Recognizing Outstanding Volunteers in 2017

Michigan Nature Association

Recognizing Outstanding Volunteers in 2017

Cover photo by Deb Traxinger, 2017 Photo Contest Overall Winner

Thank you for all that you do!

We celebrate the accomplishments and commitment of those who helped make MNA what it is today and recognize those making outstanding contributions to our continued success and to conservation in Michigan.

People

.

Land

Photo: A water lily found at Lost Lake in Oakland County by Ellen Wexler.

On the cover: 2017 Photo Contest Overall Winner: Lower Tahquamenon Falls. Photo Š Deb Traxinger.

.

Legacy

7th Annual Photo Contest MNA is pleased to announce the winners of the 2017 Photo Contest. With more than 300 photos submitted from around the state, the judges had a difficult time choosing just four winning photos in each category! Congratulations to this year’s grand prize winner, Deborah Traxinger, for her photo “Lower Tahquamenon Falls,” presented on the cover. Through nature photography, we can better promote the beauty of our sanctuaries to the greater community, spreading the mission of MNA farther each year.

Thank you to all the talented photographers who submitted entries.

Landscapes

People in Nature

First Place

Flora & Fauna

Landscapes - First Place “Huron” by Nathan Miller

People In Nature - First Place “5 Star Cuisine” by Alex Maier

Flora & Fauna - Second Place “Redbud Romance: by Dustyn Blindert

Landscapes - Second Place “Lost Lake” by Ellen Wexler

People In Nature - Second Place “Pictured Rocks Kayakers” by Tom Ala

Flora & Fauna - Third Place “Karner Blue Butterfly” by Randy Butters

Landscapes - Third Place “Sunrise at Seney” by Todd Maertz

People In Nature - Third Place “Best Friends” by Ellen Wexler

Flora & Fauna - Honorable Mention “Flower and Fungi” by Ellen A. Stevens

Landscapes - Honorable Mention “Fairyland Meadow” by Virginia McClellan

People In Nature - Honorable Mention “Exploring with Pop” by Susan Cobb

Honorable Mention

Third Place

Second Place

Flora & Fauna - First Place “Singing Swallows” by Margaret Weber

Race for Michigan Nature Hundreds of people joined MNA for the Race for Michigan Nature in 2017, a statewide series of Family Fun Runs & 5Ks stretching from Belle Isle in Detroit to Marquette in the U.P. Each race spotlights one of Michigan’s rarest species and helps promote the importance of protecting Michigan’s remaining natural areas.

Congratulations 2017 Winners!

Location Grand Rapids Marquette Rochester Ann Arbor Kalamazoo Belle Isle

Grand Rapids

Top Male Runner Connor VanderWilt Jack Sullivan Kevin Sherwood Benito Aquino John Donnelly Jamie Jurkowski

Marquette

Top Female Runner Stephanie Robinson Kathy St. Germain Stephanie Davis Rachel Ryan Elizabeth Kayfish Alesia Sibrel

Rochester

Ann Arbor

Kalamazoo

Detroit

Land Donors Most of Michigan’s rare, threatened or endangered species and unique natural communities rely on privately owned land for habitat. MNA is very grateful to work with individuals and families who wish to protect their natural lands using options that are tailored to fit their needs and the property’s conservation values. The results are exceptional places and lasting legacies.

Barb McCulley and Duane Bastian Passionate about their 70 acre property along the banks of the River Raisin in Lenawee County and fearful that it might be subdivided one day, Barbara McCulley and Duane Bastian turned to MNA to explore protection options.

The land lies within a priority land protection area identified in the River Raisin Watershed Plan, notable as a forested river corridor in an otherwise fragmented and agriculturedominated landscape. Wild hyacinth and toadshade, two state-listed threatened species, grow on the property, which also serves as an excellent nesting habitat for neo-tropical migratory birds.

“As part of our estate planning, we wanted to make certain our beautiful land was protected forever,” said Barbara, “So we were very happy to work with MNA to make a land donation that fit our interests while supporting MNA’s mission of protecting Michigan’s rare plants and animals.”

For MNA, the location of Barbara and Duane’s land within a sizable forested riparian corridor in southeast Michigan, the potential presence of other rare species (a “BioBlitz” survey was undertaken this spring), the opportunity for more land protection near existing sanctuaries, and its consistency with our conservation goals for the region made it an excellent addition to MNA’s sanctuary system. Thanks to Barbara and Duane’s generosity, the new McCulley-Bastian Nature Sanctuary was established in late 2016.

Explore the McCulley-Bastian Nature Sanctuary along the River Raisin in Lenawee County.

Barbara McCulley and Duane Bastian marking boundaries at their newly donated nature sanctuary.

Good Neighbor Award The Good Neighbor Award recognizes landowners (individuals, businesses or local governments) who own property adjacent to or near an MNA sanctuary and who help to protect and maintain the natural areas on or around that sanctuary. Good neighbors are vital to the organization by supporting MNA’s volunteer stewards in their work, alerting and updating MNA of their field observations, advocating for MNA in the local community, and much more.

