mprysby

• Chapter Project in a Pandemic
• Chapter Connection and Communication
• Basic Training Adaptation
• New VMN Volunteer
• Volunteer of the Year
• Chapter Advisor of the Year. 

These awards will be judged by the VMN statewide office team and one or more VMN sponsoring agency representatives.  We will announce and distribute the awards at an online event in December (date to be determined.)  To submit a nomination, please send the information requested for that particular award to Michelle Prysby.  Nominations are due by November 30 at 5:00 pm. 

You can find this year’s award nomination information below.  You also can read about our 2019 winners on the web!

Chapter Project in a Pandemic
This award is intended to recognize a project that has made significant and noteworthy positive impacts for natural resource education, citizen science, and/or stewardship this year, particularly in light of the pandemic.  Our focus is on projects for which the VMN chapter played a significant, unique role in creation, implementation, and leadership (rather than projects that were created and run by another organization.)  These awards go to the chapter, not to an individual, so the expectation is that multiple members of the chapter be involved in the project.  The project need not have started this year, but it should have had significant impacts this year.  

In your nominations, please include the following:

• Name, email address, and VMN chapter affiliation of the nominator
• Name, email address, and VMN chapter affiliation for the primary VMN volunteer contact for the project
• Description of why the project should receive the award, limited to 400 words.  Please include a description of the project goals, activities completed, and impacts and outcomes for natural resources in your community and/or for your chapter.  Include the roles and contributions of VMN volunteers to the project.  Identify any significant partners for the project. 

Chapter Connection & Communication
This award is intended to recognize a chapter that worked hard to successfully keep chapter members connected this year.  Those efforts could include online meetings, communications like newsletters, physically distanced events, or other ways of keeping the chapter members connected.  In your nominations, please include the following:

• Name, email address, and VMN chapter affiliation of the nominator
• Description of why the chapter should receive the award, limited to 400 words.  Please include a description of how the chapter maintained connection and/or communicated effectively and any evidence of outcomes in terms of volunteer engagement.

Basic Training Adaptation
This award is intended to recognize a chapter that worked hard to successfully adapt their 2020 basic training course to the changing COVID circumstances while still meeting VMN training guidelines.  In your nominations, please include the following:

• Name, email address, and VMN chapter affiliation of the nominator
• Name, email address, and VMN chapter affiliation of the volunteer(s) serving as the primary leaders for the basic training course
• Description of why the chapter should receive the award, limited to 400 words.  Please include a description of how the training course was adapted, how trainees were kept engaged, and any evidence of outcomes and impacts.

New VMN Volunteer
This award is intended to recognize a new volunteer who completed basic training in 2020 and has been highly engaged, despite the difficult circumstances this year.  The volunteer may have completed many volunteer hours, started a new project, helped on a chapter committee, or been engaged in other ways.  In your nominations, please include the following:

• Name, email address, and VMN chapter affiliation of the nominator
• Name, email address, VMN chapter affiliation, and basic training graduation date of the new volunteer
• Description of why the volunteer should receive the award, limited to 400 words.  Please include a description the volunteer’s activities and contributions this year and why they stood out to you. 

Volunteer of the Year
This award is intended to recognize a volunteer who has made outstanding contributions to natural resource education, citizen science, stewardship, and/or chapter administration.  Criteria we consider include the impacts the volunteer has made on natural resource conservation and education, demonstrated leadership by the volunteer, and impacts the volunteer has made on the local chapter and its volunteers.  There is no minimum requirement for amount of hours or length of service for a volunteer to receive this award.  Our focus is on the last one to two years of service.

In your nominations, please include the following:

• Name, email address, and VMN chapter affiliation of nominator
• Name, email address, and VMN chapter affiliation of the nominee
• Description of why the nominee should receive the award, limited to 400 words.  You may choose to include a description of the individual’s service, specific examples of positive impacts made, aspects that make the individual stand out from other volunteers, and quotes from other volunteers or local partners.  Please place your primary focus on the last 1-2 years of the volunteer’s service.  Consider including creative ways the nominee has been volunteering during the pandemic, if applicable.

