Old Rag Master Naturalists
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • About Chapter Members >
      • Meet Our Members
      • In Memory Of
      • Past Happenings
    • Become a Master Naturalist
    • Sponsoring Agencies and Partners >
      • Sponsoring Agencies & Partners
      • Learn About Our Sponsors and Partners
    • Chapter Administration >
      • Chapter Documents
      • Member & Board Meeting Minutes
  • Events & News
    • Upcoming Events - NEW Stuff!
    • Newsletters
  • Education
    • Resources for Teachers/Parents
    • Master Naturalist Continuing Education
    • Master Naturalist Basic Training >
      • General Information
      • Class X (2020) Information
    • Become a Master Naturalist
    • Apply for Next Class
  • Readings & Resources
    • Socrates Project
    • Nestle into Nature Blog
    • Nature Books - New Postings
    • Nature Research - New Stuff
    • Nature Essays
    • Nature Photography
    • Nature Podcasts
    • Field Guides
    • Nature & Science Websites
    • Other Resources
  • Projects
    • Volunteers Wanted
    • Approved Volunteer Projects
    • Activities by Interest >
      • Activities You Can Do From Home
      • Birds
      • Fauna
      • Flora
      • Pollinators
      • Habitat and Trails
      • Education-Public
      • Education-Students
      • Stewardship
      • Trees
    • Project Photos >
      • Stewardship-Plant/Animal Survey Project Photos
      • Bird Project Photos
      • Pollinator Photos
      • Education Photos
      • Trail and Tree Photos
    • New Project Proposal Request
  • Log Hours
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Join Our Email List
    • Members Contact Info
Picture

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:
  • 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  

​
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.
    

Chapter Accomplishments
2016 Report
2018 Report
2019 Report
Chapter committees

 ​​(Rev. 1/1/2021)

Picture
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


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

Picture
Chapter Documents
Chapter Documents - Click Here
​
Chapter Meetings
Chapter Board and Member Meeting Minutes - Click Here
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • About Chapter Members >
      • Meet Our Members
      • In Memory Of
      • Past Happenings
    • Become a Master Naturalist
    • Sponsoring Agencies and Partners >
      • Sponsoring Agencies & Partners
      • Learn About Our Sponsors and Partners
    • Chapter Administration >
      • Chapter Documents
      • Member & Board Meeting Minutes
  • Events & News
    • Upcoming Events - NEW Stuff!
    • Newsletters
  • Education
    • Resources for Teachers/Parents
    • Master Naturalist Continuing Education
    • Master Naturalist Basic Training >
      • General Information
      • Class X (2020) Information
    • Become a Master Naturalist
    • Apply for Next Class
  • Readings & Resources
    • Socrates Project
    • Nestle into Nature Blog
    • Nature Books - New Postings
    • Nature Research - New Stuff
    • Nature Essays
    • Nature Photography
    • Nature Podcasts
    • Field Guides
    • Nature & Science Websites
    • Other Resources
  • Projects
    • Volunteers Wanted
    • Approved Volunteer Projects
    • Activities by Interest >
      • Activities You Can Do From Home
      • Birds
      • Fauna
      • Flora
      • Pollinators
      • Habitat and Trails
      • Education-Public
      • Education-Students
      • Stewardship
      • Trees
    • Project Photos >
      • Stewardship-Plant/Animal Survey Project Photos
      • Bird Project Photos
      • Pollinator Photos
      • Education Photos
      • Trail and Tree Photos
    • New Project Proposal Request
  • Log Hours
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Join Our Email List
    • Members Contact Info