Birds of Prey Progam at Lanier Middle School

FREEPORT, TEXAS, 18 April 2019 — The Birds of Prey Team, including Phil Huxford and Don McCullough, presented a Birds of Prey program at R. O'Hara Lanier Middle School today.  The program was well received by an audience of more than 60 students and several teachers.

LANIER MIDDLE SCHOOL, FREEPORT, TEXAS

    Credit: Brazosport Intermediate School District

Raptor Handler Don McCullough

Students sit on the floor for a good view of the birds

Phil Huxford introduces Don

"Fraida", Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo Bubo)

                "Fraida", Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo Bubo)

Go home, Fraida!

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Don and Phil after the birds are loaded into the truck

Brazoria Heritage Day 2019

Brazoria Heritage Foundation

Chris Kneupper
Animal Pelts

Chris Kneupper
Animal Pelts

Ed Barrios

Dick Schaffhausen

Michael Lasseter

FOBWR exhibit

Don McCullough
Raptor handler from Abbeville, Alabama  
Don has participated in numerous birding events 
throughout the United States.   This year marks
 the first time that he has participated in the Birds 
of Prey Programs at Migration Celebration.

TMN-COT exhibit

Layna Lewis

Corvette Show

Corvette Show

Ruby Lewis reaches 4000 volunteer hour milestone

ANGLETON, TEXAS ― February 14, 201S.   The Texas Master Naturalists Cradle of Texas Chapter has announced that member Ruby Lewis has been reached the 4000-hour volunteer service milestone.  In recognition for her service to our chapter she was awarded a gold pin set with a ruby.

Ruby is a member of the Class of 2005. She leads our outreach programs for the Brazoria County Library System.
http://tmn-cot.org/BCLS/index.html

The following photos were taken at the TMN-COT Chapter meeting held here today at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension auditorium in Angleton, Texas.

Kristine Rivers, Ruby Lewis, Peggy Romfh
Presentation of a 4000-volunteer-hour pin to Ruby
Photo: Pete Romfh

The pin: gold set with a ruby
Photo: Texas AgriLife Extension Service State office

Kristine Rivers, Don Sabathier, Peggy Romfh
Presentation of a 500-volunteer-hour pin to Don
Photo: Pete Romfh.

Larry Peterson, Ed Peebles, Kristine Rivers,
Larry Ruhr, Peggy Romfh, Pete Romfn
Presentation of Texas Water Specialist certificates
Photo: Pete Romfh

Stephen Curtis, Kristine Rivers
Presentation of a thank-you gift to Stephen in 
recognition of his presentation about the American Eel.
Photo: Pete Romfh

Ruby Lewis with the decorated cookie presented
to celebrate of her dedication to our chapter.
Photo: Pete Romfh

The cookie.
Photo: Neal McLain  

Marty Cornell recognized for 5000 VT hours; receives PCTSA

Marty Cornell recognized for 5000 VT hours; receives PCTSA

ANGLETON, TEXAS ― September 11, 2013.   The Texas Master Naturalists Cradle of Texas Chapter has announced that member Marty Cornell has been awarded the highest volunteer service award offered by the state-wide Texas Master Naturalists Program.   He was recognized for contributing over 5000 hours of service to our community.

Marty was a member of the Class of 2004.   He qualified for certification in December 2004 and has recertified every year since.
 
In further recognition of Marty's accomplishments he was awarded the President's Call to Service Award in a subsequent meeting.   The Texas Master Naturalist Program was the Certifying Organization for this award.

Jim Calvert receives President's Call to Service Award

From left: Jerry Eppner (Membership Coordinator),
Calvert, Dave Brandes (Chapter President)

ANGLETON, TEXAS ― November 4, 2016.     The Texas Master Naturalists Cradle of Texas Chapter has announced that member Jim Calvert has reached the 4000-hour Volunteer Service milestone.

In recognition of this accomplishment Jim has been awarded the President's Call to Service Award.   This award recognizes Americans who have dedicated at least two years, or 4,000 hours over the course of their lives, to serve others.  The award includes of lapel pin, a certificate, and a letter of congratulations signed by the President of the United States.
Jim 

Jim was a member of the Class of 2004.   He qualified for certification in December 2004 and has recertified every year since .

The Texas Master Naturalist Program was the Certifying Organization for this award.

Ed Barrios recognized for 5000 hours Volunteer Service

ANGLETON, TEXAS ― April 13, 2016.   The Texas Master Naturalists Cradle of Texas Chapter has announced that member Ed Barrios was recognized for contributing over 6000 hours of service to our community.   Ed was a member of the Class of 2004.   He qualified for certification in December 2004 and has recertified every year since.

Ed earned President's Call to Service Award in March 2014 in recognition of his volunteer work for the Chapter, Friends of Brazoria Wildlife Refuges, and Migration Celebration.

Dave Brandes (President), Ed Barrios, Jerry Eppner (Membership Coordinator)

Tom Morris recognized for 1000 hours Volunteer Service

ANGLETON, TEXAS ― December 9, 2015.   The Texas Master Naturalists Cradle of Texas Chapter has announced that member Tom Morris was recognized for contributing over 1000 hours of service to our community.   Tom was a member of the Class of 2004.   He qualified for certification in December 2004 and has recertified every year since.