Chapter Advisor of the Year
This award is intended to recognize a chapter advisor who has made significant and noteworthy contributions to a VMN chapter within the last 1-2 years.  In your nominations, please include the following:

• Name, email address, and VMN chapter affiliation of the nominator
• Name, email address, and VMN cha
  pter affiliation of the chapter advisor
• Description of why the chapter advisor should receive the award, limited to 400 words.  Please include specific examples of how the chapter advisor has helped the chapter run effectively, make positive impacts in the community, or otherwise achieve its goals.  If applicable, highlight unique ways the advisor has supported the chapter this year during the pandemic.

Please help us recognize the outstanding people and work of your chapters!

Ivan Hiett, Certified Virginia Master Naturalist Volunteer in the Southwestern Piedmont Chapter:  
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Upon entering basic training orientation on the first day, I first thought maybe I was in the wrong classroom. I hadn’t expected that I’d be the only person of color in the group, but there I was deciding whether I should enter or not. After confirming this was indeed the Master Naturalist orientation class I decided to stay. After all I’d been in similar situations during my career and was successful. No one seem to mind or care about my race, well at least no one showed it. We had one thing in common in that we cared about protecting and conserving our natural resources. We all were supportive of each other and began to bond. I was impressed by the diverse backgrounds of participants of the class members. Each member shared valuable experiences and knowledge in a variety of topics. 

Being the only person of color in training, I’d hoped to meet other minorities at chapter meetings but that didn’t happen. I accepted the fact that I’d be the one to break the ice. Being the only minority at meetings, group outings, and volunteer events was somewhat challenging, but I wouldn’t let that deter me. Everyone was very friendly and made me feel welcome although occasionally I felt some cohorts were not used to being around persons of color and may have been somewhat uncomfortable. But everyone was professional. I often wondered why other minorities hadn’t joined the group since we too are concerned about protecting our environment and natural resources. I concluded that most are probably intimidated at the prospect of being a minority in an organization of mostly Whites. As for me, college, and military travels prepared me to be an adventurer.

Volunteer service projects have been most challenging for me. While many of my volunteer hours were spent at the Virginia Museum of Natural History, I’ve also participated in group outings and other volunteer service projects. Not being a native of the Piedmont area, I wasn’t totally familiar with the culture or the resources of the area. Moving here I spent most of my time working and during vacations usually I traveled.  I regret that I hadn’t taken time to get to experience the local area but becoming a VMN member gave me the opportunity to explore. Volunteer projects would have to be chosen carefully. Some potentially interesting projects was passed if I wasn’t comfortable with some aspects of the area. Understand some projects that are in remote rural areas may not be good for a person of color to visit. Visiting an area adorned with rebel flags and Trump signs probably wouldn’t be a good idea. This may sound petty or trivial to some but can be unsettling to minorities. Expect the unexpected. Fortunately, I have not experienced any issues or problems on any field trips or service projects that I’ve attended.

After being a member of my chapter for about a year, I was asked to assume the role of secretary. I was hesitant at first, but after some persuasion I accepted the position and was approved unanimously by members. A year later I was voted President of our chapter. I didn’t want to be observed as the token minority representative. However, being a board member gave me the opportunity to have a voice in chapter activities. Besides maybe I could pave the way for other minorities. I think to attract more minorities to the organization, we may need to focus more on projects that affect minority interests, their neighborhoods and recreation areas.

In conclusion I’d say my experience with VMN has been positive and rewarding. Once people of different cultures and backgrounds unite for a common cause, great things can happen. We must set aside our differences and focus on those things that matter to us. I’ll always remember the first day of basic training and thinking “I’m in the wrong place, this group is not for me”. We must put aside our negative preconceived notions and ideas toward the realization that we must work together to make our home (earth) a better place to live and preserve it for future generations.           

