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Armand Bayou
Nature Center
Volunteer Newsletter
Bayou Foliage M A R C H 2 0 1 4 V O L U M E 3 3 , I S S U E 3
MARCH
1 Stewardship Saturday
13 Volunteer Board meet-
ing, 5:30 pm
13 Volunteer Meeting, 6:30
pm, auditorium
14 Prairie Friday
15 Stewardship Saturday
16 Sundays In Nature,
1-3 pm
20 Bayou Foliage deadline
21 Prairie Friday
22 New Volunteer Orienta-
tion
28 Prairie Friday
When you are finished
with this publication
please recycle it. Thanks!
Down at the Bayou by Madeleine K. Barnes
VOLUNTEER MEETING March 13, 2014
6:30 refreshments
7:00 program
8:00 business meeting
On the trail again this month, I am exploring the reasons for volunteering. I have the
opportunity to meet and work with many volunteers from a variety of backgrounds.
Both of the volunteers I contacted are serving on the volunteer board this year and
were gracious in sharing their insights. One of these is Karen Sutera, who heads up
the guided trail hikes on weekends, which include the owl prowls and firefly hikes
too. She has been volunteering for several years at ABNC while working full time.
Like many of us, she spent much of her childhood outside (in Michigan), enjoying
nature and activities that included hiking and camping. As an adult, her focus moved
to a growing family and career. Then one day while driving on Bay Area Blvd., she
saw the sign for ABNC and felt she was missing activities she had enjoyed before,
like hiking in the woods. So she signed up to volunteer and finds that by the act of
hiking and sharing her love of nature with others, her “spirit is renewed and re-
freshed.” She is an enthusiastic volunteer naturalist and this attitude is worth catch-
ing and sharing.
I also spoke with another long time volunteer, Polly Swerdlin. Polly personifies
the meaning of “volunteer” by being willing to take on roles and responsibilities
whenever the need arises. She is currently coordinating weekend greeters for
the guest admissions area and natural history/cultural history (farmhouse) inter-
preters. In addition, she is working on a special project each week to scan all of
the photos/slides in the archives onto a hard drive for accessibility. She has said
that even if you are tired or somewhat stressed by other issues, they seem to fall
to the side once you get out in nature and see something that you find interesting
or amazing. She is a pleasure to work with due to her attitude of making the work
fun, and is a dedicated volunteer supporter who loves sharing cultural history
with others.
Why do you volunteer? What would you tell others if you were asked? I would
like to share your perspective with others and would appreciate hearing from
you. Each of us has something to contribute as well as what we receive in return.
What have you seen lately at ABNC that you thought was amazing or special?
From the Chair
Barbara Baxter Ext 18
Kathy Gardner Ext 13
Eloise Harper
Dave Kovach Ext 16
Tom Kartrude Ext 11
Mark Kramer Ext 15
Jessica Collier Ext 17
Jennifer Logsdon Ext 10
Heather Millar Ext 14
Susan Millsap Ext 10
Janice Schrager Ext 12
P A G E 2
Armand Bayou
Nature Center
Volunteer
Board
2013
Chair Liz VanOrstrand 281-480-8296 lizvanorstrand@hotmail.com
Vice-chair Joe Bryan 409-933-4087 grahmybear@yahoo.com
Secretary Sam Dinsmore 281-461-6270 samngary@att.net
Treasurer Eleanor Stanley 713-455-1502 no email
Administrative Gaye Batiz 713-518-5759 gayebatiz@aol.com
Weekend demos Polly Swerdlin 281-814-4606 pmswerdlin@gmail.com
Weekend trails Karen Sutera 281-474-5087 ksutera@galenaparkisd.com
Greeters/Interpreters Polly Swerdlin 281-814-4606 pmswerdlin@gmail.com
Weekday Education Madeleine Barnes 281-474-9406 dwbmkb@aol.com
Outreach Susan Millsap 281-538-6695 susan.millsap@yahoo.com
Facilities Jim Frantz 281-470-0946 jefrantz@sbcglobal.net
Stewardship Ed Craven 917-921-8290 edward.d.craven@gmail.com
Webmaster Shawn Gano 832-314-1608 shawn@gano.name
Bayou Foliage editor Mary Alice Trumble 281-435-5788 matrumble27@comcast.net
Staff
Roster
B A Y O U F O L I A G E
Email addresses are ‘firstname’@abnc.org. Example: mark@abnc.org
I am starting to feel like maybe winter is about
over here on the Texas Gulf Coast. There is pol-
len all over everything and bits of green on
many of the plants. It would be nice if we could
get some rain, we really do not want another
drought year. With spring right around the cor-
ner, it is time to start looking at what we want
to explore this year.