Tom earned President's Call to Service Award in 2013 in recognition of his volunteer work for Sea Center Texas.

Jerry Eppner (Volunteer Coordinator),  Tom Morris, Dave Brandes (President)

Let's Celebrate: "Time Well Spent"

LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS — July 8, 2015. — At an awards ceremony held here today at Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, the Texas Master Naturalists Cradle of Texas Chapter recognized three members for their service:

• Phil Huxford, Class of 2001, 10,000 hours of service.
• Sandy Henderson, Class of 2007, 5,000 hours of service.
• Neal McLain, Class of 2004, 5,000 hours of service.

Chapter President Dave Brandes, Class of 2006, served as Master of Ceremonies with his special brand of enthusiasm and humor.   Following the ceremony, members enjoyed a delicious barbecue lunch prepared by friend-of-the-chapter Ron Bisbee.   Numerous chapter members provided a variety of side dishes, salads and deserts.   Following lunch, a special cake was enjoyed by all.

Cradle of Texas Chapter Host Pam West organized this event.   We thank her for her tireless efforts.

Dave Brandes presents the 10,000-hour certificate to Phil Huxford

Honorees Phil Huxford, Sandy Henderson, and Neal McLain cut the cake

Click here to view Lunch Photos

Class of 2015 Graduation

ANGLETON, TEXAS – May 13, 2015. At its regular chapter meeting held today at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, all 21 members of the Texas Master Naturalist Cradle of Texas Chapter's Intern Training Class of 2015 graduated and were certified as Texas Master Naturalists. Each graduate received a Certificate, a Texas Master Naturalist Polo Shirt, and an engraved nametag.

During the training program the interns were divided into three independent-study teams. Each team studied a different topic and presented a report at today’s meeting. The teams and their topics are shown below.

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GCBO TEAM
Planting an Educational Garden at GCBO.
The GCBO team planted an educational demonstration garden at Gulf Coast Bird Observatory with plants taken from the Gephart Prairie.   We wanted to learn about both prairie and bottomland forest ecosystems to understand the likelihood of the success of the Garden.

Maggie Schakel, Robert Simmons, Laurel Owen, Fritz Bates,  Jean Britt, Ann Lange, Ken Arnold, Roy Morgan

PEARLAND TEAM
The Future Pearland Nature Center:
  Identifying and Nurturing a Healthy Habitat
The Pearland team selected a location to formally identify its inhabitants and plant species.   The site we have chosen will be the future home of the Pearland Nature Center where children and their families can learn about the environment.   This beautiful site currently attracts a few migrant and indigenous birds, reptiles, and other forms of wildlife.

Colene Cabezas, Mary Kate Ward, Robert Salzer, Kendirck Gray, Donald Sabathier, Jill Carroll, Roy Morgan

QUINTANA BEACH TEAM
Impact of Sargassum on Quintana Beach
The Quintana Beach Team focused on the issues surrounding sargassum and its impact on Quintana Beach.   We explored some of the following issues: What is sargassum?   Where does it come from?   How does it get here?   We also attended the 2015 Gulf Coast Sargassum Symposium in Galveston to learn about important research being conducted, and how it could affect future financial and environmental impacts on the Gulf Coast Area.

Bryan Frazier, Jesse Villasana, Patty Brinkmeyer, Vicki Kirby, Mike Bertoff, Greg Bloomhuff, Roy Morgan.
Not shown: Anna King

The full membership of the Cradle of Texas Chapter gathered to hear the intern team reports,
Roy Morgan, foreground, introduced each team and thanked the class for its assistance.

Two TMN-COT members earn President's Call to Service Award

ANGLETON, TEXAS -- August 13, 2014.  At its monthly chapter meeting held today at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, two Chapter members were awarded the President's Call to Service Award.  This award recognizes Americans who have dedicated at least two years, or 4,000 hours over the course of their lives, to serve others.  The award includes of lapel pin, a certificate, and a letter of congratulations signed by the President of the United States.

The following members receiving the award:

• Barbara Burkhardt, Class of 2003.  Barbara is currently the Chapter's Past President.  She has served the chapter in numerous capacities including State Representative (2005-06), Secretary (2007), and President (2011-13).  She is a certified Texas Master Naturalist and a certified Texas Master Gardener.   She is a dedicated gardener, and often opens her backyard garden to Chapter members for study and research.

• Dave Brandes, Class of 2006.  Dave has served the chapter in several capacities including Training Co-Chair (2007), President (2008-09), and Past President (2010-11).  Dave is active participant in our Environmental Education programs where he has taught class sessions at DEEP, GCBO's Birds & Bottomlands Blitz, and our now-defunct program at INEOS.  Dave currently serves on the Board of Directors of Gulf Coast Bird Observatory.  Dave is an active Amateur Radio operator at call sign W5DJB. 

The Texas Master Naturalist State Office was the Certifying Organization for these awards.  Chapter Membership Coordinator arranged for the presentations and Chapter President Mike Mullins presented the awards to Barbara and Dave.

  Mike Mullins, Barbara Burkhardt, Dave Brandes, Jerry Eppner.

 The cake