Old Rag Master Naturalists
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Chapter Administration


chapter Mission and History
​​ Volunteers for Conservation - Stewardship, Education, Citizen Science
Mission​

The Virginia Master Naturalist Program is a statewide corps of volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. Interested Virginians become Master Naturalists through training and volunteer service. For more information on the Virginia program, visit the VMN website. 

Some key aspects of our mission include:
  • A focus on natural resources: This focus distinguishes our program from some other programs, such as Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners, which is focused on home horticulture.
  • A focus on volunteerism: The primary purpose of the VMN program is not to provide adult education through the Basic Training course, but rather to train, develop, and support volunteers who will participate in natural resource conservation. 
  • A focus on local communities: Although the program is statewide, it is a chapter-based program that encourages volunteers to focus their learning and service in their own community.​

Chapter History

The Old Rag Master Naturalists chapter serves the Rapidan–Upper Rappahannock Watershed. ​The service area includes the counties of Culpeper, Rappahannock, Madison, Greene, Orange, and  Fauquier. The large geographic area of these counties, rural in nature, includes major natural resources rich in biodiversity. Among these are the headwaters and tributaries of the Rapidan and Rappahannock rivers, Shenandoah National Park, and two Virginia Wildlife Management Areas.

​We at the Old Rag Chapter value the role and the beauty of nature and wish to play a part in the stewardship of our natural resources. State employees can only do so much in support of our wildlife, our forests, our flowers, our water, our soil, and air. As a knowledgeable group of volunteer stewards, educators, and citizen scientists, we can add depth and breadth to the conservation and management of Virginia’s natural environments. What we learn through our training, we give back through volunteer service to Virginia and our local communities.

​The Old Rag Chapter was formed in 2007. As of June 2018, nine classes have completed basic training. The first class celebrated graduation on December 3, 2007, with 25 graduates. Class members go on to participate in or start service projects and attend advanced training. Individuals become certified Virginia Master Naturalists when all their requirements for certification are met. On December 3, 2007, the graduates and other members of the Chapter elected the Old Rag Master Naturalists Chapter’s first Board of Directors; and on January 7, 2008, the first chapter officers were selected.

​Also see this brief history of the State VMN program.

Chapter Accomplishments
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2019 Report
2018 Report
2016 Report
Our Board
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Old Rag Chapter - Board of Directors
As of June 21, 2022

Officers 
President:  Barry Buschow                   (2nd term expires 6/30/24)                   Culpeper                         fcbarry@gmail.com
Vice President:  Tom Dreier                 (1st term expires 6/30/24)                     Culpeper                        
tom_dreier@yahoo.com
Secretary:  Linda Lowery                       (1st term expires 6/30/25)                     Fauquier                         lindatlowery@gmail.com
Treasurer:  Bill Bynum                            (1st term expires 6/30/23)                      Rappahannock            bynumbill@yahoo.com
                                  

Elected Board Members                             

Kathleen Aucoin                                        (1st term expires 6/30/23)                      Culpeper                        knaucoin@comcast.net  
Bonnie Beers                                               (1st term expires 6/30/24)                      
Rappahannock.           bonbeers@yahoo.com
Cynthia Colson                                           (1st term expires 6/30/25)                      Culpeper                        cindy.colson@comcast.net
Dorothy "Tepp" Tepper                          (2nd term expires 6/30/25)                    Rappahannock            dhtinva@comcast.net
Jere Willis                                                      (1st term expires 6/30/23)                      Culpeper                         jmhwillisiii@gmail.com                               
                            
Ex-Officio Members
Gail Swift, Past President                                                                                                      Rappahannock            gailswift@gmail.com                                                    
Alex Bueno, VMN-Better Impact Coordinator                                                        
Culpeper
                         buenoa@umich.edu                                                
Kinner Ingram,  
Chapter Advisor       VA Department of Forestry.                Madison                          kinner.ingram@dof.virginia.gov
                                  

Terms for Board members are three years.  A Board member may serve two consecutive terms.

