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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.
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.
Our Board
Old Rag Chapter - Board of Directors
For the term July 1, 2019—June 30, 2020
Officers
President: Barry Buschow ( 1st term expires 6/30/21) Culpeper fcbarry@gmail.com
Vice President: Mary Fran leMat (2nd term expires 6/30/22) Rappahannock mflemat@gmail.com
Secretary: Dorothy “Tepp” Tepper (1st term expires 6/30/22) Culpeper dhtinva@comcast.com
Treasurer: Dave Cooper (1st term expires 6/30/21) Madison
Elected Board Members
Bruce Bowman (1st term expires 6/30/21) Madison
Kathleen Aucoin (1st term expires 6/30/23) Culpeper
Deirdre Clark (1st term expires 6/30/22) Fauquier
Bill Bynum (1st term expires 6/30/23) Rappahannock
Berni Olson (1st term expires 6/30/23) Rappahannock
Ex-Officio Members
Gail Swift, Past President Rappahannock gailswift@gmail.com
Dera Cooper, VMN-VMS Coordinator Madison
Chapter Advisor: Jack Kauffman VA Department of Forestry, Madison
Terms for Board members are three years. A Board member may serve two consecutive terms.
Our Bylaws
Our Operating Handbook
Officers
President: Barry Buschow ( 1st term expires 6/30/21) Culpeper fcbarry@gmail.com
Vice President: Mary Fran leMat (2nd term expires 6/30/22) Rappahannock mflemat@gmail.com
Secretary: Dorothy “Tepp” Tepper (1st term expires 6/30/22) Culpeper dhtinva@comcast.com
Treasurer: Dave Cooper (1st term expires 6/30/21) Madison
Elected Board Members
Bruce Bowman (1st term expires 6/30/21) Madison
Kathleen Aucoin (1st term expires 6/30/23) Culpeper
Deirdre Clark (1st term expires 6/30/22) Fauquier
Bill Bynum (1st term expires 6/30/23) Rappahannock
Berni Olson (1st term expires 6/30/23) Rappahannock
Ex-Officio Members
Gail Swift, Past President Rappahannock gailswift@gmail.com
Dera Cooper, VMN-VMS Coordinator Madison
Chapter Advisor: Jack Kauffman VA Department of Forestry, Madison
Terms for Board members are three years. A Board member may serve two consecutive terms.
Our Bylaws
Our Operating Handbook
Proposed Documents for new board member orientation:
Located on Chapter Documents page, here:
1. Virginia Master Naturalist Program Volunteer Handbook and Policy Guidelines (December 21, 2016)
2. Bylaws of Old Rag Master Naturalists, Inc . (December 12, 2016)
3. Old Rag Master Naturalists Operating Handbook (March 7, 2018)
4. Current Program Committee List (below on this page)
5. Current Committee Work Plans
Located on Approved Projects page, here:
6. Approved Projects
Located on VMN Volunteer Management System website, here:
7. List of current members
Located on Meeting Minutes page, here:
8. Minutes from last 3 Board of Director meetings
9. Current Action Plan here.
Located on Chapter Documents page, here:
1. Virginia Master Naturalist Program Volunteer Handbook and Policy Guidelines (December 21, 2016)
2. Bylaws of Old Rag Master Naturalists, Inc . (December 12, 2016)
3. Old Rag Master Naturalists Operating Handbook (March 7, 2018)
4. Current Program Committee List (below on this page)
5. Current Committee Work Plans
Located on Approved Projects page, here:
6. Approved Projects
Located on VMN Volunteer Management System website, here:
7. List of current members
Located on Meeting Minutes page, here:
8. Minutes from last 3 Board of Director meetings
9. Current Action Plan here.
Chapter Accomplishments
Chapter committees
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ADMINISTRATIVE
Executive Committee President, V.P., Secretary, Treasurer and I.P.P.
