Hello, VMNs. We hope everyone is staying warm and safe in the midst of this winter weather. If you can’t get out to volunteer and/or you’re done/tired of shoveling, make yourself a warm beverage and catch up on the VMN Bi-weekly emails.
This email includes:
Re-enrollment for 2025
We have four weeks left in our Re-enrollment Period for 2025. We sent out reminders yesterday and had a great response! So far, 75% of VMNs have completed Re-enrollment. We are getting there! Reminders will continue to go out until January 31st.
If you can’t find your email with instructions or need a paper form, please email Tiffany at [email protected].
Re-enrollment vs Recertification
At this time of year, the VMN State Office gets a lot of questions about Re-enrollment and Recertification so we are including some info here for everyone. Re-enrollment and Recertification are, in fact, two entirely different things. We know it can be a bit confusing, especially since they happen around the same time of year, so here is a quick explanation.
Re-enrollment = The process of enrolling annually in the VMN Program. This is open to, and a requirement for, all VMN volunteers.
Recertification = The process of completing and logging 40 hours of approved volunteer service and 8 hours of approved continuing education within a calendar year to maintain the title of Certified Virginia Master Naturalist. This is not required in order to remain a VMN volunteer.
Re-enrollment and chapter dues
Re-enrollment is done at the state level and is not related to paying chapter dues. The VMN State Office requires VMN volunteers to Re-enroll to remain in the program. Paying chapter dues is not part of that process. That said, local chapters might require that members pay annual dues to remain a member of the chapter.
VMN Treemendous 20th Anniversary Kickoff and Program Awards
We’re using what is normally our first CE webinar slot of the year for two purposes! First, we’ll kick off the celebrations of our program’s 20th anniversary year. As part of that, we’ll describe plans for our statewide focus project and some new related volunteer opportunities with the Virginia Department of Forestry. We also will describe how you can help with several other initiatives related to the anniversary. We’ll close out the hour by announcing the winners of our 2024 program awards.
Date: Thursday, January 23, 2025, 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Location: Zoom
Pre-registration required
Recording: This session will be recorded and posted on the VMN CE Webinar page.
2025 VMN Conference Update
The 2025 VMN Conference webpage is now live. We will continue to add information as it becomes available.
Risk Management and Civil Rights - training reminders
Beginning in February, the VMN State Office will begin sending monthly email reminders to volunteers whose Civil Rights and/or Risk Management trainings are about to expire. The State Office will also be reaching out with monthly emails to anyone who has not completed these trainings.
Continuing Education Opportunities
CE Opportunity: 2025 Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conferences
These long-running full-day conferences provide information, tools, and personal contacts to help private woodland owners keep their woods, and the wildlife that live in them, healthy and productive.
Virginia Association of Environmental Education Annual Conference
VAEE is a statewide non-profit association that empowers classroom and community-based environmental educators through resources, professional development, and capacity building.
Dates: February 9-11, 2025
Location: Roanoke, VA
More information and registration at https://www.eevirginia.org/conference. Registration ends January 29.
VMN Sponsoring Agencies:
This email includes:
- Re-enrollment for 2025
- Re-enrollment vs Recertification
- VMN 20th Anniversary Kick-off and Program Awards
- 2025 VMN Conference update
- Risk Management and Civil Rights - training reminders
- Continuing Education Opportunities
Re-enrollment for 2025
We have four weeks left in our Re-enrollment Period for 2025. We sent out reminders yesterday and had a great response! So far, 75% of VMNs have completed Re-enrollment. We are getting there! Reminders will continue to go out until January 31st.
If you can’t find your email with instructions or need a paper form, please email Tiffany at [email protected].
Re-enrollment vs Recertification
At this time of year, the VMN State Office gets a lot of questions about Re-enrollment and Recertification so we are including some info here for everyone. Re-enrollment and Recertification are, in fact, two entirely different things. We know it can be a bit confusing, especially since they happen around the same time of year, so here is a quick explanation.
Re-enrollment = The process of enrolling annually in the VMN Program. This is open to, and a requirement for, all VMN volunteers.
Recertification = The process of completing and logging 40 hours of approved volunteer service and 8 hours of approved continuing education within a calendar year to maintain the title of Certified Virginia Master Naturalist. This is not required in order to remain a VMN volunteer.
Re-enrollment and chapter dues
Re-enrollment is done at the state level and is not related to paying chapter dues. The VMN State Office requires VMN volunteers to Re-enroll to remain in the program. Paying chapter dues is not part of that process. That said, local chapters might require that members pay annual dues to remain a member of the chapter.
VMN Treemendous 20th Anniversary Kickoff and Program Awards
We’re using what is normally our first CE webinar slot of the year for two purposes! First, we’ll kick off the celebrations of our program’s 20th anniversary year. As part of that, we’ll describe plans for our statewide focus project and some new related volunteer opportunities with the Virginia Department of Forestry. We also will describe how you can help with several other initiatives related to the anniversary. We’ll close out the hour by announcing the winners of our 2024 program awards.
Date: Thursday, January 23, 2025, 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Location: Zoom
Pre-registration required
Recording: This session will be recorded and posted on the VMN CE Webinar page.
2025 VMN Conference Update
The 2025 VMN Conference webpage is now live. We will continue to add information as it becomes available.
Risk Management and Civil Rights - training reminders
Beginning in February, the VMN State Office will begin sending monthly email reminders to volunteers whose Civil Rights and/or Risk Management trainings are about to expire. The State Office will also be reaching out with monthly emails to anyone who has not completed these trainings.
Continuing Education Opportunities
CE Opportunity: 2025 Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conferences
These long-running full-day conferences provide information, tools, and personal contacts to help private woodland owners keep their woods, and the wildlife that live in them, healthy and productive.
- February 22 (same date, two different locations)
- Before January 7 - $50/person; $90/couple
- January 7 and later - $55/person; $100/couple
- Squires Student Center, Virginia Tech, Southwest Virginia - Blacksburg
- Daniel Technology Center, Germanna Community College, Northern Virginia - Culpeper
- More info on the Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program site
Virginia Association of Environmental Education Annual Conference
VAEE is a statewide non-profit association that empowers classroom and community-based environmental educators through resources, professional development, and capacity building.
Dates: February 9-11, 2025
Location: Roanoke, VA
More information and registration at https://www.eevirginia.org/conference. Registration ends January 29.
VMN Sponsoring Agencies:
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