Hello, VMNs. If you’ve got volunteer activities planned for outdoors, please make sure to stay hydrated. It’s been very hot out there! And don’t forget your sun protection (sunscreen, hat, sunglasses) and bug spray. When you come inside to cool down, catch up on the VMN program’s Bi-weekly emails.
This email includes:
Being a VMN - Enter your hours!
It’s an exciting time in the VMN year! Beginning next week, the VMN State Office will be running Mid-year Reports to check for Milestones and New Certifications. Help us help you! To get the recognition you deserve, make sure all of your volunteer and CE hours for January through June 2024 have been entered by Sunday night. You can do it. We believe in you!
Call for Submissions - 2025 Recertification Pin Artwork
The 2025 recertification pin, earned by previously certified VMN volunteers who complete at least 40 hours of approved volunteer service and 8 hours of approved continuing education during 2024, will be an image of a native moth species. We chose this group of organisms because moths are under appreciated, yet they are beautiful and very important parts of the food web! Which moth it will be and the artwork for the pin will be determined through an artwork contest. VMN volunteers are invited to submit their own artwork no later than Monday, August 19. Please review the complete guidelines and link for submitting your artwork.
Volunteer Opportunity: DWR Turkey/Grouse Survey
It is time for the annual DWR turkey and ruffed grouse summer survey! Volunteers are asked to record and submit all observations of turkey and grouse made between July 1 and August 31. As always, please inquire with your chapter leaders to make sure the activity is approved and to find out how to report your hours spent on it. Survey instructions, including where to send the data, are available in this document and in Better Impact (if your chapter has approved this as a separate activity.)
FYI: Latino Conservation Week
September 14-22, 2024 will be Latino Conservation Week. This national initiative engages Latino groups, families, and individuals to participate in a variety of events to celebrate going outdoors and participating in activities to protect our natural resources. Some VMN chapters may want to take this opportunity to host events or perhaps co-host with a local organization serving the Latino population in your community. To learn more about Latino Conservation Week, visit www.LatinoConservationWeek.com.
Reminder: Risk Management and Civil Rights Trainings
We are trying hard to make sure that all VMN volunteers are up-to-date with both the Risk Management and the Civil Rights trainings in a way that is documented in Better Impact. The great news is that nearly 70% of enrolled VMN volunteers are now showing in BI as up-to-date with both trainings! Let’s get the rest of the way there! If you are among the 30% who have not completed these trainings, whose trainings have expired, or who do not have badges in BI showing completion of both trainings, you can easily get up-to-date. Follow the directions in our guide at http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/uploads/2/1/8/6/21860850/vmn_vol_info_sheet_elearning_in_bi.pdf.
This email includes:
- Being a VMN - enter your hours for January - June
- 2025 Recertification Pin Artwork - call for submissions
- Volunteer Opportunity
- Latino Conservation Week
- Reminder about trainings
Being a VMN - Enter your hours!
It’s an exciting time in the VMN year! Beginning next week, the VMN State Office will be running Mid-year Reports to check for Milestones and New Certifications. Help us help you! To get the recognition you deserve, make sure all of your volunteer and CE hours for January through June 2024 have been entered by Sunday night. You can do it. We believe in you!
Call for Submissions - 2025 Recertification Pin Artwork
The 2025 recertification pin, earned by previously certified VMN volunteers who complete at least 40 hours of approved volunteer service and 8 hours of approved continuing education during 2024, will be an image of a native moth species. We chose this group of organisms because moths are under appreciated, yet they are beautiful and very important parts of the food web! Which moth it will be and the artwork for the pin will be determined through an artwork contest. VMN volunteers are invited to submit their own artwork no later than Monday, August 19. Please review the complete guidelines and link for submitting your artwork.
Volunteer Opportunity: DWR Turkey/Grouse Survey
It is time for the annual DWR turkey and ruffed grouse summer survey! Volunteers are asked to record and submit all observations of turkey and grouse made between July 1 and August 31. As always, please inquire with your chapter leaders to make sure the activity is approved and to find out how to report your hours spent on it. Survey instructions, including where to send the data, are available in this document and in Better Impact (if your chapter has approved this as a separate activity.)
FYI: Latino Conservation Week
September 14-22, 2024 will be Latino Conservation Week. This national initiative engages Latino groups, families, and individuals to participate in a variety of events to celebrate going outdoors and participating in activities to protect our natural resources. Some VMN chapters may want to take this opportunity to host events or perhaps co-host with a local organization serving the Latino population in your community. To learn more about Latino Conservation Week, visit www.LatinoConservationWeek.com.
Reminder: Risk Management and Civil Rights Trainings
We are trying hard to make sure that all VMN volunteers are up-to-date with both the Risk Management and the Civil Rights trainings in a way that is documented in Better Impact. The great news is that nearly 70% of enrolled VMN volunteers are now showing in BI as up-to-date with both trainings! Let’s get the rest of the way there! If you are among the 30% who have not completed these trainings, whose trainings have expired, or who do not have badges in BI showing completion of both trainings, you can easily get up-to-date. Follow the directions in our guide at http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/uploads/2/1/8/6/21860850/vmn_vol_info_sheet_elearning_in_bi.pdf.