Program Structure and Committees

Chapters

The chapters are the heart of the Virginia Master Naturalist Programs. Chapters are community-based and self-governed by a board made up of officers and committee chairs. Chapters recruit members, plan and produce training courses, and work with partners to organize service projects.

Chapter Advisor

Each chapter has a chapter advisor who is a local representative of one of the 5 state agency sponsors. For example, a chapter advisor could be a county extension agent, a state park interpreter, or a county forester. The Advisor's role is as follows:

Attend initial Local Chapter Coordinators’ training along with other designated members of Local Coordinating Committee.
Give advice, make recommendations, inform and notify the chapter on appropriate business in a professional way.
The advisor should not be the manager of the chapter business or activities. However, as an ex-officio member of the chapter’s Board of Directors, the advisor is expected to attend all scheduled Board meetings and provide consul and advice when needed. He or she is to be a chapter supporter and available to advise, recommend, inform and notify the chapter and/or its members on and of appropriate and professional matters.
Be familiar with the goals, activities and mission of the organization and local Chapter.
Be willing to meet with the officers of the organization to discuss expectations of their roles and responsibilities.
Assist the organization in maintaining the original goals, mission, vision, and operational framework set forth by the organizers of the chapter as well as assist in further developing realistic goals with the chapter's Board of Directors that are within the parameters of the statewide Virginia Master Naturalist program.
Facilitate opportunities for Master Naturalist volunteers to exercise initiative and judgment within proper measure of autonomy when coordinating chapter events and activities. In keeping with this approach, advisors should participate in event planning and attend events when possible or when identified as necessary through the planning process.
Be aware of the chapter's financial status via review of financial statements and approval of expenditures.
Be aware of the Virginia Master Naturalist State policies and guidelines and other agency or organization guidelines that establish expectations for volunteer requirements, behavior and activities. Ensure that the group and its officers know where these policies and guidelines are published, what rules are, why they exist, and the consequences for choosing to operate outside their parameters. You are expected to report violations or potential violations to the State Program Coordinator.
The advisor should be ready to assist the Master Naturalist State Program and State Steering Committee as needed as they may be called upon to implement regulations or policies from time to time.
The advisor is responsible for notifying the chapter officers and the State Steering Committee regarding chapter concerns. The chapter officers are responsible for notifying the State Program Coordinator regarding advisor problems or concerns.

The Chapter-Advisor(s) relationship is not a one-way street, in that the Chapter and its leaders also have responsibilities. These responsibilities include an appropriate level of communication, providing opportunities for advisor interaction and a commitment to the success of the organization as a whole.

Partners

The success of the Virginia Master Naturalist Program relies on partnerships between chapters and other organizations, including state agencies, local agencies, non-profits, and other citizens’ groups. Some of the most common roles for partners in the Virginia Master Naturalist Program are discussed here.

Promotion: Partner organizations can be promoters of the program and the chapter. They may advertise chapter events and volunteer opportunities in a newsletter.
Meeting Space/Working Space: A partner organization may provide an area for the chapter to meet.
Equipment: A partner may provide supplies and equipment for volunteers to use during trainings or service activities. For example, many 4-H camps have GPS units, water quality monitoring kits, and other research equipment that can be loaned out for Cooperative Extension programs (including the VMNP).
Training: A partner may provide instructors or materials for training. For example, a local bird club could provide speakers and field trips to fulfill the ornithology component of the curriculum.
Volunteer Opportunities: One of the biggest roles for partners in this program is providing volunteer opportunities. The partner requesting the volunteers should provide an orientation for the volunteers that includes: (1) a description of the project, (2) background information on its purpose (3) detailed procedures and protocols for conducting the work (4) training with any equipment that will be used, and (5) an overview of any safety concerns, with directions for safety procedures. This orientation may take only 15 minutes for some projects, but it may take a day or more for other projects that require more specialized training. More lengthy orientations may be part of an advanced training class. The partner requesting the volunteers should also provide the necessary equipment and supplies, unless other arrangements have been made with the chapter or the volunteers.

Steering Committee

The statewide Steering Committee oversees chapter activities and develops program policy and plans. The committee is made up of representatives of each of the sponsoring state agencies. Some of the members are also involved in coordinating chapters. The committee meets approximatly monthly and meetings are announced on the statewide calendar. The current steering committee members include:

Michelle Dickerson (Virginia Cooperative Extension)
Beth Hawse (Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation)
Denise Hayes (Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer)
Mike Hayslett (Sweet Briar College/Central Virginia Master Naturalists)
Ron Hughes (Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries)
Michael Lachance (Virginia Cooperative Extension)
Ann Mallek (Virginia Museum of Natural History)
John Munsell (Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation/Virginia Cooperative Extension)
Toni Noreika(Virginia Department of Forestry)
Ellen Powell (Virginia Department of Forestry)
Ellen Reynolds (Mountain Soil and Water Conservation District/Beagle Ridge Master Naturalists)
Lou Verner (Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries)
Carol Zokaites (Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation)

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee oversees the operations of the program and helps guide its direction. The committee is made up of representatives of the sponsoring state agencies. The current Executive Committee members include:

Dennis Casey (Virginia Museum of Natural History)
Dean Cumbia (Virginia Department of Forestry)
Bob Duncan (Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries)
Denise Hayes (Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer)
Chris Ludwig (Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation)
Keith Morgan (Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation)
John Munsell (Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation/Virginia Cooperative Extension)
Dave Slack (Virginia Department of Forestry)
David Whitehurst (Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries)

Program Coordinator

The Program Coordinator works together with the Steering Committee and Executive Committee and oversees the day-to-day operations of the program. The Program Coordinator also is the primary contact for the chapters and chapter advisor. The current Program Coordinator is:

Michelle Prysby
Virginia Cooperative Extension-Charlottesville/Albemarle Unit
460 Stagecoach Road
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: 434-872-4580
Fax: 434-872-4578
E-mail:

Last revised on Friday, August 20, 2010