Nominations Committee (Bruce Bowman, Chair)
Members: Ellen Early, Deirdre Clarke, 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 (Dera Cooper, Coordinator)
Member: Alex Bueno (Coordinator starting July 1, 2021)
PROGRAM
Basic Training Committee (Bonnie Beers and Kathleen Aucoin, Co-Chairs)
Members: Len Cowherd, Tom Drier, Watt Hypes, Phoebe Muenger, Tracy Neeley, Berni Olson, Anita Ostrander, Jeff Stehm, Dorothy Tepper, Frances Vaughn
Communications Committee (Jeff Stehm, Chair): this committee now includes the former External Communications Committee and the former Online Communications Committee
Members: Jack Price (facebook), Gail Swift, Bonnie Beers, Dee Dee Lyon, Charlene Uhl, Emily Byers, Carolyn Emerick
Continuing Education and Logistics Committee (Bill Birkhofer, Chair): this committee now includes the former Meeting and Logistics Committee
Members: Jack Price, Grace Cangialosi, Dave Cooper
Projects Committee (Carolyn Smith, Chair)
Members: Kathleen Aucoin, Chris Browning, Grace Cangialosi, Linda Duncan, Brian Duncan, Ellen Early, Jane Smith
Member Recruitment and Services’ Committee (Dee Dee Lyon, Mary Frances leMat Co-Chairs): this committee now includes the former Member Services Committee, which includes Mentor recruiting and management, membership recognition awards and clothing orders.
Members: Marie Riedel, Carolyn Strand, Sandra Suty, Cheri Lawson, Bruce Bowman, Ann Bowman
Executive Committee President, V.P., Secretary, Treasurer and I.P.P.
Nominations Committee (Bruce Bowman, Chair)
Members: Ellen Early, Deirdre Clarke, 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 (Dera Cooper, Coordinator)
Member: Alex Bueno (Coordinator starting July 1, 2021)
PROGRAM
Basic Training Committee (Bonnie Beers and Kathleen Aucoin, Co-Chairs)
Members: Len Cowherd, Tom Drier, Watt Hypes, Phoebe Muenger, Tracy Neeley, Berni Olson, Anita Ostrander, Jeff Stehm, Dorothy Tepper, Frances Vaughn
Communications Committee (Jeff Stehm, Chair): this committee now includes the former External Communications Committee and the former Online Communications Committee
Members: Jack Price (facebook), Gail Swift, Bonnie Beers, Dee Dee Lyon, Charlene Uhl, Emily Byers, Carolyn Emerick
Continuing Education and Logistics Committee (Bill Birkhofer, Chair): this committee now includes the former Meeting and Logistics Committee
Members: Jack Price, Grace Cangialosi, Dave Cooper
Projects Committee (Carolyn Smith, Chair)
Members: Kathleen Aucoin, Chris Browning, Grace Cangialosi, Linda Duncan, Brian Duncan, Ellen Early, Jane Smith
Member Recruitment and Services’ Committee (Dee Dee Lyon, Mary Frances leMat Co-Chairs): this committee now includes the former Member Services Committee, which includes Mentor recruiting and management, membership recognition awards and clothing orders.
Members: Marie Riedel, Carolyn Strand, Sandra Suty, Cheri Lawson, Bruce Bowman, Ann Bowman
chapter contacts
Basic Training Program - Bonnie Beers
Continuing Education - Bill Birkhofer and Jeff Smith
Membership Services - Marcia Colby and Peggy Kenney
Newsletter - Charlene Uhl and Bonnie Beers
Communications
ORMN Website - Jeff Stehm
ORMN Facebook Page - Jack Price
ORMN Google Group List - Mary O'Meara
Recruitment - Dee Dee Lyons
Volunteer Projects - Carolyn Smith and Kathleen Aucoin
Continuing Education - Bill Birkhofer and Jeff Smith
Membership Services - Marcia Colby and Peggy Kenney
Newsletter - Charlene Uhl and Bonnie Beers
Communications
ORMN Website - Jeff Stehm
ORMN Facebook Page - Jack Price
ORMN Google Group List - Mary O'Meara
Recruitment - Dee Dee Lyons
Volunteer Projects - Carolyn Smith and Kathleen Aucoin
For more information on Virginia Master Naturalists, check out:
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Chapter Documents
Chapter Documents - Click Here
Chapter Meetings
Chapter Board and Member Meeting Minutes - Click Here