2025 VMN Recertification pin artwork by Rosalind Ilett of the Roanoke Valley Chapter Hello, VMNs. We are well into autumn now and the leaves have fallen after displaying their gloriously colorful splendor. Let the raking begin! When you take a break from raking your leaves, enjoy a hot beverage and catch up on the VMN Bi-weekly emails.
This email includes:
2025 Recertification Pin Announcement
We decided the 2024 VMN recertification pin would be a moth, and we invited VMN volunteers to submit their artwork of any moth species native to Virginia. Why a moth? We chose this group of organisms because moths are underappreciated, yet they are beautiful and very important parts of the food web. This winning artwork by Rosalind Ilett (VMN Roanoke Valley Chapter) was selected based on input from several insect experts from our sponsoring agencies and volunteer corps. Thank you to Eric Day (Virginia Tech Department of Entomology), Anne Chazal (Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Natural Heritage Program), and Joella Killian (VMN volunteer, Central Rappahannock Chapter and retired professor, University of Mary Washington.) We received so many wonderful submissions, and you can view them all in our recent newsletter article.
Need a refresher on how you earn the pin?
To be eligible to earn the recertification pin, an enrolled volunteer must either have already achieved initial certification in a previous year and completed 40+8 hours of approved volunteer service and continuing education in 2024, or the volunteer must have achieved initial certification in 2024 and completed an additional 40+8 of volunteer service this year.
2025 VMN Conference Dates
The 2025 VMN Statewide Conference will be held in-person on September 5-7, 2025 at The Westin in Richmond. Mark your calendars and save the date! More information will be sent after the first of the year.
Annual Re-enrollment starts December 2
The VMN annual Re-enrollment Period will open in about two and a half weeks. On December 2 (the 1st is a Sunday), the VMN State Office will send an email to every VMN giving them information and instructions on what they need to do to complete Re-enrollment.
Continuing Education Opportunities
Reminder: EmpowerU Course Offering - November 20-January 6
Have you been working on natural resource issues but feel compelled to do more? Taking part in the EmpowerU Training will move your natural resource work to the next level! In this 4 week course using an award-winning curriculum, participants can grow their skills to meaningfully engage decision makers about natural resource issues. Note that this training is not focused specifically on lobbying elected officials or getting legislation passed, but rather on engaging the right decision-maker for the change you hope to make. The course runs November 20-January 6 and includes eight self-paced online modules and three live Zoom sessions. Full details, including the registration link, are available at http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/empoweru.html. Registration deadline is November 26, but earlier registrants may start accessing the online materials on or around November 20.
Reminder: VMN Continuing Education Webinar: Salt Watch & Nitrate Watch: Community Science Water Quality Monitoring
Date: Thursday, November 14, 12:00-1:00 pm
Description: Learn how you and your community can get involved in the Izaak Walton League of America’s nationwide Salt Watch and Nitrate Watch programs. It’s as easy as requesting a free kit online, testing a stream, lake, pond, or even your tap water, and submitting the results to the Clean Water Hub. You’ll also learn about the resources available to empower you to become a clean water advocate in your community.
Presenter: Maggie Dombroski is the Mid-Atlantic Save Our Streams Coordinator for the Izaak Walton League of America. She oversees the Virginia Save Our Streams program, in which volunteers survey benthic macroinvertebrates to determine the health of their local streams. She holds a B.S. in Biology and Conservation from George Mason University.
Registration: Pre-registration required
Recording: As always, the VMN CE Webinar will be recorded and the video posted on the VMN CE Webinar webpage.
Webinar: Stop the Spread: Essential Campaigns for Preventing Invasive Species
This webinar is put on by the North American Invasive Species Management Association.
Date: November 20, 2024, 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Description: Join for an informative webinar featuring a panel of experts presenting key invasive species education campaigns. This webinar will cover four critical initiatives designed to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species across various ecosystems. This panel will provide valuable insights and actionable strategies for all taxa, helping you to play a part in safeguarding our natural spaces.
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, 2024
Location: Roanoke, VA
More information and registration at https://www.eevirginia.org/conference. Early bird registration prices end December 6.
Seeking Nominations for the 2024 VMN Statewide Program Awards
The Virginia Master Naturalist program’s state office is now accepting nominations for six statewide awards.
