group breakfast has been established to not only meet and socialize, but also to have an informal arena for discussion of current, past and future issues local Master Naturalist chapter leaders may confront. The group breakfast offers opportunity for counsel and advice shared with each other as the conversation leads us. All current year chapter presidents, past chapter presidents and charter members of the organization are welcome.
Project Fair--NEW Updated Dimensions Gudielines this year!!!
This event is planned for each evening at the Annual Meeting. Each Chapter will have the opportunity to showcase an exemplary project of their choice. The event will provide an avenue to share a successful project and give other chapters ideas to take home and implement. Plan to exhibit an example of the service project work that your members have completed with pride! Find Project Fair guidelines and informaiton on the TMN website at http://masternaturalist.tamu.edu New information on display dimensions this year: Displays need to fit in the space of 5 ft. long by 3 ft. deep (roughly the floor space of a table). Project displays can be put on a table or on the floor. However all displays need to fit within the dimensions given.
While at the meeting, come see which volunteer projects will be honored as "Exemplary Project" Award Winners. This year’s awards will be sponsored by the Magnolia Charitable Trust
Photo & Art Contest: Read on for REVISED RULES THIS YEAR!!!
Enter your favorite photo or art work into the Texas Master Naturalist Photo & Art Contest while at the Annual Meeting. Just bring your item(s)—or send them with a friend. Winners will be announced during the Awards Ceremony. Photo & Art Contest entries should be placed on exhibit no later than 5:00 pm in the designated area on Friday. Judging is to be done by popular vote of attendees. Photos should be brought to the meeting labeled on the back including the participant’s name, chapter, category and a title for the work.
Contest Rules: All entries must be the original work of and submitted by a Master Naturalist volunteer. Photograph categories include: 1) Wildlife 2) Plants 3) Scenery 4) Chapter Projects and/or Master Naturalist(s) at work or play. Photographs (black & white or color) will compete together in each category. Photographs should be unmatted, unframed and be of a standard size up to "8x10" and have no digital enhancements. Photos must be Texas-specific (i.e. taken in Texas) Entries are limited to one per category per individual. Art entries may include original drawings, paintings, carvings and sculpture, etc. All art entries compete in one category. In the event there are less than five entries in a given photo or art category a placement ribbon will not be awarded.
Returning this Year—A fund raiser Silent Auction:
We ask that all of our volunteers assist in seeking donations for the silent auction planned for this year’s annual meeting. Our goal with the silent auction proceeds is to eventually be able to offer more and larger scholarships to the annual meeting; to be able to bring in nationally-renowned guest speakers and trainers; and to support the project fair awards and other non-profit organizations who occasionally donate their services for the meeting with great expense to themselves. Special advance thanks goes out to the Capital Area Chapter who is taking leadership of the silent auction at this year’s meeting.
Popular items from past silent auctions include items, or gift baskets of items, unique to your region; naturalist guides and books, autographed books or artwork, limited edition items and outdoor gear for the natural resource or natural history enthusiast. Really, anything you would want yourself!
For more questions and information on the Silent Auction contact co-chairs Jeri Porter jeripster@gmail.com or Christine Powell at xtinepowell@verizon.net.
Chapter Scrapbook and NEW Newsletter Contest:
Each Texas Master Naturalist chapter has the opportunity to enter their chapter scrapbook and a chapter newsletter of thier choice for this contest. Judging/Winners will be determined by popular vote of attendees. One scrapbook and newsletter entry per chapter.
Annual Meeting Volunteer Service Project:
A volunteer service project has become a Texas Master Naturalist Annual Meeting tradition! Learn, Serve and Earn all at the same time through an actual on-the-ground project! After all, natural resource training and volunteer service is what we’re all about, isn’t it?!? Learn more about the volunteer service project at the annual meeting in following pages of the registration materials. See the Saturday afternoon session descriptions for more information on about this year’s project.
Volunteers Needed at the Annual Meeting:
Numerous opportunities to help at the Annual Meeting are available. If interested in any of the following opportunities please sign up for a spot when registering on-line.
- Assist the AgriLife Bookstore staff with selling TMN apparel and other naturalist resources.
- Equipment Unload and Set-up Friday morning.
- Registration and Information Table: check-in attendees, hand out registration packets.
- Room Hosts: Welcome speakers, assist them with classroom set up, introduce trainers, and assist as runner/classroom helper, present speaker with appreciation gift.
- ‘Resident Techies’: assist presenters with setting up AV equipment, troubleshoot when needed
- Assist with Social set-up: assist chapters in setting up Project Fair displays
- Photo & Art Contest: help man exhibit, help count votes
- Silent Auction/Door Prizes: Collect door prizes prior to meeting, assist with drawings
- Tear Down and Load-Up
|
Registration Fees:
Full Registration (Includes Ann. Mtg. + Accommodations & Meals
Super Saver Bunkhouse Special $150 early/$190 late
Fri-Sun, 2 or more Occupancy $195 early/$235 late
Fri-Sun, SINGLE Occupancy (Single Rooms are SOLD OUT!!!)
Daily/Commuter Registration (Includes Ann. Mtg & Meals)
Commuter Fri. through Sun: $90 early/$130 late
Commuter Fri-Sat or Sat-Sun: $80 early/$120 late
Commuter any one day (Fri Sat or Sun):$60 early/$100 late
Registration Add On(s)
Extended Rainwater Harvesting Training $25.00 Additional Course Fee due to extensive materials provided.
Registering and Payment:
Registration is completed on line. On-line payment is the quickest and preferred method.
Payment may be in the form of Credit/Debit Card (American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa) or by check. However, on-line payment is the quickest and preferred method. Registration--including admittance into the training sessions and preferred room accommodations--is confirmed and complete once full payment amount is received. Should you not be able to complete your registration on-line you may call the program contact listed above for administrative assistance.
If you are not able to pay on-line with a Credit/Debit Card you may pay by check. When paying by check, registration in completed and confirmed once check is received. All Early Bird Registration check payments at the discounted rate will need to be post marked by September 27th to avoid the late fee. There will be a $30 charge for all returned/insufficient checks.
1. Make check Payable to: "Texas AgriLife Extension -TX Master Naturalist Program"
2. In your check "Notes" section include: Your Registrant ID number listed on your confirmation and receipt.
3. Include a copy of your registrant confirmation and receipt
4. All check payments MUST be post marked by Saturday, October 10th, 2009
5. Mail Check with a copy of your registrant confirmation/receipt to:
Texas Master Naturalist Program
Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept.
309 Sidney Baker South
Kerville, TX 78028
*********************************************
The 2009 Annual Meeting is provided by the
Texas Master Naturalist Program
with support from:
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Texas AgriLife Extension Service
The Magnolia Chritable Trust
The Capital Area and North Texas Chapters
of the Texas Master Naturalist Program
|