“To be an explorer is to set off toward a goal we
cannot name on a path we do not know. It re-
quires that we be willing to find what we least
expect – and to make a life out of it whatever it
is. It is out of explorers like these that the
planet got a New World. And so may we.” That
is my favorite quite this month from The Monas-
tic Way.
Armand Bayou Nature Center is full of explor-
ers. Each and every staff member, volunteer
and all our visitors are explorers. Maybe you
have been out here for years and it does not
seem like an adventure any more. On the other
hand, if you have been here for years then
maybe you can rediscover the awe and wonder
by helping those of us who are newly exploring
this wonderful oasis.
There will be a New Volunteer Orientation on
March 22 and April 5. This training will focus on
Natural History Interpretation. Is there someone
you work with, go to school with, or even live
with that would be interested in exploring the
many aspects of volunteering at ABNC? If so,
please have them contact the office for addi-
tional information.
In the past, ABNC had continuing education
training for our volunteers. Our volunteer meet-
ings have had some excellent speakers and I
myself am looking forward to hearing Dr. Paul
Nester on the crazy ant issue. But, the one hour
of lecture just isn’t enough for the explorer in
me. I think it is time to invest more time in con-
tinuing education for our volunteers. Each and
(Continued on page 6)
Liz VanOrstrand
Volunteer Chair
2014
VOLUNTEER MEETING PROGRAM Crazy Ants Invade the Houston Area
Thursday, March 13, 2014
7:00—8:00 pm
Don’t forget to count this
program as continuing
education.
...Joe Bryan
Vice-Chair
Dr. Paul Nester of Texas AgriLife presents
“Tawny Crazy or Rasberry Crazy Ants in the Houston area”
Learn how to identify these invasive, destructive ants and what can
be done to protect your home and property from them.
More information to follow on volunteer website.
ABNC Volunteer Meeting Minutes March 14, 2013
P A G E 3 V O L U M E 3 3 , I S S U E 3
A half hour of social time was enjoyed by all from 6:30 until
7:00. Joe Bryan, Volunteer Vice Chairman, then introduced
the speaker for the evening, John Thornton with his talk on
butterflies. Originally from Rhode Island, John has been inter-
ested in butterflies since the late 70’s. He has a large collec-
tion and presented a wonderful video presentation of photos
he has taken in various parts of the world. Planting a butterfly
garden in his tiny subdivision plot in 2004 resulted in 35 but-
terfly species being sighted plus providing him the opportunity
to raise a number of species through their life cycle. He gave
tips on the type of plants needed in our gardens in order to
attract butterflies. John is also a volunteer at ABNC.
After the program, Chair Liz VanOrstrand opened the monthly
meeting. She reported that a committee had met to prioritize
the “wish list” that had been presented to the Vol. board for
purchase. The list was shared with the members and after
everyone had a chance to review it, the motion was made and
seconded to buy the items listed. Motion carried. Total cost
$2,317.00.
Polly Swerdlin gave a report on the Frank C. Smith Library
Project Progress. Duplicate books have been taken to the
Evelyn Meador Library Friends Bookshop in Seabrook. The
books on the shelves are in Dewey Decimal order. Some of
the books are delicate and should only be read in the library,
not loaned out. Work is still in progress re-sorting slides that
have been scanned. Once done, staff and volunteers should
have access to them. Work is also being done to sort the his-
torically rich resources from the map cabinet that was in the
auditorium and now in the library. Kudos to all the volunteers
who have spent numerous hours on these projects. Polly also
mentioned that a group of volunteers, under the direction of
Julia Knutson are making and collecting a large assortment of
costumes to be available for use by interpreters.
(Continued on page 6)
Treasurer’s Report December 2013
Beginning Balance $4418.66
Expenditures: Postage 45.70
Website 140.00
Total Expenditures $185.70
Total Income -0-
Current Balance $4222.96
P A G E 4
B A Y O U F O L I A G E
This page was intentionally left blank. It is reserved for volunteers
and staff to share news, natural history articles or photos of Armand
Bayou Nature Center. Consider this a challenge to share your talents.