Valerie and John Vance enjoying the great outdoors on horseback.

Clay DeGayner planting a native garden at Dauner Martin Nature Sanctuary.

Valerie and John Vance

Clay DeGayner

Valerie and John are our northern neighbors at Lefglen who for several years have been allowing MNA staff and volunteers to park on their property and access our otherwise hard-toreach oak barrens restoration area. This saves us about 45 minutes of walking and equipment hauling for each volunteer day we hold there. They also volunteer “behind the scenes” clearing Lefglen’s blue trail loop of downfall. Valerie’s father, who owned the land prior to Valerie and John moving there, was a friend of the original landowner. We are happy to have such generous and helpful neighbors like the Vance’s near our second largest southeast Michigan sanctuary!

Clay graciously allowed our Dauner Martin interns to store their trove of stewardship equipment (including herbicide, backpack sprayers, and power tools) in his backyard shed all through this past summer. He has also donated thousands of gallons of water from his tap to ensure that Dauner’s newly installed native plant garden survives its first growing season despite the extreme heat and drought. MNA is grateful for neighbors like Clay who selflessly help us in regions across the state in extending limited resources to ensure the success of our work.

Lefglen Nature Sanctuary

Dauner Martin Nature Sanctuary

Frederick W. Case, Jr. Environmental Educator Award The Frederick W. Case, Jr. Environmental Educator Award recognizes educators whose passion and dedication for natural sciences inspire future teachers and conservation leaders. Established in 2017, the award is named for Fred Case, who was an outstanding and honored high school biology teacher, a respected Michigan botanist, and a dedicated conservationist through his work with the Michigan Nature Association and other statewide organizations.

Deb Iwema Deb has been teaching science for 15 years, the last 13 for Newaygo Middle School. Her love of science and kids, inspired by a college professor, shapes her teaching philosophy of helping students reach their full potential by showing them how they can make a difference in their community, both now and in the future. Deb recognizes that students are our future decision makers and, whether they like science or not, she works to instill a knowledge base that will help them make informed decisions.

Deb Iwema and her Newaygo Middle School students taking soil pH levels at Karner Blue Nature Sancutary.

Deb first connected with MNA while planning a Place Based Project for her students—invasive and native species at the Karner Blue Nature Sanctuary. From that grew a School to Sanctuary partnership that pairs MNA staff with Deb’s students for experiential and service learning, both in the classroom and in the field. A passionate teacher and a terrific school partner who truly cares about her students, Deb never tires of looking for new ways to help them learn, to strive for what they love to do, and to become good citizens.

Volunteers of the Year Every year hundreds of volunteers contribute thousands of hours to MNA completing a variety of jobs. By attending volunteer workdays, reviewing files at the MNA office, monitoring nature sanctuaries, or helping out in another manner, volunteers are vital to MNA and their impact can be seen in every aspect of the organization. We would like to thank each person who dedicates time to volunteering for MNA, and are pleased to present the following recipients with the Volunteer of the Year Award:

Dan Burton Dan started volunteering with MNA in 2016 and has already become the steward at the Palmer Memorial and the Wilkie Memorial Nature Sanctuaries, both in Kalamazoo County. As part of his steward activities, Dan has been conducting invasive species management for multiple species including glossy buckthorn, monitoring sanctuary boundaries, and assisting with prescribed burns. Dan is a graduate of the Conservation Stewards program through MSU Extension.

Edwin and Margarita Palmer Memorial Nature Sanctuary

Dan Burton working in the field at an MNA sanctuary.

Brett Harris Brett Harris has been a steward at the Joan Rodman Nature Sanctuary for 10 years. During that time, he has done an excellent job caring for the sanctuary, from marking and maintaining the boundaries, trails, and signage; to leading garlic mustard pulls and controlling other invasives on his own time; to maintaining positive neighbor relations and filing annual monitor reports.

Brett’s long-time dedication and active engagement as an MNA steward is admirable!

Joan Rodman Memorial Nature Sanctuary

Brett Harris monitoring the Saline River along the Rodman Nature Sanctuary.

Volunteers of the Year Our outstanding volunteers give plenty of reasons why they choose to support MNA. They include protecting rare, threatened and endangered species and Michigan’s most special natural areas; gaining a sense of ownership in projects they undertake; learning new skills and abilities; making a lasting difference; and having fun. Congratulations and thank you to our Volunteers of the Year, not only for their contributions, but for inspiring others to volunteer for MNA!

Bill Houston Bill volunteers as the manager for the Michigan Karst Conservancy’s Thunder Bay Karst Preserve, which includes a property co-owned with MNA called the Mystery Valley Karst Preserve and Nature Sanctuary. As manager, Bill organizes and leads a volunteer workday at Mystery Valley each month from spring to fall to maintain the sanctuary’s trail system, remove invasive plants, and address other needs that arise on the property. He regularly promotes the sanctuary in the local community and has coordinated guided tours for several groups in recent years including the Michigan Earth Science Teachers Association, Thunder Bay Audubon Society, and the Association of Lifelong Learners at Alpena Community College. We are thankful for Bill’s exceptional commitment. His service has been a tremendous asset to both organizations.

