2012: Bluebirds feature at MVFN’s Spring Gathering

Bluebirds Feature Award at MVFN’s Annual Spring Gathering

by Cliff Bennett

Every MVFN bluebird box you see in Lanark County has Al Potvin’s prints on it. Al was honoured at the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists’ annual Spring Gathering banquet, held Thursday, May 17 at the Civitan Club in Almonte. The 128 participants stood in applause as then MVFN President Joyce Clinton presented the Almonte native with the prestigious MVFN Champion for Nature Award. Al has been instrumental in organizing the construction of over 300 Peterson oval bluebird boxes, which are sold as a fundraiser for the club. He was also active over the years with several other MVFN environmentally- related activities and continues as an avid supporter of the club’s habitat creation projects.

In the photo below Al Potvin of Almonte receives a Champion for Nature Award from Joyce Clinton, President of the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists, at MVFN’s 2012 Spring Gathering banquet.

Another exciting event at the banquet was the unveiling of the Mike McPhail Memorial Bench. Commissioned by MVFN to honour the late Mr. McPhail, the bench will be installed at the Mill of Kintail where Mike contributed to various programs. Mr. McPhail was MVFN President for three years, during which time the club grew immensely in stature and importance.

Also on display during the evening was a table of activities of the newly-formed MVFN Young Naturalists program. A function of the MVFN Environmental Education Program, chaired by Brenda Boyd, the Young Naturalists are in their first full year of activities, lead by Patti Summers of the Wild Bird Care Center in Nepean. The group meets monthly at the Mill of Kintail. MC for the evening, Cliff Bennett, auctioned off a donated spotting scope with funds raised to be dedicated to the Young Naturalist program.

The main feature of this very successful evening was a presentation on the World of Woodpeckers by guest speaker Dan Schneider. Dan, a senior interpreter with the Grand River Conservation Authority, entertained the crowd with anecdotes and tales on the life of woodpeckers, backed up by an excellent slide show. Mr. Schneider was thanked by the new president, Ken Allison, and presented with a signed copy of Dr. Paul Keddy’s book, Earth, Water, Fire: An Ecological Profile of Lanark County.

Prior to the banquet festivities, the Annual General Meeting of the club was held. President Joyce Clinton outlined the highlights of the past year, noting substantial growth in MVFN membership. The election of officers resulted in the following Board of Directors for the coming year: President, Ken Allison; Vice President, Stephen Collie; Past President, Joyce Clinton; Secretary, Janet Fytche; Treasurer, Bob McCook; Publicity and Public Relations, Bob Volks; Program Chair, Cathy Keddy; Environmental Issues Chair, Theresa Pelusa; Environmental Education Program, Brenda Boyd.

Stay tuned for MVFN’s 2012-13 lecture series, Nature Beneath Our Feet, beginning in September. Summer activities can be found at www.mvfn.ca.

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