This email includes:
- 2025 Recertification Pin announcement
- 2025 VMN Conference Dates announced
- Annual Re-enrollment starts December 1
- Continuing Education Opportunities
- Call for VMN Awards nominations
2025 Recertification Pin Announcement
We decided the 2024 VMN recertification pin would be a moth, and we invited VMN volunteers to submit their artwork of any moth species native to Virginia. Why a moth? We chose this group of organisms because moths are underappreciated, yet they are beautiful and very important parts of the food web. This winning artwork by Rosalind Ilett (VMN Roanoke Valley Chapter) was selected based on input from several insect experts from our sponsoring agencies and volunteer corps. Thank you to Eric Day (Virginia Tech Department of Entomology), Anne Chazal (Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Natural Heritage Program), and Joella Killian (VMN volunteer, Central Rappahannock Chapter and retired professor, University of Mary Washington.) We received so many wonderful submissions, and you can view them all in our recent newsletter article.
Need a refresher on how you earn the pin?
To be eligible to earn the recertification pin, an enrolled volunteer must either have already achieved initial certification in a previous year and completed 40+8 hours of approved volunteer service and continuing education in 2024, or the volunteer must have achieved initial certification in 2024 and completed an additional 40+8 of volunteer service this year.
2025 VMN Conference Dates
The 2025 VMN Statewide Conference will be held in-person on September 5-7, 2025 at The Westin in Richmond. Mark your calendars and save the date! More information will be sent after the first of the year.
Annual Re-enrollment starts December 2
The VMN annual Re-enrollment Period will open in about two and a half weeks. On December 2 (the 1st is a Sunday), the VMN State Office will send an email to every VMN giving them information and instructions on what they need to do to complete Re-enrollment.
Continuing Education Opportunities
Reminder: EmpowerU Course Offering - November 20-January 6
Have you been working on natural resource issues but feel compelled to do more? Taking part in the EmpowerU Training will move your natural resource work to the next level! In this 4 week course using an award-winning curriculum, participants can grow their skills to meaningfully engage decision makers about natural resource issues. Note that this training is not focused specifically on lobbying elected officials or getting legislation passed, but rather on engaging the right decision-maker for the change you hope to make. The course runs November 20-January 6 and includes eight self-paced online modules and three live Zoom sessions. Full details, including the registration link, are available at http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/empoweru.html. Registration deadline is November 26, but earlier registrants may start accessing the online materials on or around November 20.
Reminder: VMN Continuing Education Webinar: Salt Watch & Nitrate Watch: Community Science Water Quality Monitoring
Date: Thursday, November 14, 12:00-1:00 pm
Description: Learn how you and your community can get involved in the Izaak Walton League of America’s nationwide Salt Watch and Nitrate Watch programs. It’s as easy as requesting a free kit online, testing a stream, lake, pond, or even your tap water, and submitting the results to the Clean Water Hub. You’ll also learn about the resources available to empower you to become a clean water advocate in your community.
Presenter: Maggie Dombroski is the Mid-Atlantic Save Our Streams Coordinator for the Izaak Walton League of America. She oversees the Virginia Save Our Streams program, in which volunteers survey benthic macroinvertebrates to determine the health of their local streams. She holds a B.S. in Biology and Conservation from George Mason University.
Registration: Pre-registration required
Recording: As always, the VMN CE Webinar will be recorded and the video posted on the VMN CE Webinar webpage.
Webinar: Stop the Spread: Essential Campaigns for Preventing Invasive Species
This webinar is put on by the North American Invasive Species Management Association.
Date: November 20, 2024, 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Description: Join for an informative webinar featuring a panel of experts presenting key invasive species education campaigns. This webinar will cover four critical initiatives designed to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species across various ecosystems. This panel will provide valuable insights and actionable strategies for all taxa, helping you to play a part in safeguarding our natural spaces.
- Don’t Let It Loose: Learn about responsible pet ownership and why it’s important to prevent the release of pets into the wild.
- Don’t Move Firewood: Discover the importance of using local firewood to avoid spreading harmful forest pests.
- Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers: is a national campaign that helps recreational water users be part of the solution to help prevent and slow the spread of aquatic invasive species.
- Squeal on Pigs: Understand the role of reporting and managing feral swine populations to protect natural habitats.
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, 2024
Location: Roanoke, VA
More information and registration at https://www.eevirginia.org/conference. Early bird registration prices end December 6.
Seeking Nominations for the 2024 VMN Statewide Program Awards
The Virginia Master Naturalist program’s state office is now accepting nominations for six statewide awards.
- Chapter Leader of the Year
- Volunteer of the Year
- New VMN Volunteer
- Most Impactful Project
- Chapter Advisor of the Year
- Diversity & Inclusion Award
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