Board Meetings
First Tuesdays of alternate months, 4:00 pm -- January, March, May, July, September, November.
​     2022:  September 6, November 1     2023:  January 3, March 7, May 2


 
Member Meetings
​2nd Tuesday of alternate months, 6:30pm -- February, April, June, August, October, December.​​
     2022:  August 9, October 11, December 13    2023: Monday, February 13, April 11, Saturday, June 24 Annual Meeting at Stoney Brook Farm


For By-laws, Operating Handbook, and other Chapter Documents - click here​​

​For Suggested Documents for New Board Member Orientation - click here
​
Chapter Committees
As of June 9, 2022

​ADMINISTRATIVE

Executive Committee President, V.P., Secretary, Treasurer and I.P.P.
 
Nominations Committee (Jere Willis, Chair)
Members: Dee Dee Lyon and Gail Swift.
 
Finance Committee
Treasurer (Chair), President and V.P.
 
Internal Audit Committee non-Board member appointed by the President
 
VMN-VMS Committee (Alex Bueno, Coordinator)

 
PROGRAM
Basic Training Committee (Rob Bannister, Cindy Colson, Co-Chairs):
Members:   Bonnie Beers, Alex Bueno,  Deirdre Clarke, Watt Hypes, Viv Sharp, Jeff Stehm, Dorothy Tepper
 
Communications Committee (Seeking new Chair): 
Members: Jack Price (facebook), Kathleen Aucoin, Bonnie Beers, Alex Bueno, Emily Byers, Carolyn Emerick, Kathryn Hughes, Gail Swift,  Charlene Uhl
Google Groups - Mary O'Meara
 
Continuing Education and Logistics Committee (Charlene Uhl, Chair): 
Members: Grace Cangialosi, Cindy Colson, Linda Bueno
 
Projects Committee (Carolyn Smith, Chair)
Members: Kathleen Aucoin, Chris Browning, Alex Bueno, Grace Cangialosi, Linda Duncan, Brian Duncan, Linda Lowery
 
Member Recruitment and Services Committee (Bruce and Ann Bowman, Co-Chairs): 
Members: Mary Fran leMat, Dee Dee Lyon, Connie McCabe, Marie Riedel, Carolyn Strand, Sandra Suty, Charlene Uhl,  Frances Vaughn

Stream Monitoring Coordinator - Jere Willis
Blue Bird Trail Coordinator - Alex Bueno

Butterfly Coordinator - Victoria Fortuna

​Merchandise Coordinator - Lynne Leeper

​
Chapter Contacts
​Basic Training Program - Cindy Colson
​
Continuing Education - Charlene Uhl


Newsletter and MadRapp Nature Column - Charlene Uhl and Bonnie Beers

Communications
          ORMN Website - Bonnie Beers and Kathleen Aucoin
          ORMN Facebook Page - Jack Price
          ORMN Google Group List - Mary O'Meara

Member Recruitment and Services - Bruce and Ann Bowman

Volunteer Projects - Carolyn Smith and Kathleen Aucoin

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​For more information on Virginia Master Naturalists, check out:

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Chapter Documents
Chapter documents:  Annual Reports and Plans, Treasurer Reports, Bylaws and Policies, Committee Workplans, Forms, and more- Click Here
CHAPTER MEETING MINUTES
​
Chapter Board and Member Meeting Minutes - Click Here
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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Chapter Administration
    • Sponsoring Agencies & Partners
    • In Memory Of
  • Events & News
    • Upcoming Events
    • Chapter Awards & Recognition
    • Spotlight on Members and Presenters
    • Newsletters
  • Training & Education
    • Become a VMN
    • Continuing Education >
      • Continuing Education Programs
      • CE Resources >
        • Field Guides
        • Nature Books & Readings
  • Volunteer Projects
    • Approved Volunteer Projects
    • Project Accessibility Information
    • Activities by Interest >
      • Activities From Home
      • Animals
      • Birds
      • Habitats & Trails
      • Plants & Trees
      • Pollinators
    • New Project Proposal Request
  • Nature Blog
  • Contact Us