Contributions will be used depending on space available.
Email to the editor at matrumble27@comcast.net.
Bayou Foliage deadline: 3rd Thursday of each month.
P A G E 5
ABNC Volunteer Duty Roster—March
DATE
10:00 Trails
Karen Sutera
281-474-5087
2:00 Trails
Karen Sutera
281-474-52-087
Greeters
Polly Swerdlin
281-814-4606
Farm
Interpretation
Polly Swerdlin
281-814-4606
Natural History
Demos
Polly Swerdlin
281-814-4606
Farm Demos
Polly Swerdlin
281-814-4606
3/1 Madeleine
Barnes Randy Olsen OPEN Jane Bingel
Madeleine Bar-
nes
Vultures
Susan Hesley
Yarn Dolls
3/2 Karen Sutera Ken Russell
OPEN
Eleanor Stanley
Reptiles
Kathy Stocker
Crochet
3/8 Leda Parker OPEN Ed Adams OPEN OPEN
Jane Bingel TBA
HABA Blacksmiths
3/9
Liz
VanOrstrand OPEN Jill Macomber
John Thorton
Butterflies
Nancy Saint
Yarn Dolls
3/15 Polly Swerdlin OPEN Paul Brunkow Joan Brunkow OPEN
Polly Swerdlin
Stereoscope
3/16
Sundays
in
Nature Karen Sutera Stan Krauhs Polly Swerdlin
Odie & Marie
Asscherick
Bats/Butterflies
Hilary Gibbs Garden
Tom Scarsella Woodshop
3/22 Gaye Batiz Karen Sutera Polly Swerdlin OPEN
Jane Bingel
Birds
Julia Knutson Fabric
Ray Parker Rope Making
3/23 Randy Olsen Joe Bryan
Eleanor Stanley
John Thornton
Butterflies
Julia Knutson Fabric
Tom Scarsella Blacksmith
3/29 Dave Bolon
Madeleine Bar-
nes Ed Adams
OPEN
Zel Arbuckle Pond Life
Julia Knutson Fabric
3/30
Marie
Asscherick Judy Culligan
Dottie Evans
Odie Asscherick
Bats Madeleine Barnes
Bison
Lana Sims Herbs
If you have to cancel, please do your best to find your own replacement. If
you cannot, please notify your coordinator AND the front desk. If you can
cover for any open slots, please call the coordinator for that event. When
you arrive at ABNC for your duty, please check in at the front desk.
V O L U M E 3 3 , I S S U E 3
If you can cover for any open slots, please call the coordinator for that event.
P.O. Box 58828
8500 Bay Area Boulevard
Houston, TX 77258
Phone: 281-474-2551
Web: www.abnc.org
We’re on the Web!
www.abncvols.org
every one of us can always learn more and the more we learn
the better volunteers we become. Gaye Batiz is already work-
ing on a new birding class. Is there a program you would like
to share with other volunteers? Is there something you would
like to explore in greater depth? I would love your feedback on
this topic, so please feel free to contact me at lizvanor-
strand@hotmail.com.
Liz VanOrstrand Volunteer Chairperson
****************************************
Do you have an idea for a
float to be built on the
nature center’s flatbed
truck for the Pasadena
Strawberry Festival in
May? If so, or if you’d like
to help build a float to
commemorate ABNC’s
40th anniversary, please
notify Liz VanOrstrand.
(Continued from page 2)
Liz read a report from Tom Scarsella on the progress being
made to clear the non-native vegetation in the vicinity of the
bird blind. Now is a good time before our biting insects get
active to get the work done. Since this area is one of the first
to be viewed by the public, it will be nice to have a high-quality
habitat along the boardwalk that will be attractive to birds and
butterflies. Andrew Hamlett donated three Mulberry trees
which have been planted. (Hooray for Andrew!) It was also
mentioned that bird seed is always needed should anyone like
to contribute.
There being no more business the meeting was adjourned.
The next volunteer meeting will be March 13.
Sam Dinsmore
Secretary
****************************************
Reminder: Volunteers are asked not
to use the woodshop and the tools
without supervision of a volunteer fa-
miliar with them. Thanks.
(Continued from page 3)
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