Bill Houston manages Mystery Valley by leading volunteer workdays and maintaining the property.

Mystery Valley Karst Preserve and Nature Sanctuary

Phil Quenzi Phil has served as the volunteer steward of Redwyn’s Dunes Nature Sanctuary for many years. He has guided winter snow shoe/ski hikes through the picturesque dunes of the sanctuary.

He clears, marks, and maintains the hiking trail; built and maintains steps to the beach; manages areas that tend to erode; and in the past has planted beach grasses to restore dune areas. He and his wife, Barb, have led work crews to manage the invasive spotted knapweed on exposed dune areas along the Lake Superior shoreline.

Phil Quenzi participating in a volunteer workday at MNA sanctuaries on Brockway Mountain.

Redwyn’s Dunes Nature Sanctuary

Mason and Melvin Schafer Distinguished Service Award The Mason and Melvin Schafer Distinguished Service Award recognizes exceptional volunteer contributions to MNA over a minimum of 10 years. The award was established in 2011 and is named for Mason and Melvin Schafer, brothers from southern Michigan who provided exemplary services to MNA over multiple decades dating back to the 1970s.

Bill Atkinson For the past ten years, Bill has served as steward or co-steward of no fewer than four MNA nature sanctuaries—McGaw Memorial, Polovich Memorial, Leonatti Memorial and Jasper Woods. In addition to taking on those responsibilities, Bill will often help out at several other sanctuaries across St. Clair County and surrounding areas on projects of all types. And he does it all—from leading hikes and workdays to maintaining trails to monitoring sanctuaries and marking boundaries. His much appreciated observational skills and attention to detail earned him the nickname “Sherlock”.

In addition, Bill’s initiatives on behalf of MNA include the design and installation of the trail system at Newnan Nature Sanctuary.

His considerable carpentry knowledge has been critical for the repair and maintenance of structures like bridges and stairs while his chainsaw skills are often called upon to handle fallen trees. He even finds time to volunteer outside of a sanctuary by helping to run the MNA booth at the St. Clair County Earth Fair. In 2010, MNA recognized Bill’s outstanding contributions as a Volunteer of the Year. His long-term dedication to caring for the St. Clair complex of sanctuaries is simply invaluable to MNA. This year we express our sincere appreciation for all his work with the Schafer Distinguished Service Award.

Bill Atkinison at James and Alice Brennan Memorial Nature Sanctuary.

Bill Atkinson marking boundaries and monitoring the Stephen M. Polovich Memorial Nature Sanctuary.

Richard W. Holzman Award The Richard W. Holzman Award was established in 2010 to recognize and thank volunteers who have selflessly served MNA over an extended period of time, typically in a variety of roles including on the Board of Trustees. Holzman Award recipients are selected by the President after consultation with the Board of Trustees and senior staff. This award is named for Richard W. “Dick” Holzman, who served 14 years as MNA President, longer than any other President, and 20 years as an MNA Director or Trustee.

Margaret Welsch Margaret has served on MNA’s Board of Trustees since 2005, and MNA has benefited from her exceptional leadership ever since.

She was elected by the Board of Trustees to two terms as Vice President (2009-2013) and two terms as President (2013-2017), and now serves on the Board’s Executive Committee as Immediate Past President.

Margaret’s service as a Trustee has always been guided by her commitment to building a strong a foundation for MNA so that its work will endure for many years to come.

During her four years as President, her vision and leadership led MNA to many notable achievements, including: being awarded national accreditation; purchase of a new headquarters; major revisions to MNA’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws; better financial management, including professional management of MNA’s endowment funds; a new commitment to university outreach; launch of a new education mini-grant program for K-12 schools; an increase in MNA’s membership; regional membership meetings across the state; recruitment of the next generation of trustees; and an improved land acquisition process, including completion of 23 land transactions (averaging one every eight weeks).

Margaret is a graduate of MSU with a degree in Medical Technology. She worked for many years in MSU’s Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology where she was Chief Project Coordinator for several large National Institutes of Health research grants and a co-author of twenty-two research papers published in major scientific journals. An avid traveler, she and her husband Clifford lived in India where Margaret worked as a volunteer at two orphanages established by Mother Theresa. They also lived in China where she taught English. She and Clifford live on an 80-acre farm they converted into high-quality prairie.

MNA is extremely grateful for Margaret’s leadership and her contributions that have positioned MNA for success!

Margaret Welsch on a nature hike at the Mary and Lyle Rizor Nature Sanctuary.

Photo: An eastern towhee nesting in an apple tree by Martha Hitchiner.

“The work MNA has done is simply irreplaceable...

MNA is protecting the soul of Michigan” - Dave Dempsey Award-winning author, Ruin & Recovery: Michigan’s Rise as a Conservation Leader

Michigan Nature Association 2310 Science Parkway, Suite 100 Okemos, Michigan 48864 (866) 223-2231 www.michigannature.org