My name is Joshquinn Andrews and I am a Virginia Master Naturalist of the Pocahontas Chapter. I have been a member for six years.

Currently I primarily help with projects known as the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project and Monarch Watch. The former involves collecting data on the larva of the monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) and their host plants known as the milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) while the latter deals with tracking and researching the autumn migration of the monarch butterflies through tagging. Before joining this project, I had only seen butterflies and the stages of the monarchs through pictures. With my participation, I had the chance to see both the larva and pup
a stages of the monarchs for the first time. In fact, participating in the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project has also led me to see milkweed for the first time and the organisms that rely on the plant as a source of food. Some examples include the larva of the milkweed tussock moths (Euchaetes egle) and large milkweed bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus).

Another experience I enjoy is participating in what is known as a Bio Blitz, in which we search Pocahontas State Park for different species of butterflies and keep tally of the number of species we spot. Through this experience I have explored new locations in the park and learned of different species of butterflies and where they can be found.

Being a part of the Virginia Master Naturalist has opened me to new experiences while being around people who share in a similar vision of conservation and a love for the ecosystem. 

​When we put the word out inviting people of color within the VMN program to share their experiences in our newsletter, Ted Munns, President of the Northern Neck Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society and a Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer in the Northern Neck Chapter connected us with Bonita Russell.  Bonita is an active Master Gardener volunteer and member of the Virginia Native Plant Society who has been making a difference for natural resource conservation and education in the community.  

Bonita Russell retired about five years ago, and joined the Northern Neck Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society soon after to pursue her love of all plants.  More recently, Bonita became a Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener volunteer.  A long-time Master Gardener, Diane Kean, contacted her and asked her to consider joining the program.  Bonita was reluctant at first, worried that she didn’t have enough experience or knowledge of things like Latin names for plants.  But, Diane really encouraged her, and even met her to carpool to the registration session in Kilmarnock.  “If it wasn’t for Diane Kean, I would not have become a Master Gardener.”  Bonita wants others to know that you don’t have to have a lot of experience.  “You don’t have to know a lot.  They’ll teach you what you need to know.”

Bonita has put what she has learned through the VNPS and Master Gardener program to work in both her own garden.  In 2005, she had moved from Richmond to a 2-acre property on the Northern Neck.  Creating gardens was appealing to her, because she didn’t want to have to mow so much!  She started with a small section and now has converted a big area of the property into gardens. She especially likes gardening with native plants, “because they take less water and support native insects.”

What she really enjoys about being a Master Gardener, though, is the volunteer time.  In her volunteer role, she assisted other Master Gardeners with programs at assisted living and rehabilitation centers in the area and to answer plant questions from the public at the farmers markets in Tappahannock and Montross and at the Master Gardener Help Desk.  As part of the VNPS, she led the maintenance of the native plant garden at the Heathsville Courthouse, coordinating and participating in monthly work sessions there.  Bonita also helps with upkeep of the historic gardens at Stratford Hall and the George Washington Birthplace.  As you can see, she is a very active member of the community, helping to create habitat and educate others!

Bonita says her favorite native plants are golden alexander, butterfly weed, and passionvine.  But, she loves them all, and she loves the joy and satisfaction she gets from observing plants.  A t-shirt gifted by her daughter says it all: “You’re never too old to play in the dirt.”

Below, we have listed the volunteers (alphabetically, by chapter) who have achieved these milestones between January 2020 and July 2020.  The list is based on chapter reports received by our office as of July 31, 2020.  Not every chapter submitted mid-year milestone reports, so we will recognize additional milestone earners after the end of the year.  

These volunteers have done extraordinary levels of service!  This is especially true in 2020, when there are so many limitations on volunteer activities.  We are so impressed with how VMNs are finding safe ways to still contribute to natural resource education, citizen science, and stewardship in their communities.

Thank you to Tiffany Brown, VMN project assistant, for compiling these lists!