POSTPONED

The Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists’ Members’ Night and Annual General Meeting will not be held in May this year.

The AGM is a very important function in the life of any organization. MVFN’s outgoing board of directors present a report on activities during the year and a budget for the upcoming year. We typically celebrate the recipients of the Nature Bursary and nominees to the Ontario Nature Youth Summit. All of this will have to wait until the fall, when hopefully we will be able to gather again.

In the meantime, we are looking for members to join the Board of Directors.

A Second Vice-President is needed. Vice-Presidents do not have specified responsibilities except to take over chairing the Board in the event that the President or Chair is unable to be at a meeting. Thus it is an ideal position in which to learn how the Board and the organization at large functions.

A number of strong committees organize our various programs but a few people are needed to round out their rosters (these positions do not require Board attendance):

• an Assistant Treasurer or Treasurer-in-Training is needed to assist with the books when the Treasurer is away and possibly take on the role of Treasurer, when the current treasurer retires (our Treasurer is limited to a three year term). If you have questions about this position contact John Blais the current Treasurer.
• the Conservation and Habitat Committee needs one more volunteer to help with organization. This committee tends to work on a project basis calling for additional volunteers when needed.
• someone to assist Publicity and Communication. MVFN is in the process of re-doing several brochures and re-organizing the website. Contact Linda McCormick for more information.
• someone for the Social Committee to assist in the kitchen on presentation nights.
• someone for the Membership Committee to help on presentation nights.

If you would like to volunteer for any of these positions, please get in touch with the MVFN Nominating Committee Sylvia Miller, Brenda Boyd or Jim Atack.

We are also searching for individuals with technical expertise to help with tools we have been exploring like Zoom, iNaturalist and a Facebook group while social distancing has been in place. These tools appear to be quite valuable and may become part of our program going forward.

MVFN is a vibrant organization that is dedicated to enjoying many aspects of the natural world. As you know, our lecture series is very popular, but there are many other MVFN activities such as birding outings, canoe trips, nature walks, camping trips, young naturalists activities and citizen-science projects.

We cherish the volunteers who make it all happen!

Copyright © 2020 Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you are either a current MVFN member or your membership expired less than two years ago

Our mailing address is:
Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists
P.O. Box 1617
Almonte, On K0A 1A0
Canada

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Hello, MVFN members!

We are launching a Lanark County backyard nature discovery project on iNaturalist. This will be a friendly challenge to see which member can make the most observations of nature, find the most species, and engage the most people during the event. As an extra bonus, all the nature observation data that you post to iNaturalist contributes to the biodiversity record of Lanark County and citizen science in general — what could be more fun and rewarding!

Let’s show the world the beauty of Lanark County!

Project description:

Using the free downloadable iNaturalist app and a digital camera, we are asking you to walk your property and record what you see. If you have a smart phone it is even easier – download the app and use you phone camera to photograph a subject. You can load photos from your desktop or once you are back on wifi. iNaturalist automatically generates suggestions based on your photo and location.

At the end of spring (June 20th), we will report on the project and some members will have the bragging rights to the title of Backyard Naturalist Spring champion of MVFN!

What should members do.

1) Open an account on iNaturalist. Open
2) Join the MVFN Lanark County project. Join
3) Start posting nature observations in Lanark County (all taxa).

You can find the iNaturalist Guide here.

In case members need help, either use this link to How to Use the App or Desktop or  Denis Gallant is available for help. He can be reached via the iNaturalist messaging service at denisag2 or via email directly ().

Stay safe, stay healthy, and keep sharing!

Hello, MVFN members!

As we all are accepting the realization that we must continue to physically distance ourselves from others, MVFN is reaching out with a way to stay connected, promote learning, and share of our awesome nature discoveries.

Two possibilities to share your discoveries are available.

1. MVFN has started a Facebook group where you can share your sighting easily with all group members. Go to our Facebook Page, look for the blue Join Group button just under the cover photo and click. You will be asked a few questions, shown the rules of the group. Once you have joined the group you will be able to post directly to the group.

2. Patty McLaughlin, our Young Naturalist Coordinator, has created a Google classroom as one way of achieving this! She will be re-creating parts of her winter program, plus adding new materials as the spring arrives. Please go to our website for instructions on how to join.

Finally, we have extended the deadline to apply for the Nature Bursary until June 1. If you know of a student who was planning to apply, the updated details are on the website.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and keep sharing!

Finally, we have extended the deadline to apply for the Nature Bursary until June 1. If you know of a student who was planning to apply, the updated details are on the website.

Stay safe, stay healthy, and keep sharing!

NOT THE SPRING GATHERING

As you all know our annual Spring Gathering, featuring Dr. James Raffan has been postponed until the Fall. However, Dr Raffan has kindly offered to make a different presentation next week using Zoom.

Join us
THURSDAY, April 16, at 6:30 p.m.
on your computer or tablet

PRESENTATION: Mapping Ground Zero

Mapping Ground Zero was a 30-day expedition aboard a 51’ Polynesian sailing canoe to document the remote northern atolls of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Blasted into public consciousness by the post-WWII US nuclear testing, the Republic of the Marshall Islands is now one of the places on earth most affected by global warming. Sea level rise, changing ocean chemistry, extreme weather vulnerabilities have forced relocations of the people in these atolls.

Mapping Ground Zero was part of a five-year project to gather data for the first comprehensive atlas of this threatened and disappearing place and its peoples. James Raffan was the cultural geographer and documentarian on the atlas team led by fellow Canadian, Dr. Danko Taborosi.

Many families are using Zoom to stay in touch during this period of self-isolation. However, if you are new to Zoom, here’s what you have to do:

1. You will need a Zoom account. It is free here.
2. Download the app onto your computer here.
3. Inspect a “room”.
4. Practice turning your video camera on an off, especially if you haven’t had a haircut recently.
5. Practice muting your microphone so no one else hears your dog barking at the neighbour’s cat.
6. Send an email to Dr Raffan . He will send you an invite.

It might be a little frustrating for people who are new to Zoom but, in these times, it beats yelling at the television.

For getting people started, this article can provide a place to start. https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting

We hope to see many of you at this virtual gathering!

Copyright © 2020 Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists, all rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you are either a current MVFN member or your membership expired less than two years ago

Our mailing address is:
Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists
P.O. Box 1617
Almonte, On K0A 1A0
Canada

Add us to your address book
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Following the advice of public health officers, the actions of other groups/organizations in our communities, and our concern for the health and welfare of our members, we are cancelling or postponing all MVFN activities for the time being. Cancellations include:

• MVFN Nature Talk, Thursday, March. 19 CANCELLED
• Presqu’ile Waterfowl Outing, Saturday. March. 21 CANCELLED
• MVFN Spring Gathering, Thursday. April. 16 POSTPONED
• April Early Morning Bird Walks