About Us
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:
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
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
Our Board
Old Rag Chapter - Board of Directors
As of July 5, 2021
Officers
President: Barry Buschow ( 2nd term expires 6/30/22) Culpeper fcbarry@gmail.com
Vice President: Jeff Stehm (1st term expires 6/30/22) Madison jxstehm@gmail.com
Secretary: Dorothy “Tepp” Tepper (2nd term expires 6/30/22) Culpeper dhtinva@comcast.com
Treasurer: Bill Bynum (1st term expires 6/30/22) bynumbill@yahoo.com
Elected Board Members
Deirdre Clark (1st term expires 6/30/22) Fauquier
Kathleen Aucoin (1st term expires 6/30/23) Culpeper
Jere Willis (1st term expires 6/30/23) Culpeper
Tom Drier (1st term expires 6/30/24) Culpeper
Bonnie Beers (1st term expires 6/30/24) Rappahannock
Ex-Officio Members
Gail Swift, Past President Rappahannock
Alex Bueno, VMN-Better Impact Coordinator Madison
Chapter Advisor: Kinner Ingram VA Department of Forestry, Madison
Terms for Board members are three years. A Board member may serve two consecutive terms.
For By-laws, Operating Handbook, and other Chapter Documents - click here
For Suggested Documents for New Board Member Orientation - click here
Officers
President: Barry Buschow ( 2nd term expires 6/30/22) Culpeper fcbarry@gmail.com
Vice President: Jeff Stehm (1st term expires 6/30/22) Madison jxstehm@gmail.com
Secretary: Dorothy “Tepp” Tepper (2nd term expires 6/30/22) Culpeper dhtinva@comcast.com
Treasurer: Bill Bynum (1st term expires 6/30/22) bynumbill@yahoo.com
Elected Board Members
Deirdre Clark (1st term expires 6/30/22) Fauquier
Kathleen Aucoin (1st term expires 6/30/23) Culpeper
Jere Willis (1st term expires 6/30/23) Culpeper
Tom Drier (1st term expires 6/30/24) Culpeper
Bonnie Beers (1st term expires 6/30/24) Rappahannock
Ex-Officio Members
Gail Swift, Past President Rappahannock
Alex Bueno, VMN-Better Impact Coordinator Madison
Chapter Advisor: Kinner Ingram VA Department of Forestry, Madison
Terms for Board members are three years. A Board member may serve two consecutive terms.
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 July 5, 2021
ADMINISTRATIVE
Executive Committee President, V.P., Secretary, Treasurer and I.P.P.
Nominations Committee (Dierdre Clarke, 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 (Cindy Colson, Tom Gill Co-Chairs)
Members: Bonnie Beers, Watt Hypes, Anita Ostrander, Jeff Stehm, Dorothy Tepper
Communications Committee (Jeff Stehm, Chair):
Members: Jack Price (facebook), Gail Swift, Bonnie Beers, Dee Dee Lyon, Charlene Uhl, Emily Byers, Carolyn Emerick
Google Groups - Mary O'Meara
Continuing Education and Logistics Committee (Charlene Uhl, Chair):
Members: Jack Price, Grace Cangialosi, Dave Cooper, Linda Bueno
Projects Committee (Carolyn Smith, Chair)
Members: Kathleen Aucoin, Chris Browning, Grace Cangialosi, Linda Duncan, Brian Duncan, Linda Lowery
Member Recruitment and Services’ Committee (Dee Dee Lyon, Mary Frances leMat Co-Chairs):
Members: Marie Riedel, Carolyn Strand, Sandra Suty, Cheri Lawson, Bruce Bowman, Ann Bowman, Charlene Uhl
Stream Monitoring Coordinator - Mike Wenger
Blue Bird Trail Coordinator - Alex Bueno
Butterfly Coordinator - Victoria Fortuna
Merchandise Coordinator - Cherri Lawson
ADMINISTRATIVE
Executive Committee President, V.P., Secretary, Treasurer and I.P.P.
Nominations Committee (Dierdre Clarke, 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 (Cindy Colson, Tom Gill Co-Chairs)
Members: Bonnie Beers, Watt Hypes, Anita Ostrander, Jeff Stehm, Dorothy Tepper
Communications Committee (Jeff Stehm, Chair):
Members: Jack Price (facebook), Gail Swift, Bonnie Beers, Dee Dee Lyon, Charlene Uhl, Emily Byers, Carolyn Emerick
Google Groups - Mary O'Meara
Continuing Education and Logistics Committee (Charlene Uhl, Chair):
Members: Jack Price, Grace Cangialosi, Dave Cooper, Linda Bueno
Projects Committee (Carolyn Smith, Chair)
Members: Kathleen Aucoin, Chris Browning, Grace Cangialosi, Linda Duncan, Brian Duncan, Linda Lowery
Member Recruitment and Services’ Committee (Dee Dee Lyon, Mary Frances leMat Co-Chairs):
Members: Marie Riedel, Carolyn Strand, Sandra Suty, Cheri Lawson, Bruce Bowman, Ann Bowman, Charlene Uhl
Stream Monitoring Coordinator - Mike Wenger
Blue Bird Trail Coordinator - Alex Bueno
Butterfly Coordinator - Victoria Fortuna
Merchandise Coordinator - Cherri Lawson
Chapter Contacts
Basic Training Program - Bonnie Beers
Continuing Education - Charlene Uhl
Newsletter and MadRapp Nature Column - Charlene Uhl and Bonnie Beers
Communications
ORMN Website - Jeff Stehm
ORMN Facebook Page - Jack Price
ORMN Google Group List - Mary O'Meara
Recruitment and Member Services - Dee Dee Lyons and Mary Frances leMat
Volunteer Projects - Carolyn Smith and Kathleen Aucoin
Continuing Education - Charlene Uhl
Newsletter and MadRapp Nature Column - Charlene Uhl and Bonnie Beers
Communications
ORMN Website - Jeff Stehm
ORMN Facebook Page - Jack Price
ORMN Google Group List - Mary O'Meara
Recruitment and Member Services - Dee Dee Lyons and Mary Frances leMat
Volunteer Projects - Carolyn Smith and Kathleen Aucoin
For more information on Virginia Master Naturalists, check out: |
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Chapter Documents
CHAPTER MEETING MINUTES